Trying to Train Smarter, Not Just Harder

What happened to March? Geez, Spring is actually upon us, and it seems like Valentine's Day was just last week! Warmer air again this morning, thank goodness - the 38 degree temp on Wed morning was a nasty shock to the system. ATAC still off - so we've had the entire 50M pool to ourselves for 2 weeks now. They come back on Monday, and I'm looking forward/dreading that! Swam with Jenna & Gary today - Sela & Marcia slept in, I guess. Did butterfly for the first time since, basically October - with zoomers - and only for a 25, but I did do it, and I felt good, no shoulder pain at all. (Yea!)

600 back/free
300 pull
"The Rob" set:
4 x 50
3 x 100 IM
2 x 150
200 IM (or IM twitch)
1 min rest
200 Pull
2 x 150 IM twitch
3 x 100
4 x 50 kick
(No clock so no intervals)
100 easy
3 x 100 w/pull buoy only
100 easy
3 x 100 pull w/buoy & paddles
100 easy
3 x 100 w/fins and paddles
100 easy
300 breast/free
Total: 4500 LCM

Trying to find a way to challenge myself w/out going to meets is really hard. I don't think there is a single meet that coincides with my free weekends until October. Been thinking about giving myself a challenge & actually doing the dumb "goal sets" with the kids on some of the Saturday practices this summer. I hate competing against Olympians, seriously. Even tho I won't be in their heat, they will see me come in at my pathetically slow time, and even tho they probably aren't actually watching me, I still feel like they are, and judging. (And they probably couldn't care less, lol!!)

Had my 2nd accupuncture about 5 days ago, which I didn't really enjoy this time, because he gave me a "massage" which hurt like, well, it hurt a lot. I felt bruised until about yesterday, but swimming wise, on Monday I was fine, Tuesday was fine, today was pretty dang good, actually. So yes, I would recommend accupuncture, but I think I'm done for now. It's too bad I don't have a meet this weekend, darn it.

500 back/free
500 pull
400 kick
100 easy
10 x 200; descending intervals
200 easy
300 breast/free
500 breast/free
2 x 50; sprint the 25, cruise to wall
100 easy
4700 LCM

So I had my very first accupuncture tx today, and I was totally amazed -- you don't feel the needles going in at ALL. We shall see if this helps the old shoulder, and other things. He told me a lot of stuff that I'm not sure I buy into, but hey, if it helps, why not?

very few kids this AM, Spring Break officially begins this afternoon, I guess, so workout was optional.(?). Had my own lane, as Jenna & Sela weren't there either. finally got my distance back up to 5000, in part because I was in the mood, and in part because my arm was only slightly achy this morning - hurt a bit during the first 1200, but then I was fine.

600 back/free
600 pull, speed play by 50s
300 kick, 75 hard, 25 easy
100 easy
4 x 200 pull @ 3:05. -was supposed to be 3:00, but that's where I was coming in, so . . . . .
100 easy
12 x 50 @ 1:00, descend 1-3
100 easy (kids got out here)
10 x 150, free/stroke/free
400 warm down
5100 LCM

Oddness, my shoulder doesn't hurt today. Very odd
500 back/free
5 x 100 pull @ 1:30
4 x 100 kick @ 2:15
100 easy
5 x 300 @ 5:30 or 6:00, alt stroke/free by 50
200 easy
3 x 500, pull no paddles, pull w/paddles, and breast/free (cool down)
total: 4700 LCM

Swimming gently today, as I was really noticing my shoulder, and the set wasn't super challenging, and the other person in my lane was happy to go pokey as well.

500 back/free
500 pull (w/minimal effort, as I was warming up)
5 x 100 kick @ 2:15
100 easy
12 x 100 @ 1:40 (told you the set wasn't super challenging)
200 easy
500 odds and ends with fins to preserve the shoulder
Total 3500 LCM

I think Terry was easy on them/us because the kids had Sr.Champs this past weekend, and this was essentially their first day back in long course in 3-1/2 weeks. PLUS, it was raining. I imagine next week he'll step it up a bit.

I am soooo looking forward to the time change and the temperature change. I truly pity those who live up north. My son, in very northern Tennessee (1 mi south of Kentucky) had 5 inches of ICE beneath 10 inches of snow on Monday. What a nightmare. And his apartment complex didn't do anything to help dig the parking lot out, so he got together a posse and spent 7 hours digging/shoveling and picking at ice on Monday. Down here in Tallahassee, that same day, it was 71 and sunny.

***AND, I made an appt with an accupuncturist! That should be interesting! Hoping to "unfreeze" my shoulder sooner than Mother Nature was planning.

Ahhh! Back to my old pool! And its LCM! Yipes! But it wasn't too bad, we were only out of the pool for 3 weeks, so hopefully a week of torture, and then I'll be used to it again.

400 back/free
400 pull
200 kick
6 x 200 @ 3:15 (held below 3:00 the entire time, yea me!)
100 easy
8 x 50 kick @ 1:10
8 x 25 4-cycle speed play on :30
100 easy
300 Pull
2 x 150 Pull
3 x 100 Pull
100 easy
Total: 4000 LCM

**Rediscovered something this morning. When I emphasize my pull properly, the T drops and the feet rise, making my stroke more efficient, thus moving me faster with no increase in effort. This was a lovely "ah ha" moment this morning & I am so excited to get back after it - but tomorrow I have an early dentist appt, and will have to miss swimming entirely! Argh.