24hr. countdown before 1st Masters meet-???

I usually swim the day before. Since this is your first meet, I would take it easy and stretch out a bit. Concentrate on your turns and relax in the water that day. For a morning meet, I eat a banana and something with protein in it - like peanut butter crackers. I like to have bananas during the meet as well. Bagels are good, too. Warm up during the pre-meet warm up so you can get used to the pool. Concentrate on the walls for turns and do some starts as well. They will start about half way through warm-ups. Remember, enter warm ups feet first until the sprint lane opens up for dives. Then, get in about 10 min before your event and just do a 50 or 100 of free just to warm up a tad. After the race, a cool down is a good idea. Just to get any lactic acid out of your body. The distance depends on how you feel. Swim until you aren't breathing heavy. And most importantly - have fun!! Let us know how it goes, too. Hey Alison! I survived!:bliss:I had a blast at the St. Pat's meet (my first Masters meet). I was a bit nervous, yesterday, :afraid:but I was pleased with my 200 breaststroke. I took six seconds off my best in-water time and I won my heat of the other NT's (newbies!). I did 3:29.42, so I'm still a "BB" on the Motivational Times chart for the 45-49 age group. My goal is to hit the "A" category. Oh well; I just joined and started swimming fast intervals in mid-February, so my stamina isn't there yet. My 50 ***, also "BB" was horrible (screwed up the start AND turn); 42.69. Never mind... My 100 breaststroke was 1:33.79 and I won the NT heat. Again, it was a "BB". So, I have work to do! I finished out with the 200 Mixed Relay (our team just made the entry with two gals and two guys) with a 41.54 split. We had a lot of fun with that one cheering each other on and high-fiving afterwards. We started out in sixth place, I gained on and beat the gal next to me, then the guys brought us up to third place at the end. It was a lot of laughs and a great way to end the meet. So, all in all, it was a GREAT experience! :D Any meets for you before Nationals? I'm going to sign up for one in Gwinnett, on April 25. It's a SCY developmental meet. One more chance to get in some meet action before Nationals. Let me know how you're doing!

Congrats on your meet, Elaine! I bet you will see some big improvements at Nationals since you've only been swimming for such a short time! :)

Congrats on your meet, Elaine! I bet you will see some big improvements at Nationals since you've only been swimming for such a short time! :) Thanks, Carrie! Hey, I like "AquaFiesty"! My husband calls me "Aqua Dog" and pumps me up on my swim days by singing out the first notes of Jethro Tull's, "Aqua Lung" (Gross lyrics in that song, but the music is awesome!) ANYWAY, nice of you to post your "contrats"! Thanks!! :D

Sorry I didn't introduce myself there Elaine, but glad you had a good time at the meet. Sounds like you were very pleased all around. Hope to see you at Nationals!

Sorry I didn't introduce myself there Elaine, but glad you had a good time at the meet. Sounds like you were very pleased all around. Hope to see you at Nationals! What events will you be swimming at Nationals? I'll look for you! :) I will be in the 200, 100, 50 breaststroke (W45-49) and medley relays. I'll look forward to meeting you!:D

Elaine, congrats on the meet!! Sounds like you had a great time, which is the best part about master meets. And you had some great times to start off with. I see some huge improvements coming your way, too. I have 2 meets before Nationals - April 10th in my home pool and Zones at the end of April. First I have to get back in shape after a week at Disney! Hey Alison, thanks!:D How was Disney? Did you go to Disneyland or Disney World? I grew up in Long Beach, CA, not far from Disneyland. Sounds like fun! Good luck at your two meets! Make sure to post and let me know how you did. Best wishes!

Elaine, congrats on the meet!! Sounds like you had a great time, which is the best part about master meets. And you had some great times to start off with. I see some huge improvements coming your way, too. I have 2 meets before Nationals - April 10th in my home pool and Zones at the end of April. First I have to get back in shape after a week at Disney!

Elaine glad that you had so much fun and did well at your first meet. I did my first one back in Dec., but it was a just for fun meet. I'm doing my first "Real" met in 2 weeks in Lexington, KY. I'll be more than likely swimming some NT at Nationals too! Hope to meet lots of you there!!

Elaine glad that you had so much fun and did well at your first meet. I did my first one back in Dec., but it was a just for fun meet. I'm doing my first "Real" met in 2 weeks in Lexington, KY. I'll be more than likely swimming some NT at Nationals too! Hope to meet lots of you there!! Thanks Cheryl! Hey, good luck in your next meet! What events/ age group will you be swimming at Nationals? I'll make sure to look for you. I'll be in the 45-49 for all breaststroke events. But, don't look for me in the middle lanes; I'll be on the end and at the bottom of the heap.:blush: (My seed times don't compare, I afraid! :afraid:) Oh well, I can't pass up the opportunity, since Nationals are only 45 minutes from my house! See you there!:D

Hi Elaine! I'll be in the 35-39 age group! I'll more than likely be swimming 100 back, 50 back, and I just may try the 50 fly. I'm debating that one. I'm like you. I couldn't resist. I'm only a 3 hour drive away, so I just have to go! I'll definitely look for you there. I will by no means be in the middle lanes either!!!