AMYMSA Swim Meet

Race: Masters Swim Meet (scy)
Date: November 20, 2011
Location: Greensburg, PA

Event #1: 100-yard freestyle
Time: 1:09.57
Age Group Rank: 3 out of 3

Event #2: 100-yard breaststroke
Time: 1:27.68
Age Group Rank: 3 out of 3

Event #3: 25-yard butterfly
Time: 15.94 seconds
Age Group Rank: 4 out of 4

Event #4: 500-yard freestyle
Time: 7:49.63
Age Group Rank: 3 out of 3

The meet was in Greensburg, not too far from me. I did a 400-yard warm-up. Then I competed in the following four events:
(1) 100-yard freestyle. I swam this in 1:09.57 which is just half a second off my personal best.
(2) 100-yard breaststroke. I swam this in 1:27.68, which is good I guess, but I have not swam in this event before, so I have nothing to compare it to. A swimmer I admire took me aside and said "Your stroke is awesome, but your turns are horrible." He showed me how to push off the wall and delay the first stroke until you are past the backstroke flags. I actually knew of this technique before but it seems awkward and I don't do it. But he's right; if I did the turn right, I could cut 5 seconds off my time.
(3) 25-yard butterfly. I did this in 15.94 seconds which was a big surprise in a bad way. I had a seemingly perfect dive and I felt strong and fast. But this time was off my personal best by 0.13 seconds. Now that is not a lot, so it isn't a big deal.
(4) 500-yard freestyle. I have never swam in this event before, but I exceeded my goal by a lot. I submitted a seed time of 8:30 but swam it in 7:49.63. People told me this was a fast time for someone who just learned to swim three years ago. I beamed in this praise. I don't do any of ths for the praise of others, but it feels good when you get it :)