Does it just seem that way or do you really swim harder in some pools?

 You would think that there are few external factors that influence your speed in the water. At least, certainly not as bad as walking or cycling. However, there are a few things that can affect your swimming times. That may explain why it is sometimes much easier and faster in one pool than in another. It could of course be between your ears, but there are certainly a few other things that can play a role in that. Then we are talking about the depth of the pool, the edges, lines, water temperature and quality with lifeguard training near me.

Depth of the pool:

According to Sara McLarty – former swimmer and triathlete – the depth of a pool determines swimming times. "Shallow pools are slow because the water recoils quickly from the bottom, but deep pools—like a plunge pool—often feel slow because you can't see the bottom and you don't have a reference point," McLarty said in an interview with Triathlete . It does not mean that a deeper bath is always better. There is a limit. The perfect depth of a swimming pool would be about three meters.

Drainage and lines:

The design of the gutters of a swimming pool also has a major impact on how fast a swimming pool is. In a swimming pool in which excess water flows directly into a well, you are less bothered by waves. Certainly the best Olympic pools have sophisticated systems for this, which makes waves disappear as much as possible.

This also applies to the lines in a bath. For example, there are special lines that 'absorb' waves so that you can enjoy calmer water. Simple lines that mainly serve to cordon off a lane do not do this. The width of the lanes – and thus the distance between two lines – is also important. For example, wide lanes create better conditions than narrower ones.

Water temperature and quality:

It always sounds tempting to finish your workout in a special warmer bath used for swimming lessons or gymnastics. That heat may be nice in the beginning, but after a few laps you quickly get tired of it. Swimming in warm water is not pleasant, but the same goes for cold water. The ideal water temperature for a quick swim would be between 25.5 and 26.5 degrees Celsius.

The chemicals in a swimming pool can also sometimes work against you if you want to swim quickly. "Pools can feel slow if they're not clear or if the chemicals aren't quite right," McLarty told Triathlete. "I get a lot of complaints from my athletes when the chemicals aren't quite right because they're focused on complaining about a 'cotton mouth' feel." If the proportions are not quite right, athletes may have even more difficulty breathing. Anything but ideal if you want to swim a few quick hundred meters.

Speed:

​​The speed between an average job swimmer and an avid sports swimmer is very diverse. There are also major differences between sports swimmers. Something that is determined by technology. It's not a strength sport. In fact, a woman has a slight advantage because she is naturally a bit higher in the water (is that fat still good for something).

The flexibility and speed is determined by technique. A technique that you do not learn during your A or B diploma. A technique that takes a lot of practice. A technique that can be decisive in open water, especially on long distances with lifeguard course near me.

Swimming 500m seems easy for that reason. The whole of the Netherlands saw Maarten vd Weeden swimming the entire Elfstedentocht. What is 500 meters? You don't turn your back on that while walking. But in the water, a 500m for a novice swimmer can easily take fifteen minutes. 15 minutes over 500 meters. Walking would not even take you half the time. You wouldn't even be tired.

Also read about: 9 tips to learn to swim faster