Does anyone else ever have the perception that each pool has one direction that is "faster" than the other? I swear that this is true, but can't really imagine the physics of why it would be so. In particular, it seems to me that going from the deep end to the shallow end almost always seems "faster" than going from the shallow end into the deep end. I speak specifically of 25 yard pools with one end about 12 feet deep and the other end about 3-4 feet deep since I have little experience with anything else. In all cases, the water jets are symmetrical in placement and seem to be pushing out the same amount of water (roughly). These are also indoor pools, so there are no wind effects and we aren't talking about when the water buffalo...err... water aerobics people are creating tsunami in the shallow end.
Or am I crazy? (No cheap shots on that one.)
-LBJ
Former Member
Kevin -
That certainly seems to make sense. It also would explain why my technique always seems more tenuous in the shallow end. Quite similar to getting stuck in one of the outside lanes and dealing with turbulance coming off the walls. Thanks.
-LBJ
Kevin's on to something here. To add to this, two pools in this area come to mind as far as the shallow end is concerned: The Natatoriums at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. If my memory serves me correctly (?), they are both at least 8 ft. deep in the shallow ends, becoming deeper for the diving wells (to 13 ft.). This probably results in a uniform state of non-turbulence, not to mention the use of deep guttering systems and the use of two lane dividers for each lane, even at the lanes on the ends. (Won't this be nice to have in the back yard?) Wouldn't this make an interesting question to ask the likes of Michael Phelps et al?
okay, maybe you all can test your theory about faster in one direction than the other. Go get some swim meet results and look at the splits--add and average every other one. Each swimmer would then have two averages--one going from deep end to shallow then from shallow to deep. Now test to see if there is a significant difference between the directions.
Michael, your post raises some very interesting moral questions regarding the legality of swimmers using VO2 Shampoo to enhance performance especially those with former swimming experience as children. Perhaps we can lobby for many new categories or divisions we can compete in USMS.
• Former age group swimmers who do not use performance enhancing VO2 Shampoo.
• Former age group swimmers who do USE VO2 Shampoo.
• Swimmers who began to swim in later life that DO use VO2 Shampoo.
• Swimmers who began to swim in later life that DO NOT use VO2 Shampoo.
• Swimmers who have larger blood vessels in their arms from weight training.
• Swimmers who have smaller blood vessels in their arms due to a lack of weight training.
• Swimmers who are dedicated.
• Swimmers who are lazy.
• Swimmers on drugs.
• Swimmers off drugs.
• Swimmers with blond hair.
• Swimmers with no hair.
• Chubby swimmers.
• Thin swimmers.
• All the rest.
Of coarse, I suggest this as a serious alternative to the obviously unfair system we currently compete in due to the lack of compassion demonstrated by USMS toward those swimmers who did not swim as a child or currently use performance enhancing methods such as VO2 Shampoo.
Just my thought…and these thoughts are in no way directed toward the management of our fine organization (USMS)…..and they are in no way meant as a personal attack on any poster, swimmer, man, woman, child, dog, cat, fish or foul.
Tom, you crack me up:D :D
I think I have been laughing for ten minutes now. I won't be able to get through practice now, I just know I will think of the poor disadvantaged fish who doesn't use VO2 max shampoo, and will crack up right in mid stroke. Or worse during sex:mad: She would just not get your humor.
It is ok Wayne...I DON'T Get my humor....
Do so, do not, do so, do not, so, not, so....
What ever you do...never laugh during sex.....
it scares the other sheep away....
