Opinions wanted on this one -
I have a meet this weekend and on day 2 the 500 FR is seeded by time and gender (men are separated from women.) I am actually used to swimming mixed seeding in distance events.
Provided the meet director would accommodate me (and s/he may not), would you ask to be seeded with the men to get the full racing experience?
As it stands, I'm seeded 1st of the women (2nd place is 48 seconds behind) and I would be seeded 5th with the men.
The only other thing to consider is that if I swim with the women, I will have 1 hour rest until my next event. If I swim with the men, I will have about 30 minutes until my next event. And I have 3 events left to swim after the 500 FR.
And, to confirm, am I correct in assuming that if I swam with the men, the time would not count for USMS purposes due to my changing the event/ program order? But am I correct in assuming that my other swims would count assuming all the rules are followed?
This meet is for pure racing fun. Times are irrelevant for me. Oh, and I'm used to swimming by myself which I find sort of boring; however, I have gone PB's swimming solo or having competition. And, I will get creamed by some of the top men (will be a fast heat), but that does not bother me greatly. It's more of a learning experience.
Thanks!
1 Ulveling, Kristina 36 Swim Atlanta-GA 5:12.00 5:14.48
1 Ulveling, Kristina 36 Swim Atlanta-GA 10:34.00 10:32.73
If you doubled you 500, you would have swim 10:28.86.
Just amazing swims.
It seems to me that the SDKs on the 500 probably hurt you more than helped you.
Possibly, with practice, this will switch around, but I gotta say that SDKs really use
up a lot of oxygen and energy and keep you under water a lot longer than you would otherwise stay.
For a distance swim, I don't know if the extra speed is worth it.
Anyhow, extremely impressive swims, despite the self-described "passable" rating.
My question for you is simple: how much does it hurt? When you are swimming the 1000, are you in pain? Do you
find yourself saying, "When will this end?"
Or does it feel relatively good and smooth throughout?
I tend to suffer during distance events, and I don't know if this is the right approach...
So the 1000 was passable with a 10:32. Negative splitted with a 5:17 and 5:15 the 2nd 500. Swam my usual with zero kick of any kind. Had a lovely race with the boys and came in 2nd overall (I think I was around 3rd for most of the race). Lost 1st by 0.5 seconds. Was told I looked very smooth.
500 was the 2nd day with with el boys. Contrary to Glider's nice comment, the 500 was dreadful. Since seeing my 200 FR at 1:57 with zero kick two weeks ago, I've since been working on swimming with a 6 beat kick @ practices; however, it's only been 2 weeks. Coach and I agreed to not try kicking on the 1000 (too difficult at this point), but we agreed that I'd SDK and kick off every turn for the 500. Although I did make that goal, I was too tired to do the actual swim part and I added 3 seconds to my time of 5:11 - LOL! So, I'm going to stick with my kick and see if it can improve in a season or two or three or four. . . :D I think I got 5th overall on the 500 although it felt like last place after the 1000.
The 1000 and the 500 were the most fun along with the 50 FR in which I swam fly.
Excellent times, She-Puffy, especially that 1000, very nice. If I can stop enjoying sprinting (Fort, look away), I sure would like to get my 1000 to 11:00.
Kirk, thank you! You are capable of going around 10:00 to 10:10ish!! Forget 10:30! Good luck to you. How much do you kick on that 1000?
Not much, but I've been working on my kick this season too. It's just too easy to fall back to my default of not kicking much.
I think a 10:00-10:10 is possible for Nationals, but not right now. A lot might also hinge on whether I buy a Blue Seventy suit or not.
So the 1000 was passable with a 10:32.
I'd say that's more than passable! I'm swimming the 1000 next Friday. I entered myself at 10:30 and I'll be very happy to swim that fast.
Kirk, thank you! You are capable of going around 10:00 to 10:10ish!! Forget 10:30! Good luck to you. How much do you kick on that 1000?
Jim, the 1000 and 1650 are of minimal discomfort for me. I've been told I have too much left at the end at these races. In retrospect, I did not work that 1000 enough. But there's always next time!!! I am CreamPuff, remember? If I were truly tough I'd be called HammerTime. But be consoled in that the 200 and 500 do burn - and now I cry if I actually add in kick. Great points on the walls and SDK Jim - I agree with you and I think it will take some time to find out what works for me. I only took 1 good SDK and then went into flutter kick past the flags for each turn. Rather painful 20x particularly when you usually do it 0 times in a race.
In speaking with one of the top 14&Us in the nation this weekend (she goes 10:00 in the 1000), she was saying that it really hurts and is "pretty much an all out sprint." I'm definitely chewing on that thought. . . I may have to try A LOT harder next time. So good news - you are right on par with the 14&U girls!!! I wish I was. Sheesh. :bitching:
Not much, but I've been working on my kick this season too. It's just too easy to fall back to my default of not kicking much.
I think a 10:00-10:10 is possible for Nationals, but not right now. A lot might also hinge on whether I buy a Blue Seventy suit or not.
You're tough then. I've been at it 2 weeks although I've already noticed a difference. My coach wears our arms out so much with push ups and press outs during swim sets that there is no choice other than to kick during the swim. Yep, it's a curse when you can swim pretty well with no kick. You'll love B70. They are addictive. Glad I never had one as a kid.
