I am new to Masters swimming, and I am swimming my first meet at Auburn this weekend. Today when I was practicing, I would get on the blocks and start thinking about the meet. I would get so nervous and shaky that I could barely finish a 50!! After I stopped timing myself and told myself I was "just swimming an easy 50" I did okay. Any advice for Saturday?
Also...I cannot decide about my flip turn. I feel like it is different EVERY time I do it. Sometimes too close, others too far away, and sometimes right on. Should I try it in the meet, or just go for the open turn? It's not like I'm a contender or anything.....
Thanks for any advice!
Advice based on my experience -
I remember my first Masters Meet clearly - I was nervous. Being nervous is just normal - you can't help it. After the meet, I remember thinking, "I was nervous - why? - no one was even watching or paying attention!"
30 meets later, I still get nervous a bit. What I do to calm down is to talk and joke with the other swimmers and timers during the meet and before my race behind the blocks.
Good luck; nervous is normal.
Advice based on my experience -
I remember my first Masters Meet clearly - I was nervous. Being nervous is just normal - you can't help it. After the meet, I remember thinking, "I was nervous - why? - no one was even watching or paying attention!"
30 meets later, I still get nervous a bit. What I do to calm down is to talk and joke with the other swimmers and timers during the meet and before my race behind the blocks.
Good luck; nervous is normal.
