I am a new Masters swimmer, 48 years old, who will be competing in my first meet on March 27 & 28. I haven't competed since 1979 and wasn't that fast then (100yd breaststroke 1:19.6). I don't know my current 100yd breaststroke time, however, my timed 50yd breaststroke diving in from the edge of the pool (no blocks available) was :42.
It has been suggested to me in another thread that I purchase a tech suit for meets. How much time will this save me in short races? I am on a budget and would like use my Speedo Endurance Training suit I purchased on clearance, at least until I get better!
Thanks!
It's definitely all about the fun for me. :D I loved swimming competitively in high school, but dropped off the Jr. College team, because it wasn't fun anymore. Now I have an opportunity for a second chance at this; something I didn't think I would be able to do after major shoulder surgery (for thoracic outlet syndrome).
I started this thread out of curiosity more than anything. It was obvious to me why tech suits were used in the Olympics, but it just seemed like overkill for many Masters swimmers; especially a new one like me who happens to be on a budget. But, I wanted to know just how much time they really shave off a time. Now I know, thanks to the responses on this thread.
Answering your question regarding body type, I'm 5'71/2", 125 lbs. I have long arms and legs, so I have a thinner build. How would a (legal!) tech suit benefit (or not) my type of build?
Thanks!
Elaine
Former Member
The "Only" reason I'm wearing a bodysuit until June 1 is because I'm from the old days of paper suits and have never gotten the opportunity to wear a bodysuit. So now I have about 3 meets to try them out. For my price of entry (very little $) I might as well see what the fuss is about.
Former Member
The "Only" reason I'm wearing a bodysuit until June 1 is because I'm from the old days of paper suits and have never gotten the opportunity to wear a bodysuit.
Wait. Unless you are in the youngish 18-24 age group, wasn't that all of us masters at some point? Old school, paper suit, never wore a full body suit before, want to see what fuss is all about. . . Oh, guess not. I'm sure there are many masters who never will never put on a full body suit. Answered my own question.
And this brings me to my next question. I wish that the coaches who are advising us masters to now lose weight and train harder could advise us to what that actually means.
This direction is so vague it makes me want to pull my hair out. How about some ideal body fat % and BMI ranges for swimmers; distance and frequency of workout goals (doubles? triples? - I hope NOT - seems like too much to me.) I just find it interesting that during the tech suit craze it was all about less is more and now it seems as if I'm being told to train harder and more often.
I'm 38. I have 3 meets (one being Nationals) to wear it. I have an idea of what my times will be in the post June 1 "tech jammer" as I wore a FS Pro Jammer at my last meet. At Nationals I'm pretty sure that most of the Top 20 swimmers will be wearing bodysuits, so will I.
Nope... mine will be a knee skin. I have never worn anything longer than a knee skin and I've actually only worn that one twice. My other "tech"suits are tanks.
I will be looking for you.:D We need to start setting up a "forumite meet up" since there will be a lot of us. As for me, I will be swimming the 1000, 500, 200, 50 free, 400 IM and 50 ***.
Great idea! Hey, I forgot to ask... What age group are you in so I know when to watch for you? I'll be swimming 50 *** in the 45-49 group.
How cool your family will be there! Mine is all out in California (where I am from), so they won't be there to see me. I'll have to get my husband to record one of the races on our camera...
Is this for the St. Patty's Day Meet? In the past, that meet has enjoyed some good swimming, really good. I need to get to that meet one day.
Hey, that was my first masters meet ever. Good memories!!
Great idea! Hey, I forgot to ask... What age group are you in so I know when to watch for you? I'll be swimming 50 *** in the 45-49 group.
How cool your family will be there! Mine is all out in California (where I am from), so they won't be there to see me. I'll have to get my husband to record one of the races on our camera...
I'll be 35-39 age group (I'm 39). Once you get there and meet everyone, we'll all be family :D and be cheering for you. I lived in Oregon for 5 years so I can relate to family being on the other side of the country.
Is this for the St. Patty's Day Meet? In the past, that meet has enjoyed some good swimming, really good. I need to get to that meet one day.
I was asking "Swimshark" about Nationals, but I will be at the St. Patricks Day meet, as well. It will be my first Masters meet and first competition in 30 years! I am going to try not to drown in the 200 ***, my first event. The others will be: 50 and 100 breaststroke and medley relay. This is where I hope to get some decent seed times and compete in Nationals...
Is this for the St. Patty's Day Meet? In the past, that meet has enjoyed some good swimming, really good. I need to get to that meet one day.
I was asking "Swimshark" about Nationals, but I will be at the St. Patricks Day meet, as well. It will be my first Masters meet and first competition in 30 years! I am going to try not to drown in the 200 ***, my first event. The others will be: 50 and 100 breaststroke and medley relay. This is where I hope to get some decent seed times and compete in Nationals...
Elaine, St Pattys was my first masters meet, too. It's a good one to start off with. Enjoy :)
I used to be a Dynamo Master. I lived in GA until 2001 when I moved to Oregon and now Virginia.
