I cut my training session short today to 2600m. I’m still not feeling 100%. I have run a fever off and on the past couple days indicating that my body was not kicking the sinus infection, so I broke down and got some antibiotics. Still it feels more helpful than harmful to swim, especially giving my sinuses a good rinsing in the pool (you know it’s best not the think about all the places on the human body the pool water has been flowing!).

I actually called it short on the last set once I noticed that my body and mind were not feeling productive anymore and losing focus on good form. A well-designed session or two focused on core-rotation is what I need later.

The pool today was a refreshing 27 C- crisp enough for my skinny body to encourage strong swimming and discourage waiting on the wall too long. I would not like it to be cooler than this for any extended swimming session.

I borrowed thistraining set from Terry’s blog.

8x 200m @ 4:30 interval, hold SPL, descend times. I held 15-16 SPL the whole set and descended: 3:36, 3:35, 3:34, 3:32, 3:30, 3.27, 3:25, and 3:26

This was suppose to be 3x 50,100,150,200 with SPL +1 per 50, but I only made it through 1x: Times 0:46, 1:43, 2:30, 3:24 holding 15,16, then 17 SPL per 50. But I had a harder time intentionally making 18 SPL on the last 50 because I have trained so many years at lower SPL.

Unfortunately, without the restraint of a TT I still act in “set” mode so these 8x200m were not so much of a warm-up. I go harder at first than I need to, so maybe I should stick with my 400 EZ warmup tradition where I feel not obligation to swim in any particular way. Then I can swim a set with less distraction from the main focus.

15 SPL is a natural rate for me, but when I am trying to go faster I think it exposes how I rely on the shoulders too much- I need to experiment with the timing of my grab and increase SPL when I go faster, especially to transfer core power. I need to drill on this to build a strong neural pathway for this pattern.

If I was more rested these two sets would have been more enjoyable. As it was I could just feel that my body didn’t have the umph to excel although it had the energy to complete it.

On the 50,100,150,200 it was easy to use the 15-16 SPL but I had to focus on a faster tempo to get 17 (without cheating by shortening my push-off from the wall). To swim 18 SPL I need to practice the rhythm at that tempo. This was a good set to expose the difficulties I have at adjusting SPL intentionally, while maintaining good form.

I am concerned about my head placement. The harder I swim the more I feel like I am increasing drag in that head-shoulder pocket. It would be helpful to have a partner examining me in these times. Anyone want to come to Antalya, Turkey?

© 2010, Mediterra International, LLC. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mediterra International, LLC and Mediterraswim.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Translate »

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

To receive the latest news and updates from Mediterra.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

[css] body .gform_wrapper ul li.gfield { padding-bottom:40px; }