What Are You Thinking??

I mostly think about things like "OK, is this 450 or 500?". I also get songs stuck in my head, and I try to listen to some songs I like on the way to the pool so I don't get something in my head I can't stand (mostly children's songs these days thanks to my little ones). It would be nice to think about other things things while I swim, but then I'd lose count and I hate not knowing where I am in a set (even if I'm not leading). I envy that about runners (at least those not running around a track). Still, there's something to be said for NOT thinking for an hour or so.

Usually either the last song on the radio on the way to the pool or the song that the pool is playing over the speakers. I also think a lot about my technique and speed (as in I hope so-and-so is not catching my tail)

- Kick d$%m you - Oh look another band-aid - please let that be the last 200 - stop crossing over with the left arm!!! - God, I hate breaststroke - head DOWN - that has got to be the ugliest suit ever - yes, the youngsters ARE going on 1:30 - man, I'm tired - ___________________________, oh we're done? - I hope I don't clobber someone on fly - YAY!!! Sprints!!!! - Oh god, not another distance day - Why am I leading again? - How far was that? - Stop holding your breath - Roll, Roll, Roll!!!!! - Man, this pool is shallow

- Oh god, not another distance day Loser

Loser Spoken like a wanna-be-but-can't-handle-it Sprinter

Oh god, not another distance day. What?! Have you ever actually done one of those?! :rofl:

What?! Have you ever actually done one of those?! :rofl: Ooooooookay. This seems to be a concerted attack.

Some selected thoughts: *What's for dinner tonight? *High elbows *Oh cool, an F/A-18 *Should have worn my tinted goggles... *The girl in lane six is HOT!!! *Was that 400 or 450? *THAT'S IT, I know what caused the error! *ahhhh, that will give me extra flotation for a bit *Was that build or negative split? *Hmmm, wonder what the next set will be * should get outta the way!!! *Any number of songs... My mind is active when doing long distance sets and it is easy for me to zone out. Rather do shorter more intense stuff that keeps me focused. Yes, my mind is twisted.

Seems like most folks have written about what they think when they are at practice. I can't figure out what to think when I race. I *know* I'm supposed to think something when I'm standing on the blocks before the 800 or 1000 or 400 IM but I have no idea what. Usually it's "At least it will be quiet when I'm finally in the water" or "WooHoo I'll have a lane to myself," but I don't have a song and my strategy of keeping it steady, not taking it out too fast, usually fails in my body (i.e., it still hurts), even if I do it in my swim. That's probably why they call it a race, however. My best race thought most recently was "This sure hurts (400 free); oh well, so it does, look at those tiles on the bottom, keep swimming." That helped. I know I am not supposed to curse swimming but that is sometimes what happens during races. I think I must get tense at races because I don't swim all that much faster than at practice, yet it usually hurts a lot more. I've never had a "zone" race (no pain, just flow); keep waiting for one of those!

Pain free races? Heck I swim 50s and I don't know what those are ... hmmm ... My mind is all over the place ... sometimes I'm thinking: Crap I still have to do x, y, and z before tomorrow I'm so hungry Darn it! Catch xxx! KICK! I focus on the swim and my stroke too and just trying to feel it. My mind wanders from songs to solving the world's problems to technique to F! I have a meet coming up and I'm dying doing this set to I hate breaststroke to any number of things. What I think during racing is totally different. I honestly no longer really think I just go. That's actually my mantra "don't think just go." It probably doesn't work for distance races but for my 50s and 100s it's great. Actually I can use that in the 200 free that I do once in a blue moon, too.