Choose a distance with which you will be comfortable. What distance can you see yourself swimming continuously, pushing the pace a bit but still being confident -- 500 yards or a mile?
It is common to start in the water in longer freestyle events. This eliminates the dive from the starting block, and you can wear goggles without worrying that they will come off during the dive. (Be sure to check with the starter before you get in the water.)
You can practice "pace swimming" for a longer event. Developing a sense of pace will give you a lot of confidence, for your body will know the feel of the speed it should go in the event. For example, if you enter the 500 freestyle, practice doing five swims of 100 yards each, keeping a constant pace with 15-30 seconds of rest between each swim; if you can comfortably hold a 1:45 pace for 100 yards, aim to do 5 x 100 yard swims, completing each one in 1:45, starting each one every 2 minutes or 2 minute and 15 seconds.
Avoid the major distance disaster -- going out too fast at the start and having the "piano land on your back" later in the event. Doing pace work in training helps avoid this. Another good idea is to use the first 100 yards of the event as a warm-up. Stretch out, settle in, then pick up the pace later if you want.
The bottom line is, not everyone at a swim meet is there for the same reason. As a fitness swimmer, there are Masters events that fit with how you swim, and can make your total swimming experience more enjoyable. There may be Masters open-water events in your area, and these are tailor made for fitness swimmers. If not, look for a 500, 1000, or 1650 yard pool event. Either way, talk other swimming friends into going along, and take the plunge!
Suzanne Rague is USMS Secretary, and a long-time fitness and competive swimmer. |