Anyone here regularly swim at night (6pm or later)? If so, do you have any tips or strategies for making workouts productive even when it's late out? In general, does the time of day affect your energy level in the pool?
I usually don't swim nights, as I've been a die hard morning swimmer - with occasional afternoon swims when I can fit them in. Tragically, morning workouts at my pool are no longer available daily :violin:so I look to you all for pointers as I convert to being a bit of a "night swimmer" myself in order to plug in those daily sessions and work with the only time slots my pool has currently available!
From what I understand, intense workout right before bedtime can disrupt your sleep cycle, so I'm trying to dance over this challenge since I don't know if I'm doing myself a favor if workouts come at the price of much needed rest :bed:Maybe an easy or moderate pace in new night practice is necessary to adjust to the time change, and intensity and distance can be added a few weeks out from then?
A few years ago, when my Masters team was just getting started, they tried MWF mornings (5:30ish - 6:45 AM) and TTH evenings (8:30 - 9:30 PM). If we had a bigger team, and there was a morning group and an evening group, it would have worked.
As it was, making all the practices was killer. I found I couldn't sleep for at least 2 hours after practice ended, often more. Being tired and in sleep deficient didn't speed getting to sleep. My body was wound up and just needed time to wind down again. I doubt there are any healthy (non strong pharmaceutical) hacks to change that amount of time by much.
My team switched to only morning practices from 5:30-6:45 am.
A few years ago, when my Masters team was just getting started, they tried MWF mornings (5:30ish - 6:45 AM) and TTH evenings (8:30 - 9:30 PM). If we had a bigger team, and there was a morning group and an evening group, it would have worked.
As it was, making all the practices was killer. I found I couldn't sleep for at least 2 hours after practice ended, often more. Being tired and in sleep deficient didn't speed getting to sleep. My body was wound up and just needed time to wind down again. I doubt there are any healthy (non strong pharmaceutical) hacks to change that amount of time by much.
My team switched to only morning practices from 5:30-6:45 am.
