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?
I swim from 6pm-7:30 M-TH and on Sunday mornings. I am home eating dinner by 8:15, Then maybe watch some TV, talk/text or read. I am sound asleep by 10pm and up at 5am so that I can be in my office by 6-6:30. Having swum in the early morning as an age group swimmer many years ago I never want to do it again! Over the Christmas Holidays our masters program only has a 6am practice and I do it, but am happy it’s only one week a year as I am tired the rest of the day. The evening workout is a perfect finish to a busy, stress-filled day at work. It burns off the adrenaline and I resolve a lot of workday issues in my head while swimming.
I swim from 6pm-7:30 M-TH and on Sunday mornings. I am home eating dinner by 8:15, Then maybe watch some TV, talk/text or read. I am sound asleep by 10pm and up at 5am so that I can be in my office by 6-6:30. Having swum in the early morning as an age group swimmer many years ago I never want to do it again! Over the Christmas Holidays our masters program only has a 6am practice and I do it, but am happy it’s only one week a year as I am tired the rest of the day. The evening workout is a perfect finish to a busy, stress-filled day at work. It burns off the adrenaline and I resolve a lot of workday issues in my head while swimming.
