I've been swimming competitively since the age of 8, and I've had the same issue for nearly as long. I swim pretty fast in workouts and while training, but when I go to swim meets, my performance is pretty lackluster.
I avoided swimming in a meet until just recently, where the coach guess entry times, and thought mine would be faster than they would. The people who swim in my lane during practice all swim 5-10 seconds faster (in sprints & mid-distance) than I do in a swim meet.
This happens regardless of how in shape I am. And happens less often in distance events than sprints, which makes me wonder if I just have a switch turned off in my brain that should make me really "work it" when I'm in competition.
Any advice? :confused:
I often do the same thing. For me, I know it is all mental. I am just not a very good racer. Am a type A, perfectionist type in many areas of my life, and when it comes to racing, I think I put too much pressure on myself to perform. Sometimes when I dive off the blocks, my brain goes into negative chatter mode, and my muscles won't work. It doesn't happen all the time, or I would quit going to meets completely.
I have a wonderful, positive lane mate who has tried to help me with it, with some success, but I still struggle.
If you figure it out-- let me know!
I often do the same thing. For me, I know it is all mental. I am just not a very good racer. Am a type A, perfectionist type in many areas of my life, and when it comes to racing, I think I put too much pressure on myself to perform. Sometimes when I dive off the blocks, my brain goes into negative chatter mode, and my muscles won't work. It doesn't happen all the time, or I would quit going to meets completely.
I have a wonderful, positive lane mate who has tried to help me with it, with some success, but I still struggle.
If you figure it out-- let me know!
