disappointing performance

Were the conditions between this meet's 500 and last year's 500 at nationals comparable? Was the pool as fast this time as last year? Did you wear a similar suit (i.e., body suits both times, or shaved both times, or whatever?) Were you similarly psyched? Local meets don't always get you psyched the same way national meets do. Were you similarly tapered? Doing a great time in the 400 scm on Friday may well have tired you out (or made you feel too cocky!) more than you thought. Were you similarly trained? Did you do as many yards, and as many quality yards, over the course of this season as you did last year? How do you feel physically a couple days after the meet? Was it possible you were coming down with a cold or something and didn't realize it at the time you swam? If you spy no major differences in the respective 500 swims from all of the above questions, you may want to just acknowledge that you're human and sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't. If for whatever reason you didn't have it at this recent meet, all it means is that you've left yourself tons of room for improvement at the next meet. Also, keep in mind that even if you swim 5:00 flat 500s, a 10 second difference is only a 3 percent difference--significant, yes, but not overwhelmingly huge. If you've ever done any weight lifting, the idea that one workout you could lift only 97 percent of the weight of the previous workout would probably not make you feel all that distressed. (Having said that, I know how much it bugs swimmers, myself especially included, when we think we're swimming good by our own personal standard of what consitutes "good" but our times don't reflect this.) Good luck (unless you're in my age group, in which case I want to wish you "moderately good luck"!)

How old are you? Maybe that fast 400 on Friday was a little too much. Maybe just biorhythms?

Glenn, Not to sound too much like a shill for the body suit industry, but I find that the difference for me per 100 with and without the Faskskin is about 2 seconds. Thus your 12 seconds "slower" time without the suit could be almost entirely accounted for by the apparel you were wearing. Others may disagree, and say that the suit's benefit is all psychological, etc. But I think you are worried about nothing here. Wear your Fastskin at the next meet, and I think you will be amazed at the difference in your 500 time.

I find that this time of the year is the hardest for me too. I have allergies and asthma and even though I'm in my best shape in a long time, but I still have difficulty breathing and performing to my best this time of year due to all the allergens.

Jim, Thanks for the vote of confidence! And yes, I will wear the Fastskin at the next meet. I wouldn't go as far as to say it would help me ten seconds worth, but you're right, at the very least it will give me a psychological boost and that is worth some time!! The other factors you mentioned all could certainly be a part of this, but after thinking about it for the last 24 hours, I am convinced that more than anything the real culprit is the asthma this time. The last time I saw my specialist (two weeks ago) he told me my breathing capacity was down about 5 - 10% of usual. I told him that I didn't really notice, since even then I felt my practice times were excellent. He put me on a medication (medrol) to clear up what may be a slight bug of some sort. So, thanks for the advice, I am not going to worry about this anymore, and I will wear the Fastskin at Natls. Looking to go a 5:25. Maybe we will swim next to each other!! :) Glenn

Wayne, Thanks for your thoughts too. I think you are right on. My wife said to me right after the 500 that it looked like I was having trouble breathing. I didn't really notice until I had finished the race and was weezing at the wall. The other Olympic Gold medalist was, of course, Parry O'Brien, the great shot putter. Who else? Glenn

Fisch, I'm 53 and swam a 5:35.34 500 free at last years SCNATS. Jim, Conditions - pool was warmish and murky. It has not been a fast pool for me in the past. Did not wear my fast skin. Tapered, definetly not! Training? I think better than a year ago!! I do think I am much better when the 500 is the first event of the day as it will be at Natls. I was weezing a bit when done with the 500 as I do have asthma... Still, that performance does get to me! Guess I'll just have to get in the pool tomorrow and show it who's boss!!! Thanks, Glenn

Jim: Which Fastskin suit do you wear?

Glenn, Everyone who has allergies/asthma had trouble at that meet. It was close to 90 degrees (eat your hearts out northeast) and the allergans count was very high. I have my asthma in GREAT control with Singulair, yet Sunday I could barely breathe when warming up. Check out my articles on asthma at: www.breaststroke.info/BRST12.htm www.breaststroke.info/newasthma.html Two things were happening Glenn, first the time trial was too close to the meet. That added a little to the meet time. You can't blame the pool, it is a fast pool with plenty of depth. Did you go to any clinics lately to work on your turns and streamline off the walls? A 500 is just a start and 19 turns and pushoffs. It was great to see Brian Goodell swim, his stroke is still perfect. Back when he was Olympic champ, coaches said his head was too low in the water, exactly how we coach it now. He went past the flags every turn! I agree with Jim, the fastskin is worth nearly a dozen seconds, but only if you swim smart with good streamlines. Trivia, who can name the other two (2) Olympic Gold medal winners at the Mission Viejo meet. Results are at www.spma.net/.../MV_scy03Results.htm Wayne McCauley SPMA Chairman

Come on people, there was another Olympic gold medalist in swimming, at our meet. Give you a hint, the medal was won in 1992! Wayne McCauley SPMA Chairman Anyone else getting a headache from these April Fools Day colors scheme?