With all due respect to Ande, who tried to get me to buy a tech suit at Nationals (Ande, thanks for the compliment when you guessed my size, but I would wear a 36 in a tech suit, not a 26.), I respectfully submit my top ten reasons for hating tech suits:
1. $$$ Too expensive. I feel my money was better spent at The Athlete Village, having a video analysis done of my breaststroke. Implementing the tips I picked up from the online coach will help me to swim faster faster than a tech suit.
2. Struggle to put on. In the time it took a couple of gals in the locker room at Nationals to get their suit half-way on, I was out of my street clothes, into my Speedo Endurance suit, and had my bag unpacked and into the locker. And, I had expended a lot less energy than they did. I would rather spend my energy in the pool… :D
3. Too fragile. See Allen Stark’s post about his tech suit blowout- right before his event. I would be steaming big time if I had spent a heap of $ on a tech suit, then have it rip on me. :bitching:
Speaking of steaming…
4. The heat factor. I have heat intolerance medical issues (I love the heat mentally; my body hates it in a serious way), so being encased in a tech suit would exasperate the situation and possibly negate any gain I had made wearing the suit anyway. I was in Sunday’s last event (200 breaststroke) and was wasted by that point, after spending three days in the heat and humidity. :badday:
5. I want an apples-to-apples comparison of my times. I (barely) beat my seed times in two of my events and dropped my time about 2 seconds in another. If I had worn a tech suit and improved my times even more, would that have been a fair comparison- or would it have been the suit? I think a tech suit would have provided a false sense of success and an inaccurate indication as to my level of improvement since my previous meet. Then, post-tech suit, if my times got worse how would I feel then? I wonder how many of the swimmers will feel when they see (possibly) seconds being added back on to their times, post-tech suit? A false sense of success followed by huge disappointment is going to play on many minds, I’m sure. :confused:
6. Wearing a tech suit only exposes the arms and feet. I like to FEEL of the water with more than that. :agree:
7. Claustrophobic; too confining. I love summer, because I get to live in shorts and t-shirts. The less on me the better; it's more comfortable. :)
8. My current ranking #130 of 266 in the 50 breaststroke doesn’t put me in a position to be winning any medals or awards. Where would a tech suit put me in the rankings? #125? #120?? Even #100? Big deal! :rolleyes:
9. Personally, modesty isn’t an issue. At 48, I’m comfortable in my 5’71/2, 123lb. frame. And, I was comfortable in my not-as-fit 150lb pound frame, when I spent six months in Australia, back in 1984, where I spent some of the time relaxing on their nude beaches. Why? Because Aussies are comfortable in their skin and not hung up on their bodies like Americans are. Nude and topless beaches are common in Australia and you will see bodies of all shapes and sizes there. And, nobody cares. :)
Speaking of bodies…
10. Visualize Mark Spitz…1972 Olympics… in a Speedo… :D I was only 10 years old, but, believe me, my eyes were GLUED to the TV- and not necessarily only while he was swimming. Need I say more? Not all Masters swimmers look as good as Mark Spitz in a Speedo, but I saw PLENTY of AARP eligible swimmers out of their tech suits at Nationals that had absolutely stunning bodies- male and female! And, for those who weren’t? So what???
That concludes my :2cents: on the subject!
Former Member
For me and many people I know, this is a dealbreaker. Next year's SCY nationals are local. Most of us never travel for a swim meet, other than occasionally to Tucson or flagstaff. The thought of a $75 entry fee is daunting enough, but then paying hundreds of dollars on top of that for something to be used once simply puts this out of reach. If USMS wants to eliminate the slower local swimmers who would only swim a nationals every 7-10 years, letting tech suits in is the way to go. While it isn't mandatory, none of us wants to be the 2% who stick out.
QUOTE]
You are complaining about a $75 entry fee for a meet in your hometown? A meet where you have the food at home, don't have to pay for travel expenses, and it's probably just a few miles from home for you.
Why don't you just stay home then. You have already admitted to not competing in several years, now complaining about nationals that are cheap deal for you, one where even if tech suits are legal, you don't have to wear them anyway.
Why should usms care what you think, if you only show-up to a meet once a decade. They should be listening to the people that are competing, like Chris, Leslie, Tom, Geek.
Not some blowhard that is so cheap that he complains about the cost of nationals in his hometown.
He said that about me? Wait til our next 50 BR Muppet!! ;)
beware the fat angry guy with a point to prove...
I think we need to leave Elaine alone and be a bit less harsh on her. She stated her opinions and previous experiences on this thread let others to get on her. I don't care about the suits either way, but I have worn them and found it fun and a learning tool. I think with or without them, and maybe because of them, some paradigm shifts in swimming will occur and time will fall.
I feel for those who feel financially resistant to pay for a suit but if they don't they will not rank where they would if all wore lycra only.
That said if I was close to hitting a TT or record...I'd probably suck up and get one if it was the only way to beat the next guy...for me I have way to much to pick up in skill and fitness to worry about the suit for now. I am a purist for my swims, but I care less if anyone else wants to wear them to go the same speed as me....or thereabouts.
Elaine...use whatever font you like.
:chug:
Awwww shucks, Stud, THANKS! :hug::kiss1: :smooch:
P.S. I guess you can tell I like Smilies, too!
Why should usms care what you think, if you only show-up to a meet once a decade. They should be listening to the people that are competing, like Chris, Leslie, Tom, Geek.
Not some blowhard that is so cheap that he complains about the cost of nationals in his hometown.
Wookeroni,
Man, you told him!
He doesn't represent those in USMS that feel like you.
Good job.
P.S. You forgot the asterisk for Bill* and Leslie*.
P.P.S. I have almost finished the next chapter of our book where you and your BFF Bill* come down from a very cold night on Cowboy Mountain. Guess what, your heading to Central California.
P.P.P.S. You still owe me money for the time machine helmet. I have faith that your good for it. You're not a cheap whiner.
Your Pal
So.... is it safe to put my fire extinguisher down now? I was getting worried there for awhile that my laptop was going to burst into actual flames. :afraid:
Elaine-iak,
You shouldn't hate something you've never tried.
Ande
Hey Ande! Welcome to the tornado of this thread! :blush:
I shouldn't have used the word "hate"; it's a bit harsh. I should have said, "Top 10 reasons I have chosen not to wear a tech suit." The only reason I know I HATE (and I don't have to try a tech suit to KNOW) tech suits is the heat intolerance issue I have. And, that's not the tech suit's fault; it's a medical issue I have that I HATE. And, I hate it, because I was in and out of doctor's offices when I lived in San Antonio (four specialists) and none of them could figure out why my body reaches a tipping point and goes haywire. When the doctors couldn't figure it out and suggested I go to the Mayo Clinic for a full study, that's when we decided to leave the 8 months of relentless San Antonio heat (you know about that in Austin...). Now, I live in a community with great indoor amenities to escape to, when I don't want to be housebound. And, that includes an indoor pool. :D
Anyway, back to the subject... Even if I WANTED to wear a tech suit, I wouldn't, because my body shuts down when it reaches that tipping point. Just watch the last half of my 200 breaststroke video and you will see the beginning of that shut down. That night- and the next couple of nights- were, uh, forgetable, to say the least.
I know I told you I wouldn't wear a tech suit until I reach my goals. When I DO reach my goals ("A" category in all three of my events), I will still only get a tank-style suit that keeps my arms, back, and legs exposed. It's a matter of health- and sanity. :agree:
Meanwhile, I don't look down on anybody else for wearing one. Really. (Geek and Fort, are you listening???)
Hey, you rocked on the 200IM record breaking swim and I'm so glad I got it on video for both you and me. I've watched it several times; it's awesome! :applaud:
You stirred the pot.
May I please remind you, once again, I'm a NEWBIE? I just joined in February, haven't competed in 31 years, and DID NOT KNOW there was a pot to stir. I haven't exactly gone back and read every old thread on this website. And, I am new to forums; this is the first one for me.
If I had known there was so much sensitivity on the subject, BELIEVE ME, I wouldn not have "stirred the pot", as you like to put it.
Listen to Stud; give me a break... :rolleyes:
Meanwhile, I don't look down on anybody else for wearing one.
I hear ya! And we have Stillwater for that.
Purists earned their nickname by constantly harping on how the alleged "purity" of the sport was being subverted by suit improvements.
BTW, I have no problems with asterisks myself, though they seem impossibly administratively cumbersome to implement in retrospect. I assume you suggest this "elegant" solution partly in jest.
Fort*
There are ample opportunities for newbies to compete in USMS sanctioned events that are smaller, more relaxed, and less threatening than Nationals. The majority of our members choose not to do so, which is their prerogative. The tech suit is just an excuse. When the suits disappear, they will find other excuses.
I'm a newbie (joined in Feb; hadn't competed in 31 years until this past March) and I competed at Nationals. It was a blast!!! And, if I can afford to go to Nationals next year, I'll be there, too! LCM in Auburn? I've never competed in LCM, but I CAN'T WAIT! :bliss:
No excuses for me! :D
