2010 USMS LCM NATS San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nerves set in for me when the psych sheets came out(and I've been going to LCM Nats since 1975.)That is part of the excitement.The adrenaline is part of swimming as fast as you can.Just remember the real race is with yourself(of course ,yourself was in a tech suit and you're not so it's not a fair race.) I agree about the nerves part -- the tricky part is having the right amount of nervousness. During Nats in Atlanta this year, I was nervous because I didn't think I was nervous ENOUGH the day before the 500. That wasn't good, because I actually *tried* to make myself a little more nervous. Well, it worked TOO well because by the time the real nerves kicked in, I had myself so worked up. I think I actually hyperventilated during the heat before mine as I had to sit down and put my head between my knees. It didn't make for a very pretty race. I hope I have learned to let the beneficial nerves take care of themselves! Thankfully, I've never raced a LCM meet in a tech suit, so I have fewer expectations. :) Hope to meet you there!

Nerves set in for me when the psych sheets came out(and I've been going to LCM Nats since 1975.)That is part of the excitement.The adrenaline is part of swimming as fast as you can.Just remember the real race is with yourself(of course ,yourself was in a tech suit and you're not so it's not a fair race.) I agree about the nerves part -- the tricky part is having the right amount of nervousness. During Nats in Atlanta this year, I was nervous because I didn't think I was nervous ENOUGH the day before the 500. That wasn't good, because I actually *tried* to make myself a little more nervous. Well, it worked TOO well because by the time the real nerves kicked in, I had myself so worked up. I think I actually hyperventilated during the heat before mine as I had to sit down and put my head between my knees. It didn't make for a very pretty race. I hope I have learned to let the beneficial nerves take care of themselves! Thankfully, I've never raced a LCM meet in a tech suit, so I have fewer expectations. :) Hope to meet you there!