Back from the meet: Erik Vendt's American record in the 1500m is safe! He out-touched me by 9-minutes or so.

Erik Vendt swam his 1500m in Santa Clara; I swam mine in Santa Clarita. His time in the 1500m was 14:54.89; mine was a punishing 24.00.02. (It's the .02 that really gets me. It's just so asymmetrical.)

We had some Masters world records set there today as well and I have to say that the Santa Clarita pool is a superb facility. In fact it is where I do my fastest swimming. (Well, as fast as I can.)

I set a personal best in the 50 LCM in a time of 29.87 despite being super fatigued from the 1500 LCM. (That is a meek explanation and I have to stop that.)

As to how formidable the 1500m is: What was I thinking? Obviously not much for I just don't have the degree of ability or concentration yet to swim that far or as well as I should. Also in the back of my mind I was thinking that I had to save something for the 50 and the 100 and you can't think that way. You have to approach each race as this existential moment in time and you have to just stick to your plan and then storm it.

It really makes you appreciate the "Zen, discipline" in such athletes as Evans, Hackett, Vendt, and of course, Kate Ziegler.

In the 50 I wore a wore a Nike Hydra and I have to say that I am very impressed with the Nike Hydra. It is far lighter than the Speedo Fastskin II, faster and much easier to get on. The compression is outstanding but your airways don't feel constricted in any way.

Every time I have worn the Hydra I have either set a personal best or swam practically on top of it. Don't think Nike is not player in the elite speedsuit category. The most underrated suit is faster than a Fastskin II. Who knew?

The photo above I took last year of the Santa Clarita Aquatic center. It was a during a SCY Regionals meet. I include the photo to give you and idea of what the pool looks like.