OK, new swimming friends, I need some comments. Prior to my new job, I was swimming at lunch with a rather competitive group, M, W, F, and sometimes on Sunday. Now, with my new position, I seldom, if ever can get away at lunch, and so have to resort to swimming at 5:30am. M,W,F the local swim team is there, and so lane space is at a premium, but I feel like I have someone to race, even if it is 13 year olds! On Sat I can swim beside them as well. On T & Th, no kids, more lane space, but actually, very few adults as well (50 x 25 pool, going SCY), so I'm rather lonely, bored, and usually unmotivated and dissatisfied with my swims. Since I got my new job, I've been going T, W, Th, Sat & Sun -- Sun I'm not too motivated either. So I'm considering changing to M,W, F and if I can get away at lunch to swim with my old group, then that's gravy (and an exhausting 3000 to add to my daily total!), but seriously, I enjoy sleeping in a few mornings!! But which ones? Are 5 days a week doing me any good if three of the days are rather non-spectacular? (More yardage) Or would it be better to go M, W, F & Sat & have most likely a great swim four days a week? Comments & rationales please!! (Granted, I still don't really have any masters swimmers to swim with on any day at 5:30 in the morning.
So glad you both agree with me! As I was writing it, I was thinking, you've already made up your mind, why are you bothering to ask for anyone else's opinion? Happy laps to you.. .
Personally - I think swimming when you have people (even 13 year olds) to race will help improve your overall speed.
I also think that more yardage is definitely necessary, but it depends - is it perfect practice? do you have someone evaluating your stroke during those times? That's really important if you really want to improve.
I would go with other people, but then again - I'm not the kind who can keep up a self propelled workout forever. So I would definitely go with the MWF & Sat.
-Michael P.
I think 4 good workouts is better than 5 not so good.If you are going to swim some by yourself I'd recommend doing things that are different from what you get in your other swims.Many ,if not most ,Masters workouts give too little time for sprinting so swimming on your own is a good opportunity to do some high intensity/longer rest work.
As much as I like having a lane to myself, I find that I have a better overall swim on those days when I have someone else swimming with me.If they're faster I push myself so as not to get in their way and if they're slower I push myself to quickly pass them and not kick or hit them in the process.Either way I win.
I have also shared he pool during our swim teams' practice and found that I would pick up tips on technique and stroke drills that I otherwise wouldn't have.Quite valuable since my pool does not have a masters team.
Go M/W/F/S, you'll be much more motivated to go at 5:30 knowing there will be a bunch of other swimmers you can join.
I agree that swimming with others is a great way to keep you motivated. I know that is definitely true for me. Besides, it's also a good motivator to get out of bed before the sun rises - having to answer to "Where were you" if you don't show :)
