I was just wondering what you guys do for pre-meet jitters. I'm going to my second Master's Meet April 10 & 11th in Lexington, KY. I'm swimming my first backstroke events at this meet. Since I never was an age grouper, high school, or college swimmer, I tend to get really nervous the closer to a meet that I get. It's getting so bad this time, that it's getting to the point that I'm not having fun anymore. I've also started to dread going to practice and just swimming in general. Do any of you have advice? Any help would be appreciated.
No don't skip the meet, use it for practice for Nationals!
Try to think of the worst thing that could possibly happen. If it did indeed happen "what would you do?" "What would other people do?" "Is it really that bad?"
This summer was my 1st National Meet. I was seeded LAST in the 200 Freestyle(I'm not sure why I entered it?) I arrived way too early for the meet and sat around all day and worried. When the event finally arrived my friend Jimby walked me up to the blocks and interviewed me with his flip camera. I hopped up at the last minute to start. I dove in and my googles rolled and completely filled with water. I stopped, fixed them and then swam a terrible 200 Free. Pretty dreadful huh.
Well the truth is I found the whole thing very funny! I finished last. We all chuckled about my bad swim and that was it. No one made fun of me or excluded me from anything because I was a loser. I ended up doing well in my other events(pr in the 1500), meeting lots of amazing people, and having the time of my life.
Do not let your worries get in the way of your potential. Go out on a limb and let yourself live a little on the edge. If you screw up remember, the best lessons are the ones learned from mistakes!
HAVE FUN!!!! BE FIT!!!!!!!!
No don't skip the meet, use it for practice for Nationals!
Try to think of the worst thing that could possibly happen. If it did indeed happen "what would you do?" "What would other people do?" "Is it really that bad?"
This summer was my 1st National Meet. I was seeded LAST in the 200 Freestyle(I'm not sure why I entered it?) I arrived way too early for the meet and sat around all day and worried. When the event finally arrived my friend Jimby walked me up to the blocks and interviewed me with his flip camera. I hopped up at the last minute to start. I dove in and my googles rolled and completely filled with water. I stopped, fixed them and then swam a terrible 200 Free. Pretty dreadful huh.
Well the truth is I found the whole thing very funny! I finished last. We all chuckled about my bad swim and that was it. No one made fun of me or excluded me from anything because I was a loser. I ended up doing well in my other events(pr in the 1500), meeting lots of amazing people, and having the time of my life.
Do not let your worries get in the way of your potential. Go out on a limb and let yourself live a little on the edge. If you screw up remember, the best lessons are the ones learned from mistakes!
HAVE FUN!!!! BE FIT!!!!!!!!
