Six months ago I decided to take a shot at a top ten time (my first) for the 400 free. Historically, a 4:48 has always been fast enough in my new age group (50-54), but my best time in Masters was a 4:59 from three years ago. So I decided to focus on that one event. I trained hard, bought a Blue 70, and hit my taper just right. In the end I swam what I thought was a perfect race and finished in 4:47.73, beating one of my training partners by seven seconds. And then I waited to see if the time would hold up.
As it turns out, it didn't. With the results from Long Beach, I will end the season ranked no higher than 11th. As the saying goes, the journey is the destination. But I really wanted one of those patches.
Consider utilizing the roll start for improved times.
Why not, he's already started down the slippery slope by using the wetsuit . . .
Gull, I feel your pain. I dropped a bunch of time in my breaststroke events this year (thanks, B70!) in a meet last month, which is of course early in the SCM season. And so for one -- or several, really -- brief, shining moments, my name appeared in the Top 10 event rankings. While a brief review of the past years lists showed me I had no hope of being there this year, I couldn't resist the urge to check the list regularly. At first weekly, then every few days, then daily, then hourly . . . if USMS offered a scrolling ticker updating the list in real time, I would have subscribed.
Although I knew it would take an event on par with the earth suddenly neglecting to rotate on its axis for my times to stand, I'd play out hypothetical scenarios, like suppose swimmers p through y aged up and somehow no one else aged in, a freak snowstorm canceled Colonies Zones, an earthquake demolished the Long Beach pool while amazingly causing no human injuries, B70s were suddenly outlawed, but earlier swims were allowed to stand, etc. etc. etc.
And then began the long, slow dimming of the day, as I slid ever further down the list. I'd get righteously angry when I'd see people like Ande sign up for the 50 *** at Long Beach and blow out some amazing time -- c'mon, the guy doesn't even pretend to be a breaststroker, how fair is that? -- in the process bumping me another notch down the food chain. When all is said and done, I may have to revise the search to top 100 instead of top 50 to find my name anywhere.
But I will continue to get up stupidly early to practice, buy stupidly expensive suits that evidently last less than 10 swims, drive and fly stupidly far to compete, and watch the lists all over again next year. Because it is all about the journey, and the journey is a good one.
Consider utilizing the roll start for improved times.
Why not, he's already started down the slippery slope by using the wetsuit . . .
Gull, I feel your pain. I dropped a bunch of time in my breaststroke events this year (thanks, B70!) in a meet last month, which is of course early in the SCM season. And so for one -- or several, really -- brief, shining moments, my name appeared in the Top 10 event rankings. While a brief review of the past years lists showed me I had no hope of being there this year, I couldn't resist the urge to check the list regularly. At first weekly, then every few days, then daily, then hourly . . . if USMS offered a scrolling ticker updating the list in real time, I would have subscribed.
Although I knew it would take an event on par with the earth suddenly neglecting to rotate on its axis for my times to stand, I'd play out hypothetical scenarios, like suppose swimmers p through y aged up and somehow no one else aged in, a freak snowstorm canceled Colonies Zones, an earthquake demolished the Long Beach pool while amazingly causing no human injuries, B70s were suddenly outlawed, but earlier swims were allowed to stand, etc. etc. etc.
And then began the long, slow dimming of the day, as I slid ever further down the list. I'd get righteously angry when I'd see people like Ande sign up for the 50 *** at Long Beach and blow out some amazing time -- c'mon, the guy doesn't even pretend to be a breaststroker, how fair is that? -- in the process bumping me another notch down the food chain. When all is said and done, I may have to revise the search to top 100 instead of top 50 to find my name anywhere.
But I will continue to get up stupidly early to practice, buy stupidly expensive suits that evidently last less than 10 swims, drive and fly stupidly far to compete, and watch the lists all over again next year. Because it is all about the journey, and the journey is a good one.
