I don't even know what questions to ask, or what to tell you about me.
I swam senior year in high shool and my first year at a small liberal arts university. I loved it. Wished I had started younger and wished health issues hadn't led me to quit.
I got back in the pool May 2010 (20 years later) just to do something productive with my time (improve my fitness) while I was at the Y for my daughter's swim lessons.
"Everyone" I knew started saying to me, "Oh, you swim? You should do triathlons." Even though I can't run, I have been giving triathlons a shot and having fun.
I just came across a masters swim meet in Cedar Falls, IA on March 5th. The organizer responded to my e-mail with, "Yes, it is as simple as filling out the registration form and mailing it in with payment!" So I'm definately going to do this.
Uh, now what?!?!?!?
What should I expect at this meet? What do I need to do to get ready in about a month's time? Oh, and I'm worried I'll do something "stupid" and get DQ'd.
More about me, if you want to know...
I train with the local tri club 1 hr/day, 4 day/week: 2 of indoor cycling, 2 of swimming.
I do 2-3 other general fitness workouts each week. Starting Feb 13th, I'll be able to get to the pool for about 40 minutes of swimming.
My 10 year old daughter (who has graduated from swim lessons to swim team) is teaching me backstroke flip turns and having fun coaching me.
:blah:
Well, that brings up another concern… I haven't gone off a starting block in 20 years. I assume I'll get to practice it in warmups at the meet. Other than that, I don't know if I'll have an opportunity due to the no diving rule at the Y.
If you are worried about diving off of the blocks, you don't have to. I have seen plenty of swimmers of all ages start from the side.
Do you have a team with a coach that you can warm up with? I didn't go off of a block for quite a few years and found it helpful to have someone at least start me for the warm ups and give me things to work on for the next race.
Couldbebetterfly/Louise, thanks for the welcome. I love your username. The websites for local groups around here seem, uh, less than helpful. But I will resort to e-mail and the telephone if I have to!
Orca/Oz, thank you! I am having a lot of fun.
Michael, I would try to claim I detest bad puns… but just look at my username. -hangs head in shame-
New question… I saw on the "rant thread" folks, well, ranting, about people who put NT as their seed instead of estimating it. I assumed the time column on the entry form was for official times, and I don't have any official times.
Should I time myself on the events I plan to do and put those times on the form? For example, I want to do the 500 free. The last time we did a timed 500 in practice I got 8:37. Should I put that on the form?
Well, that brings up another concern… I haven't gone off a starting block in 20 years. I assume I'll get to practice it in warmups at the meet. Other than that, I don't know if I'll have an opportunity due to the no diving rule at the Y.
I hope to go faster than 8:37, as that was well into the workout when he sprang it on us. But if I put NT, won't that put me in a heat that's even slower? Or am I deluding myself into thinking that there is anyone (other than triathletes ;) ) who is slower than me?
In other words are estimates allowed, or is the entry form looking strictly for official times?
So one could put whatever they want in for a seed time?
Since this is my thread anyway :lmao:, I just want to brag on my 500 time a little:
Jan 4 (9:28)
Jan 18 (9:07)
Feb 1 (8:37)
My husband thinks it's "great," but I'm not sure he "get's it." And my daughter seems peeved that I'm faster than her and getting faster.
At my meets around 80% of the swimmers round their entry time to the nearest second for short events. For longer events they are often rounded to the nearest 5 seconds. Enter your best estimate so you will get a competitive heat.
So one could put whatever they want in for a seed time?
Since this is my thread anyway :lmao:, I just want to brag on my 500 time a little:
Jan 4 (9:28)
Jan 18 (9:07)
Feb 1 (8:37)
My husband thinks it's "great," but I'm not sure he "get's it." And my daughter seems peeved that I'm faster than her and getting faster.
In short - yes, put in whatever you want! I have just entered my first ever 500 free (used to swim 400 SCM in the UK ermm 5 or so years ago) and put in a time that I think is achievable, and hope to beat by 5 secs - although I swam a full 24 seconds slower than said entry time this week:blush:
Also depending on the size of the meet, there may well be just a couple of heats, so you could be swimming with a massive range of ages and abilities anyway. I still think its better to enter an estimate than no time at all.
As for blocks, you will get a chance to practice in warm-up, but if you're doing distance you can afford to take the dive a bit more gently (if that's the right term) than if you were doing a 50.
PS: Username = story of my life.........good, but could do better
PS: Username = story of my life.........good, but could do better
She says this, then crushes everyone every meet when she does her "meet marathon" (50 fly, 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM)
She says this, then crushes everyone every meet when she does her "meet marathon" (50 fly, 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM)
OK so I admit, the 400IM is an event I want to do before I'm 40. Hmmm not even sure "want" is the right expression. However - it involves 3 backstroke turns, so can wait a good year or 2.
How did you know about my "meet marathon" past anyway?
New question… I saw on the "rant thread" folks, well, ranting, about people who put NT as their seed instead of estimating it. I assumed the time column on the entry form was for official times, and I don't have any official times.
Should I time myself on the events I plan to do and put those times on the form? For example, I want to do the 500 free. The last time we did a timed 500 in practice I got 8:37. Should I put that on the form?
This was one of the questions I had about trying to register for an event. I have never competed in a USMS event before so I don't have any time recorded. I am interested in competing in the spring nationals and was told by the event coordinators I needed to list a time if I wanted to compete in the 50 & 100 free. So, do I list my average from my practice swims?
