Hello!
There is one thing about competitive swimming that I've been having trouble with and I need some advice.
I absolutely love competing in yards - did it in middle school, high school, and college. I didn't start swimming LCM until high school and I've been almost "scared" of it ever since then. When I swim in a yard pool (or even a SCM pool) - I'm fine and I feel fast. When I get in a LCM pool... I feel so SLOW and like someone is holding me back. I don't know if I'm playing head games with myself or what. Water is water. I feel like a different swimmer in a LCM pool and I don't like it. I almost dread practicing in one - why would a swimmer do that? I love swimming!?!?!?! If anyone has experienced this - I'd really appreciate some words of wisdom!
Thanks!
Sarah :p
Parents
Former Member
Your mind and body are conditioned to swimming short course pools. To overcome the feelings you have about LCM pools, you need to train in one regularly and reprogram your mind and body.
I have had the same problem and am working on it. I grew up swimming in a 25 yard pool and swam in 50 meter pools only 2-3 times a year at competitions (and always felt disadvantaged in them and dreaded them). Upon returning to swimming, after about 25 years away, I had the choice of both a 25 yard and a 50 meter pool (both easy access for me). I knew the 50 meter pool would be better (theoretically, for training purposes) but I didn't really want to swim in it, although I decided to start there (since, logically, it seemed the better choice). In LCM, I felt very disoriented at about 2/3 of the way through each lap, and when looking at the bottom when swimming, the deep end seemed so deep, and the distance I was swimming, so long... not what I was used to. So, I went to the SCY after a few visits to the LCM pool... finally decided to go back to LCM a couple months ago (summer crowd/kids in the yards pool contributed to this decision, I must admit), and I felt SO slow... but now, after swimming in LCM 3-4 days a week, it's getting better. I am getting used to the distance. But I notice that in SCY, I can swim several laps with ease breathing infrequently (alternate sides every 6 or so strokes); in LCM, once I cross the point where the pool depth drops, I need to breathe every 3 strokes... its only when I see the pool depth drop that I have to breathe more frequently. And when I swim backstroke in LCM, I am still expecting to see those flags too early, and then it feels like my legs want to stop kicking after a final burst of energy, and my arms expect to have only a few more pulls to the end... but where are those flags, I ask myself (trying not too look around or back or too alarmed)?...
I think if you time yourself, you are probably not swimming slower in light of the extra distance. But your body and mind are aware of the extra energy it takes to sustain your speed for a longer distance, and they are feeling cheated.... they are working hard and are given extra work, and they want to stop, or turn and push off, where they are used to doing it.... just need to be reconditioned over time. And that means swimming as much as possible in LCM pools. But do not fear... after a while, it really does get better. Once you are adjusted to the extra energy expenditure (without the rest at the end or during pushoff after your turn) and to the longer time it takes to get to the end of the pool, you will feel fast again.
Your mind and body are conditioned to swimming short course pools. To overcome the feelings you have about LCM pools, you need to train in one regularly and reprogram your mind and body.
I have had the same problem and am working on it. I grew up swimming in a 25 yard pool and swam in 50 meter pools only 2-3 times a year at competitions (and always felt disadvantaged in them and dreaded them). Upon returning to swimming, after about 25 years away, I had the choice of both a 25 yard and a 50 meter pool (both easy access for me). I knew the 50 meter pool would be better (theoretically, for training purposes) but I didn't really want to swim in it, although I decided to start there (since, logically, it seemed the better choice). In LCM, I felt very disoriented at about 2/3 of the way through each lap, and when looking at the bottom when swimming, the deep end seemed so deep, and the distance I was swimming, so long... not what I was used to. So, I went to the SCY after a few visits to the LCM pool... finally decided to go back to LCM a couple months ago (summer crowd/kids in the yards pool contributed to this decision, I must admit), and I felt SO slow... but now, after swimming in LCM 3-4 days a week, it's getting better. I am getting used to the distance. But I notice that in SCY, I can swim several laps with ease breathing infrequently (alternate sides every 6 or so strokes); in LCM, once I cross the point where the pool depth drops, I need to breathe every 3 strokes... its only when I see the pool depth drop that I have to breathe more frequently. And when I swim backstroke in LCM, I am still expecting to see those flags too early, and then it feels like my legs want to stop kicking after a final burst of energy, and my arms expect to have only a few more pulls to the end... but where are those flags, I ask myself (trying not too look around or back or too alarmed)?...
I think if you time yourself, you are probably not swimming slower in light of the extra distance. But your body and mind are aware of the extra energy it takes to sustain your speed for a longer distance, and they are feeling cheated.... they are working hard and are given extra work, and they want to stop, or turn and push off, where they are used to doing it.... just need to be reconditioned over time. And that means swimming as much as possible in LCM pools. But do not fear... after a while, it really does get better. Once you are adjusted to the extra energy expenditure (without the rest at the end or during pushoff after your turn) and to the longer time it takes to get to the end of the pool, you will feel fast again.
