I'm an overweight 52 year old man who has made a somewhat miraculous return to swimming. I've been swimming 4 to 6 times a week for about 12 weeks now. My workouts began with 9 x 50's the first week and have progressed to about 1800 yards in about 50 minutes (typically 2x450's, 200 kick with fins, 5x100's free, pull or paddles, and 4x 50's). I had a swim buddy but he finally decided that he just hated getting in the pool so he quit on me. So I found a small group of Masters swimmers at my club who swim early morning at 5:15 AM and I joined them this week because I find it very difficult to stay motivated swimming solo.
When I showed up this morning no one was there, so I jumped in and started swimming. I had ZERO MOJO, didn't want to be there, the voice in my head was screaming quit, quit already. I felt tired and lazy and barely managed to finish a sloppy 1500 yards. I've felt this way in the pool before and I think it's how my buddy felt and why he quit. Does anyone have suggestions as to how to fight this feeling some days and how to stay motivated and determined everyday you go to swim? I mean it's 5:00 AM and you're already there, why not just bust it out and finish your workout. Thanks for listening to my personal appeal for help.
Hi Otterski! Welcome to the forum.
I use 2 little tricks to motivate myself.
#1--I just keep reminding how happy and great I feel when I'm done with my workout and force myself to do it. I never regret swimming when I'm done.
#2--I set a fairly loft goal (for me) in the Go The Distance Flog. I hate being behind my goal pace so that usually gets me to the pool.
I don't think you should feel guilty if you miss a workout. You might try swimming 4 times per week but building your yardage up a bit more on those 4 days.
On days when I don't feel like swimming I'll do one of the following:
1) Don't swim, take a day off, or two, or more. Sometimes this is a blessing because you can come back more fresh and hit it hard again.
2) Get in and just work on technique. Do drills, maybe short speed sets, but just small stuff. Also a time to try out some different stuff.
3) Change the routine. If you're a sprinter, do distance, or vice versa. Try different strokes if you can. Change the order of things, like reverse IMs, alternate between free/choice stroke, etc...
I think most folks get the swimming blahs from time to time, and IMO it's not a big deal to miss a workout or two, or three…just decide to get back in at some point. Sometimes taking time off can be nice, because even though you start out slower than what you were doing, you get to make improvements again and that in itself can be motivating at times.
:banana:
As a new a participant to the forum and wondering how lame my post may have been I appreciate you reply
Not lame at all. I'm sure we've all felt like this on many occasions!
Mick - Thanks for the comment. I went a little harder and farther than I ever had the day before. As a new a participant to the forum and wondering how lame my post may have been I appreciate you reply
I usually slow down when I'm getting tired. I'm a competitive person, so I'm usually trying to beat the person next to me/the clock, which isn't really necessary.
Conversely, do circle swimming with a partner and try to not let them pass you. I usually pretend they're trying to grab my foot (which I hate) if I stop swimming, so I keep going until I finish the workout.
Like the person above me posted, though, if you're absolutely not feeling it, don't force yourself! You're probably not feeling it for a reason, and a day or two of no swimming isn't going to hurt you.
3) Change the routine.
I think this one is very important and based on otterski's original post it sounds like he does basically the same workout every day. That's bound to get boring. Instead try to do something different every day. Have a different focus each day (sprints Monday, distance Tuesday, IM Thursday, etc.). And if you do have to swim alone have a workout written out or at least in your mind before you get in. Otherwise you'll have a tendency to just kind of drift along and probably cut your workout short due to boredom.
And if you do have to swim alone have a workout written out or at least in your mind before you get in. Otherwise you'll have a tendency to just kind of drift along and probably cut your workout short due to boredom.
I can attest to this! That's probably my biggest issue swimming alone. It's so much easier to just let a coach worry about the workout. OTOH, if you have special needs (I've been slowly rehabbing my right shoulder), a coached workout might not work well for you.
I have the same warm-up each day (200SKP). I break this up a bit from time-to-time, but try to use everything so I can "see what hurts" that day. How I feel (esp. my shoulder) will often dictate what I decide to do next.
I then typically choose from a small set of drills or sets I'm familiar with. Since I have nothing written down, I try to make whatever I do occur in some multiple of 200 to make it easy to keep track of the total distance (today it was 4x100bk then 4x100fr). A long workout for me these days is 2400yds, so today's 1500 wasn't at all unusual. (It was bracketed by the start and end of a one-hour bike commute.)
Not lame at all. I'm sure we've all felt like this on many occasions!
+1
Sometimes I am happy if I have one good workout a week. Life is hectic enough for all of us. If you aren't having a good day in the pool find something positive out of it anyways.
Sometimes just making it to the pool and through a workout it a accomplishment. Keep plugging away at it.
Just out of curiosity, any idea how warm the pool is where you swim? I find it harder to swim when the water is warmer. At the moment, the pool where I normally swim is closed for maintenance. Of the two other pools available, one is maintained at about 83F, the other at 78F. The cooler pool is a little bracing when I get in, but I feel like I can swim forever. I feel like a slug and overheat pretty easily in the warmer pool.
Maybe your pool is warmer than usual for some reason. Just a thought.
