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.
If attendance is down, it'll be hard to isolate the causes for sure. Maybe some people stay away because they can't use the suits. But I believe a lot of people were intimidated about competing by people wearing the suits too. Maybe bringing more of those folks into the fold will offset the former tech suit wearers who refuse to compete.
Nice chatting with you. Now I will go back into message board hibernation for a month or two!
hahaha
As far as I can glean, it appears to be easier to lose existing competitors than to recruit new ones right now. Though I guess based on anecdotal evidence it's hard to rule out the intimidation factor.
I'm not sure "refuse" to compete is quite the right word. I suspect it will be more a matter of not swimming as many meets or not swimming as many events.
If attendance is down, it'll be hard to isolate the causes for sure. Maybe some people stay away because they can't use the suits. But I believe a lot of people were intimidated about competing by people wearing the suits too. Maybe bringing more of those folks into the fold will offset the former tech suit wearers who refuse to compete.
Nice chatting with you. Now I will go back into message board hibernation for a month or two!
hahaha
As far as I can glean, it appears to be easier to lose existing competitors than to recruit new ones right now. Though I guess based on anecdotal evidence it's hard to rule out the intimidation factor.
I'm not sure "refuse" to compete is quite the right word. I suspect it will be more a matter of not swimming as many meets or not swimming as many events.
