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.
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.
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.
