The last time I raced at Nationals was back in 2021. The 2020 meet was cancelled because of Covid, and the 2021 was moved to December instead of in March. Prior to that I swam just a few events in the 2019 Nationals.

This weekend was the first time since December 2021 that I raced outside of Växjö (in a pool). Prior to the 2016 National Championships I always had my goals set on placing in the top 3. This year I compete in the 50-54 age class and I will be doing everything I can to not come in last place this year, which is not unrealistic that I could be at the very bottom of the results list.

I swam five individual events and was able to swim in one of the mixed medley relays only because we don’t have many swimmers that like to swim breaststroke.

No personal best, but everything I was this weekend was a 50+ personal best time 🙂

 I decided to skip the Friday session with the 400IM and 800 free this year. I had been really thinking about swimming the 800 as a test swim, but getting sick on the 29th of Feb was a breaking point. So my Nationals started Saturday morning with the 50m free and the 100m breaststroke.

The 50m free was more of a warm up and to see if I had gotten any better since our Club Championships in December. It was not an impressive swim by any means, but 31.89 was nearly a half a second faster than 3 months ago.

For the first time since march 2019 I swam the 100m breaststroke. I swam better than expected. 39.55 out and back in 43.98 for 1:23,53 I had problems with my breathing on the 3rd 25m, but was able to block that feeling and swam a strong finish.

At the start of the afternoon session I helped the 4×50 mixed medley relay by swimming 50 breaststroke again and then followed up with the 100 IM.

I had a really good start in the relay, my reaction time was 0.21s. I feel like I swam really well. Good timing into the turn, and into the finish, My time of 36.50 in a long time. If I had one thing that I would do better it would be my first stroke after the breakout. I also know I can improve my kick if I swam more breaststroke at practice.

The 100 IM was the only event during this session I was willing to try. I went out hard in the butterfly, took it easy in the backstroke (too easy) and then pushed myself as hard as I could in the breaststroke and freestyle. My time 38.24- 40.89 for 1:19.13. My slowest 100IM since I started swimming again in 2006. Since 2016 have not been able to swim backstroke with out my heartbeat going to max.

Last day of SM and I would swim the 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly.

First up was the 50m breaststroke. I swam in 36.81, and all things considering I am happy with this. 0.74s faster than I swam in December and it felt so much better.

The 50m butterfly was my last race of the weekend. I felt that I was getting tired after only 35m, but I was able to keep my arms moving. I swam in 35.25, slightly faster than I did back in December.

Not my best meet, but it was my first meet in the 50-54 age group, and now I have something to work with and 12 months until next years Nationals.