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.
This thread was about the new reality of swimming in a tech free environment and our experiences.
Very well. I have already gone faster unshaved without a tech suit in my 100 free SCM. Less than a second, but faster nonetheless. And over 15 seconds faster in the 800. The events seem to be returning to normal in my age group. The people who I have beaten in the past, but could not in the tech suit era, are returning to the times they have always swum, while mine remain pretty stable.
Southern California hosts about 22 meets per year. Although they seem to be down slightly this year, I believe that there was extra participation last year because of the tech suits' multiple abilities to make one faster and slimmer, while also offering maximum coverage at the same time. Modesty and self image should not be discounted in the mix of reasons to participate or not.
This thread was about the new reality of swimming in a tech free environment and our experiences.
Very well. I have already gone faster unshaved without a tech suit in my 100 free SCM. Less than a second, but faster nonetheless. And over 15 seconds faster in the 800. The events seem to be returning to normal in my age group. The people who I have beaten in the past, but could not in the tech suit era, are returning to the times they have always swum, while mine remain pretty stable.
Southern California hosts about 22 meets per year. Although they seem to be down slightly this year, I believe that there was extra participation last year because of the tech suits' multiple abilities to make one faster and slimmer, while also offering maximum coverage at the same time. Modesty and self image should not be discounted in the mix of reasons to participate or not.
