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.
Parents
Former Member
So this weekend I re-tapered and re-shaved for our Zones meet in San Antonio. I wore a pair of LZR Elite jammers instead of my Aquablades. In the 400 free I dropped over three seconds from the DAM meet two weeks ago, just six seconds off my best time in a Blue Seventy full body suit. Then, in the 800, I swam a personal best, finishing a full second faster than my goal time. More importantly, I held it together both mentally and physically for the entire race, finally dispatching the demons that have slowed me down in the past. This was probably my most satisfying swim ever. Finally, this morning wearing my Endurance jammers I swam a timed 300 (from a pushoff) ten seconds faster than I ever have before in practice, equalling my 500 race pace in Atlanta (when I was wearing my Blue Seventy).
I am OK with the new reality.
So this weekend I re-tapered and re-shaved for our Zones meet in San Antonio. I wore a pair of LZR Elite jammers instead of my Aquablades. In the 400 free I dropped over three seconds from the DAM meet two weeks ago, just six seconds off my best time in a Blue Seventy full body suit. Then, in the 800, I swam a personal best, finishing a full second faster than my goal time. More importantly, I held it together both mentally and physically for the entire race, finally dispatching the demons that have slowed me down in the past. This was probably my most satisfying swim ever. Finally, this morning wearing my Endurance jammers I swam a timed 300 (from a pushoff) ten seconds faster than I ever have before in practice, equalling my 500 race pace in Atlanta (when I was wearing my Blue Seventy).
I am OK with the new reality.
