Today I swam. It was the longest distance and time I have spent in a pool for training purposes. I’m sure as a kid I spent the equivalent amount of time and distance horsing around, but it was never focused. It was never with a reason other than to have fun.
Training today was to be 1200 yards with some intervals and kicking along with a 35 minute running Fartlek.
1200 yards seemed scary. 48 laps of a 25 yard pool is what it takes to accomplish that distance. Thankfully my Apple watch has a lap counter, or I would be in a world of mathematical hurting. I realized as I reviewed my first month of training that it is pretty effin scary. Not so scary that I’m giving up but scary enough that I accept that I need to be intelligent about how I tackle this training.
Forty two weeks is a long time. It will go quickly but training is much like a marathon, I need to start out slow and consistent so that I can finish strong. I have decided that for the first couple weeks, or at the very least until I get through the three races I have in Septemener, that I am going to focus on each disciple individually.
I don’t want to ramp my training volume so quickly that I end up injured. Which given my body’s tendency towards tendentious I know is a real possibility. Especially with swimming and to a similar extent biking, I am looking at times and distances (even the beginning training days) that I have never done before. I need to work smart not stupid.
The first few weeks are going to be a base point of each of the disciplines so I know where I am starting from. I need that snap shot of where I am so I can hone in on the path to get me to the finish line. Running is the exception, I know where I am there, however I need to learn where I am with running when combined with the other disciplines.
In the spirit of learning where I am in my training life, today’s training focused on swimming. Just swimming laps. I wanted to just get in the pool and see what I could do. I wanted to see how I would feel after 48 laps.
I was pleased with my efforts. But as always, I started out too quickly and by the end was pretty tired. I could feel my legs dragging so I had to make the mental effort to keep my butt and legs up so that I wouldn’t drag. My shoulders did remarkably well but I could feel my lats in the car while driving home.
Results:
1250 yards
50 laps
37 minutes 20 seconds
Avg 2’59/54 strokes per 100 yards
Focus areas:
1. Don’t start out so fast, start slow and then increase speed and effort during main set
2. Get a handle on breathing-how many strokes before I breath
3. Form is crucial. I need to keep form even when tired
GeekyTriathlete 