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
There is a big difference swimming in a 50m pool. Most of it is 'confidence'. The big pool does intimidate in a number of ways.
1- As the pool bottom is further away from you, the feeling of speed that you get from watching the lane line zip under you is lessened. So you feel that you are moving more slowly.
2- The "mid pool sag" as you realise that you still have a long way to go before the turn also demoralises you.
3- The turns are harder. I found that judging when to initiate the flip was more difficult. The end wall goes up a vertical foot from the water, unlike a 25m pool. This makes you feel that you are closer to the wall than you really are.
I used to regularly swim in a 50m pool when I was in Canada. However after living in the UK for 1 year and only swimming in a 25m pool, I entered the National Masters LC.
I have always been proud of my turns, glide & Breakout ( they are probably better than the rest of my swimming ! ). However, in my 1st event the 1500m free; on my first turn I barely made contact with the wall and I NAILED only 4 turns after that.
That was due to the higher end wall, I had allowed for the other factors but was caught out by that. By the end of the meet, in other events the turns did improve. Experience in a 50m pool does give a big advantage.
There is a big difference swimming in a 50m pool. Most of it is 'confidence'. The big pool does intimidate in a number of ways.
1- As the pool bottom is further away from you, the feeling of speed that you get from watching the lane line zip under you is lessened. So you feel that you are moving more slowly.
2- The "mid pool sag" as you realise that you still have a long way to go before the turn also demoralises you.
3- The turns are harder. I found that judging when to initiate the flip was more difficult. The end wall goes up a vertical foot from the water, unlike a 25m pool. This makes you feel that you are closer to the wall than you really are.
I used to regularly swim in a 50m pool when I was in Canada. However after living in the UK for 1 year and only swimming in a 25m pool, I entered the National Masters LC.
I have always been proud of my turns, glide & Breakout ( they are probably better than the rest of my swimming ! ). However, in my 1st event the 1500m free; on my first turn I barely made contact with the wall and I NAILED only 4 turns after that.
That was due to the higher end wall, I had allowed for the other factors but was caught out by that. By the end of the meet, in other events the turns did improve. Experience in a 50m pool does give a big advantage.
