It's 10 o'clock, the Princess is at preschool and I've driven 20 miles to put the Pea into the gym childcare, wander out into a 48-degree, albeit sunny, day and jump into a presumably heated pool. I am certain that some people would say I am nuts to swim outdoors on a day like today -- God bless those people, but I love it. For one, the pool is empty. Two, it was in fact heated and, in combination with the sun, it felt glorious. Three, there are some long swims to come in the months of June and July -- months when the mercury flirts with triple digits and the sun in Southern California is capable of inflicting tremendous discomfort. I'll take February and a chill in the air any day. Mind over matter, I say -- and then jump in.
1350yd Base Interval Swim
If there's anything unfortunate about my February swim sets, is that there isn't enough distance to truly take advantage of the more comfortable weather. Unlike the 3000m+ sets forthcoming, the February sets continue to be about building a solid base. A warmup, some drills, a reasonably sized base interval set (7 x 100yd this time around), then some kicks and a cooldown. All this means, besides that I shouldn't have any trouble keeping strong throughout, is that I have plenty of opportunity to work on the myriad of issues with my stroke.
For example, my kick remains a bit of a joke. As my wife said and I mentioned in an earlier post, it needs to be more like dribbling a basketball than an outboard motor. So, today I decide to work on it as I start my warmup -- piece of cake, I think, as I lengthen my kick, stretch my torso, rotate my body with each stroke (the second of three significant issues with my stroke) and really reach for the wall. In fact, I fully complete my 300yd warmup feeling that I gave it my all to achieve the right form. Throw in drill sets which are designed to hold good form, and I've complete more than 40% of my daily workout trying to retrain my brain to do things right. For the record, I've even worked on the third problem area, which is lengthening my breathing -- while I'm still only breathing to the left, I'm making it a priority to get more strokes in per breath, something that I can only do at a relatively tame pace and never at a race-level output.
Then I hit the base intervals... you see, these are meant to be performed at a considerably more intense pace than the warmup (obviously). So, once I get into the flow (and swimming really is quite monotonous, without any challenges of terrain, incline, visual distraction, etc.), I start to push myself a bit. What happens? The stroke all falls to... well, you know. Once I "muscle up" and really get into the stroke, the focus changes to exertion level and the muscle memory kicks in to "overkick" and "under-rotate." When I realize it and start to correct? My stroke gets thrown off and things get uncomfortable -- unless I slow down my pace.
Just shows you how incredibly hard it is to retrain yourself on something you've done your whole life. Just try eating with the opposite hand, for example, or sitting on a stationary bike and pedaling backwards for an hour. Our brain has trained our muscles to identify the action and do it in the way it has "always done." Intuitively and intellectually, I know I'd be faster and more efficient if I altered my stroke, but I now question whether I can do it when I am focused on maintaining a certain pace, not to mention when there are 1000 people kicking and splashing around me and I'm desperately trying to complete a 4000+ yard course. Fuhgeddaboudit.
So, after bits and pieces of good form and a whole lot of just slogging through the water, I completed my set and hopped out of the pool. It was one of those good days -- where my biorhythm made it seem like I could've swam for hours -- but it wasn't yet called for. I'm still building my base and only one day a week will I be doing Fartlek work that will really tax my stamina (Friday this week) -- at only 30% of the race swim length and a dozen more breaks than will be afforded at the event, it hardly seems to prepare me for anything. But it will -- I trust that much. Now if only mind over matter (or muscle, in this case) could be extended to more than just the weather, all would be even that much better
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Reading this makes me wish I went to a gym with a pool. However, my brain knows that right now, I can afford neither the time nor the cost of such a luxury. I'd like to get my old form back at some future date, as in the past, a few people told me that it was quite good.
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