Hi everyone,
Next weekend is my very first Master's swim meet and I have to say, I'm really quite nervous! I've been a competitive swimmer all my life since I was 6 years old and growing up, competitive swimming was pretty much my life. When I was younger I was a great swimmer..qualified for YMCA Nationals at the Swimming Hall of Fame multiple times, swam for a Division I college, placed in top 10 at MAAC championships, etc
But now, almost 9 years out of college, I'm about 50 pounds heavier:afraid: and am nowhere near as fast as I was when I was in my best shape. I'm trying to get back in shape and lose some weight, and I'm really enjoying getting back into swimming again. I've been swimming with my local Masters team for the past 2 months now and have my very first meet coming up.
The thing is...I'm really nervous about how I'm going to look in my bathing suit compared to all the other swimmers and how slow I'll be. Am I going to be the only overweight and out of shape swimmer there? I'm worried that my times are so slow, that even if I'm in the slowest heat, I'll still be so far behind even the "slow" swimmers in my heat. (For example, one of the events I've entered is the 1000 free. My fastest time in college was 10:24 and I time trialed myself and was 16:02 :blush:)
I know I need to focus on my progress and not worry about everyone else, but I think I still have that old competitive swimming mindset. I'm envisioning all these fit, trim, ripped swimmers and then there will be me heading up to the blocks with my belly and cellulite!:blush:
How was your very first Master's swim meet?? Did you have the same worries/fears?
Thanks for your help, and please, this is my very first post so don't be too hard on me!
Erica :)
The thing is...I'm really nervous about how I'm going to look in my bathing suit compared to all the other swimmers and how slow I'll be. Am I going to be the only overweight and out of shape swimmer there? I'm worried that my times are so slow, that even if I'm in the slowest heat, I'll still be so far behind even the "slow" swimmers in my heat.
How was your very first Master's swim meet?? Did you have the same worries/fears?
Erica :)
When I started swimming again, I went to my first two weeks of workout in a board suit because I thought I was too heavy to wear a brief. I got over that pretty quickly trying to drag that big board suit through a workout.
I went to my first meet 5 months later and didn't really give it a thought. You will enjoy masters meets. Everyone is inclusive and supportive. Usually there are a number of people who are swimming for the first time in a meet. You will see people who start from the side and in the water (don't feel comfortable on the blocks). You may see former olympians and national champions. You will find a lot of people who enjoy swimming and getting together at meets. You won't find judgmental people who care what you look like or how fast you are.
So go and have fun - don't worry, be happy.
The thing is...I'm really nervous about how I'm going to look in my bathing suit compared to all the other swimmers and how slow I'll be. Am I going to be the only overweight and out of shape swimmer there? I'm worried that my times are so slow, that even if I'm in the slowest heat, I'll still be so far behind even the "slow" swimmers in my heat.
How was your very first Master's swim meet?? Did you have the same worries/fears?
Erica :)
When I started swimming again, I went to my first two weeks of workout in a board suit because I thought I was too heavy to wear a brief. I got over that pretty quickly trying to drag that big board suit through a workout.
I went to my first meet 5 months later and didn't really give it a thought. You will enjoy masters meets. Everyone is inclusive and supportive. Usually there are a number of people who are swimming for the first time in a meet. You will see people who start from the side and in the water (don't feel comfortable on the blocks). You may see former olympians and national champions. You will find a lot of people who enjoy swimming and getting together at meets. You won't find judgmental people who care what you look like or how fast you are.
So go and have fun - don't worry, be happy.
