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.
I believe that I can keep improving. I am swimming faster than I was in my 40s, chasing the same guys but closing the gap. I need to find another 5-10 seconds.
Gull,
Believe me, you'll find those 5-10 seconds because you've made the first required step: Belief.
Gull,
Congratulations on some great swimming and my condolences for your disappointment. However, you need to adjust your last thought slightly.
You don't necessarily need to find those 5-10 seconds (although it'd be nice), you just need to keep at your current level for the next 5-10 years!
The key is slowing down slower than your peers. Well, your ten second drop sure is a step in the right direction. Be patient and stay motivated.
Rich
I am swimming faster than I was in my 40s, chasing the same guys but closing the gap. I need to find another 5-10 seconds.
I'm available for the chasing at the end of January at your "pool of despair." Seriously, your times are great, especially for a really really old guy.
I'd like to echo what fortress said about keeping at it. You've got a great base to work from now- fine tune it, learn from that race, and hit it next time. Great job.
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.
Gull:
I just went to the Top Times site and saw that a time in the 50 -54 age group of 4:47.73 is currently 8th in the rankings so you still have a chance to get in there. And I saw that they included the Long Beach and Colony Zone Results. I also noticed that you are 2nd in the country in the 200 Free with a time of 2:05.92 from the same meet you did the 400 Free on November 22, 2008 at the Baylor Tom Laundry Center taken from the LMSC website.
That 200 is either a great time or a mistake in the results. The point I am making here is I have found mistakes in Meet Results that have been turned in to the Top Times site so NOTHING is FINAL. By the way I saw that someone had a 1:32.73 for the 200 Meter Free in the 50-54 age group in the rankings.
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.--Theodore Roosevelt
Good advice given above--if you are desperate, 1500 and 200 Fly are always calling.
Great quote.
No, I'm going to stay with my best events--middle distance freestyle. If you decide to climb K2, another peak just isn't as satisfying.
But who's to say you're done improving? I think sometimes it takes awhile, longer than 6 months, to realize the fruits of your training ... Keep at it. What pool did this swim take place in BTW? Was it a fast one?
Thanks.
The pool--Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center in Dallas--was fast enough.
I believe that I can keep improving. I am swimming faster than I was in my 40s, chasing the same guys but closing the gap. I need to find another 5-10 seconds.
Believe me, you'll find those 5-10 seconds because you've made the first required step: Belief.
Thanks. At first I thought 4:48 was unrealistic, but I remembered the words of an old coach who liked to say, "Don't limit yourself."
Congratulations on some great swimming and my condolences for your disappointment. However, you need to adjust your last thought slightly. You don't necessarily need to find those 5-10 seconds (although it'd be nice), you just need to keep at your current level for the next 5-10 years!
The key is slowing down slower than your peers. Well, your ten second drop sure is a step in the right direction. Be patient and stay motivated.
Wow, two of my heroes in Masters swimming replying on the same thread. I appreciate the advice and encouragement.
I'm available for the chasing at the end of January at your "pool of despair." Seriously, your times are great, especially for a really really old guy.
You have a way with words. But can you still swim?
Gull:
I just went to the Top Times site and saw that a time in the 50 -54 age group of 4:47.73 is currently 8th in the rankings so you still have a chance to get in there. And I saw that they included the Long Beach and Colony Zone Results. I also noticed that you are 2nd in the country in the 200 Free with a time of 2:05.92 from the same meet you did the 400 Free on November 22, 2008 at the Baylor Tom Laundry Center taken from the LMSC website.
That 200 is either a great time or a mistake in the results. The point I am making here is I have found mistakes in Meet Results that have been turned in to the Top Times site so NOTHING is FINAL. By the way I saw that someone had a 1:32.73 for the 200 Meter Free in the 50-54 age group in the rankings.
The 2:05.92 is a mistake--I didn't swim the event--and was reported to the meet organizers.
The 400 free event rankings do not include times by Larry Wood and Tom McCabe, not to mention Mark Drennan who posted a fast 400 split in his 1500.
