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.
Former Member
For me it was 2.9 seconds slower per 100 in comparable 1500 LCM efforts.
The races were one year apart. One year older with the slower suit, but very similar training for both.
So glad I wasn't competing during the "speed suit" era - saved me some cash, and now some tears! I still can't forget my old high school times, but luckily, as I age, their veracity seems more and more unlikely!!
How do you ladies even consider wearing knee skins? They are so ugly! I'm not sure I'm fast enough for an expensive "tech suit" to make any difference anyways!! I'm nervous as heck about entering my first masters meet in over 10 years! Yikes - can I dive in with a towel around me? and over my head?
I've shed nary a tear about my new personal worsts. Moved on. That's why there's no need for any purist gloating (not saying you're doing it!). As Geek noted above, we are merely trying to get a handle on the time differential under the new scanty suit regime.
I absolutely hate kneeskins. Hate them. But I will wear them because they are faster.
The first meet is always nerve wracking, but you'll be happy once it's over. Just wear a warm up suit up to the block until you're about to swim. No harm in that and it will keep your warm.
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.
Geek is not a shallow person. He happens to be one of the nicest people I have ever met. Geek was stating his opinion about your comments.
I wasn't referring to that specific post. Instead, I was referring to his past (relentless) harassment about my choice of color and font- and Smilies. That goes for you, too. And, now that I think about it, I remember Geek making some not-so-polite comments regarding my taste in music, on that thread. Shallow. Very shallow. And, he sure isn't nice on the forums! I've lost count of the PM's I have received from people who think he is NOT nice at all. As a matter of fact, I received another one today.
Regarding my comment about being glad I didn't wear a tech suit, I will, again, reiterate that I am not judging and did not judge OTHERS for wearing them. (Although, I will admit to poking fun at watching them struggle to get them on at Nationals, in the locker room! :lmao:Let's just say I have never seem a group of gals rattle off a string of profanities quite like that... :censor:) I just don't think it was the right thing for ME. I know myself well enough to know that seeing a drop in times post-tech suit would have been depressing. Geek thinks it was a mistake; I don't. I am not a purist or righteous in my attitude about tech suits; I just didn't see it as the right thing for me, as a newbie Masters swimmer who didn't even make any NQT's for last Nationals. I have now qualified in 50 breaststroke, but I'm still way off for the 100 and 200 breaststroke.
Someday (or year), when (not if!!!) I get to the level where I am making NQT's in all my breaststroke events and I'm getting to the level of somebody like Alison (Swimshark) with my swimming :bow:, I'll step up to the plate and treat myself to a legal tech suit for Nationals. But, don't plan on seeing me in one in 2011.
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.
Geek is not a shallow person. He happens to be one of the nicest people I have ever met. Geek was stating his opinion about your comments.
It would be much more respected if someone with swimming chops, like Chaos, chimed in with his opinions on the topic.
i agree with peter.... tar heels are losers. (what sport are we talking about?)
And, he sure isn't nice on the forums! I've lost count of the PM's I have received from people who think he is NOT nice at all.
much as i hate to, i would concur with the wook; geek is pretty OK in person,
this might mean that some of the other forumites are actually human as well... (anyone want to touch this one?)
