Hello All,
It's been awhile since I've been at the forums; about 4 months actually! AND... about that long since i've swum regularly as well!
This, for the last few years, has been my pattern. I will get into a groove and get into decent shape, then something will happen, i.e. I'll get sick, go on vacation, have a really busy week or two and not be able to go workout, holidays, etc.. and I'll lose it completely for about 2-4 months.. then it starts all over again.
Regardless, I ALWAYS find the pool calling my name after awhile until I absolutely have to get in it again, then of course remember how good it feels to be swimming..
My question is if anyone else has had similar issues with working out regularly, and what they have done, if anything, to overcome this?
Any hints or tricks to help get myself over the little hump and back into the pool quickly before I backslide would be GREATLY appreciated. (I am currently working on self discipline), and any hints on that would be great as well! ;)
Jeanette.
Parents
Former Member
To help with motivation, periodize your training. By that, I mean don't train the same way all the time.
For example, I usually break up my year (macrocycle) into:
1) General build-up (November-March)
2) Sharpen (April-May/early June)
3) Racing (June-Sept, i.e. the open water season)
4) Recovery - October
Within each of those larger periods, I break my training up into small periods of several weeks (mesocycles) of hard training/1 week easy training (usually 3-5 weeks hard, depending on volume, intensity, etc). Each of the weeks (a microcycle) has easy/hard days. (Typically: Monday & Friday: easy, Tues/Thurs/Sat/Sun: hard, Weds: depends on how I feel).
Each period (of all levels) has a realistic goal and the goals flow between the other periods that it is next to.
Too often, I see people who do the same volume, intensity and type of work, week in and week out. Having constantly changing volumes/intensities/types of work helps keep the mind engaged and helps prevent the type of barrier-building that doing the same thing over and over can bring (to wit: "I did 10x100 on 1:30 last week; if I don't do 10X100 on 1:25 this week, I'm a failure. Oh my God, I'll never make it! I'm a failure.")
Also, remember: Training does NOT improve your physical conditioning - it is the rest AFTER the training that does this. Adequate physical rest also helps the mental aspects of your training and the ability to keep going.
Good luck,
LBJ
To help with motivation, periodize your training. By that, I mean don't train the same way all the time.
For example, I usually break up my year (macrocycle) into:
1) General build-up (November-March)
2) Sharpen (April-May/early June)
3) Racing (June-Sept, i.e. the open water season)
4) Recovery - October
Within each of those larger periods, I break my training up into small periods of several weeks (mesocycles) of hard training/1 week easy training (usually 3-5 weeks hard, depending on volume, intensity, etc). Each of the weeks (a microcycle) has easy/hard days. (Typically: Monday & Friday: easy, Tues/Thurs/Sat/Sun: hard, Weds: depends on how I feel).
Each period (of all levels) has a realistic goal and the goals flow between the other periods that it is next to.
Too often, I see people who do the same volume, intensity and type of work, week in and week out. Having constantly changing volumes/intensities/types of work helps keep the mind engaged and helps prevent the type of barrier-building that doing the same thing over and over can bring (to wit: "I did 10x100 on 1:30 last week; if I don't do 10X100 on 1:25 this week, I'm a failure. Oh my God, I'll never make it! I'm a failure.")
Also, remember: Training does NOT improve your physical conditioning - it is the rest AFTER the training that does this. Adequate physical rest also helps the mental aspects of your training and the ability to keep going.
Good luck,
LBJ
