Week 10 = First O/S Swim
So I've been putting off any swimming since my last 70.3 in September. It's been killing me mentally, but I've enjoyed it physically. I have told myself all along that I will get back to work in Jan. Before you preach EN-ness, I don't mind the committment, I need the technique work to get up to the 'fast enough' point. So January, well, here we are...
Starting yesterday, I commenced the plan to do 1h of technique work on off days. Few things I have noted.
> Taking 3 months off of swimming when you are not a good swimmer kills your technique & my shoulders are on fire.
> Just like the EN mantra goes, swimming really does take alot of time. Never fully realized it before b/c I hadn't done all my workouts on trainer/treadmill. But man o man, to pack a bag, drive to gym, change, shower, swim, shower, drive home. Geez. Whereas an hour on the bike takes 1:05 all in, an hour in the pool takes nearly 2h.
Either way, it felt good to get wet & chemically. Lots of work to be done, but just focusing on technique I think will help loads.
-Ed
Comments
@Ed - find a good technique coach! One session is worth its weight in gold!
Matt Sullivan and I went to masters last night with CBD. The small pool was drained so the team was at the big pool (50M long course) and luckily the water polo team wouldn't share. 50LCM would have been very very ugly for the 'welcome back to the water' session. I haven't been in the pool since the first week of August!!!!! My last race was South Shore Tri that was the last time I was in the water!
Resuming twice a week now..
If I don't fall asleep on the couch tonight after work (because of the hardass Wednesday interval run I just did at lunchtime), then I'm supposed to hit the Masters swim tonight in the 25m pool. Right now, I'm about 50/50 on whether or not I'll make it past the couch.
I agree with Hayes though, going straight into a 50m pool would be tough. I'm sure I'll barely be able to make 25m repeatedly.
Heck, at the beginning of summer, after swimming for months already, when I move from a 25m pool to a 50m pool, it's hard enough.
What Hayes said. The exercise of getting to the pool was what I really needed practice with so I view the night as a success. I will be returning 2 nights a week. Giving it another go tomorrow night.
If I could fit CBD masters into my work/sleep schedule, I'd be all over it. Unfortunately it's just not realistic.
Even the 25s at DePaul were hard last night, trust me. I'm going to do a few months of reacquaintance before I head to CBD for some refresher lessons w/ Fitz.
Why don't I do duathlons again
?
My experience is different than Ed's. Honestly, it felt like I never left the pool... except I was slower and it was harder to lift myself out than it's supposed to be. I am on the "ok" swimmer margin (last HIM swim time 34 min, 32 actually in water, typical 1000 yd TT in 15:30-16:00 region), so I am trying to line up some late winter lessons with a good coach...so I figure I have to get at least a few muscles back to get the most out of those sessions.
Scott, we start at 7:30 and I have to pack my bag right when I get home and never ever lay down
First swim since August last week. Just form, technique and easy easy easy for now, but everything feels like it's where I had left it. Friday will be first test of 'real' swimming. Coming up to a February form and technique coach session (booked in September).
Back in the pool last week and have managed to keep it up. Today makes 3 times but I'm a little lost without workouts so just doing drills and swimming some 100's. The comfort came back pretty quick but the endurance is really, really lagging. The goal is to get in the pool 3 times a week until the OS is over but we'll see. If the 3rd one doesn't happen it's no big loss.
My last HIM swim was in the low 40's and my full time was 1:30. It would be great to knock 5min or so off the HIM and 10-15min off the full. Lots of work between here and the race start.
I was happy to be back in the water. Like many had said, I feel good after a swim workout. The stroke was there and I could tell I had some added power from some work in the weight room for the last 8 weeks ( stronger core and upper body). Don’t tell RnP :-) . Time to start with 2x a week. Swimming helps my legs recover from the hard OS efforts.
Hit masters and got crushed. 3 x 500 was the main set and I was toast. Early sets were telling, my cruising 50's were in the 47' range, last summer 38"-40" should be back on track by mid-feb
There was an ad for a masters swim class 3 days a week so I went on Thursday. It turns out that I'm the only one. The cost is $25 a quarter!! I get personal 1 on 1 instruction from a swim coach who has been coaching for 15 years. He also works at the pool full time so he told me whenever I want I can just drop by and work technique with him.
I just thought I'd let you guys know about the ridiculous deal I'm getting paying just over 8 bucks a month for a personal coach that I can get a no notice lesson from any time between Tuesday and Saturday every week.
I'm planning once to twice a week from here until the OS ends then I'll just do the swim workouts there with him refining my technique.
I'm a muscle my way through the water type swimmer so this is perfect.
@Carl - My week 11 workout has 4x300, not 400's. Do you have a different version? Also, are you adding the 5" to each 100 or to the total? I wasn't sure, so I asked in the micro thread. Question and answer were both on January 7th if you want to check it out.
basically...question...
Should the 200 be 2 x (100 pace +5") or (2 x 100 pace) + 5"?
answer...
2 x (100 pace +5")
i had been doing (2 x 100 pace) + 5" and about killing myself.
Congrats on the huge time drop. I haven't noticed a huge drop in time, but I don't think I can take much off. But, I have improved my golf score, and can tell I'm using a lot less effort for the same pace, so I consider that a success.
Daniella-You are absolutely right...Well have to give the old man (coach) props he pulled one over on me. NO wonder it hurt so good.
In the 400's I am at T pace plus 5 seconds.
The 100's I have been doing at T pace minus 5 seconds. Then resting the alloted time and taking off again.
My swim coach told me if you have to rest more than the 15 seconds than do but remember when you take off you need to go as fast as you can. He goes on to say yes you will probably die about 20 - 30 yards into it put then it is all in your mind and heart to push yourself to the max. He said the whole goal here is to be anarobeic and still be able to go.
I find my stroke counts slowly goes up the more tired I get
so I start to concentrate on my stroke and technique and oh yes I need to remember to breath for that seems to be a real problem with me.
Looks like we have another 1000 yard T pace test this Friday. Good luck.