Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Morning swim edition: the good, the bad and the ugly

Hmmm, I was irrationally convinced that jet lag would let me pop out of bed with huge alertness at 5am, but somehow it didn't happen: I was snoozing the alarm(s) (I have used a pair of clocks ever since one missed morning workout with the trainer a couple years ago, clearly I am capable of turning it off in my sleep, I am the furthest possible thing from a natural early riser) and then with horror suddenly and blearily noticed it was 5:37 and I was in danger of genuinely oversleeping.

So it wasn't the best swim workout ever, but it wasn't bad. H. and I switched into the next-over lane and I think we've really just got to stay there, there are too many others using the slow lane for just noodling around and not doing the workout. These morning ones are just kind of rushed, so it wasn't anything huge--let's see if I can remember...

(Not really using the clock, just appropriately brief rest intervals.)

Warmup: 200 free, 100 stroke (breast), 50 kick, then free till 6:15.

#1: 200 free, 200 stroke (back), 200 free

#2: 12 x 50, 2 free and 2 stroke (mostly back, a bit of breast)

I am sorry to say that I got out five minutes early and only had time to do ten rather than twelve. I was feeling increasingly queasy--no time to eat anything before I left the apartment, which usually is fine but I think jet lag throws it off. That means really I only did about 1500 yards, not very much, but on the other hand I was more in need of a gentle reintroduction than anything dramatic. So I came home and ate breakfast.

I think I can stick in this lane, my free is just the right speed for it, but it means that I really do need to find the time elsewhere for practicing the other strokes--I can't practice the fly stuff at all in this context, too stressful; breast is pretty slow, must just keep working steadily on that; form on back is vulnerable to the slight anxiety of swimming in a lane with others, too, both in terms of speed and in terms of logistics (esp. how to deal with turns). I should just dedicate myself to this, that's the fact of the matter, that's what I want to do--only of course really it is also appropriate to have, like, a life where I actually spend time now and then hanging out with people in the evenings--NOT in a swimming pool or running clothes or whatever...

2 comments:

Brent Buckner said...

What is this "life" thing of which you write?

Unknown said...

Indeed. Stay there!!