I was honestly on the fence about whether I wanted to swim the breaststroke 3 pack or do freestyle at my next meet in a couple of weeks. So I ended up signing up for 5 events today and mailing it in, knowing that I will scratch at least one, maybe 2, events depending on how I feel at the meet.
Are scratchers evil like sandbaggers? I know I had a lot of fun at the last meet with a couple of very close races with people right next to me, but honestly the only times empty lanes have bothered me have been when I've been in 1 and the only other entrant was in 8 or 6. Feels like a weird time trial when that happens. But just an empty lane or 2, no biggie. Does it bug the race directors? Why do I feel vaguely guilty about it? Should I just kick an extra 200 as penance tomorrow (I hate kicking) and forget all about it? Or is it not even something to worry about?
I don't see sandbagging to get calm water a good idea.If you are with people about your speed either you will be ahead,in which case you have calm water,or you are a little behind where any wave will help(drafting.)If you are much faster you risk coming up when the other swimmers waves are going in the opposite direction.This is different from swimming in a time trial,where there is less wave action overall.Maybe that means you should hope most of the rest of the people in your heat scratch so there are fewer waves.
I don't see sandbagging to get calm water a good idea.If you are with people about your speed either you will be ahead,in which case you have calm water,or you are a little behind where any wave will help(drafting.)If you are much faster you risk coming up when the other swimmers waves are going in the opposite direction.This is different from swimming in a time trial,where there is less wave action overall.Maybe that means you should hope most of the rest of the people in your heat scratch so there are fewer waves.
