General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Signifiance difference in swim times between pools? Rss Feed  
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2008-11-03 4:21 PM

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Subject: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?
I noticed that my swim lap times seem to drop quite dramatically between the two pools that I train in for the alleged same distance. I'm not sure if the Ballys pool is just measured long, or if the community pool is measured short, but I seem a good 2-3 seconds and 1 stroke faster per 25m at the community pool. The community pool is about 5-6 feet deep, whereas the Ballys pool is 3-5 feet. Does this seem like a pool mismeasurement or is this expected for the difference in depth?


2008-11-03 4:52 PM
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?
Just guessing, but it sounds like one pool is 25 meters, and the other is 25 yards.  That will make a difference of a few seconds per lap.
2008-11-03 4:55 PM
in reply to: #1784613

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Sensei
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

TriMyBest - 2008-11-03 2:52 PM Just guessing, but it sounds like one pool is 25 meters, and the other is 25 yards.  That will make a difference of a few seconds per lap.

x2.

meters are about 10% longer, so expect a 10% increase in time.  That's what I found out after getting strange numbers at on particular pool a couple times.  I ended up measuring it..  yep, 25 meters.

2008-11-03 4:55 PM
in reply to: #1784613

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

Check out this thread.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=122193&posts=13&highlight=pool&highlightmode=1#M1510529

Edit: I know there was another thread on this subject, that had more info on why some pools are faster than others, can't find it now though.



Edited by dalessit 2008-11-03 4:59 PM
2008-11-03 5:10 PM
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?
Is one deeper than the other? (I see it is)
Does one have more lanes than the other?
Does one have gutters and the other does not?

I would guess the faster pool has one or more than one of those. The water is calmer in the faster pool. Add to that if one's yards and one's meters and you can get some serious time differences.
2008-11-03 5:11 PM
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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?
Have you ever heard that a pool is fast? You will hear that commonly among competitive swimmers. Some pools will make it easier to obtain faster times than swimming in a similar length pool elsewhere. It all has to do with water temperature (colder temps=faster swims), and pool construction.

There were a ton of articles on this during the Olympics as the pool in China was supposedly a "super fast pool".


2008-11-03 6:39 PM
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Expert
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?
I have actually had similar experiences with my local Bally's pool. Either i always swim slower there or its longer. I like to lean towards longer. It is true though, gym pools are not true competition pools. They are functional, but definately effecient or fast.
2008-11-03 7:43 PM
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

'fast' pools are not 2 to 3 seconds faster per 25. At that rate, you would be 12 seconds faster per 100.  Now think that the bejing pool, which is the fastest ever designed would be MUCH faster then that, and we would have seen WR's being destroyed by a lot more then they were.

I've swam in the IUPUI natatorium, where the pan-am games and the USMS lc nats were/are held, and  at around 2:00 per hundred, did not notice much difference between from my usual 'slow' lc pool.

It is much more likley that one is yards and one is meters.  That would account for about a stroke.  

The pool may not even be a full 25 yards or meters.  When I was in grad school, the [school's] pool I swam in was 24.5 yards long.  Turns out the state had a regulation saying that any university with a regulation length pool also had to have the facilities to hold state level meets.  The university didn't want to deal with that, so they didn't put in a regulation pool.

2008-11-03 7:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

'Slow' pools, deep pools, number of lanes, and gutters have nothing, nothing to do with performance.  It's swimming, not microsurgery. At best, under the worst conditions, all these factors make little difference. Even the directions of the jets in the pool shouldn't matter much, as you get the resistance and the benefit by swimming both ways. 

The pool is either off lengthwise, or it's in your head. Just sayin.  Check 'em both.   

 

2008-11-03 8:10 PM
in reply to: #1785070

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Carrollton, TX
Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

The difference between a "slow" pool and "fast" pool isn't going to be noticeable during training, certainly not by a "few seconds" per lap.  That is, unless one is shorter than the other.

2008-11-03 8:22 PM
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Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?
The difference between "slow" and "fast" pools can only be measured with electronic timers and touch pads.  You can't tell a difference with a stop watch.  It's similar to the performance gain you get from shaving vs not shaving -- hundredths of a second per hundred meters/yards.


2008-11-04 6:13 AM
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?
rkreuser - 2008-11-03 8:47 PM

'Slow' pools, deep pools, number of lanes, and gutters have nothing, nothing to do with performance. It's swimming, not microsurgery. At best, under the worst conditions, all these factors make little difference. Even the directions of the jets in the pool shouldn't matter much, as you get the resistance and the benefit by swimming both ways.

The pool is either off lengthwise, or it's in your head. Just sayin. Check 'em both.



Quick, call the International Olympic Committee and tell them their laser measuring of the pools is off.

There's a reason the Olympics this year had so many world records, 9' pool, and extra lane on each side and gutters. Yeah, the athletes did their part too but instead of .01 or .1 second records they were beating the old ones by quite a bit more than that.

That said, I'm still betting it's a yards/meters thing.

Edited by DanielG 2008-11-04 6:15 AM
2008-11-04 9:05 AM
in reply to: #1784512

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

I had a 25 yard clothsline that I have taken to the pools in my area,, the staff will always claim a pool is 25 meters, so I measure it and it's usually 25 yrds.. there are a couple that are about a foot short though and a couple for one gym that are actually 25meters...

just measure it...

2008-11-04 9:00 PM
in reply to: #1784512


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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

I found an article on a triathlon swimming site that discusses the pool length differences and how they effect your swim, which may not exactly answer your question but it does compare time in short course vs long course pools...

 http://www.dobkanize.com/poolLength.asp

 

2008-11-05 2:57 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

Most gym personnel have no clue if their pool is 25 yards or meters.  Don't believe what they say!  That being said, my impressions is that the newer pools are all being built at 25 meters, but I might be full of $h@#....

Brian

2008-11-05 3:00 PM
in reply to: #1784512

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Master
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Tyler, TX
Subject: RE: Signifiance difference in swim times between pools?

Most gym personnel have no clue if their pool is 25 yards or meters.  Don't believe what they say!  That being said, my impressions is that the newer pools are all being built at 25 meters, but I might be full of $h@#....

Brian



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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Signifiance difference in swim times between pools? Rss Feed