This is somewhat related to the “eat or not before swimming in early morning thread”--though my question is about competition rather than training. I did a search of the forums and couldn’t find an answer. First a little background. I am not a morning person. If I could (i.e., if work and life and everything else didn’t intervene), I’d probably go to sleep at 1 and wake at 9. By choice, I generally swim at noon with my master’s group.
Because of scheduling conflicts, on Monday and Tuesday of this week, I woke up really early (for me), didn’t sleep much or well, then went to the pool to swim. OMG was that a horrible experience. On both days, I could not warm up or get comfortable in the water or get my body to loosen up. I nearly got out after 1000 yards, and I usually never want to get out before I’ve finished the planned workout. More to the point of my question, I was also about 4 seconds per 100 slower than I would have been at noon, based on perceived effort. And I’ve noticed the same crappy feeling pretty much every time I swim in the early morning.
So, I’m looking ahead to this summer, and to one open water swim in particular, though my question has more to do with time of day than to venue. This open water swim is designed for early birds. It starts at 8:30--but it starts on an island. Which means that you have to take the 6:30 ferry over, then wait around for the start. Which in turn means that I have to get up really early (for me), and that I do not sleep much or well. When I have done this swim in the past, the feeling has usually been more like the morning swims than the noon ones (though, of course, there is more adrenaline, etc. flowing during a race).
Anyone else have a similar experience? Does anyone have any advice about how to get to a place where an early morning competition doesn’t automatically mean a handicap? Aside, that is, from some crazy idea like changing all of my regular workout times to the early morning.
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Former Member
Being a night owl has screwed most of my adult life. I just have trouble getting to sleep, I do my best work late afternoon; I get a second wind after dinner and ... it repeats. Going to bed early means staring at the ceiling for hours. Getting up early means I am not totally functional and while drowsy during the day, I can't nap or get to bed on time that night either. Eventually I oversleep to catch up, resetting things.
It means I am often late to work, have to stay late to finish; miss all social and workout opportunities and am generally out of synch with life. When I am able to get up for morning swims, they are generally slow and sluggish despite LOTS of caffeine.
It wouldn't be bad enough, but there's also enduring the disrespect and snide comments from early risers who awaken feeling refreshed.
I am about ready to go for sleep studies to see why I am so wrecked in the mornings and can't get to sleep. Just promise me I can still enjoy my morning coffee drinks...
Being a night owl has screwed most of my adult life. I just have trouble getting to sleep, I do my best work late afternoon; I get a second wind after dinner and ... it repeats. Going to bed early means staring at the ceiling for hours. Getting up early means I am not totally functional and while drowsy during the day, I can't nap or get to bed on time that night either. Eventually I oversleep to catch up, resetting things.
It means I am often late to work, have to stay late to finish; miss all social and workout opportunities and am generally out of synch with life. When I am able to get up for morning swims, they are generally slow and sluggish despite LOTS of caffeine.
It wouldn't be bad enough, but there's also enduring the disrespect and snide comments from early risers who awaken feeling refreshed.
I am about ready to go for sleep studies to see why I am so wrecked in the mornings and can't get to sleep. Just promise me I can still enjoy my morning coffee drinks...
