Now that we've had our first cold snap here in Austin, I wonder if anyone else has trouble getting up in the cold wee hours to make practice? Any good ways to trick yourself out of bed?
I keep an alarm clock in another room and often think of the answer I'd have to give when coach inevitably says, "So I didn't see you yesterday..." But sometimes, those things just aren't enough. I post this knowing we really don't have much to complain about in the way of cold weather, but I'm a native Texan and just have never liked being cold at all (cold being 55 degrees or so).
Rachael
I train alone which may even be better for me. A coach saying something to me would have little effect and even that would be more disincentive than incentive.
The two things that work for me in winter (which also means its darker longer) are to get to bed earlier with a nice book and using a little sense memory when the alarm goes off. I picture and feel how it is when I complete the work out. That feeling of accomplishment is usually enough to get me going.
The short days affect me more than the cold does. I swam in High school, and we had to go out ing the dark to wait for the bus after swimming. Boy was that cold, especially with long wet hair.
I have trouble getting going in the mornings. This will ease up in Feb when the days get noticably longer.
I just pretend its like any other day. I throw my parka on have a cup of espresso and I'm ready to go. This morning it was 36 degrees and we swim outside. The best part was the pool was 76 degrees. That was not fun to jump into. After about 20 100s I started to warm, then coach talked to us for awhile about technique and it got cold again. I look at swimming in the cold as a sign of strength, those who can't do it I view as weak and it makes me feel good :). (It's the competitiveness in me)
Try not to look at the cold as a negative, try to make it positive ... maybe use it as an excuse to swim faster to keep warm, less breaks between sets, whatever ... try to use it as motivation rather than a deterrant. Like swim25 said: "I look at swimming in the cold as a sign of strength, those who can't do it I view as weak and it makes me feel good." He's making it a positive reinforcement.
As for getting out of bed, Coffee works best for me, getting everything ready the night before, and getting restful sleep ... setting the alarm in the other room would just frustrates me but, if it works for you then cool. Also it helps to carpool if you can ... it's hard to call someone up in the morning and cancel on their ride. and...warm clothes...
The two things that work for me in winter (which also means its darker longer) are to get to bed earlier with a nice book and using a little sense memory when the alarm goes off. I picture and feel how it is when I complete the work out. That feeling of accomplishment is usually enough to get me going.
Yes this is good ... I think I'll try this myself.
Tis the season to treat yourself... buy a new cap, goggles, new suit - or in your case, maybe spring for a parka... keeps you warm and snuggly before you jump in. Periodically, I buy a new cap or whatever just to psych myself up.
Or, you could treat yourself to a cup of coffee or hot cocoa after practice.
:coffee:
As mentioned above, I also try to remember how I feel after a workout and look forward to that.
I have the hardest time waking up and being creative for my practices during the winter time! It's cold up here in Connecticut (though much warmer than Upstate NY...where I grew up), and that makes it so much harder to pull off the blankets in the morning and roll out of bed!
Sorry you have a problem getting up when the weather turns cold.
First thing in the morning, I am just too dumb to think of something smart, like crawling back in a nice warm bed.
Habit gets me to practice year round.
But evening intelligence leaves nice warm clothes within arm reach of the bed, so I don't have to experience the cold cruel world without protection.
Now that we've had our first cold snap here in Austin, I wonder if anyone else has trouble getting up in the cold wee hours to make practice? Any good ways to trick yourself out of bed?
I keep an alarm clock in another room and often think of the answer I'd have to give when coach inevitably says, "So I didn't see you yesterday..." But sometimes, those things just aren't enough. I post this knowing we really don't have much to complain about in the way of cold weather, but I'm a native Texan and just have never liked being cold at all (cold being 55 degrees or so).
Rachael
If you swim for TXLA - at least you are swimming indoors. I swim in Austin outdoors and the forecast is sub-30 tomorrow morning. I plan to swim tomorrow morning.
I admit it isn't something I look forward to though. I use my parka on those days. Put my goggles on, then quickly shed my parka and shoes before I jump in the pool. There have been days before when the water on the deck ices up.
I suppose one good thing is that I get a perverse satisfaction of saying Yes when people ask me if I swam on a particularly cold morning.
Swim weird events! In November I swam PB's in the distance backstroke events. (This is just me swimming alone in practice, not in competition. And to be clear, these were all done on different days.)
500 SCY Backstroke 6:15
1000 SCY Backstroke 12:52
1650 SCY Backstroke 21:24
On the 1000 and the 1650, I did at least 7 SDK off every wall and never exceeded 11 strokes per length. I still have lots of room for improvement but those times are a big drop from April, the last time I attempted these odd events. This month I might go for the 500 fly... I haven't done it since my Butternut induction swim last December...
What odd events do you swim? Post your weird results here!
