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.
First of all, just getting to the pool is a win for the day, so congrats on that. How many other people in your town did that today? You mentioned you were alone, sooo, that means no one! You beat them all! I too have trouble staying motivated when swimming on my own, right now our pools are closed for maintenance and I have one more week of solo swimming at my sports club (yeah, another 85 degree pool but I have to make do) before masters practices resume the 17th (hopefully). It helps me to have a planned practice prior to arriving at the pool. Have you checked out the coaches workouts in this forum? They do a great job. You don't have to do the practice exactly as presented either, remember you are a Master now! You get to pick and choose. If nothing else try a set that is new to you that looks interesting and remember if you still aren't feeling it when you are in the pool you can quit then. 99% of the time once I "trick" myself into showing up on the pool deck I end up finishing my practice if I have something planned.
First of all, just getting to the pool is a win for the day, so congrats on that. How many other people in your town did that today? You mentioned you were alone, sooo, that means no one! You beat them all! I too have trouble staying motivated when swimming on my own, right now our pools are closed for maintenance and I have one more week of solo swimming at my sports club (yeah, another 85 degree pool but I have to make do) before masters practices resume the 17th (hopefully). It helps me to have a planned practice prior to arriving at the pool. Have you checked out the coaches workouts in this forum? They do a great job. You don't have to do the practice exactly as presented either, remember you are a Master now! You get to pick and choose. If nothing else try a set that is new to you that looks interesting and remember if you still aren't feeling it when you are in the pool you can quit then. 99% of the time once I "trick" myself into showing up on the pool deck I end up finishing my practice if I have something planned.
