It's not going to be as interesting as Ande's but I realized when I was powerlifting 10 years ago that this is the best way for me to track and evaluate my progress so here it is.
Paul,
A longer-term point of view would be to ask yourself "Paul, how long do you plan on doing this swim thing?" If you're looking to do this for the long haul, my POV is to keep doing what you're doing this year, shave and taper for nationals and see what happens. Its been a LONG time since you've done that, and you have no idea how that will affect your performance. My guess is that you'll shock yourself with some really fast swims. Remember, you've only been at this for what, 6 months? If you're in this for the long haul, what happens this year is really a moot point. It'll be the bar by which all other bars will be set.
Paul,
A longer-term point of view would be to ask yourself "Paul, how long do you plan on doing this swim thing?" If you're looking to do this for the long haul, my POV is to keep doing what you're doing this year, shave and taper for nationals and see what happens. Its been a LONG time since you've done that, and you have no idea how that will affect your performance. My guess is that you'll shock yourself with some really fast swims. Remember, you've only been at this for what, 6 months? If you're in this for the long haul, what happens this year is really a moot point. It'll be the bar by which all other bars will be set.
Ah, the whole 'walk before you run' trick. Yeah, I know. And I should be more willing to take it slow. This is almost a mirror image of my early powerlifting, huge increases in strength happened in the first several months and then success came slower.
I see your point. And I guess I'm being just a little too eager here. Yeah, this is a rest of my life thing not a gonna quit in 4 months thing so I need to enjoy the journey instead of just rushing head long. It's just that in a little over 4 months to be swimming these times, all I seem to be able to focus on is that it doesn't seem to be fast enough when I look at others. But I need to just realize that they are not me and I am not they.
As for tapering? Wuz thet? I hear folks talk about it and I understand the concept of tapering but I'm not sure how to do it.
5) Any advice welcomed here.
Step away from the cookies!
Heheh Good luck Paul I seem to be going up in weight but not in size.. so it's all lean muscle addition..*ahem*
Looks like you give me a second and we go head to head on 50 BR at zones...
A second it is. So let it be written, so let it be done.
Um, cookies aren't the problem. It's pasta and bread that are my huge weaknesses.
Paul
Me too...the sugar is good for swimming...it's those carbs floating around post workout that get your every time!! Have you tried eating squash instead of pasta?
OK, haven't swum since Sunday's meet. Right trap has been tighter than heck. Saw my masseuse Monday, that helped but it tightened back up the next morning. Will be swimming this evening so we'll see how it goes.
31 Jan 2008
SCM with team
400 swim, 200 kick, 150 pull w/u
2x200 Free on 3:15
10x50 IM order on 1:00- 1:10 depending on stroke. I tried Fly/Free for all 10 but I had to switch to free at the end.
100 pull
8x50 Free descend on 1:00
I then tried 3x50 Free trying to work on going as slow as I could.
Shoulders were really tight and tired plus my abs were really hurting about an inch to the right of the xyphoid process right at the rib cage line. No matter what I tried it just hurt which made staying long in the water a real challenge. Free style was about the only stroke I could do. Forget backstroke, that REALLY hurt.
I also have a real problem with pacing. Towards the end I tried to go a slow 50m free and the slowest that I go was :44 and that was swimming with closed fists. My 'normal' pace on repeat 50s is :35. It's just frustrating especially on a long descend set (say 6-8 reps) when I come in thinking that I've taken it out slow and see that I came in at :39, it's a real pain in the *** to try and hit 7 more reps descending from a :39.
I know, I know, it's SUCH a tough problem to have I can you folks say but seriously, it is because it is causing me to spend too much energy in earlier reps and die in later ones.
2300m in about an hour
Paul
31 Jan 2008
I also have a real problem with pacing.
I have the same problem so I try and follow people who pace well, but then I wind up hitting their feet and they get annoyed with me! Either I follow and hit feet, or I lead and die later in the workout. I feel your pain Paul.
T.J.
2 Feb 2008
SCM with team
400 swim, 200 kick, 100 pull w/u
x3
1: 25 Fly, 75 Fly kick, 50 Fly, 150 Free pull
2: 25 back, 75 back flutter kick, 50 back, 150 free pull
3: 25 ***, 75 *** kick, 50 ***, 150 free pull
50 EZ warm down.
2300m
I'm starting to become a little concerned about knee pain on breaststroke kicks. About a month ago I started having lingering pain that I just thought was soreness but lately it's an all the time thing when I whip kick. The pain is at the knee on the inside (medial) of each knee. I swam the 50 *** with a dolphin kick instead.
Paul
