LCM autopilot

I have no idea what this means. I think debugger means if you train regularly in LCM, when you go back to training SCM or SCY it seems easier. Presumably due to the walls being at every 25.

I thought he meant it was easier to swim later in the day short course! "Later" seemed like a strange choice of word.

Yes, I do recognize that it takes time. I've done it before successfully; something about the past two summers has been difficult to get over the hump. I took yesterday off, and plan to go hard today--we'll see how it goes. The advice about breaking things up is good, too. Different tempos for different stretches. Will try that, too. Thanks!

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.

Do you train by yourself? If you do, that may be the whole problem. I noticed last year when I had to train by myself I did sort of the same thing - and I excused myself saying, I was at least keeping my feel for the water. But, if you want to race, and now, I suddenly do, then you need to race in practice too. Sometimes racing the clock is hard (emotionally) but lapping some one you don't even know can be a fun challenge! When I train on my own (2-3 times a week) I use more toys. Toys are FUN! Especially big fins, which I save for very very special occasions (maybe only 2-3 times a year) - I find it easier to really work my kick when I have zoomers on, and so I can push the interval down tighter - when I put on paddles & my pull bouy I can not only focus on my stroke technique, but I can play around with breathing every 5th, 7th, 9th etc & see how tight an interval I can keep. You're right, sometimes it's hard, and it seems like the yardage is just like ticking a box - ok, did that - but if you're stuck swimming alone you gotta get creative to keep it fun. Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. Some days I just don't want to get out of the pool!! (Specially if the water is perfect, the sun is shining, and I'm swimming great!)

Swim/train with a team ANY time you can, it's so much better.

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!!!!!!

I'm grateful for the fascinating discussion that's developed here. Chowmi's points are relevant, even though I did not raise such issues explicitly. I agree that training with a team would be best. But here's the thing: I have discovered that I have a finite amount of focus & energy. In the five+ years since I've returned to swimming and competing, I have noted that when I really commit major energy to training (more yards, more swims) I have less focus left over for work. Sometimes I'll make that trade; other times, I'm less prepared to do that. I'm a professor/researcher; when I say "work" I mean research time. Summer is a big research season for me; winter/spring is heavy with school stuff, and hard swimming is a relief. So summer swimming needs to adjust, or I have to admit that I'll get less done. Two years ago I committed to going to LC nationals (a first, and only) and was happy with my trade. But now I have a lot to get done--a positive--and can't bite off a big chunk in the pool. There was an age group meet at our LC pool over the weekend, so I had to swim SCY Saturday and Sunday, and it was great. A nice break. I'm thinking I might just focus on shorter distances for the summer--nothing over 100--and try to get ready to swim 100 LC fly, which I have never done. So less distance, more intensity, concrete goal. I think I have two meets to work with, in late July and mid-August. Anyway, this has been very helpful. I consistently get a lot from this forum, even when I keep my trap shut and just read.

Yesterday I swam 5 x 50 fly long course with lots of junk in between, and I found myself thinking, "What the hell am I thinking, LCM 100 fly???" So will take your suggestion and go do my homework. Maybe I will discover a magic tip that makes this possible! Thanks for the recommendations. Just think of it as a 400 LCM IM where you don't have to swim the last 300! :banana:

Just think of it as a 400 LCM IM where you don't have to swim the last 300! :banana: That's still the same as the 100 Fly...sprint them both!! :D (The backstroke is the recovery phase of the IM, that's why they put it after the fly)