DQ'd

The fews times I have been DQ'd I totally deserved it! All for leaving early on relay starts, and it was indeed me diving (barely making it!) over the incoming relay swimmer's body. I think a toe touch one time! I got sooooo excited and I still smile when I think about how much fun it was!!!! The DQ issue is an interesting one, and one that I have thought about in preparing for races. It's a possibility any time, but not probable. Anyway, here's how I rationalize it: 1. The WORST thing that could happen is that you don't even make it to the blocks. That's a REAL problem, because it means I am either injured or really sick. 2. The next is a bummer, where you can't make it because you have some other commitment, like work. But that's rarely the case. Of course, I was on the witness stand from 10Am to 4PM this past week and thank goodness it wasn't on a swim meet day! I thought i'd only be on the stand for like an hour! Boy was my bum sore! 3. You false start. 4. You swim and get DQ'd 5. You have a "bad" race The question is, Am taking it "too seriously" if I get really upset about it? One thing that has really helped me "take risks" is to race often, that is, not placing "all my eggs in one basket". You might be surprised when, where, and in what event you will do great swims!! This weekend I was all prepared to do a local meet (USA). I was gloating because it's at a very familiar pool, annual local big meet, and while I always prefer masters, the tradeoff is that I would not have to travel. There were many choices for USA or masters meet this weekend! I emailed my entries to the coach on 10/31/10 and he confirm replied on 11/01/10. After a very stressful week (and I never knew I knew so much about bankruptcy, testifying for like 6 hours!!), I packed the car, confirmed babysitting, and then for grins just checked the team website for my entry. IT WASN"T THERE!!!!! Long story short, the coach had not entered me, which is USA entry-speak, meant I was totally shut out of the meet! I spent the entire evening emailing with him, the other coach, and trying to find out if I could still fly out to San Antonio or Long beach, or anywhere on Sat to swim on Sun (no, because no deck entries). The officials were emailing with the coach and at 11:17pm said they didn't know for sure, and that they'd let me know by 7am the morning of the meet........ The next morning I checked and found I was in! Of course, I was placed in Heat 1 of all my events, but at least I would get the opportunity to swim! Drumroll please.......lifetime best in 100 back; masters best in 100 *** (and that's saying alot, since i've been racing since 1993!), and very solid 50 free/100free/100 fly times. I'm glad I still went and made the effort. The point of that story is you win some, you lose some. I still feel so lucky that the officials let me in the meet. My coach said in his 23+ years, they have NEVER allowed anyone that exception. And that fact that they were still doing "meet stuff" way long after the first day was over, I really appreciate all the things that these people do. My sister is now an official, and I know it is physically tough (S&T judges standing for hours in the Az sun!!!) and having to watch 4 lanes, heat after heat, event after event. It is not easy. And she's a volunteer!!!!! And back to the DQ: I pump myself up by saying: The way I see it, I am way long overdue for a technical DQ or a mistake (ie, missing a 2 hand touch on fly, which happened in practice and that was kind of a shock!) I would be disappointed, but not devestated, no matter where or when the event occurs. There are so many opportunities in the span of my career (remaining 40's, then 50, 60, 70's etc!!!) that this will be a blimp on the screen. So just go out there and do it!

The fews times I have been DQ'd I totally deserved it! All for leaving early on relay starts, and it was indeed me diving (barely making it!) over the incoming relay swimmer's body. I think a toe touch one time! I got sooooo excited and I still smile when I think about how much fun it was!!!! The DQ issue is an interesting one, and one that I have thought about in preparing for races. It's a possibility any time, but not probable. Anyway, here's how I rationalize it: 1. The WORST thing that could happen is that you don't even make it to the blocks. That's a REAL problem, because it means I am either injured or really sick. 2. The next is a bummer, where you can't make it because you have some other commitment, like work. But that's rarely the case. Of course, I was on the witness stand from 10Am to 4PM this past week and thank goodness it wasn't on a swim meet day! I thought i'd only be on the stand for like an hour! Boy was my bum sore! 3. You false start. 4. You swim and get DQ'd 5. You have a "bad" race The question is, Am taking it "too seriously" if I get really upset about it? One thing that has really helped me "take risks" is to race often, that is, not placing "all my eggs in one basket". You might be surprised when, where, and in what event you will do great swims!! This weekend I was all prepared to do a local meet (USA). I was gloating because it's at a very familiar pool, annual local big meet, and while I always prefer masters, the tradeoff is that I would not have to travel. There were many choices for USA or masters meet this weekend! I emailed my entries to the coach on 10/31/10 and he confirm replied on 11/01/10. After a very stressful week (and I never knew I knew so much about bankruptcy, testifying for like 6 hours!!), I packed the car, confirmed babysitting, and then for grins just checked the team website for my entry. IT WASN"T THERE!!!!! Long story short, the coach had not entered me, which is USA entry-speak, meant I was totally shut out of the meet! I spent the entire evening emailing with him, the other coach, and trying to find out if I could still fly out to San Antonio or Long beach, or anywhere on Sat to swim on Sun (no, because no deck entries). The officials were emailing with the coach and at 11:17pm said they didn't know for sure, and that they'd let me know by 7am the morning of the meet........ The next morning I checked and found I was in! Of course, I was placed in Heat 1 of all my events, but at least I would get the opportunity to swim! Drumroll please.......lifetime best in 100 back; masters best in 100 *** (and that's saying alot, since i've been racing since 1993!), and very solid 50 free/100free/100 fly times. I'm glad I still went and made the effort. The point of that story is you win some, you lose some. I still feel so lucky that the officials let me in the meet. My coach said in his 23+ years, they have NEVER allowed anyone that exception. And that fact that they were still doing "meet stuff" way long after the first day was over, I really appreciate all the things that these people do. My sister is now an official, and I know it is physically tough (S&T judges standing for hours in the Az sun!!!) and having to watch 4 lanes, heat after heat, event after event. It is not easy. And she's a volunteer!!!!! And back to the DQ: I pump myself up by saying: The way I see it, I am way long overdue for a technical DQ or a mistake (ie, missing a 2 hand touch on fly, which happened in practice and that was kind of a shock!) I would be disappointed, but not devestated, no matter where or when the event occurs. There are so many opportunities in the span of my career (remaining 40's, then 50, 60, 70's etc!!!) that this will be a blimp on the screen. So just go out there and do it!