Let me first say that I had a blast in Atlanta and enjoyed every minute of it (even the last minute of the 1000), so this list is somewhat tongue in cheek:
10. No Starbucks within walking distance of the Hampton Inn.
9. The taste of an Italian soda called "Beverly" at the Coca Cola Museum; it reminded me of viscous lidocaine--what is with that?
8. The stairway access to the pool deck from the stands.
7. Missing out on a medal in the 200 free relay because eight of the teams finishing ahead of us were from "regional" clubs representing entire states.
6. Two swimmers from TXLA trying to recruit my 87 year old father to join their team instead of swimming for Nitro.
5. No Starbucks within walkiing distance of the pool.
4. Turning at the bulkhead, although I nailed all of mine.
3. That one starter who shall remain nameless.
2. Not getting to meet Rich Abrahams, among others.
1. It ended.
How can they increase the amount of events you need qualifiying times for already? Anyone can swim 3 events without times, which gets new people into the meet.
If usms says you can swim only 2 events or even 1 event, a lot of people that would have come to the meet will stay home.
This isn't USA nationals. This is usms nationals we are talking about. Everyone that wants to compete in the meet should have that opporunity.
I really didnt see that many slow people in the younger age groups. i think they are intimidated. I only swam relays as I did not qualify and will not swim if i don't .
as far as warm up pool, i felt like i had been assaulted. But i have done worlds and it was far, far worse. (munich and riccione - the indoor warm up pool had no flags ).
It would have been nice had Tech opened up the fitness pool but it is warm as well.
Wookie, your comments are spot on.
I actually did pretty well in the main pool for warmups, but I was there before the distance events due to sleeping issues. Most mornings I only shared the lane with 3 or 4 other folks. Not too bad at all, and I talked to those who were doing pace work on the clock so as to stay out of their way. The dive pool struck me as being better than Austin - it was crowded, but I expected it to be and picked my lane and spot as best I could.
My gripes -
1) starter who could not be heard and didn't stand the swimmers back up when it was needed. I saw some heats of 100 free with swimmers in their 80's that had me fuming. No one should be subjected to random mumbling when trying to start a race. Especially those that might be at a higher risk for hearing issues. Really painful to watch.
2) fried chicken in hospitality. Yes, I know it's the south where they apparently bread and fry lettuce, but that was just over the top. I had a bagel and PB and fruit for lunch that day. And was seriously cranky by dinner as I was so hungry.
3) hospitality running out of fruit and water and other food by the last day. I ended up buying food at the cafe just to be able to get a healthy snack.
4) Staircase at the far end was awful to get through.
I was lucky (?) in that 3 of the 4 days I was in the 1st event of the day so I would get there at 6:30 and get in right away. I joined my former OMS teammates for a nice long warm-up the first day :) I hadn't talked to them since Portland Nats. The only day I came late was my 100 free day so not much of a warm-up needed. If I only warmed up in the dive pool, I wouldn't have been as happy. I would sit on the edge of that pool and slide in. That was the only way I felt safe getting in. And I never did flip turns. I was worried someone was going to jump on me.
The walls in that pool were bad on my feet, too. My skin has cuts on the bottom from it.
Did anyone else notice the popcorn cooking smell around 10:30 every morning? I was right in the middle of my 1000 when the smell hit the pool. Not what I wanted in the middle of a long, hard event.
FYI, auburn is more southern than atlanta. be prepared for grits and biscuits with gravy in hospitality. Puerto Rico - pork and rice.
I was timing sunday, when there was no water, and we couldn't get up and leave to get some.
I always pack my own food when i go to meets. I know, you paid for the VIP and then didnt' get it. but since i am picky and finicky, I do better bringing my own.
The barbeque sandwich upstairs and the chicken wrap were really good.
Apparently, because of the economy, sponsorship was down. Not very many restaurants and such came forward. At meets in florida, we used to have olive garden and subway cater but that was kid's meets nobody wanted to donate for masters meets. It was hard.
btw, love grits with cheese and biscuits with gravy. and no i wasn't born here.
I was timing sunday, when there was no water, and we couldn't get up and leave to get some.
My dad timed Thur, Fri and Sun and he commented that what they offered the timers wasn't great but not bad. He said they came around less and less on Sunday though. They should have had a bit more food and water for the timers, though. That was a lot of work and in a hot environment.
The early morning warm ups in the main pool weren't bad. But obviously if your swim isn't until the middle of the afternoon it wouldn't do you any good to get a good warm up at 7am. And unless you are in the first event after the distance event, I assume most people in the main pool for the 30 minute warm up session are simply there to get a feel for the competition pool walls, water temp, flags, blocks, etc. (as opposed to getting a true warm up). Is that assumption valid that most of you used the 30 minute warm up period just to check out the competition pool?
Here is one idea: give exclusive use of the pool to men for 15 minutes and then to women for 15 minutes (Swimstud can choose either or both since he is the Stud). That way every man and every woman can actually swim laps in the pool. What we saw this past weekend during the 30 minute warm ups looked like a dog paddle exercise. Would that be a better compromise: 15 minutes to actually swim vs 30 minutes of gridlock?
I'm sure Mark Gill would do a stellar job clearing the pool at the 15 minute mark but it would definitely be a challenge to keep the total break to 30 minutes if you have to include the buffer times to clear the pool twice.
Jeff
Mark Gangloff says that warmups were easier at Atlanta than they were at the Charlotte Ultra Swim. He's also in awe of Rich Abrahams :)
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../24218.asp
Here is one idea: give exclusive use of the pool to men for 15 minutes and then to women for 15 minutes
Every coaching clinic I have ever been to - at one point or another talks about separating the boys from the girls in swimming lanes.
Boys LOVE bashing around together.
Girls like to swim in orderliness.
They tell us (coaches) that it has been so for decades and we cannot change the natural order of things.
Besides, it sure seemed like the masters BOYz enjoyed entering the water with a huge presence - like a cannonball!
You've got my vote Mr. Roddin, Chair of the Championship Committee!
Anyone going to a Nationals expecting an uncrowded warmup pool should stop smoking whatever they're smoking. Even Clovis' extra 50 meter pool was crowded with like 25 or 30 extra 25 yard lanes. If you want an uncrowded warmup pool, go to a small meet.
Seriously, the only times I ever remember uncrowded warmup pools in my entire competitive swimming career were either:
very small, in-season meets,
college dual meets, or
first night sessions for distance events
I'm not saying I like the warmup scene anymore than the next guy or gal, but part of the price of admission for getting all that great competition and seeing all those inspiring swims is a whole whack of people in the warmup pool. It's a level playing field, though, as we all deal with it.
Patrick, I agree with you. The difference I see this year is a lot more people were unhappy. And there were quite a few injuries.
I didn't hear any complaints about Clovis. There was plenty of room. In fact, Genadijus even had a couple of lanes.
If you think about it the worst time for the warm up pool is after relays. Way too crowded. That's when I got hurt.
Did anyone else notice the popcorn cooking smell around 10:30 every morning? I was right in the middle of my 1000 when the smell hit the pool. Not what I wanted in the middle of a long, hard event.
Not sure which day it was, but I remember a strong hot dog smell. Gross.
