Like many others, I've made the transition to outdoor LCM swimming for the summer. I love it in many ways. But I have noticed that the "garbage yards" problem creeps in when I swim long course. I work on my stroke, which is good, but my tempo and overall intensity drop. I swim with fitness lap swimmers for the most part, or alone. The other day I swam some 100s alternating between easy and hard, and made some progress on the hard ones. But I notice that I anticipate my pool time less because it feels like I'm mailing it in.
Does anybody else have this problem? If so, do you have suggestions for how to introduce more variation and intensity into long course swimming?
There is no right or wrong to what you chose to do in masters. In a recent PM, I voiced my disgust over those that "judge" others by what the "should or should not do".
For those reading this thread and thinking, "I'm not working hard enough!", stop and think - says who?
I think it perfectly fine to phone it in sometimes! And you can do this mid-season, around holidays, kids' schedules, or just 'cause you feel like it! If the premise of most masters swimmers is to plan their swimming around their day, then it seems more reasonable that everyone is doing something different, not always the same. Unless you work with the people you swim with, raise your kids with the team, and attend to all personal and profesional details with your lane mates, then i'm wrong. But no one knows everything that you do, only YOU do.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Enjoy swimming for swimming sometimes, and there are many, many years to go for the gold or attempt other goals.
I don't even want to get on the plane, so I can't even say i'm on autopilot when i'm not even there. I think i've been to LCM practice 2 x this summer if you can clawback to the spring to count that one workout.......but i've raced 5 x 50 frees so far this summer! I see no reason why I have to be in shape to swim in a meet. Where's that in the rule book? You just have to realize you can't necessarily have it all. Given what I do, it'd be really frustrating to try to go for the 50 free SCM record of 26.4. So a meaningful, satisfying goal is to continue to make TSC cuts in local meets (28.49 or under LCM). I'd be nice to go 27.99, and even though i'd been 27.73 last year....well, that was that last year and I have different goals for this year!!! See, you don't even necessariliy have to go FASTER to feel great about yourself and KNOW you are doing a good job for your CURRENT situation!
So think outside the box and do what you want to do. Remember, you have to plan for your retirement. You have to be a productive member of society. You have to do a good job raising your kids. You have to turn in your jury summons (grrrr!!!!!!!!!!!). But you can do anything and set any goals (however silly) they are in masters swimming! Just make it fun!!!!!!
Quite weird ideas about the thread. Everyone has fun in his/her own way. For some people working hard and achieving something is fun.
Seems the topic starter was interested how to avoid "garbage yards" problem while swimming in LCM and I guess the answer could be interesting for many swimmers.
There is no right or wrong to what you chose to do in masters. In a recent PM, I voiced my disgust over those that "judge" others by what the "should or should not do".
For those reading this thread and thinking, "I'm not working hard enough!", stop and think - says who?
I think it perfectly fine to phone it in sometimes! And you can do this mid-season, around holidays, kids' schedules, or just 'cause you feel like it! If the premise of most masters swimmers is to plan their swimming around their day, then it seems more reasonable that everyone is doing something different, not always the same. Unless you work with the people you swim with, raise your kids with the team, and attend to all personal and profesional details with your lane mates, then i'm wrong. But no one knows everything that you do, only YOU do.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Enjoy swimming for swimming sometimes, and there are many, many years to go for the gold or attempt other goals.
I don't even want to get on the plane, so I can't even say i'm on autopilot when i'm not even there. I think i've been to LCM practice 2 x this summer if you can clawback to the spring to count that one workout.......but i've raced 5 x 50 frees so far this summer! I see no reason why I have to be in shape to swim in a meet. Where's that in the rule book? You just have to realize you can't necessarily have it all. Given what I do, it'd be really frustrating to try to go for the 50 free SCM record of 26.4. So a meaningful, satisfying goal is to continue to make TSC cuts in local meets (28.49 or under LCM). I'd be nice to go 27.99, and even though i'd been 27.73 last year....well, that was that last year and I have different goals for this year!!! See, you don't even necessariliy have to go FASTER to feel great about yourself and KNOW you are doing a good job for your CURRENT situation!
So think outside the box and do what you want to do. Remember, you have to plan for your retirement. You have to be a productive member of society. You have to do a good job raising your kids. You have to turn in your jury summons (grrrr!!!!!!!!!!!). But you can do anything and set any goals (however silly) they are in masters swimming! Just make it fun!!!!!!
Quite weird ideas about the thread. Everyone has fun in his/her own way. For some people working hard and achieving something is fun.
Seems the topic starter was interested how to avoid "garbage yards" problem while swimming in LCM and I guess the answer could be interesting for many swimmers.
