US Masters swim meets are scored by age groups, so instead of competing against the entire group of participants, you compete against people your age. Being in the 30-34 age group is kind of a bummer for a new swimmer like me. Most of the girls in that age group swam in high school or college, and they are way fast. But at this meet, there were only a handful of girls in my age group, and they didn’t swim every event. Even though I came in last place in my age group every time I swam, sometimes last place was really second place, and that means a sweet red ribbon.
These were my results: (Just for fun and to keep anyone from saying “next stop, Bejing!”, I put the meet winner’s result in blue, and the Women’s Olympic record in red.)
- 400 Meter Free - 7:20.37 (30 seconds faster than I anticipated!) 5th place! (Out of 5!) 5:11.82, 4:05.54
- 100 Meter Breaststroke - DQ. This being my first time swimming breast stroke, I learned the hard way that you have to finish with two hands on the wall at the same time. But if I hadn’t gotten a pink slip, my time would have been 2:02.14; 1:27:86, 1:06.64
- 200 Meter Free - 3:26.82 3rd place! (Out of 3!) 2:32.40, 1:57.65
- 200 Meter Breaststroke - 4:14.91 (I signed up for this as a late entry to make up for the DQ debacle. As soon as I finished, everyone tried to make the “the official wants to talk to you” joke. But I touched the wall with two hands with authority.) 4th place! (Out of 4!) 3:12.07, 2:23.37
- 100 Meter Backstroke - 2:03.09. That was my only event that felt awful, I was really tired. But not a lot of people swim that race so… 2nd place! (Out of 2!) 1:19.89, 1:00.21
- 100 Meter Free - 1:31.08. I think this is my best event. I was totally happy with my time, which was good despite being wasted from all that above swimming. 4th place! (Out of 4…) 1:09.98, 53.83 (to put some perspective on it, Fanny Durack of Australia won the gold in 1922 with a time of 1:22.20.)
So there’s still some improvement to be made…
I also swam in two relays with the other women on the team. The first day, I swam the backstroke portion of the medley relay, and the second day I swam anchor for the freestyle relay, which was interesting. We were the slowest seeded team, so by the time it was my turn to dive in and swim back and forth in the pool, all the other teams had finished their relays. I had the place all to myself, which possibly could have been embarrassing if my face wasn’t in the water, obscuring all the spectators.
Overall, the meet was much fun. I got to know my teammates better, which was enjoyable, because they’re all really cool, even the guy who home schools his kids to keep them from learning about science. But that’s a story for another day.
The next meet is in July, and then no more meets until the fall, which will give me lots of practice so that I can become twice as fast. Or at least figure out how to enter events that no one else in my age group swims.
21 responses so far ↓
courtney // June 24, 2008 at 9:59 am
Nice job! Now you can just concentrate on shaving roughly a minute off your times and you’ll win the gold in London in 2012. (I think that’s where the Olympics will be in 2012. I’m too lazy to look it up.)
Yup, that’s the one. It’s good to have goals…
3carnations // June 24, 2008 at 10:12 am
Way to go! I could never compete in a swim meet (not a swimmer), so I am in awe simply that you participate!
Participation is sometimes the best reward.
-R- // June 24, 2008 at 10:19 am
I think you did great!
For future reference, the butterfly is a two-hand-touch style also. =)
I’ll keep that in mind if I get my fly down by fall…
Kristabella // June 24, 2008 at 10:21 am
Awesome! I wouldn’t have even finished!
Maybe you could find someone to forge your birth certificate and swim with the 50 year olds. And just tell them you have a really good beauty regimen to stay looking so young.
Yeah, except that the 50 year olds swim fast, too!
Dingo // June 24, 2008 at 10:35 am
Good for you! Did they have a cannonball competition? I could do that.
They totally should!
stefanie // June 24, 2008 at 11:04 am
That last line sounds like my strategy at the “Field Day” events we had in grade school. I always came in last for any event I entered, but eventually I learned that if I picked events that no one else wanted to do, I won ribbons anyway. Yay!
That said, I think you did great! Glad you had fun.
Oh yeah, I think I have zero ribbons from field day.
bing // June 24, 2008 at 11:05 am
Good job at the meet. You must be wiped out after swimming all of those events!
I’ve been DQed before for messing up with the 2-hand touch…jerks! Sometimes I’d swim really zig-zaggy and touch the other person’s lane and be DQed. That was embarrassing!
I am pretty wiped. I also didn’t know until just now that touching another lane is DQ worthy.
The Modern Gal // June 24, 2008 at 11:25 am
I’ll be happy to jump in the pool for your next meet so that you have someone to beat.
I think it’s awesome that you’ve stuck with it.
I actually truly enjoy it.
Adorable Girlfriend // June 24, 2008 at 11:30 am
Sounds like you had a good time and don’t worry about beating others. Do it for you! That’s what matters.
I’m not that worried about it, since I have a lot more work to do before I even come close.
heidikins // June 24, 2008 at 11:31 am
Um…I don’t know how to swim…so all of those little numbers a) don’t really mean anything to me and b) are equally amazing. I won’t drown in a pool, but I certainly won’t ever get to the other side without SERIOUS struggles. Congrats on a fab meet!
xox
I suppose those numbers didn’t mean much to me until about a week ago…
mickey // June 24, 2008 at 11:54 am
The fact that you went 30 seconds faster than you expected sounds like a huge victory to me. Shoot, I’m impressed just by your ability to swim 400 meters at all. I’m not sure I could. It sounds far.
Yeah, that’s a long distance alright.
Laurel // June 24, 2008 at 11:57 am
I think it’s awesome and brave that you’re launching into a competitive sport like this. I mean, I run races, but I’m not really competing against anyone else who I can see or who can judge my performance.
Soon you’re gonna shatter those world records, right?
I’m the kind of person who needs a little competition in order to get better.
alexa // June 24, 2008 at 12:51 pm
i am seriously impressed. that is a lot of swimming and 400 meter. wow.
phew, i’m tired just reading the post!
you are going to kick ass in july. i can feel it
July should be good. Maybe I’ll get a medal!
Anika // June 24, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Congrats! That is fabulous, and I am very impressed!
Thanks!
apollocreed // June 24, 2008 at 1:05 pm
“Next stop, Bejing!”
Sorry.
Someone had to do it…
sadieandleo // June 24, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I’m so happy for your successes, because that is what these are, whatever place you came in.
That’s the way I feel about it, too.
Allie // June 24, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Congrats!
Sure, Fanny whatsername won the gold in 1922, but her name was Fanny.
You can tell the age groups sometimes by the names of the swimmers.
Lara // June 24, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I’m so impressed, Noelle! WOO!
Thanks!
nancypearlwannabe // June 24, 2008 at 5:41 pm
That is super impressive! Coming from the girl that prefers to lazy around a pool in a float with a fruity drink.
Awesome job!
I’m worried that I’m losing my playing in the pool skills. Every time I get in water now, I just want to go fast.
jennifer // June 24, 2008 at 5:47 pm
You wouln’t believe what my children had to go through for me to be able to come and visit you. I finally grouched at them one time too many, and hubby scooped all of them up and took them to his parents.
Yeah BAY-bee.
They are out of here, I have put down the newspaper and boxes, and HERE I AM!
Thanks for coming by to see me regularly. It has sucked out loud not being able to make the rounds to see everyone.
So. What you need is for me to join the competitive swim circuit. I would make you look GOOD. BUT, I CAN do the Dog Paddle 50 in about 10.12.
Jen
I think that’s a respectable time. Welcome back!
Dan // June 26, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Oh my God, you’re like the 3rd person today whose made a Fanny Durack reference.
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