Of Swimming Bondage

... and the results, while logical and entirely consistent with where I know I am in terms of fitness, were still a bit disappointing. There's nothing quite like the cold slap in the face of objective data. Below are the last three short course yards' efforts where, if the trendline moves up and to the left, that is an indication of less fitness:

• March 30th being about one month before 2016 Nationals (when I was in good shape)
• November 22nd, 2016 being a little more than 10 days after last year's Ron Johnson / SCM Champs meet (so I was kind of still riding the taper)

Again, these data completely make sense. I know they are reflective of reality. But I can still not be happy about reality, right?

Warmup Sets (1,750 set)

• 1 x 400: IM, k/d
• 4 x 100: on 1:20, free descend w/snorkel (1:13, 1:12+, 1:10+, 1:10)
• 4 x 100: on 1:45, IM kick, odds w/board, evens on back descend (1:31+, 1:29+, 1:7+, 1:26)
• 6 x 50: on 0:55, #1 & #6 easy free w/snorkel, #2 to #5 strong fly, back, free, free (0:34, 0:33, 0:38, 0:30)
• 8 x 25: on 0:30, odds easy, evens fast IM order (13+, 15, 16+, 13)
• 1 x 50: easy w/snorkel

Salo Pulse Plot (900 set / 2,650 total)
8 x 100: on 3:00, pulse plot, going 70-80-90-100-100-90-80-70 percent effort and taking pulse at 0:10, 0:30 and 1:00 after each repeat

• 02/19/2014 - 1:08, 1:04, 1:02, 1:00+, 1:00+, 1:01+, 1:05, 1:06
• 03/20/2014 - 1:05, 1:00, 0:59, 0:57+, 0:56, 0:59, 1:01+, 1:04
• 12/02/2015 - 1:08, 1:05, 1:01, 0:57, 0:57, 1:00+, 1:05, 1:07.5
• 01/28/2016 - 1:10, 1:07, 1:02, 0:59, 0:59, 1:05+, 1:09, 1:12
• 02/12/2016 - 1:08, 1:04, 0:59, 0:57, 0:57+, 1:00, 1:05, 1:06
• 03/02/2016 - 1:11, 1:08, 1:03+, 0:59+, 0:57+, 1:01, 1:07+, 1:09+
• 03/30/2016 - 1:10, 1:05+, 1:02+, 0:59, 0:59, 1:02, 1:06, 1:08
• 11/22/2016 - 1:12, 1:07, 1:03, 1:00, 57+, 1:04+, 1:09+, 1:09
• 11/15/2017 - 1:13, 1:09, 1:03, 59+, 1:01, 1:05, 1:09, 1:13+

TOTAL: 2,650 SCY

Comments:

• While I would like my fitness to be better, I at least had some moments in the set where I felt 'at one' with my stroke and the water. My 3rd 100, where I really felt like I was easy cruising, was really surprising to see a 1:30.
• It looks like our final turnout for this weekend's meet is 225 swimmers, which is going to make for a great meet - https://www.clubassistant.com/club/c...1044&smid=9429. The weather forecast looks perfect for a weekend of racing.
• I am entered in the following ...

Event Number	Sex	Distance	Stroke	Time	Date
3	Men	50 SCM	Breast	0:35.77	11/18/2017
5	Men	200 SCM	Free	2:09.88	11/18/2017
9	Men	100 SCM	Breast	1:16.25	11/18/2017
12	Men	200 SCM	IM	2:20.89	11/18/2017
17	Men	100 SCM	IM	1:06.26	11/19/2017
24	Men	400 SCM	IM	5:04.00	11/19/2017
26	Men	200 SCM	Breast	2:44.62	11/19/2017
27	Men	100 SCM	Free	1:05.05	11/19/2017

• ... but will have to look at the timeline.
  
  • I will definitely NOT swim all 4 events on Saturday as, especially given my fitness, don't want to wipe myself out then given that the 400 IM is on Sunday. I will swim the 50 breast and then make a decision whether I do the 200 free OR the 100 breast.
  • On Sunday, I will swim both of the IMs, but then might call it a day. I can see a scenario where I try the 100 free, but also even, if there's enough rest after the 400 IM, where I just look at the remaining events as a quality workout. We'll see how I feel on the day.