Let me first say that I had a blast in Atlanta and enjoyed every minute of it (even the last minute of the 1000), so this list is somewhat tongue in cheek:
10. No Starbucks within walking distance of the Hampton Inn.
9. The taste of an Italian soda called "Beverly" at the Coca Cola Museum; it reminded me of viscous lidocaine--what is with that?
8. The stairway access to the pool deck from the stands.
7. Missing out on a medal in the 200 free relay because eight of the teams finishing ahead of us were from "regional" clubs representing entire states.
6. Two swimmers from TXLA trying to recruit my 87 year old father to join their team instead of swimming for Nitro.
5. No Starbucks within walkiing distance of the pool.
4. Turning at the bulkhead, although I nailed all of mine.
3. That one starter who shall remain nameless.
2. Not getting to meet Rich Abrahams, among others.
1. It ended.
I think a speed lane would be good. For those who want to do fast 50's with hard turns, much like the one way sprint lane. In the dive well scenario, you have people revving up, and people cooling down in the same space, and it just doesn't mix.
I have been to meets (maybe USS?) where they had both sprint lanes and "pace" lanes; the pace lane is what you are describing. It is for people to do race-pace 50s or 100s.
I just don't think there was room to dedicate a lane for this purpose. For it to be reasonably useful and true to its purpose, it has to be less crowded than any of the lanes were in Atlanta. And even "hot shot fast swimmers" don't swim fast all the time in warmup (just as they don't spend all of warmup in the sprint lane).
I don't think it's a forgone conclusion that a 2,000 swimmer Nationals is too big. I think bigger is better--up to a point--and 2,000 is probably right around that point for most facilities.
It does depend on the facilities. 2000 wouldn't have been too big for Clovis, which had an entire 50m pool for warmup/warmdown (I seem to recall over 20 lanes).
An 8-lane diving well, with no lines on the bottom and lanes of different widths...well, it required adjustment. Hearing the stories here makes me think that I got off pretty easy: I couldn't do the warmup I wanted, sure -- I doubt anyone could -- but I felt adequately warmed up for most of my races.
The area surrounding the pool is important too. The GA Tech pool area had no problem with 2000 people (and their family & friends), which was nice. I even thought that seats in the upper deck were reasonably comfortable. And it was easy to get food & drinks too.
I think a speed lane would be good. For those who want to do fast 50's with hard turns, much like the one way sprint lane. In the dive well scenario, you have people revving up, and people cooling down in the same space, and it just doesn't mix.
I have been to meets (maybe USS?) where they had both sprint lanes and "pace" lanes; the pace lane is what you are describing. It is for people to do race-pace 50s or 100s.
I just don't think there was room to dedicate a lane for this purpose. For it to be reasonably useful and true to its purpose, it has to be less crowded than any of the lanes were in Atlanta. And even "hot shot fast swimmers" don't swim fast all the time in warmup (just as they don't spend all of warmup in the sprint lane).
I don't think it's a forgone conclusion that a 2,000 swimmer Nationals is too big. I think bigger is better--up to a point--and 2,000 is probably right around that point for most facilities.
It does depend on the facilities. 2000 wouldn't have been too big for Clovis, which had an entire 50m pool for warmup/warmdown (I seem to recall over 20 lanes).
An 8-lane diving well, with no lines on the bottom and lanes of different widths...well, it required adjustment. Hearing the stories here makes me think that I got off pretty easy: I couldn't do the warmup I wanted, sure -- I doubt anyone could -- but I felt adequately warmed up for most of my races.
The area surrounding the pool is important too. The GA Tech pool area had no problem with 2000 people (and their family & friends), which was nice. I even thought that seats in the upper deck were reasonably comfortable. And it was easy to get food & drinks too.
