ZMC - Regional Masters Swimming Competition
Sportstad Heerenveen, 4 June 2023
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After the disappointing times realized at the Open Dutch Masters Long Course Swimming Championships in May, I had two more opportunities to try to get qualifying times for the World Masters at the Regionals. The deadline for submitting qualifying times for the World Masters in Kyushu was June 28th. The first regional competition was going to be in two weeks after the Open Dutch Masters in Lelystad and the other on June 4th in Heerenveen. For the competition in Lelystad I was going to swim the 50m ‘Fly, 50m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley. For the one in Heerenveen, the 100m Freestyle and the 400m Individual Medley (aka The Black Widow). For both Regionals there was a possibility to swim one qualifying time in each; but the most probable one was the 100m Freestyle as I was just 0.82” outside the QT for the World Masters.
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Training during the weeks leading up to the Regional went well. I was averaging 4 x 75’ sessions in the pool per week (except each Survival Saturday with the DAW Masters which lasted 110’), 2x dryland sessions (functional weight training) and 4x yoga p.w. Fortunately I went through the weeks with no injury issues and felt strong and confident about the 100m Freestyle.
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The challenge seemed to become even more challenging: should I go for both or focus on the 100m freestyle. After talking to my swim buddies Jackie and Celine and also to my dryland trainer Ata, I made the decision to skip the Lelystad Regional and leave myself a clear run to the Heerenveen Regional. I would have 4 weeks of pool training and Ata was going to put me through my paces on a Tabata (HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training) regime. The strategy was to swim the 400m IM as a warmup to the 100m Freestyle as there were only 40 minutes separating the two starts. The times I had registered in training for the 400m IM were well above the QT for Japan; so I was not going to go all out on that distance and focus solely on the 100m Freestyle – that would give me a good chance to achieve the QT for that distance.
June 4 2023: I was up early to a lovely day. Sun was out and the morning was warming up. I had fruits and Skyr for breakfast. Celine volunteered to drive the 90’ to the pool in Heerenveen, where we would meet up with Jackie. Chatting on the way about allsorts helped me take my mind off what was to come and we were soon parked at the Sportstad Pool, which is a 25m pool. The 400m IM was going to be the third series of the meet; so I made sure I had a good warm-up and then relaxed waiting for the start. I went to the start block well in time and did a few limbering up stretches. Curiously, I felt pretty relaxed about the race and just went through the turns mentally. Finishing the 400m IM was the main objective. I wasn’t going to go all-out on the ‘Fly leg; but focus keeping a steady pace. Ron (our race admin) had entered my start time as 9:47.11 and the QT for Japan was 9:49.05 - nothing like a bit of encouragement – I hadn’t swum the 400m IM in 8 years! The Starting Official called us to the blocks, set and off. I got into the ‘Fly rhythm quickly and had good turns.
The 400m Individual Medley - Butterfly leg
The 400m Individual Medley - Breaststroke leg
The Backstroke and Breaststroke legs felt OK and finally onto the last 100m Freestyle. During the whole race I could hear Jackie and Celine yelling encouragement and I had a fleeting thought: Why? I felt I was swimming well; but well within my limits. I finally touched and could also hear applause – all other swimmers in my heat were much younger and faster, so I was the last one in. I had a quick look at the electronic board; but it was across the pool from me and thought I had swum 9:48 something – just 1” outside the QT. As I got out of the pool both Jackie and Celine came over with big grins and Jackie said: you did it! I had swum the 400m IM in 9:43.45. I just couldn’t believe it – a QT for the 400m IM. Happy and elated at the same time; but I still had to swim the 100m Freestyle in 40 minutes’ time. I needed some proper hydration and to relax as much as possible. No time for celebrations yet!
My start time for the 100m Freestyle was 1:37.82, which I had swum at the Short Course Championships in February, and the QT for Japan was set at 1:37.00. The 40 minute interval flew by and start came round quickly. Before I knew it I was on the start block.
I was confident; but still felt the 400m IM in my legs. The start and turns went well; but the dreaded lactosis was just about to make an appearance on the last leg. I focused on streamlining and my upper body strength, then went to a 6-beat kick for the last 15m. I touched on 1:36.69 - and another QT. That had been a close shave; but then a QT is a QT!
The 100m Freestyle
The meet had exceeded my expectations. I was super happy and elated: Two qualifying times and – still couldn’t believe it – one of them for the 400m Individual Medley! The date with the Black Widow at the Last Chance Saloon was a hit. Jackie and Celine also swam great times. All in all a really successful meet! We headed back home; but stopped at a motorway restaurant for some food (aka burgers, pizzas and chips) and a well-deserved beer.
Over the past months I managed to swim four qualifying times for Kyushu – something I never expected I would achieve!