I've trained and competed mostly outside since I've been doing Masters and have noticed that I lose some of my excitement when I compete indoors. I can see better and feel more "happy endorphins" when I'm racing outdoors. If you can relate or have found a way to overcome this, please let me know.
Move to Seattle until your conditioned response to going indoors is happiness to be out of the rain.
We had rain and wind a couple of meets here where I wasn't too happy. But I fear the only cure for my sun addiction may be not tapering or drugs...
There is no doubt that racing outdoors (in the sun) is much nicer than racing indoors. Over the years I have mainly raced indoors and some centers are much nicer than others.
I always tell myself that I can swim faster indoors because there is no wind resistance. It is almost like tricking the mind (mine is pretty easy to fool!). This gets me a little more excited and I actually look forward to racing indoors for this reason.
Not sure if this helps but good luck with it
I ordered some Kayenne goggles with no tint at all that I'm going to try out when I go to Colorado in a couple of weeks and will be swimming indoors. I guess swimming in the dark reminds me too much of the nightmares I have where I forgot to wear goggles or got in the wrong lane and I feel more scared than excited...A nightmare almost came true when my suit started to disintegrate last week...
There is no doubt that racing outdoors (in the sun) is much nicer than racing indoors. Over the years I have mainly raced indoors and some centers are much nicer than others.
I always tell myself that I can swim faster indoors because there is no wind resistance. It is almost like tricking the mind (mine is pretty easy to fool!). This gets me a little more excited and I actually look forward to racing indoors for this reason.
Not sure if this helps but good luck with it
Wimp! I'm hoping it snows! :applaud: I don't think I'll be driving over for this one anyway, but for you guys, I hope it's a blizzard out there!! :badday:
I know. The worse the weather, the better that meet will be! I've probably mentioned this story before, but in college one year we did a double-distance meet against Michigan. It was outdoors, long course in November. If it was above freezing out it wasn't by much. I remember not being able to see the races very well because of the steam coming off the pool and I remember it was really cold even with warmups, a parka, hat and gloves on! The big story of the meet was that Mike Barrowman set a new world record in the 440 yard *** (the pool was 55 yards). The old record was from the '60s or something. :)
Take the frown and turn it upside down, and make some lemonade while your at it.
If you are swimming in an indoor pool that is East to West, then find an indoor pool that is North to South. Mix it up. Embrace it. Do the same thing when you are presented with the opportunity to swim in outdoor pools.
I swim in a half dozen pools, meters and yards. I swim indoors, outdoors, North to South, South to North, East to West, and West to East. I even swim in a pool that has a retractable roof.
My point is do not become an expert at swimming in one pool. Mix it up. Its to your advantage when you participate in swim competitions.
If you are truly stuck in one indoor pool. Then have some fun with it, wear a pink, or crazy colored, swim brief.
I do prefer outdoor pools over indoor pools, but I'll take what I can get, as long as I can get my swim workout in for the day.
Take the frown and turn it upside down, and make some lemonade while your at it.
If you are swimming in an indoor pool that is East to West, then find an indoor pool that is North to South. Mix it up. Embrace it. Do the same thing when you are presented with the opportunity to swim in outdoor pools.
I swim in a half dozen pools, meters and yards. I swim indoors, outdoors, North to South, South to North, East to West, and West to East. I even swim in a pool that has a retractable roof.
My point is do not become an expert at swimming in one pool. Mix it up. Its to your advantage when you participate in swim competitions.
If you are truly stuck in one indoor pool. Then have some fun with it, wear a pink, or crazy colored, swim brief.
I do prefer outdoor pools over indoor pools, but I'll take what I can get, as long as I can get my swim workout in for the day.
Yes! :agree:
Being in the midwest, most of our pools are indoors. The high schools all have indoor pools and that is where we practice 9mo out of the year. I'm looking forward to the new experience (for me, being my first year of Masters and first outdoor opportunity) of having outdoor practices! On Monday, we start swimming outdoors in a LCM pool - both new for me. Normally, I alternate between a nice temperature, indoor, SCY pool and a too warm, indoor, SCM pool. So the outdoor, LCM pool will be a nice change.
Also different for me? The SCY pool has lane ropes and the SCM pool does not - it's also a 30m pool rather than 25m. How's that for mixing it up? :groovy:
Here in Chicagoland - outside swimming is from June 4th till all the H S life guards go back to school, then they shut down all the outdoor pools.
Lake swimming is for those brave souls & wetsuit junkies!:bolt:
I love to train outdoors and race indoors. Something about sun exposure, wind and the clear blue sky that makes me think I'm slower outdoors. (Backstroke is a lot harder without a ceiling to help keep you straight.) Its obviously worse outdoors when it's cold or rainy out. But I do love training outdoors in the fresh air and I love swimming in the rain.
