New Year...New Goals

In case it isn't too obvious, I've had a rough last two days, and it really was all in my head. I pretty much talked myself into a bad mood on Monday morning and couldn't snap out of it until today. After two days without working out (and I don't count yesterday's 5 minutes on the treadmill as a workout), I went to the gym pretty determined to get in a good run. First 20 minutes were terrible, my calves were tight and I just felt sluggish. After 20 minutes I knew I had a choice to make...be a wimp and go home, again, or crank up the pace and make myself hang on. I cranked up the pace to my normal weekday run pace and actually started to feel pretty good. Got in 5 miles and felt completely rejuvenated at the end!

From the gym, I headed to Oak Marr pool for FXCM masters practice. There was a small group and I shared a lane with a guy Dave and for the first few minutes we fought over who was more out of shape. Finally I gave in and went first. Here's the workout...

600 warm up

12 x 100 free on...
1:30
1:25
1:25
1:20
1:30
1:25
1:20
1:20
1:25
1:20
1:15
1:15

3 x 200 on 3:00
#1- free
#2- 100 free/100 IM
#3- 200 IM

9 x 100 on 1:30
#1 50 free/50 back
#2 100 free
#3 50 back/50 free
#4 100 free
#5 25 back/50 free/25 back
#6 100 free
#7 25 free/50 back/25 free
#8 100 free
#9 100 back

2 x 150
#1- 50 fly/50 back/50 breast
#20 50 back/50 breast/50 fly

50 warm down

3700 yards total

I didn't feel too bad for being out of the water for so long. I made all of the intervals and felt good in the water. My backstroke is officially faster than my freestyle...again! Insane!

Being out of the water for two weeks and having this nice workout to stretch out made me be more aware of my stroke, my position in the water, how it feels to glide through the water. It was good to be back doing something that I'm actually good at rather than running and trying to keep up all the time with people faster than me. How many days until this darn marathon?!?!? Man, it better be a good one because I'm not sure that I want to train for another one!

So with regards to the Richmond meet...I've decided in the interest of actually trying to swim well that I'm putting off my 18 mile run until Monday. So that brings me to the question of what to swim. I don't want to do any 50s or 100s since I have no speed right now and also don't want to risk being sore on Monday so I think I'll sign up for the following...
Saturday- 1000 free, 500 free
Sunday- 200 back, 200 free

And I won't be trying to impress anyone with my 400 IM on Valentine's Day after it took me about 50 seconds to do a 50 fly at practice tonight. Jeff could have almost lapped me! Now THAT'S nuts!