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.
Didn't get a whole lot of feedback. The meet was well run though.
Were you at the Duel in the Pool? It seemed pretty fast. It was to me, anyway, but that's because I'm still dropping crazy times due to the fact that I only started competing three years ago. I took 8 seconds off my 200 free yesterday (off of times from January 2010) in an Endurance suit with a completely ripped lining because my new one didn't arrive in the mail yet...
I can only imagine what I would do if I could afford a tech suit. Maybe when I hit at training plateau and the PB's stop, I'll start wanting them to be legal!
There is one thing I miss about the tech suits, though. Our team situated ourselves on the platform near the results board, which tended to be a congregation point. There was more than one occasion where my PB&J refueling was interrupted by WAY TOO MUCH CROTCH in my face. I appreciate the human body in its myriad forms, but some people, and their hair, are better served by more fabric.
Didn't get a whole lot of feedback. The meet was well run though.
Were you at the Duel in the Pool? It seemed pretty fast. It was to me, anyway, but that's because I'm still dropping crazy times due to the fact that I only started competing three years ago. I took 8 seconds off my 200 free yesterday (off of times from January 2010) in an Endurance suit with a completely ripped lining because my new one didn't arrive in the mail yet...
I can only imagine what I would do if I could afford a tech suit. Maybe when I hit at training plateau and the PB's stop, I'll start wanting them to be legal!
There is one thing I miss about the tech suits, though. Our team situated ourselves on the platform near the results board, which tended to be a congregation point. There was more than one occasion where my PB&J refueling was interrupted by WAY TOO MUCH CROTCH in my face. I appreciate the human body in its myriad forms, but some people, and their hair, are better served by more fabric.
