[email hidden] (SDS) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:Hi all, I've been swimming with a masters team for a few months now... I'm doing it mostly just
for good exercise, but I'd like to try at least 1 or 2 competitions this year just for the heck of
it. I've never swam competitively before, so can anyone provide advice on how to approach masters
competitions? I don't even know what event I should pick, or how I should prepare in the months or
weeks ahead of the competition. Again, I'm not trying to set any records here, just trying to
measure and improve my performance, and most of all, have fun.
Thanks for any thoughts! -Shan
Hi Shan
I took up swimming about 4 years ago and swum in my first masters meet about 18 months after that.
We don't have a lot of meets in this part of the world (Auckland, New Zealand) but I try to swim in
as many as I can. It's great for motivation and goal setting. I always finish well down the field,
but generally not last.
My suggestions for your questions:
Which events to pick - will largely be determined by which events are available. A lot of our meets
only have shorter distances, ie 50m & 100m events, maybe also 200m. Only a few have a full program
of events with 400m and 800m/1500m freestyle events - these just take so long to get through.
You will find that most people swim the shorter freestyle events, and the better swimmers swim the
other strokes and also the longer distances. That's been my experience, anyway.
Also, there is generally a limit on the number of events you can enter. 4, 5 or 6 seems to be a
common one. This excludes relays, which are generally "deck entries" done on the day. I find
swimming in competitions to be way more tiring than doing the equivalent distance just in training -
I think it's the "adrenalin rush" you get standing on the start blocks, and also the fact that you
are pushing yourself a lot harder. I often swim under 1000m in total, including warmups, but feel
exhausted at the end of the day. So if you are swimming a number of events in a day, don't be
surprised at how tired you feel by the last one.
I would suggest maybe finding quite a small meet to begin with, swim the shorter freestyle events,
eg 50m, 100m & 200m, and maybe a 50m & 100m of another stroke if you are strong in it. Use it as a
learning experience.
Preparation - practicing some dives off a starting block is definitely a good idea. Not that you're
necessarily trying to get a fast start, you just want to be sure in your own mind that you are
going to make it into the water safely with your goggles, suit, etc all in place. Some masters
meets allow "in water" starts but they are generally only used by the more elderly competitors. I
always like to practice dives at the warmup sessions at the meet as well, to get a feel for the
blocks and the pool.
I have also found practicing pacing myself at the speed I need to swim for the various distances to
be very helpful. Once you hit the water off that block, it's very easy to go flat out with all that
adrenalin, and be exhausted by the end of the first length. You should have a good "kinetic" feel in
your body of what the different paces feel like, and keep yourself to that pace. Especially in a
200m or 400m event.
On the day - take LOTS of towels. At least 2 or 3. One of those "chamois" cloths that blot off the
water before you towel yourself is a good investment. Take a change of swim suit, or maybe 2
depending on how long the events are spread over. Changing to a dry suit between events really
helps, especially if you start to get cold. Take warm clothing, polypropylene is very good for
keeping warm even when wet. Have plenty to drink but not too much to eat.
And have fun! I know you will.
Let us know how you get on.
Good luck
Liz D
