I am just back from the SPMA meet where all the top finisher were wearing the latest generation tech suits,mostly B-70s(or were named Jeff Commings.)I have here to for been in favor of the suits,but now I am not so sure.First,they eliminate the old bench marks.I went my fastest 100m BR in 5 yr in my LZR,but it was only .3 sec faster than I did untapered 5 wk earlier in my first swim in the LZR.So was my swim good or not,I'm not sure.Also,instead of focusing on technique or pace I found myself ruminating over aspects of the suits,how many more swims did the suit have,is it the right size,was the reason I didn't get better results from my B-70 because it was too big?etc.The B-70 has somewhat mitigated the "too expensive,not durable" problem,but for how long.
Lets say a company comes up with a suit that is much faster,say 4 sec/100.Further that it is very expensive(say $1000) lasts 4 swims and is very hard to make so that quantities are always limited and the fastest way to get one is to bid up to $3000 on ebay. Now lets say your nemesis has one,or that getting one is your best chance to get TT or AA or a ZR or WR,or that your child is close to making JO cuts,or finally beating his/her nemesis etc. Is it worth it and where does it stop?
Jim, it sounds like you didn't build in any time for Creepy Old Man activities here. Heather will be disappointed.
In terms of the 8 lb. wt loss, do you think THAT made a significant difference? The reason I ask is that one of my friends here in Pittsburgh, Glen Battle--he's had No. 1 times twice in the 200 back, SCM--told me he's experimented with this and found he swims pretty much the same times regardless of whether he's a added or lost pounds. He's convinced that it doesn't make much difference.
The yards, however, I am sure make a big difference. I saw you in the well over 500 mile level in Go the Distance.
Do you know what has happened to Jim McConica and Paul Trevisan? It seems that JM hasn't raced since the 25k, and Paul has been missing since last spring. You and Phil Dodson have leapt with ferocity into the evacuated power vacuum of our age group.
Jim, it sounds like you didn't build in any time for Creepy Old Man activities here. Heather will be disappointed.
In terms of the 8 lb. wt loss, do you think THAT made a significant difference? The reason I ask is that one of my friends here in Pittsburgh, Glen Battle--he's had No. 1 times twice in the 200 back, SCM--told me he's experimented with this and found he swims pretty much the same times regardless of whether he's a added or lost pounds. He's convinced that it doesn't make much difference.
The yards, however, I am sure make a big difference. I saw you in the well over 500 mile level in Go the Distance.
Do you know what has happened to Jim McConica and Paul Trevisan? It seems that JM hasn't raced since the 25k, and Paul has been missing since last spring. You and Phil Dodson have leapt with ferocity into the evacuated power vacuum of our age group.
