Slow Water?

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2008-02-13 6:52 PM

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Subject: Slow Water?
Is there such a phenomenon as slow water?

I swim at two different indoor pools in town. In one that is a few degrees warmer and a little cloudier water I feel noticeably slower and feel like I'm working harder. I notice this right from the beginning of my workout so I don't think it is fatigue from the warmer temperature. My 100 splits are slower too so I'm pretty sure it is not in my head.

Can water temperature and chemistry change my buoyancy or in some other way cause my swimming to become slower?

Thanks,
Warren

2008-02-13 6:59 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
The warm water can make you swim a bit slower even without the fatigue. The body just doesn't dig the warm water quite as much.
2008-02-13 7:02 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
Having been a swimmer for less than a year I might be way off base. But when I told my coach that I want in the lane with the fast water he said there are "fast" pools". There are a number of factors mostly dealing with water turbulence. Things like depth of water, gutters, lane dividers, and drains all can add up to create a slow pool.

I'd be interested to hear what experienced swimmers have to say.
2008-02-13 7:22 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Edited by surfwallace 2008-02-13 7:23 PM
2008-02-13 7:28 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
There are definitely faster and slower pools. Like said above it has to do with gutters and wake and depth and how much wake comes back at you off the walls.

Look at the 2 pools you swim in...not the water quality or clarity.

Does oner have gutters that the water flows over freely and doesn't come back into the pool? Does one have higher gutters where the water only splashes over the gutters? Is one deep? Is one shallow?

Even these few questions will give you some light on which pool will be faster.
2008-02-13 9:11 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
There are fast pools, there are slow pools, there are fast lanes and there are slow lanes. But the only kind of water that is faster is salt water because you will float better.

It is more likely that you are over heating or dehydrating. This can cause you to get a little mentally hazy. However, I do know that I swim faster with less mental effort in cold water. It has to do with me and not the water. I just respond better to cold water.

2008-02-13 9:44 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
There is a regulation water temperature for championship swimming, meaning this is more conducive to fast times. Think about your old science project of a glass of warm water vs cold water. Warm water is cloudy, cold water clear. The water molecules are disturbed in warm water and you are running into them causing frictional drag. Cold water has the opposite effect allowing one to get the through the water more effeiciently. Plus pool construction can have dramatic affects on results.
2008-02-13 10:40 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
Wow! I never thought that different pools were faster or slower but now that I see this post it makes sence. I swim in two different pools, one is a top of the line aquatic center and the other is just a small 25yrd indoor. I have noticed that
I am almost always 5 seconds faster per 100 in the nice pool.
Huh! I just thought I was having good days.
2008-02-13 11:45 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
Could one pool be 25 yards and the other 25 meters? Someone said on here not too long ago that a majority of the indoor pools in the US are 25 yards, but it's something to consider as well. I have that problem between two locations here that I work out at. I always need to remember to change my log for the one pool to reflect meters.
2008-02-14 11:14 AM
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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
Bripod - 2008-02-13 11:45 PM

Could one pool be 25 yards and the other 25 meters? Someone said on here not too long ago that a majority of the indoor pools in the US are 25 yards, but it's something to consider as well. I have that problem between two locations here that I work out at. I always need to remember to change my log for the one pool to reflect meters.


A lot of fitness clubs are less than 25yds... the Ballys by me is like 22 yds.
2008-02-14 11:24 AM
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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
badnews - 2008-02-13 10:11 PM

There are fast pools, there are slow pools, there are fast lanes and there are slow lanes. But the only kind of water that is faster is salt water because you will float better.

It is more likely that you are over heating or dehydrating. This can cause you to get a little mentally hazy. However, I do know that I swim faster with less mental effort in cold water. It has to do with me and not the water. I just respond better to cold water.


Actually I believe salt water is slower than fresh due to viscosity, but, salt water is easier to swim in due to buoancy(sp?).

It is true that cooler pools are faster, to an extent. Much like the running article I read in one of my subscriptions last month (umm, Runners World, Triahlete, or Inside Triathlon) once the temp reaches a certain point it is detrimental. Too warm slows you down, too cold slows you down. There is an optimal temp for running, there has to be one for swimming. Willng to bet Olympic pools are kept at that temp.

2008-02-14 11:43 AM
in reply to: #1210920

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
surfwallace - 2008-02-13 7:22 PM

Centennial Sportslex in Nashville


What a great pool!

Back in high school, a fast pool was worth a few tenths of a second / 100 yds, not a small amount by our standards.
2008-02-14 11:47 AM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
Forget the science behind it.

The way us competitive swimmers tell if the pool is fast is how many world records have been broken in it, and other empirical measures (including how well we do in it).
2008-02-14 3:40 PM
in reply to: #1210925

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
youthfulwarriormom - 2008-02-13 5:28 PM

There are definitely faster and slower pools. Like said above it has to do with gutters and wake and depth and how much wake comes back at you off the walls.


Amen to that...I used to have to swim in the "wall lane" in college and the amount of wake that would hit you off the wall would make me have to work about 10x harder to go the same distance as the people in the middle of the pool.
2008-02-14 5:11 PM
in reply to: #1210925

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?

youthfulwarriormom - 2008-02-13 5:28 PM There are definitely faster and slower pools. Like said above it has to do with gutters and wake and depth and how much wake comes back at you off the walls. Look at the 2 pools you swim in...not the water quality or clarity. Does oner have gutters that the water flows over freely and doesn't come back into the pool? Does one have higher gutters where the water only splashes over the gutters? Is one deep? Is one shallow? Even these few questions will give you some light on which pool will be faster.

x2.  There are fast and slow lane too as previously mentioned.  They talk about that in the Olympics all the time.  They put the best qualifying times in the faster lanes.  Usually the ones in the middle of the pool.

I swim in a pool that only has two lanes without a lane seperator.  I create so many waves swimming by myself that it's almost like open water.  When there are TWO or more swimmers, there is some significant chop.  The waves just bounce off the walls and just get magnified.  The pool in only three feet deep on one side too.  So it is just a nightmare to go fast.  But I fugure I get my OWS simulation in it! 



Edited by Aikidoman 2008-02-14 5:12 PM
2008-02-14 5:17 PM
in reply to: #1212057

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?

ranger5oh - 2008-02-14 9:14 AM
Bripod - 2008-02-13 11:45 PM Could one pool be 25 yards and the other 25 meters? Someone said on here not too long ago that a majority of the indoor pools in the US are 25 yards, but it's something to consider as well. I have that problem between two locations here that I work out at. I always need to remember to change my log for the one pool to reflect meters.
A lot of fitness clubs are less than 25yds... the Ballys by me is like 22 yds.

I have noticed this anomaly as well.  I think gyms just fit what they can in the space sometimes.

I started swimming in a new pool and was easily 5 to 10 seconds slower/100.  I thought I really lost it.  Then went back to my old pool - yep, faster again.  I finally realized I was in a 50 meter pool at the new one.  Whew - I didn't lose that much.  I actually measured them one day.  I measured my arm span and counted "spans" from one end to the other and did the math at home.  25 yd vs 25 meter - confirmed.....

2008-02-14 5:26 PM
in reply to: #1210869

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Subject: RE: Slow Water?
I know that diving wells have soft water and fast pools have hard water. It has to do with the mineral content concentration. You can really tell the difference when you smack your back off a ten meter platform.
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