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?
Leslie, can you recall your first meet that you used a B70? Since you only swim USMS meets, there should be a list on your USMS member page of all your times in all events before and after B70 wearing.
I would like to see the data. Consider posting to your blog the complete list of sanctioned times (and you can include the ones that you did that weren't sanctioned after the fact) in each event you have swum with and without a B70, indicating type of suit.
Posted the data: forums.usms.org/blog.php
Only listed races with 3+ swims.
No huge chunks of time dropping off like Karen. But I've not double suited either. Analyze away. I think the B70 helps you swim fast unrested. I think some of my faster times are complicated by the fact that I've been lifting "heavy" and trying to be "non-weak" for about 10 months now, since Austin 2008. How much this factors into my times depends on how much one thinks weight lifting helps sprinters.
Personally, I still think the B70 helps more in distance events.
Leslie, can you recall your first meet that you used a B70? Since you only swim USMS meets, there should be a list on your USMS member page of all your times in all events before and after B70 wearing.
I would like to see the data. Consider posting to your blog the complete list of sanctioned times (and you can include the ones that you did that weren't sanctioned after the fact) in each event you have swum with and without a B70, indicating type of suit.
Posted the data: forums.usms.org/blog.php
Only listed races with 3+ swims.
No huge chunks of time dropping off like Karen. But I've not double suited either. Analyze away. I think the B70 helps you swim fast unrested. I think some of my faster times are complicated by the fact that I've been lifting "heavy" and trying to be "non-weak" for about 10 months now, since Austin 2008. How much this factors into my times depends on how much one thinks weight lifting helps sprinters.
Personally, I still think the B70 helps more in distance events.
