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Strange swimming question
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 2010-08-31 8:51 AM |
Master  3058    South Alabama |  Subject: Strange swimming questionI have been swimming pretty regularly for the last year and a half-much of it at a local pool (25yds). Yesterday afternoon I drop in for a short swim and notice that I am doing 13 easy strokes to the far end but 15 on the way back with more effort. I even waited at the far end a couple of times to swim back as I thought it could be fatigue. I asked the pool manager if they were doing a flush or maybe draining at one end and she said no. I have noticed in the past that my stroke count is somewhat higher on the way back at this pool but never as pronounced as yesterday. It even seemed that I would slow significantly during my glide in between pulls on the way back-I guaged my slowing by watching the tiles on the bottom of the pool. OK, I may be nuts but has anyone else ever experienced something similar at a pool? I will be swimming at a different pool today so guess I can see if its just me.
Edited by slornow 2010-08-31 8:57 AM |
| 2010-08-31 8:59 AM in reply to: #3073050 |
Elite 7783   PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Maybe the pool isn't level.  I can't say I've ever experienced anything like that. I suppose there could be a current if the input and output for the filtration system was all at one end but I would think a current like that would be noticeable. |
 2010-08-31 9:01 AM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2010-08-31 9:01 AM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Member 12 Valparaiso, IN | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question I have actually suspected for a little while that the 25-yd pool I swim in has a slight current (counter-clockwise). I have no proof, but I must say, I'm glad I'm not the only one. |
| 2010-08-31 9:11 AM in reply to: #3073072 |
| Master 3058 South Alabama | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question axteraa - 2010-08-31 8:59 AM Maybe the pool isn't level. I can't say I've ever experienced anything like that. I suppose there could be a current if the input and output for the filtration system was all at one end but I would think a current like that would be noticeable. Funny-the pool manager actually said that she thinks it slopes down toward the far end and that may be the reason it seems easier going that way. I didn't even go there............ |
| 2010-08-31 9:14 AM in reply to: #3073112 |
| Veteran 523 East Greenbush | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question It could be your push off the wall on the way back isn't as strong as when you start. Or you are not keeping a consistent streamline on your turns. |
| 2010-08-31 9:47 AM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Veteran 348 Cincinnati | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Every pool has a little bit of a current. If you were to put something in the pool that floats it will always end up on one end of the pool. I bet if you look at the end that takes you longer to swim you will find little water jets. All pools have a little current so when leaves, bugs etc fall in the pool they don't just sit there, they float to the filter. |
| 2010-08-31 9:50 AM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Earths rotational effect? |
| 2010-08-31 10:45 AM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Master 1795 Boynton Beach, FL | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question The small wake and water disturbance you cause going down the lane is enough to cause some drag on way back, but if you are stopping and going again that is ruled out. That extra stroke or two could be as simple as your kick off as mentioned or extra stroke to touch wall vs. flip turn at other end. Or you could just be crazy. |
| 2010-08-31 1:03 PM in reply to: #3073236 |
| Regular 101 KDEN | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question crusevegas - 2010-08-31 8:50 AM I was gonna say that! :-)Earths rotational effect? Maybe the pool depth plays into the equation? I'm no expert, but I know in the ocean, when waves come towards the shore, the shallower depth makes a difference in the 'flow' of the water. |
| 2010-08-31 1:07 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Expert 1384 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Hey Randy, That's an odd one. Did you have the lane to yourself? Were you going down the middle of the lane both ways? You don't do something odd like breathe differently one way as opposed to the other? Okay, I'm out of ideas... if there's not a current of some sort (which should be minimal), that's just bizarre! Stu |
| 2010-08-31 3:32 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| 119 | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question You can't count?? Up hill swims suck. |
| 2010-08-31 3:55 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Expert 1203 | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question My experience is not that drastic but I do notice that my left hand meets right at the wall in one direction and requires a short glide (3 feet?) the other. It is even more pronounced on one side of the pool. |
| 2010-08-31 4:00 PM in reply to: #3074428 |
Champion 10018 , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question I used to have this problem when the first few LA Fitness locations came to town. I tried each one and you could actually see the water swirling in the outside lanes. I could swim down in what felt like 30% faster than the return trip. It felt similar to trying to swim during a water aerobics class. I eventually left the gym because of it, but I did tell various managers. I later rejoined and the problem has gone away. I don't see or feel it anymore. So, I am going with some kind of wackadoodle set-up with the pool filtration. Hopefully knowing is good enough. I tried to think of it as resistance training. |
| 2010-08-31 4:06 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Extreme Veteran 959 Greenwood, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question I have noticed the same thing but never wanted to post it. I swim faster going from the deeper end to the shallow end and almost have the feeling of swimming up hill leaving the shallow end going to the deep end. |
| 2010-08-31 4:11 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Champion 5781 Northridge, California | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question There is an actual relationship between pool depth and swim speed, but if this is a short course (25 yard) lane setup, odds are the depth is constant throughout the lane. But if you are starting in a shallow end (under 7') and making the turn in a deep end, then your return leg will get slower as you get into the shallow end. (There's apparently a drag effect when the boundary layer water surrounding you encounters the pool bottom in a shallow pool...not making this up.) So it's possible that when you are going through the shallow end off a strong pushoff and moving into the (faster) deep end, you might have a faster overall outbound leg then when you are stroking into the (slower) shallow end at the (potentially fatigued) end of a lap. Or not. |
| 2010-08-31 4:14 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Master 2356 Westlake Village , Ca. | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Dude, just wear your Garmin in the pool and check the elevation gain... |
| 2010-08-31 4:19 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Extreme Veteran 1175 Langley, BC, 'Wet Coast' Canada | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question How about starting at the opposite end and seeing if you still encounter this? ...not exactly sure what this will show, but it is another variable to toss out there |
| 2010-08-31 4:34 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Master 3486 Fort Wayne | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Is the pool outside? If so t could be wind resistance. My summer swim are outside and notice a similar affect when heading in toward the prevailing winds. If it not outside, I would go with the un-level pool theory. And you should ask the pool manager to post her theory on the pools bulletin board so all the swimmer can be informed of the condition of the water. |
| 2010-08-31 4:37 PM in reply to: #3074375 |
| Expert 1095 C-bus | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Slowboy3094 - 2010-08-31 4:32 PM You can't count?? Up hill swims suck. Drat! You stole my answer! If I want a hard workout, I swim hills!!! |
| 2010-08-31 6:43 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Master 1970 Somewhere on the Tennessee River | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Try counting the number of breaths you take going and coming back. My guess is that you are going in to slight oxygen debt on the way back. Just a thought. |
| 2010-08-31 6:57 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Master 3058 South Alabama | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Thanks for all the interesting responses. The pool is inside, I was the only one in the lane and the pool is only 1-2 feet deeper at the far end where the starting blocks are. I breathe every stroke so no variation there. Swam at a different pool today and did not notice any difference going one way as compared to the other. Will be back at the pool near my house later in the week so I will check again. However, the pool today is salt water and I feel more buoyant in it as compared to the local pool which uses ozone filtration. Maybe I am just super swim sensitive??? Or just nuts as I originally suggested and others have concluded. Randy |
| 2010-08-31 7:02 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Extreme Veteran 542 Pauls Valley, OK | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question Same here. I feel like I swim faster from deep end to shallow end. (9' deep end, 3' shallow end.) I've always just chaulked it up to difference in depth. It's either that or being in Oklahoma, I am faster swimming south because Texas sucks.  Edited by ray6foot7 2010-08-31 7:03 PM |
| 2010-08-31 8:01 PM in reply to: #3074533 |
| Extreme Veteran 411 San Antonio | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question sungirl919 - 2010-08-31 4:37 PM Slowboy3094 - 2010-08-31 4:32 PM You can't count?? Up hill swims suck. Drat! You stole my answer! If I want a hard workout, I swim hills!!! The only way to get better at swimming hills..... is to swim hills!!! |
| 2010-08-31 9:28 PM in reply to: #3073050 |
| Expert 2547 The Woodlands, TX | Subject: RE: Strange swimming question I'd bet money it's the jets in the pool for the pool filtration. There's a pool in San Antonio that hosted a championship meet many years ago and they forgot to turn off the pumps for the meet. Well, in the 50 free (50 meter pool) the people in lane 8 (slowest seed in the race) were winning or hitting the podium every time. Our coach made a paper boat and dropped it in the lane during a break and everyone watched it travel down the lane (no one in the pool). They promptly turned off the pumps. It's not much of an issue any more as competitive pools are built to avoid this, but that kind of thought/money are not used for fitness pools. The only other thing I can think of is that the pool level was a little low and they had the water on to fill the pool up. Of course "your crazy" is also an option. |
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