Today I happened to swim in a different pool (25 yards) due to the repair of the one I go to on a regular basis.Well, nothing seemed to be any different that usually(except of course fewer strokes per length and other related things when you switch from 25 m to 25 y.) until when I started swimming breaststroke I noticed that somehow I was swimming smoother going one way, but when going to the other end of the pool it did not feel the same.I was very confused, so I decided to time myself on one length of the pool going one way and the other.Well, i was shocked to discover that the difference in time bettween the smooth direction and the "not so smooth one"(going back) was 2 seconds!!!And I timed myself 5 times there and back to make sure i was not seeing things or something, I was swimming the same way there and back, too, by the end I even tried to swim better back, but the times still differed by around 2 seconds.
That is one of the weirdest things that ever happened to me.What do you think the reason is for that?
Also note: I took the same exact breaks between the lengths.
P.S.I am not going back to that pool again...
Former Member
All I meant was that there is a definate current going on in the pool and rushing towards lane 1. Just trying to give somewhat of a visual--no need to get all technical on me.
I have read that water depth can be a factor in swimming speed. Shallow pools allow turbulance to "boil" back up at you. Notice that all the super-fast pools are usually of uniform depth, and are fairly deep (6 ft or more.)
It is possible that your "fast" direction was when you were swimming toward the deeper end of the pool. As you returned to the shallow end, your own turbulance was building up under you as the depth got shallower and shallower.
And I could imagine this being most noticeable on breaststroke.
Addendum: I can see this being a factor, but it's hard to say that it would cause two seconds difference.
This is actually pretty common. Even some big competition pools have a current. Ft. Lauderdale's HOF pool has one that's pretty well known. Swimming from the diving well end to the scoreboard end in a 50, you really want to be in lane 8. At regions a few years back, I can remember out of the 6 heats at finals, lane 8 had two firsts, two seconds, and two thirds. When people time trial the 50 there, they usually request lane 8 or lane 7. And there's not even a waterslide in the pool ;)
I remember the Cleveland Nationals, where I went faster on the odd lengths (I could see on the scoreboard how far behind my goal pace I was), and slower on the even lengths (when I remembered how much more of the race I had to swim). :D
I have to say I get that same feeling of going smoother in one direction then it is to go the other. I never really put to much thought in it. I just assumed I must be swimming differently going the other way. Now I am wondering if it is the pool. Maybe I should try timing myself both ways, too, and see if there is a difference.
For those travelling swimmers, you should be aware that in the southern hemisphere the pools are also faster/slower but in the opposite direction to here. But don't worry about it, I'm told this is due to the correolis effect mentioned above.
And Phil, I'll have to check out the clock thing. At our pool the only thing I've noticed about our clock is that it speeds up during sets. At the beginning of the set everything is cool but near the end everyone is struggling to make the interval. Mysterious huh??
Originally posted by Ian Smith
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And Phil, I'll have to check out the clock thing. At our pool the only thing I've noticed about our clock is that it speeds up during sets. At the beginning of the set everything is cool but near the end everyone is struggling to make the interval. Mysterious huh??
I hate when that happens!:)
