Bainbridge Aquatic Masters
Swimming for Life...
Ten (Dispelled) Reasons Not To Swim in a Meet
Only former age-group/high school/college swimmers compete in meets
FALSE. Many masters swimmers with no previous competitive swimming background enjoy participating in meets.
I'll be the slowest/oldest one at the meet
HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Unless you are in your late 80s/early 90s, other swimmers
will have both of these categories covered. And trust me, these swimmers
are celebrated and cheered on (just as you will be by your teammates).
Everyone will have to wait for me to finish the race
HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Everyone is seeded in heats with swimmers with comparable
abilities/times (not ages or gender).
I can't/don't like diving off the blocks
NO PROBLEM. Swimmers are welcome to start their race with a dive from
the pool deck or, if preferred, in the water holding on to the gutter.
My goggles will fall off if I dive in
IT CAN HAPPEN, BUT there are ways to minimize the likelihood. Talk with
Lynn and your teammates who race for tips. Practice dives in the weeks
leading up to the meet so you feel confident.
I only feel comfortable swimming one event
FINE. Come swim the 50 Free (or whatever calls to you). Maybe Lynn will
put you on a relay for fun. If the meet is at Ray, it's your home pool
with your home team hosting; it's a great boost to try something new (especially
in familiar territory at a low-key event).
I don't have any idea how a meet runs, when I go to the blocks, what
the whistles mean…
DON'T WORRY. You have many teammates/coaches who will be happy to help
you get familiar with the proceedings. After watching a few heats, you'll
have the hang of it in no time.
I'm not competitive by nature
FINE. Use the time you swim a particular race as a marker for your fitness.
Swim the same event each year and see how you improve.
I have bad hearing and won't be able to hear the starter
You have teammates who have overcome this hurdle and will help you do
the same.
DON'T LET IT KEEP YOU FROM COMPETING.
I'll be too nervous
Being NERVOUS before a race IS NORMAL. It just means you care.
Lynn, Lisa, Bernice, and Tara at SPMA Championship