I had a pretty crummy day at work today...just in sort of a bad mood all day. Thank goodness I had swimming on my agenda for crosstraining tonight. I always feel a little annoyed when I know I have to swim, but when I am done I feel soooo much better. It's not like running when you just have to get your shoes and ipod and start moving your feet. Swimming is a little more high maintenance, and since I was already annoyed...
However, by the time I got to the pool and saw that the outdoor lanes were still open, my mood quickly changed. The sun was still shining and I realized I haven't been out in the sun very much lately with all of this early morning running. I absolutely love swimming outdoors in the fresh air. I will be so sad when it turns colder and I am forced into that humid, noisy indoor pool area.
I did a bunch of Total Immesrion drills (which are getting easier, by the way) and then just did a few hundred meters of pure swimming. Overall swim time was about 50 minutes.
I quickly found out that my swimming fitness has definitely decreased. Since Musselman in July, I have mainly been doing TI drills to rebuild my stroke. It has helped my stroke for sure, but my aerobic fitness has suffered. I used to be able to swim a good 800 m or so without really stopping, but now I find myself huffing and puffing after just 50-100. I guess I will have to add one more swim day to my schedule for just some good ole' aerobic swimming in addition to my day of drills. The problem is, I am getting fatigued with this jump in marathon miles. Since Tuesday's a.m. run is just a 4-mile recovery, I should try to swim Tuesday after school. Ok, that's my plan! Back at the pool tomorrow for some more water therapy!
The absulute best part about afternoon swimming outdoors in the cooler temps...sitting in the outdoor hot tub afterwards. Beautiful!!
ok- as your old coach, i am butting in- don't stress about losing fitness over the winter- keep with those drills! in fact, it has been shown when you lose fitness - you will come back stronger. i love to watch my fitness develop in Jan. I always feel such a sense of accomplishment - so don't stress and over work yourself with marathon training! I swam yesterday just to recover my beat up legs and my fitness i already wayy down! Ok- down giving advice now!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I needed that. I was soooo tired that I could not get back to the pool for a second day. This is the week that I really start to feel it. Oh, Lord help me!
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