Racing Suits in Practice?

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

aztimm — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:28:54 GMT

I swam at a city pool for lap swim about a week and a half ago. I felt a bit out of place, almost all the guys were wearing jammers, some even full body suits. I wore my usual mesh drag suit. It was crowded, and I started out splitting a lane with a guy who was wearing a fastskin. This wasn't for just part of his set, looked like he was wearing it for just his whole workout. Very odd to me. He wasn't really very fast, not compared with me at least, and he seemed a similar age.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

ande — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:16:14 GMT

I think it helps to get real familiar with swimming fast under the same conditions and equipment as meets So, I shaved and swam a practice. I have to say, it seems like Ande is on to something with all of his FSII practice swims. Swimming with reduced drag makes for different technique priorities. I had to relax and lower my stroke rate to go fast today. It's a much different feeling, and I'm glad I have several weeks to get used to it. I nearly collided with the wall a couple times.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:54:28 GMT

Hi All my motto (es??) Practice/training time: never wear a competition suit - in fact I am about to try out a drag suit never wear a cap - increases drag with my ears :) use nose clips - rehearses oxygen debt/co2 excess when pushing hardCompetition/race time: local meet - use spare suit national/international meets - use newest and fastest suit always use a cap jettison nose clipResult: cap + suit + no clip gives me the 'focus' the 'superman' feel and massive confidence that I am about to swim the race of my life!try and see what you think! .

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

The Fortress — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:41:12 GMT

So, I shaved and swam a practice. I have to say, it seems like Ande is on to something with all of his FSII practice swims. Swimming with reduced drag makes for different technique priorities. I had to relax and lower my stroke rate to go fast today. It's a much different feeling, and I'm glad I have several weeks to get used to it. I nearly collided with the wall a couple times. I'm not sure, but I think the bodysuit effects my turns. I've had some trouble with turns at meets lately. I think the bodysuit makes me zoomier heading into them. I might try an old racing suit in practice for some turn work. I don't understand wearing a bodyskin or Pro for an entire practice. I've seen men doing it. I saw an age grouper girl doing it the other day. I just kept thinking --you're wrecking your Pro.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

aztimm — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:38:02 GMT

Any idea how much time the drag suit added? I'd estimate the drag suit costs me about 3 seconds for a 200. I rarely do 100s fast, but the next time we do, I'll try my experiment. I typically will wear the drag suit all the time, except for the last 1 or 2 of a fast set. Generally for a 10 x 200 set, my time will vary about 3-5 seconds for the first batch. When I take off my drag suit, I can usually go about 2 seconds faster than I began at. A few weeks ago we did 15 x 50 on 2:00, off the blocks. I held right around 29 to 30 for the first 13. I took off the drag suit for the last 2. #14 was about 28, #15 a high 26. Again, on that last one, I used every bit of energy I had left in me, and had a good race going with a gal in the next lane.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

smontanaro — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:19:16 GMT

I wore my usual mesh drag suit. Which reminds me of something I wanted to ask. I've been using a mesh drag suit at practice since the start of the year. A couple of times the coach has had us do an "all out" set, say 4 x 100 all out with at least a couple minutes between each one. How much is the drag suit costing me in time? The other night I did the first three free and went :22, :20, :18 (last was BR). Any idea how much time the drag suit added? Thx, Skip Montanaro

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:23:36 GMT

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:09:58 GMT

Don't even get me started on the thermostat settings in my house... :eek: Anna Lea Sorry for the hijack but I had to say something about thermostat settings; my parents are not necessarily cheap or really too concerned about saving the money on heating the house, but we have a pretty big house with zones. And my bedroom at home is on one zone that really doesn't overlap anyone else's bedrooms, so at night in the winter it is not uncommon for my bedroom to be at 57degrees (and occasionally it'll dip cooler to a nice 54-55degrees). Needless to say, I sleep in a sleeping bag! And as much as I complain about it while I am home and when I have to get out of bed in the morning--I can't sleep there now when they put the thermostat about 60. Onward with the discussion of racing suits in practice

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

ande — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:19:52 GMT

I agree with testing new racing suits to make sure there are no surprises I'm sure there are those who didn't and wish they did haven't done running dive turn sprints in a while one time I slipped and smacked my thigh on the pools edge Ande I know there are some folks out there that like to use them in workout, for me the only time I ever do is if its brand new model I haven't swam in before and want to be sure there are no surprises. In general i want to show up to a major meet, shave, put on a jammer for warm up and "feel" my taper...and put on a full body only for races. In general if I want to "feel" fast in workout I'll do speed sets with fins (and small paddles at times)...and practice turns with running dives from the side of the pool. Jazz...curious about your wanting to shave for a few weeks prior to nationals...I'm not aware of any swimmers I've trained/raced with that take that approach?

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Paul Smith — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:05:24 GMT

I know there are some folks out there that like to use them in workout, for me the only time I ever do is if its brand new model I haven't swam in before and want to be sure there are no surprises. In general i want to show up to a major meet, shave, put on a jammer for warm up and "feel" my taper...and put on a full body only for races. In general if I want to "feel" fast in workout I'll do speed sets with fins (and small paddles at times)...and practice turns with running dives from the side of the pool. Jazz...curious about your wanting to shave for a few weeks prior to nationals...I'm not aware of any swimmers I've trained/raced with that take that approach?

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Allen Stark — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:30:18 GMT

I always like to shave right before the meet as I get psyched by the increased sensitivity and smoothness,but Wayne McCaully writes that he recommends shaving a couple of weeks before the meet to make sure your turns and stroke mechanics are OK in a shaved state.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:18:32 GMT

Jazz...curious about your wanting to shave for a few weeks prior to nationals...I'm not aware of any swimmers I've trained/raced with that take that approach? There are a couple reasons I want to shave early. I want to get to know the feel that I'll be working with in my actual races, the same reason someone with more money to burn would practice in a technical suit. In my opinion, the closer my practice swims can simulate my races, the better. The other reason is that shaving is a hassle and I'm not good at it. It takes over an hour and it's physically exhausting. I don't want to have to deal with it right before a big meet. If I shave several weeks beforehand, it's a simple re-shave the day before my 50 free at nationals.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:44:41 GMT

Truly cheap people buy polyester suits, they last for years. :applaud: I'm ordering another one now because the one I have had for 4+ years worth of daily chlorine exposure has finally shown signs of needing to be replaced (small tear in suit and strap).

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:09:32 GMT

Truly cheap people buy polyester suits, they last for years.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:18:10 GMT

I am probably not going out on a limb here when I say that I am the cheapest person on these forums. In 20 years of Masters swimming, I don't think I've ever spent more than $30.00 on a suit (and that about killed me). My goal is to keep it at or under $20.00. I have four suits in my "new suit stash" right now that were each less than $17.00. Don't even get me started on the thermostat settings in my house... :eek: Anna Lea

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:42:48 GMT

I have seen a lot swimmers wearing racey swim suits in practice that they would never wear in a race.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

ande — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:52:25 GMT

I think wearing racings suits is important because it allows swimmers to get used to what their racing suit feels like. Plus they should swim very fast times which provides a level of comfort and confidence going into meets. I don't think swimmers should wear a suit for the entire practice, they should do it like a meet. Warm up then change into the racing suit. Is anyone out there besides Ande wearing racing suits in practice? I've never done it before, but was wondering it it's worth the bother to throw an old fastskin on for time periodically or during taper? On an amusing note, the other day, I saw a guy at my pool swim a whole practice with an FS Pro bodyskin. He told me he was a sprinter, and was doing loads of 25s, but still ... A Pro the whole practice?! :rolleyes:

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Redbird Alum — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:51:57 GMT

I've seen a few folks (who may or may not be Masters swimmers) and a few young folks using some pretty expensive racing suits for lap swimming or just for messing around at the pool. I think they like the look.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:05:39 GMT

The technical suits are expensive and they get worn out. But, like Ande says, the feel is important. This year, I'm planning to stay shaved several weeks in advance of nationals.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:54:03 GMT

I've always worn just practice suits in practice and at non-taper timed finals meets. The only time I get any kind of faster suit is if I swim non-taper prelim/final format then I'll put on a tight suit for finals only. I only use the technical suits during taper meets. I will put it on after the general meet warm-up, but I always do a short pre-race warm-up and that is where I get used to the feel and all the confidence for the race. Plus with the price, I am trying to extend the suits use by limiting it's exposure to adverse conditions.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:41:02 GMT

I wear them at practice at one particular time only: My taper for nationals is always two weeks long. At the end of the first week, when I'm starting to feel major bloating from the glycogen build-up (i.e. the water retention that goes with the glycogen) resulting from the taper I will do one day of AT swimming in my regular training suit followed by a day of all-out 100s with infinite rest between. On that second day, I wear one of my race suits because it begins to make me feel like I do in the big meets. I also see the substantial time drops that indicate that my taper is on target.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Former Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:46:20 GMT

I wear a racing suit during practice, in the shower, and on airplanes. I feel like the suit allows me to go just a little bit faster during practice, so it is deffinitly worth it. Also, anytime I shower, i like to have on a fully body suit as it allows me to use less water when bathing and therefore helps the environment. As for airplanes, I wear the suit to help eliminate drag, this allows me to arrive at my destination approximately one tenth faster for every 1,000 miles travelled. On a side note, I agree with using the suit every now and then in practice to get used to it. Ande knows what he's talking about.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

The Fortress — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:13:27 GMT

Hey, in order to BE fast, you have to LOOK fast. And that guy must have LOOKED fast! It's just like the old Saturday Night Live skit, "It's not how you feel, it's how you look. And you look mahhvelous!" I just go an Uglies baggy and I think I may race in it. I like it. I'm so slow, it probably won't matter anyway! You sound like John Smith. lol.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

knelson — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:57:10 GMT

I'm getting a new one I'll save for SCY Nats (maximum mojo). I think the mojo factor is a big one for me. When I put on a technical suit it needs to be for something special. I expect to swim fast with it on. I feel like if I wore it too much it would lose that. Sure, if you get a brand new suit it's probably a good idea to at least try it on to be sure it fits properly. Other than that I would save it.

RE: Racing Suits in Practice?

Jim Clemmons — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:54:30 GMT

I wear a racing suit during practice, in the shower, and on airplanes. As for airplanes, I wear the suit to help eliminate drag, this allows me to arrive at my destination approximately one tenth faster for every 1,000 miles travelled. I take my goggles with me on the plane, not in my checked baggage, in case we have to ditch. :drown: Seriously.