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?
Tossing this thought around.
I pull faster with fins on than I can swim (well maybe not now, I picked up some speed). I believe the fins helped get my balance in an optimum position which I learned to better adopt now without fins.
It is possible that your swimming feedback loop changed with the addition of the B70. Could be that you've gotten used to it and have improved your technique to best fit the suit's design...I still think that the suits may be a great training tool--even if banned for competition. Suit could just be a mental booster too...
It's a thought, maybe ... but I don't think so. In fact, I feel the opposite in one way: I believe the B70s screws up my breakouts and turns, and I don't have a coach to help me resolve these technical problems. I also don't swim with it in practice.
Here's what I could do to test Jimby's theory. Go back to the way I trained in 2007-08 before B70 use. Swim less, do less yards, lift far less, do less drylands, laze around. Then I'll put on the B70 and, if I swim as fast, it's all B70 and nothing to do with my increased or changed training. All improvement was illusory and I can train less and, presto, be just as good. Wow, what a comforting thought ... Don't even have to bother with or worry about tapers anymore, because I can just rely on a B70 to make everything right. Somehow I don't think it'd work out that way ...
Geez, guys ....
There are confounding factors with Karen's improvements too. She (1) skipped a generation, or two, of tech suits, (2) may have the pregnancy hormone assist (Dara, Sheri Hart), and (3) says she's training better for the first time in 9 years.
Most others don't see these kind of time drops. I notice that super well conditioned athletes like She Puff or Chris or Tall Paul don't have these type of miraculous drops. And you can still have mediocre swims in a B70.
Warning: Very cranky. Children with flu with kid and usms meets looming.
Tossing this thought around.
I pull faster with fins on than I can swim (well maybe not now, I picked up some speed). I believe the fins helped get my balance in an optimum position which I learned to better adopt now without fins.
It is possible that your swimming feedback loop changed with the addition of the B70. Could be that you've gotten used to it and have improved your technique to best fit the suit's design...I still think that the suits may be a great training tool--even if banned for competition. Suit could just be a mental booster too...
It's a thought, maybe ... but I don't think so. In fact, I feel the opposite in one way: I believe the B70s screws up my breakouts and turns, and I don't have a coach to help me resolve these technical problems. I also don't swim with it in practice.
Here's what I could do to test Jimby's theory. Go back to the way I trained in 2007-08 before B70 use. Swim less, do less yards, lift far less, do less drylands, laze around. Then I'll put on the B70 and, if I swim as fast, it's all B70 and nothing to do with my increased or changed training. All improvement was illusory and I can train less and, presto, be just as good. Wow, what a comforting thought ... Don't even have to bother with or worry about tapers anymore, because I can just rely on a B70 to make everything right. Somehow I don't think it'd work out that way ...
Geez, guys ....
There are confounding factors with Karen's improvements too. She (1) skipped a generation, or two, of tech suits, (2) may have the pregnancy hormone assist (Dara, Sheri Hart), and (3) says she's training better for the first time in 9 years.
Most others don't see these kind of time drops. I notice that super well conditioned athletes like She Puff or Chris or Tall Paul don't have these type of miraculous drops. And you can still have mediocre swims in a B70.
Warning: Very cranky. Children with flu with kid and usms meets looming.
