I always have good intentions, but often do not follow through on them.
THUS: I have signed up for the 400 IM in 2.5 weeks (the 0.5 being critical) without really having trained for it.
To put it politely.
My team mostly trains freestyle, so I have a good freestyle base. In the last 4 weeks I have gone to the pool twice (woo hoo) on my own and done sets of 50s of stroke on 1:00. 8 x 50 to be exact, twice through, both times. Twice at practice in the last month I have made myself do fly instead of free for warmup, and once I made myself do stroke (IM) (100s) instead of free on the free interval.
Yesterday we had a heavy stroke workout, rare.
After yesterday's practice I did my second 400 IM in 7 years, with a wonderful time of 7:10.
SO: What's the reality of any time dropped in the next 1.5 weeks? What tack would people in my position take (please be kind).
I signed up as a dare. I *had* thought I would be *self-disciplined* and train on my own but *I have learned I am not.*
Input appreciated!
P.S. For those of you with kids struggling with college entrance essays, I think this would be a great essay if you changed all the "I didn't do it even though I planned to" to "I am so proud of my self-discipline," etc., etc., "my ability to motivate myself for my own high challenges," etc. etc. etc., "I pushed myself without outside coercion," etc., etc.,
"This is a trait I was surprised to see that I have, and I have become much more confident in this, my senior year, in my ability to meet challenges head-on." "Swimming has made me a better person." "I am a good person." "I am just who you want in your freshman class."
Swimming has made ME a better person too but apparently I am still lagging in the self-motivation arena.
I would like to break 7 minutes in the 400 IM. I would mostly like not to die in the fly, which is my fastest, after free, but in which I die after a nice brisk 50.
Fast is relative. Please also keep that in mind with any comments.
izzzzzzzzy
P.P.S. I now know that real men swimmers and all men moisturize and use lip balm because they are now doing it on the T here in Boston. So the stigma is gone, dudes. You can lather up on public transportation.
Swim on, excellent forumites!!!!!
+1 on all of the above. The 400 IM and 200 fly (especially 200 fly!) are my worst events. 7:10? I couldn't swim it that fast if you paid me a million dollars! (Of course, I am 52 and didn't swim in college- or for 31 years before joining USMS).
Having said that, those are two of my favorite events to "race" at a meet. I just go out there and do it. I don't worry what others will think about my pokey times, and I don't get down on myself anymore. At 2014 LC Nationals I swam both races with a dislocated rib. My time in the fly was something like 1:30 slower than my best and a full minute off my previous worst. So what?
It took me a looooooong time to get to the point where I could say, "So what?" Believe me, it was hard getting to that point.
Just go out and have fun and focus on your technique if the speed isn't going to be there. Leave the pool knowing you at least gave it your best effort given the circumstances.
I have a two-day meet coming up in mid-March and that will be my plan. I've had bronchitis and only got in 22 miles in February compared to 44 in January. My speed has suffered and I don't have enough time to get into top form. So what? I'm going to go and swim my 8 events (including 200 fly and 400 IM) and give it my best in any and all relays. I plan on having FUN! :bliss:
+1 on all of the above. The 400 IM and 200 fly (especially 200 fly!) are my worst events. 7:10? I couldn't swim it that fast if you paid me a million dollars! (Of course, I am 52 and didn't swim in college- or for 31 years before joining USMS).
Having said that, those are two of my favorite events to "race" at a meet. I just go out there and do it. I don't worry what others will think about my pokey times, and I don't get down on myself anymore. At 2014 LC Nationals I swam both races with a dislocated rib. My time in the fly was something like 1:30 slower than my best and a full minute off my previous worst. So what?
It took me a looooooong time to get to the point where I could say, "So what?" Believe me, it was hard getting to that point.
Just go out and have fun and focus on your technique if the speed isn't going to be there. Leave the pool knowing you at least gave it your best effort given the circumstances.
I have a two-day meet coming up in mid-March and that will be my plan. I've had bronchitis and only got in 22 miles in February compared to 44 in January. My speed has suffered and I don't have enough time to get into top form. So what? I'm going to go and swim my 8 events (including 200 fly and 400 IM) and give it my best in any and all relays. I plan on having FUN! :bliss:
