I know I can't be the only person who is not at Nationals who is nevertheless keeping track of how many people in my age group are beating my best times of the season.
I am happy to report in this inaugural edition of Beat Watch 2009, that in the 400 IM, two guys have beaten my time--
1 Gilchrist, Donald 55 NCMS 4:55.00 4:41.09
29.32 1:01.98 (32.66)
1:39.57 (37.59) 2:16.63 (37.06)
2:56.44 (39.81) 3:36.93 (40.49)
4:09.45 (32.52) 4:41.09 (31.64)
2 Clemmons, Jim 59 MAM 4:44.50 4:43.38
29.59 1:02.58 (32.99)
1:41.09 (38.51) 2:18.06 (36.97)
2:58.68 (40.62) 3:40.31 (41.63)
4:12.70 (32.39) 4:43.38 (30.68)
The good news: both these fellows had ALREADY beaten me with swims earlier in the season, so nobody new at Nationals has thus far dislodged my precarious hold on a possible top 10 in this event...
I invite anyone to post their own "Beat Watch" results as they filter in...
Scott--
You might come across the term "sand bagging" here, too. That's when you enter a seed time that is significantly slower than you actually are able to swim.
A notorious sandbagger at Colonies Zones entered a 53.5 in the 100 freestyle, which was just a little slower than the 53.25 I entered.
This guy ended up doing a :48, and I ended up swallowing his wake.
Sandbagging is somewhat frowned upon, especially when it is this egregious.
The same guy entered a 1:30 in the 100 i.m. and broke a minute easily. His rationale, I heard, was that he wanted to ensure smooth water. But a bit depressing for the sexagenarians he almost lapped.
I could have sandbagged my 400 IM at Colonies Zones due to the 200 fly shortly after, but I choose to take accept the challenge of swimming the 400 IM and 200 fly 20 minutes apart. I probably lost 5 seconds on my 200 fly but I am better swimmer for taking the Michael Phelps/Ryan Lochte route in this matter. Then again, there is no sandbagging at the Olympics. My fellow age grouper could have sandbagged the 400 IM at Colonies Zones because he had to do the 100 back like 5 minutes later. He choose the "man up" route as well. He probably could have done a :56 in his 100 back but had to settle for a :58.
Scott--
You might come across the term "sand bagging" here, too. That's when you enter a seed time that is significantly slower than you actually are able to swim.
A notorious sandbagger at Colonies Zones entered a 53.5 in the 100 freestyle, which was just a little slower than the 53.25 I entered.
This guy ended up doing a :48, and I ended up swallowing his wake.
Sandbagging is somewhat frowned upon, especially when it is this egregious.
The same guy entered a 1:30 in the 100 i.m. and broke a minute easily. His rationale, I heard, was that he wanted to ensure smooth water. But a bit depressing for the sexagenarians he almost lapped.
I could have sandbagged my 400 IM at Colonies Zones due to the 200 fly shortly after, but I choose to take accept the challenge of swimming the 400 IM and 200 fly 20 minutes apart. I probably lost 5 seconds on my 200 fly but I am better swimmer for taking the Michael Phelps/Ryan Lochte route in this matter. Then again, there is no sandbagging at the Olympics. My fellow age grouper could have sandbagged the 400 IM at Colonies Zones because he had to do the 100 back like 5 minutes later. He choose the "man up" route as well. He probably could have done a :56 in his 100 back but had to settle for a :58.
