Anyone give up on swimming to the pace clock and find comfort in just lap swimming for exercise? I have never swam any other way than intervals even after a 20 year layoff.
But I have been on a three month downward spiral. I'm so far out of shape that the couple of workouts I tried were so discouraging that I just want to quit. Yet I swam in a lake last week and felt pretty good. Went to the pool today and intended to just try to swim for 30 minutes straight but damn that clock - swam 6x200 on 4:00. Three months ago I could do 10 on the 3:30 in my sleep and 10 seconds faster per. I just don't want to do this anymore at least not now to even get back to that point. I wouldn't mind just trying to swim a 5k this summer nice and slow instead of competing. I pretty much just need the exercise to lose some weight and be healthy. Yet compteting was what always had motivated me even if it was just against myself and the clock.
So did anyone take this tact and live to tell me how awesome it is? You burn more calories, no more flip turns, no more clock, just swimming.
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Hey Herb,
Last summer I inverted the clock training for open water swimming. Instead of training intervals, I swam for time. In the pool, I would swim for an hour, in the ocean I would swim laps in the roped off sections (200+ yards/ length) without the benefit of a clock.
I enjoy metric driven swimming, but there is something nice about open water swimming. Open water seems more of an accomplishment (I swam 2.4 miles in the ocean!) and less about time. I think this is why running has such a draw, because you have so many runners who are out there to feel good about what they have accomplished without worrying about times. They are very satisfied with accomplishing a 5k/10k/half/marathon, and times are more like interesting trivia.
I think swimming for swimming in a pool is difficult, but is cake in the ocean. Maybe you should "try to get out more"?
When you are inside, could always work on something where intervals are not important. Distance per stroke, distance off the wall, drills, kick(?!?!). Or hunt down a group to swim with (IIRC you are a solo swimmer only). Swimming with others brings a lot of enjoyment to swimming.
Or just grab a noodle and gab your way through workout. I think The Fortress has started a workout thread this year about "HITting the noodle" and pwb has High Volume Talking or something like that.
Hey Herb,
Last summer I inverted the clock training for open water swimming. Instead of training intervals, I swam for time. In the pool, I would swim for an hour, in the ocean I would swim laps in the roped off sections (200+ yards/ length) without the benefit of a clock.
I enjoy metric driven swimming, but there is something nice about open water swimming. Open water seems more of an accomplishment (I swam 2.4 miles in the ocean!) and less about time. I think this is why running has such a draw, because you have so many runners who are out there to feel good about what they have accomplished without worrying about times. They are very satisfied with accomplishing a 5k/10k/half/marathon, and times are more like interesting trivia.
I think swimming for swimming in a pool is difficult, but is cake in the ocean. Maybe you should "try to get out more"?
When you are inside, could always work on something where intervals are not important. Distance per stroke, distance off the wall, drills, kick(?!?!). Or hunt down a group to swim with (IIRC you are a solo swimmer only). Swimming with others brings a lot of enjoyment to swimming.
Or just grab a noodle and gab your way through workout. I think The Fortress has started a workout thread this year about "HITting the noodle" and pwb has High Volume Talking or something like that.
