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.
Of course, this could all be good natured ribbing between willing and consenting participants. If that's the case, allow me to slink away quietly....
I know you won't be reading this, Midas, since you have me on "ignore"... But, for those of you who may be wondering, this is NOT "good natured ribbing between willing and consenting participants". I have never met Geek, I do not appreciate his posts to me, and I agree with your advice to him to just ignore me.
If I am to be judged by the color and appearance of my font (which I do not put in bold, by the way) rather than who I am as a person, then that person judging me is shallow, in my mind, and not someone I would like to know. Thank you, Midas (if you read this), for at least considering what I may be like in the real world, rather than drawing a conclusion, based on the appearance of my posts. And, no, I will not be bullied by Geek, Wookie, and the others, to change color and font! And, like That Guy, I like Smilies! :bliss:
Last year I swam a 4:21 in the 400 free SCM wearing a B70 full-body. This year at the same meet (yesterday) I swam a 4:35 in FS Pro jammers. I would think if anything I should be in better shape this year. Now, I can't believe the suit made that much difference. I think last year I just had a better meet, but no question the suit made a huge difference.
A positive is that since I refuse to be totally saddened I'm doing new events this season, which is actually increasing my interest in the sport.That's the spirit!
Two years ago I wore my first B70 at the Ron Johnson meet and the same meet this year marked my return to jammers. I amazed myself by swimming fly quite well (only 1.4 secs off B70 best in the 100), but free was horrible (2.6 secs off B70 best). I'd love to blame the suit for all that time off in the 100 free, but I know that that's not true. I learned some things from the meet that I have to apply to my training.
The suits mattered then for times, but they don't matter for enjoyment of the sport. I still loved racing and I'm probably even more motivated about my training now.
You're a lovely person and I'm glad to have met you (online). I respect your opinions and I agree with you frequently. That said, your typeface and color choices drive me up the wall.
:D
(Oh hey everyone, the REPORT POST function seems to work pretty well today. Give it a shot when you see a nasty post. Just sayin'.)
Why thank you, Novaova; kind of you to say. :) And, yes, I know this drives you up the wall, so I at least spared you in our back-and-forth PM's... But, your still stuck with it in my forum posts! :worms:
Cheers!
:chug:
I should point out to all concerned that we will be embarking upon an unprecedented period of unchecked vitriol and soul-searing bile from The Geek: after all, his beloved North Carolina basketball Tarheels (representing true Deep South individualism) are playing like a group of lost and frightened girl scouts and his hated Dookies (quasi-northern surrogate socialists) are Number One. Truly, it is a difficult time to be The Geek...
:lmao:
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.
I would say that we're still in the "old" reality, but we are only now recognizing it. No doubt the suits made people faster. That's why some loved them and some hated them. For me, the suits made me about 1 second faster per 100. But I'm still (relatively) young with a (relatively) fit body shape. The older and more flabby you are, the more the suits probably benefited you.
In terms of comparing to the past, I compare myself to my 17-year old junior year of high school times. Without the tech suit, I'm basically right on those times and I'm very happy with that.
