Just returned from the DAM scm meet in Dallas. The format was slightly different this year, with all events on one day, but the pool conditions were the same. Tapered and shaved and wore Aquablade jammers instead of a full body B70. My training had been solid, and I'd had no recent illnesses.
What I found was a 2 second difference per 100 in the 400. Granted this was the last event (at 11:30 am), and I had already swum the 1500 four hours earlier (which was by the way slower than my 1650 in February also wearing a B70). I plan to retaper for zones in two weeks and swim another 400 (first event of the day). Perhaps I will be able to shave a bit of time off (no pun intended).
Train harder? Train smarter? No--I believe the difference in suits is very real.
Gull,
Funny you mention this. Just got back from my first tapered and shave SCM meet today. I was a little over one second slower in my 50 free and 50 fly and almost 2 seconds slower in the 100IM.
The suits were crazy fast. I stared at the board, I just could not believe what I was seeing considering how hard I trained.
It really is a new reality.
Hearing all of this makes me even happier I ignored advice to get a tech suit for Nationals. Instead, I wore my ugly Speedo Endurance suit and continued to wear it in meets until it died. What will I be wearing at future meets? Another clearance Speedo Endurance suit; but not an ugly one this time!
I don't plan on ever wearing a (legal) tech suit, unless I approach Top 10 times. And, I don't see that happening unless I outlive my competition and can still swim 200 breaststroke without croaking! :cane:
Out of curiosity Rob, were there a number of people who shared the same experience? The results aren't posted yet.
It be should interesting to see how the seed times match up with the final times.
Didn't get a whole lot of feedback. The meet was well run though.
You gotta give up that ghost. That way lies madness and despair!
Agree! I have Alzheimers about my college times.
Gull is correct. The suits definitely make a difference. Exactly how much is still unclear to me, though Gull's estimate for free seem quite reasonable. I think the difference may depend, in part, on body type, size, age, stroke and conditioning.
Since the ban, in SCM and LCM, I've done a couple personal worsts and had some big gaps even in 50s (1.5 seconds off previous tapered times). But in the two meets in question I was either coming off the flu or having taken time off training, so they were not apples to apples comparisons. And I can't seem to do evilstroke at all anymore.
I only have two fairly straight up comparisons in yards in the 50s. At Zones last April, I swam 2 50 frees, one in a B70 and one in a kneeskin. .4 difference. At this year's Sprint Classic (compared to last year), I was .2 slower in the 50 fly, but .4 faster in the 50 back in a kneeskin. My 50 back kneeskin time was actually faster than my time in a Jaked from Atlanta. But that may just have been due to better execution.
I have CZ/NE Champs in a few weeks, so I will have a better sense there. I'm hoping to keep the differential under 1 second for the 50s in SCM. I fear the gaps in the 100s will be much vaster than the 50s though ...
I maintain my previous stance of absolutely hating kneeskins. I don't think they seem any easier to get on either.
I believe the difference in suits is very real.Absolutely. I swam yesterday tapered & shaved and was slower; some of it could be attributed to race implementation (on my 50 free), but I felt in as peak shape as I did back in the suit era and was still slower.
My attitude, though, is of this as a new beginning, a "reset" of my masters' best times. I'll probably always compare to the tech suit times, but I'm trying hard not to care.
Of course, I know the first time I ever beat one of the tech suit times while wearing a jammer, I'll be doing this:bliss::cheerleader::applaud:
I'll probably always compare to the tech suit times, but I'm trying hard not to care. You're way ahead of me. I can't seem to totally ignore my college times, more because there is no technology to point to there.
Just got back from my first tapered and shave SCM meet today. I was a little over one second slower in my 50 free and 50 fly and almost 2 seconds slower in the 100IM.
The suits were crazy fast. I stared at the board, I just could not believe what I was seeing considering how hard I trained.
It really is a new reality.
Out of curiosity Rob, were there a number of people who shared the same experience? The results aren't posted yet.
It be should interesting to see how the seed times match up with the final times.
I can't seem to totally ignore my college times Do you remember what you did at 15 years old? That's a better time standard to shoot for as you age up. :)
My times are now faster in the LCM 50 free and right about the same for 100 back and 100 free wearing a B70 jammer... My main goal for the past LCM season this year was to maintain my tech suit times which I did.
Been training with a bit more intensity and yes it makes a difference. Its not "just" the suit.
Is there a correlation between purists and lectures?
We are not kids, and age does have something to do with the suits helping us not 20-30 somethings more. That does not mean we are old, flabby or need to train more. Many of us who preferred the speed suits are in no need of "manning up" whatsoever -- myself, Gull, Geek, Patrick and Jim Clemmons being examples.
The suits produced faster times. I will try, largely, to not dwell on my speed suit times and start over.
Almost everybody on this board, including you, lectures! It may only *seem* like a lecture when you don't agree with the poster...
