swimming new year resolutions

I constantly race people in practice, too ... whether they know it or not. I think that 'secretly' racing people in neighboring lanes is somthing most swimmers do. It gives us an immediate goal to strive for and makes us faster in the process. I have done this all my swimming career.

50 free go under 22 100 free go under 49 (then 48.5, then 48) 50 fly go under 24 50 back go under 25 50 SDK go under 25 weigh 190 - 195 get stronger do 6 reps with 205 on bench press, 6 reps with 220 on lat pull be fast and consistent in practice meet more folks who post here

You are hanging in there with the Senior I kids and doing 6K/workout and you think you are a creampuff ... crikey, wonder what that makes me?! :dunno: Hi FlyQueen! Well, I've felt like a creampuff for these reasons - I'm DEAD TIRED from all this swimming, etc., and these last few practices, I've gotten SLOPPY with turns, form, etc. My coach even mentioned this to me. Second, in swimming with the boys, there are a couple who ALWAYS seem to just outswim me! ARG!!! Sometimes, (depending on the set and who it is), they will cream me (especially when they have fins and paddles), or, more often, we'll battle it out for the set and sometimes the whole practice, and they just seem to pull it out at the end. This is particularly frustrating when doing a big set of 6x400 or similar. We'll be head to head for 14 laps and then I lose it! I have learned to handle pain better as an adult than as a kid. As a kid, when the pain would come on, I'd slow down. Easy solution. Now, I can hang on and stay more positive without giving up *as easily.* But, I know I still need to toughen up more mentally, especially being that I'm a sprinter who is wanting to turn distance!:frustrated: I've increased my pain threshhold, but I still am aware that I back down too easily. Not sure if this makes sense. . . So. . . when I say creampuff, I mean holding proper form when I get tired and improving my pain tolerance. Oh, and we switched to Long Course this holiday break - ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! It's kicking my a**. :wiggle: Love your User Name by the way! How are your practices going?

I get it ... that's tough. I constantly race people in practice, too ... whether they know it or not. There are some I can't come close to (especially our distance guys) and others I can wear down. With the one guy that is considerably faster than me I try not to let him catch me on say a 500. I can hold him off on those now ... he seems to be able to endlessly hold a riddiculously fast pace without any effort (though I know he is working hard) ... I try to pace myself with the clock, I sneak a peak every 100 or so on longer sets and try to hold the pace I go on the first one, it doesn't happen often. My favorite way to psyche myself up is I tell myself the more I push and the faster I swim the more rest I'll get ... I also remind myself that I'll feel a lot better once it's over if I go hard the whole time, I used to write all my workouts down and how I was feeling ... so when I backed off or skipped part of a set I wrote that down and was so much more motivated the next practice. I also remember hearing Michael Phelps say that he was in pain every practice, and thinking well, if he's that good and he's in pain then I need to push that hard, too. I used to think that once I got fast enough, strong enough, good enough I wouldn't be in pain any more ... now I realize that I need to be in pain (to a reasonable extent) every practice if I really want to get better. Why do you want to become a distance swimmer?!?!?! We are so similar in how we practice!! Very cool! As for being a distance swimmer, I always felt that these swimmers were truly in the best kind of physical shape. I always looked up to them and was in "awe" of their ability to swim so fast for so long. I was and am in awe of their ability to tolerate pain. My main goal as an adult is to get in the best physical condition possible - and then to stay that way. So why limit myself to being a sprinter? I want to be "strong" in any set that a coach throws out at practice. That would be too cool! I love sprints and sprinters - speed and power are awesome. But, I guess my focus has changed a bit as I get older. I always shunned distance as a kid. Why? In reality, b/c it was so hard. I was scared to face that pain. I've gotten better. . . but I have a long way to go.

Then I'd like to get up to where I can practice with a Master's team (though I have to say, after years of God-awful early ice times, what's with the 6am MS pool time?):frustrated: :) Wren- It is hard to get going in the AM, isn't it? :mad: However, if I can do it, you can too. I used to consistently burn the midnight oil. Now it seems that if I don't get my workout in early, it isn't going to happen- since life happens pretty regularly for us. Resolved- to practice consistently to not get injured to have a lot of fun to enter enough meets that I can see if any of my efforts are yielding any results. And it would be great to get a national qualifying time. This, however, is the ball that bounces- if I drop it, it isn't going to break.

a few years ago i started a song about new years resolutions here's the part of it I really like: Resolution by Ande Rasmussen I have one resolution this year and it has to do with you my dear so let's sing old lang syne and then from this time I have no doubt I'll follow through cause I resolve to get involved with you

all i would like to do is swim at sectionals for this swimming season, i've improved alot over the first half of the season as i havent swam in 3 yrs, my goal time by the end of this season is 25 secs for 50 free, 32 secs for 50 ***

With finally getting back into the water with any consistency... first and foremost is continuing the trend and swimming 4-5 times a week. Times: 50 Fly - Break :26 and then :25 100 Fly - Under :58 (amazing how this has become an endurance event for me) 50 Back - Under :29 100 Back - 1:04 Lose 20 pounds and I'm sure the times will become all that much easier to achieve :) Being a regular lurker, I'm also looking forward to meeting posters at SCY Nationals in May.

I also want to drop 40-50 lbs and be able to do a sub 6:00 500. After 13 years away from the pool and considering my best time in high school was around 5:30 so if I can break 6:00 by the end of this year at age 31 I will be happy. Joshua

Slimy -- I can so relate to the frustrating try at running :frustrated: . Although I am semi=planning to enter more (sprint) triathlons this year (I have done 4 in the past), my feet have developed the dreaded plantar fasciitis and running hurts! I have never been a runner and have always loved swimming but never competed other than in those triathlons. I have no "formal" training or coaching in swimming (self taught past river rat who has read and practiced a lot). My goal for 2007 is to be consistent with 3 swims a week, find a stroke clinic or two in my area and get some pointers on improving technique, form and a little speed (I am painfully :snore: slow), and complete the new "go the distance" fitness swim planned for this site. I feel encouraged by getting onto this forum for motivation and support. Thanks all.