Why go to Nationals..?

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Former Member — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:25:45 GMT

I went to short course yards nationals in Atlanta knowing I did'nt stand a prayer in medaling in any race (and I did'nt). However, I volunteered as a lane timer (at times that did'nt interfere with my races) which gave me free parking, a free shirt, snacks, and the best part of all..... I got to watch and meet past and present olympians and some real inspirational people race from deck level.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Jimbosback — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:50:42 GMT

Have fun! When you find out how great it is, we'll plan on seeing you in Greensboro next year. Hoping to go, and hoping to move up a few heats by then too!

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

TRYM_Swimmer — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:34:16 GMT

I just wanted to say that the online registration for Nationals was one of the best laid-out and easiest to use online forms ever. Super that all my member info was auto-filled and all the options were right there and easy to understand. See you in Mesa. Have fun! When you find out how great it is, we'll plan on seeing you in Greensboro next year.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Jimbosback — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 09:56:06 GMT

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Jimbosback — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:28:47 GMT

Just wanted to update. I still really want to go, but I am waffling. So, I have decided to put my fate in my performance in the Valentine's Meet I'm swimming. If I feel good in my 4 events (50 Fly, 100 IM, 50 BR, 100 BR) and my times have not gotten worse, I am going to go to nationals. Well, I had a pretty good meet. Day 1 was great. I dropped my 100 IM by 1.58 (didn't quite break 1:10) and dropped my 50 Br (LCM conversion) by over 2 seconds. Day 2, I warmed up too early, and there was a delay, and I felt myself tightening up, swam a little until I felt good, but had a tight 50 fly. Cruised it, only breathed twice, was hardly out of breath at the end, but could not turn on the jets and went .5 off my best. 100 Br, I also felt a little tight at the beginning and went out too slow but still beat my best by 1.6. I just have to make the flights work, and I'll be there in the slow heats at nationals. Now to map out a training plan (and figure out how to properly warm up at a long meet). :applaud:

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Former Member — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:21:08 GMT

... if you are not going to beat anybody? Because it's fun to go, hang out with people.... and with big teams like mine, hang out with your friends and teammates.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

orca1946 — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:26:31 GMT

Can you swim both the 1000 & 1650?

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:50:45 GMT

As much as USMS Nationals is our prestigious championships each season, it offers so much more than high level competition. There are hundreds of my friends I only see in person once or twice a year at Nationals. I LOVE it and have never had a disappointing time at one of these meets! And people I have never seen at a meet or workout, show up on deck to support their swimmer or participate in relays. It's wonderful. The dinner gatherings after the meet each evening are a social mingling highlight. You can count on a huge venue with lots of places to meet each other or sit for a quiet chat - or a pre-race meditation. If you need advice on anything swimming, there are experts all around the pool deck. USMS and their clubs don't throw a bigger party than the National Championships! (add Paul & Laura Smith into that mix and it is a guaranteed great time) Posted the registration link on my Facebook page... the hardest part is deciding what to swim! www.usms.org/.../

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Michael Heather — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 05:51:19 GMT

Without stepping on Pat and Paul's feet, there is a lot to do and see around ASU, including Frank Lloyd Wright's last commission, the Grady Gammage Auditorium. Close and easy to walk. Almost all of the rest of my suggestions would be 35 years old.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Chris Stevenson — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 05:31:51 GMT

Wow: thanks, Patrick!

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Patrick W. Brundage — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:33:28 GMT

Here are some initial thoughts: Cultural Heard Museum (http://www.heard.org/): best for Native American history/culture. If you're done swimming and they're cooking up fry bread, get it and enjoy! Museum of Instrument Museum as Paul mentioned above Scottsdale Galleries (www.scottsdalegalleries.com) -- a wide mixture of styles and easily walkable with loads of restaurants and watering holes to stop into Phoenix Art Museum (http://www.phxart.org/) -- art-lovers have told me this was better than they expected. Maybe their expectations were lower thinking that we're some desert outpost. Hiking My favorite "visitors trail" is Pinnacle Peak (www.pinnaclepeakpark.com/) because this trail gets you out of the city, has great natural scenery and is moderate. Chris, this would be perfect for your parents. About 45 minutes from Kino. If you do this mid-morning and want a greasy burger in an old western outdoor setting, head over to nearby Greasewood Flat for lunch (www.greasewoodflat.net/). Phoenix Mountain preserve (phoenix.gov/.../hikphgud.html) has a great mix of trails for differing abilities/desires. The most popular (but not easy) is Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak), basically a stair climber to one of the best view points in the valley. By May, you'll probably want to hike this early. About 30-35 minutes from Kino pool. Camelback Mountain, as mentioned. South Mountain Park (www.phoenixasap.com/south-mountain-park.html) has endless miles of hiking for all levels and desires. Eat at the Farm at South Mountain (www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com/) when you're down in this area. Nature I'm not a huge fan of our zoo (the habitats are sometimes so good for the animals that you can't see them!), but it's about 20 minutes from the Kino pool and will allow you to see a lot of the desert animals that you normally wouldn't see back east or up north. If you love desert landscaping and cacti, the Desert Botanical Garden (http://www.dbg.org/) is practically next door to the zoo and a great place for a stroll. Oh yeah, if you've got energy left and want to get a head start on your long course training, come swim Monday morning at Cactus Pool at 5:30am with one of the greatest Masters Coaches in the country, Laura Winslow! If you're actually interested in this, better PM me around the meet to see if Laura's going to be there Monday morning. She's working much of the Nationals meet, so she might have a substitute coach. I made some restaurant recommendations here: U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums - View Single Post - 2011 Spring Nationals - Mesa, AZ. PM me with any specific things you're interested in and I'll do my best.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Muppet — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 01:58:59 GMT

To me, swimming is an individual sport first and foremost. Some of the races against other swimmers are great, and when you have enough teammates to do relays and/or compete for a team banner, that makes it more fun. But in the end, it is just you against the clock. I've never come to Nationals with my goal to beat someone (other than desire to be faster than my fiancee's 200 backstroke) or to finish in a certain position, though that National Champion title would be nice. To me, Nationals has always been about a time on the clock. So Jimbo, and any other wafflers, my advice to you is that if you want to set a goal for yourself, why not make it Nationals? Train for it, taper for it, shave, maybe buy a nice suit... and who knows, you may surprise yourself!

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Patrick W. Brundage — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:46:01 GMT

Hopefully, there will be lodging left when I make the decision.The greater Phoenix area is built around tourism and by that time of April many of the snowbirds will be gone. There will be loads of lodging. Even if you head up into north Scottsdale or downtown Phoenix, you're 20-30 minutes from the pool outside of rush hour.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Paul Smith — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:29:17 GMT

I am staying an extra day after nats for touristic stuff...would appreciate any suggestions you throw our way! Chris, call..email...or Facebook me and let me know what you are looking for? One thing that I haven't done but hear great things about is the Musical Instrument Museum: http://www.themim.org/ Hiking Camelback Mountain if you have anything left in your legs: phoenix.gov/.../hikecmlb.html Or a day trip to Sedona??

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

aztimm — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 07:18:38 GMT

Hopefully, there will be lodging left when I make the decision. There are always hotels here, it is just a matter of how close you want to be to the pool. If you decide to go and can't find something, shoot me a PM. Since I live here, I may be able to help. As for going or not, I went the last time it was here in Arizona but had a rather bad experience and skipped my last event. Really put a bad taste in my mouth and turned me off from all meets until last year I finally did one. I'll be out of town when it is going on this year, competing in a running race across the country.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Chris Stevenson — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 07:00:09 GMT

Let me know what interests you and how much time you have ... cultural historic hiking nature casinos chowing down ... ... and I'll do my best. Hopefully some of the other Arizonans on the forum can chime in. Cultural, historic, nature. I'd love to do hiking, but I'll have my parents with me too and they can only handle so much... Thanks! Looking forward to it.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

orca1946 — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 05:44:33 GMT

Unattached ha ha ha :d

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

knelson — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 04:25:41 GMT

I am staying an extra day after nats for touristic stuff...would appreciate any suggestions you throw our way! Last time I was there I visited Taliesin West. Pretty much a must-see for Frank Lloyd Wright fans! www.franklloydwright.org/.../Tours.html

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Elaine Krugman — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 04:18:49 GMT

I really hate SCY and had been planning to skip Mesa for hundreds of reasons,but the meet is just so much fun I changed my mind and decided I had to go.(Now if I could just get over this :censor: cold so I could actually train for it.) :applaud::applaud::applaud: Hey King Frog (Bull Frog?), I'm glad you decided to go! I'll look forward to seeing you out there! Are you and your wife making a vacation out of it? Bruce is coming out with me! :bliss:

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Patrick W. Brundage — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:19:37 GMT

I am staying an extra day after nats for touristic stuff...would appreciate any suggestions you throw our way!Let me know what interests you and how much time you have ... cultural historic hiking nature casinos chowing down ... ... and I'll do my best. Hopefully some of the other Arizonans on the forum can chime in.

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Allen Stark — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:17:21 GMT

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Chris Stevenson — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:10:53 GMT

The greater Phoenix area is built around tourism and by that time of April many of the snowbirds will be gone. There will be loads of lodging. Even if you head up into north Scottsdale or downtown Phoenix, you're 20-30 minutes from the pool outside of rush hour. I am staying an extra day after nats for touristic stuff...would appreciate any suggestions you throw our way!

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

jaadams1 — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:54:42 GMT

I'm going to go this spring for the sun-tan. I'll be the darkest person in town when I return, or at least red as a lobster. :banana:

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Jimbosback — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:15:43 GMT

RE: Why go to Nationals..?

Michael Heather — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:47:16 GMT

Although it is always a temptation to let decisions ride on performance, remember that there will be about 1600 other people there who generally have the same questions you do (remember that there is only 1 winner in each event), but also have other reasons to go. Those with excuses have many more opportunities to miss the event. It is a very social atmosphere. You may make friends with someone you have never known, or reconnect with someone from the past. It is very difficult to walk the length of a pool at nationals without seeing someone you know. It is a cocoon from society and work. the few days you spend there are almost devoid of outside rancor and news. It is all swimming and smiles. Arizona in April is glorious. I spent 2 years in school there and have fond memories of nearly every day. No suit spinners are necessary, just get out of the pool and your suit will dry in about 5 minutes, on you or off. And the biggest secret that is not one at all - if you want to place in an event, swim the 200 fly. Even if you are slow, men and women alike will all think you are a god for even trying.