It’s official – now we have welcomed within the new yr, and with it the following portion of the swim season: the *dramatic pause* lengthy course season. For some athletes, these three phrases cue the ‘Jaws’ theme tune, haunting them as they longingly look again at their beloved brief course swimming pools. For others, this a part of the yr is welcomed with open paddle-clad arms and candy aid. In truth, I’ve discovered that there’s typically a comically distinctive divide between short-course fans and long-course lovers, so that every swimmer tends to belong completely to one of many two teams. In an try to clarify this cut up within the swim neighborhood, let’s check out the professionals and cons of every.
Whereas the brief course season usually solely lasts just a few months, some groups prepare the vast majority of their yr in both a brief course yards (SCY) or brief course meters (SCM) pool as a result of amenities they’re confined to, so these persons are typically extra comfy in these swimming pools. The obvious optimistic side of a brief course pool is having twice the quantity of partitions to push off of. This could be a enormous bonus to somebody who has nice turns and robust underwater kickouts, so folks with a strong kick are inclined to dominate brief course races. That is very true in additional bodily taxing occasions such because the 200 fly, the place lengthy kickouts within the second half of the race will help protect your fatigued arms, or allow you to overhaul one other swimmer who doesn’t get as sturdy of a push off of the wall. In truth, brief course devotees are inclined to despise lengthy course swimming pools for this very motive; being unable to make the most of their sturdy kickout at every 25 meter level leaves them looking out desperately for the wall within the second half of their lap. That is very true for backstrokers who can’t really see the approaching wall forward of them, and who spend copious quantities of time questioning ‘The place the heck are the flags?!’, searching for that beacon of hope that indicators the close to finish of the lap.
Quick course swimming pools, particularly yard swimming pools, additionally have a tendency to look extra fast-paced as a result of fixed turnover from every lap. This will make for extra thrilling races, though those that are pro-long-course would possibly say that this additionally makes it more durable to maintain monitor of mileage in a race or follow. Particularly for distance swimmers, counting out the lengths within the pool all the way in which as much as, say, a mile could be a recipe for catastrophe in a brief course pool for these whose minds wander extra simply. In truth, I’m positive we will all relate to having puzzled sooner or later or one other ‘Wait, was that 800 meters? Or did I simply flip on the 850-meter level?’.
The primary attraction of lengthy course swimming pools, although, is… look ahead to it… how lengthy they’re. Revolutionary, proper? Hear me out, although. For athletes who’re extra rhythmic of their model of swimming, it’s simpler to fall right into a stroke cycle when you might have much less ‘stop-and-go’ factors in a race (i.e. the partitions). There are fewer cases the place you must break your rhythm by turning on the wall, permitting you to as an alternative fall right into a extra pure tempo. Moreover, for individuals who have a tendency to construct their pace all through the size of the pool, having an extended lap offers you a better alternative to speed up to a maximal depth.
As is the case with any good feud, the advocates for all sides are passionate and steadfast. In truth, the most effective methods to fire up a vigorous debate amongst a bunch of swimmers is with the straightforward query ‘Lengthy course or brief course?’. Belief me, folks actually will go the gap (no pun supposed!) to defend their pool size of selection.
