Ande says train everything and swim anything: U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Ande's Swimming Tips: Swimming Faster Faster
If you read his blog, you can see that he's practicing what he preaches this weekend at his Zone meet.
The idea of getting at least one lifetime top ten in all 53 pool events (I think it was first discussed here TOP TEN - It's all that matters ! - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums and then continued in other threads) is compelling. It's a loooooong term goal because of the number of swims involved and how far from top ten level I am in some of the events. It will probably take decades to get my name into the 50 breaststroke rankings (among others), but I'll keep trying!
If it is for the team :cheerleader:- go for the 6th & points !!:2cents::2cents:
If it's an event that you want to try - do what you want & have fun !:banana:
It is better to enter the event you want to swim.
Exactly! I was going to say the same thing, Swimosaur! :applaud:
'Fly, which event would you enjoy swimming more? Which event presents a greater challenge; one you hope to conquer? For me, my 200 breaststroke time, relative to my 50 breaststroke time, is pathetic. :drowning: I could make it really easy on myself and swim the 50 freestyle instead, but I won't (unless I swim it in addition to the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke events). I am determined to conquer the beast and I want to conquer it, so that's what motivates me to perservere.
Swim what you want to swim and swim the event that would give you greater personal satisfaction. :cheerleader:
What is your objective for this meet?
Is it a season-ending championship where you want to see the culmination of your training?
Is it a team focus meet? Is your team needing a couple of points from your swim?
Is it time to get past a stale spot and try events you haven't swum for a while or have never tried?
Psych sheets do just that = psyche you up or psyche you out.
Being seeded x out of y doesn't mean that's how you'll finish. Seed times don't match performances, people scratch/DQ, deck entries, etc. That's why we have to actually swim! :)
Its mostly hypothetical - I was just psyching myself out by looking at the national sheets where I'm not entered. However in the past, if 2 events I want to swim end up back to back, I have had to choose.
As far as satisfaction goes....I expect to get a LOT of satisfaction completing the 200 fly but am likely to be really slow, so getting, say a 6th place would seem like "cheating", whereas still being able to pull off a fast-for-me 50 fly feels great until I look at the long list of sprinters faster than me. Just wondering how the rest of you think.....
I like the idea of top 10 in everything once, but I'd need to live a long long time to get top 10 in a 50!
Its mostly hypothetical - I was just psyching myself out by looking at the national sheets where I'm not entered. However in the past, if 2 events I want to swim end up back to back, I have had to choose.
What's the dilemma? The 200 fly at Auburn is between the 200 MR, which is no big deal you only have to swim a 50, and the 100 back, which I am pretty sure, based on your posts, you don't intend to swim.
As far as satisfaction goes....I expect to get a LOT of satisfaction completing the 200 fly but am likely to be really slow, so getting, say a 6th place would seem like "cheating", whereas still being able to pull off a fast-for-me 50 fly feels great until I look at the long list of sprinters faster than me. Just wondering how the rest of you think.....
Swimming slow and placing 6th isn't cheating, it just depends on who shows up. You can't control that. (... well I suppose you could try bodily harm, but that *would* be cheating.) Swimming a pr isn't any less of an accomplishment if you get smoked by the rest of the field. I'd say 6th in one of your weak events against a slow field and a pr in a fast field are both satisfying, each in a different way. Try for both I say.
I like the idea of top 10 in everything once, but I'd need to live a long long time to get top 10 in a 50!
I'd like to start with TT in *something* once, and take it from there.
