Is it possible to compete with a nose clip on?
Due to some sinus problems (so the doc thinks) I need to swim with a nose clip which is ok if I swim just for me, but a couple weeks ago our coach mentioned something about a some competition in the summer...... I feel so stupid wearing this thing on my nose..... Am I the only one? If there a better way to fix my sinus problem? Can it be related to the pool water or am I just making it up? :frustrated:
Rob:
I read your hypothesis on the nose clip for the backstroke. If you believe this theory to be true, wouldn't these same observations for backstroke be true for freestyle? Is it because we are face down that this theory would not work for free? Everything you stated about maximizing the underwater breakouts over surface swimming would be true in freestyle. Michael Phelps is a perfect example of this as an elite swimmer when he swims free. Perhaps because the dolphin kick on your back is harder, faster and more strenuous with streamling requiring more oxgen?
Also, when you raced backstroke with the nose clip, what race distance did you swim that allowed you to have the 4 to 5 yard advantage over swimming with non nose clips? I have experimented with nose clips and have found some interesting observations while using them and will share these observations with what I found out soon. I don't want to highjack this thread so I will report these findings on another thread.
I have never seen you swim backstroke and I am not trying to be funny, but I recall I read here on the forums that you said you got disqualified at the 2004 LC Nationals doing the 50 back in a relay for going beyond the 15 meter mark on your breakout at the begining of the race. I have never seen anybody do that yet in masters and if this is true then maybe you do need the nose clip to stay under that long. That is quite an accomplishment in itself to do that and be able to sprint a good 50 back and not be in oxgen bankruptcy while swimming on the surface.
Rob:
I read your hypothesis on the nose clip for the backstroke. If you believe this theory to be true, wouldn't these same observations for backstroke be true for freestyle? Is it because we are face down that this theory would not work for free? Everything you stated about maximizing the underwater breakouts over surface swimming would be true in freestyle. Michael Phelps is a perfect example of this as an elite swimmer when he swims free. Perhaps because the dolphin kick on your back is harder, faster and more strenuous with streamling requiring more oxgen?
Also, when you raced backstroke with the nose clip, what race distance did you swim that allowed you to have the 4 to 5 yard advantage over swimming with non nose clips? I have experimented with nose clips and have found some interesting observations while using them and will share these observations with what I found out soon. I don't want to highjack this thread so I will report these findings on another thread.
I have never seen you swim backstroke and I am not trying to be funny, but I recall I read here on the forums that you said you got disqualified at the 2004 LC Nationals doing the 50 back in a relay for going beyond the 15 meter mark on your breakout at the begining of the race. I have never seen anybody do that yet in masters and if this is true then maybe you do need the nose clip to stay under that long. That is quite an accomplishment in itself to do that and be able to sprint a good 50 back and not be in oxgen bankruptcy while swimming on the surface.
