@KatieBun I ALMOST jumped off a roof into deep water at a lake swim last week. Having had the back surgery in February something stopped me. Reading your situation... I feel relief. I wish you the best healing and the most rapid healing ever.
OnceaRunner said:
Big year for my fledgling swimming career:
Finish the Potomac River Swim (7.5 Miles).
Finish the Chesapeake Bay Swim (4.4 Miles) - I really want to do this under 2:20 since my physical therapist told me it was impossible for a non-swimmer to beat her time .
Finish the Kingdom Swim (10 Miles).
Not get hurt.
Finally learn to enjoy swimming.
Modest goals to say the least. As of right now I'm working hard, having a bit of fun and starting to see some improvement. Thanks for keeping me motivated!
So I just thought I would update and ask a few questions. Potomac swim was fantastic and I had a blast. 4:04 not blazing fast but respectable. No problem recovering, actually felt great and went swimming with the family later in the evening.
Bay Swim: Misery. 10 strokes in I knew I was in trouble. Couldn't catch my breath, no rhythm. Just couldn't go at all. Ended up in 2:32. On top of that I spent the rest of the day recovering. And still feel lethargic and achy while typing this. Skipped my morning swim.
The only difference between the two swims was that I wore a wetsuit for the Potomac swim. Could it be that my form is SO bad that I need the suit or am I just a headcase?
So my question is what do you do when you have a bad day? When I was a runner I could focus on my form or run from "post to post, turn to turn" or something like that. As a swimmer, what do you do to break out of a struggle?
As always, thanks for the advice and motivation!
Excellence is born of preparation, dedication, focus and tenacity; compromise on any of these and you become average.
HollyT said: @KatieBun I ALMOST jumped off a roof into deep water at a lake swim last week. Having had the back surgery in February something stopped me. Reading your situation... I feel relief. I wish you the best healing and the most rapid healing ever.
Thanks, Holly. Am deferring Zurich till 2016, but slowly recovering. Only managed 3 hours in Dover Harbour on Sunday and the last 30 minutes were decidely uncomfortable. Have decided to do nothing longer than Coniston this year. Very pleased to hear that you didn't jump! :-)
The only difference between the two swims was that I wore a wetsuit for the Potomac swim. Could it be that my form is SO bad that I need the suit or am I just a headcase?
So my question is what do you do when you have a bad day?
Have a coach or someone you think has a great stroke to look at you with and without your wetsuit. They may be able to point out the differences and help you improve your "naked" swimming.
When I have a bad day, I focus on my form. If I'm tired, cold, something hurts or I find myself in a negative frame of mind, I focus on making my stroke as perfect as possible. Then, if nothing else, at least my stroke was pretty. Usually it makes me feel better and go faster, followed by feeling happier.
It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.
@OnceaRunner, the Potomac and the Chesapeake are very different bodies of water. In the bay, even on a calm day, you'll get a lot of rolling waves along with chop and current, not to mention the ridiculous temperature this year. It's easy to tense up and start fighting the conditions, and ultimately wear yourself out faster. Also, it was ridiculously hot this year - were you able to stay hydrated before the swim? That might have something to do with feeling so lousy right out of the gate.
Second and biggest goal reached with a 24-minute PR. Finished the Kingdom Swim 3-miler on Saturday and was ready for more.
I need to thank my surgeon for giving me a faster arm.
I need to remind myself that I should be a little conservative the rest of the season and, just because it sounds like a good idea, it's probably not. (Repeat after me: I don't have time to drive back to Vermont for the Willoughby swim and be functional at work.)
Great South Bay Swim a success! Beat my best time! And although I assumed the distance was 5.44 miles, it's listed as 5.57 in the results. Grew a bit while I wasn't looking! First time I did this swim I was 8 years younger and the course was shorter (5.25 miles). I did 3:25 and was more than pleased. This year I did 3:20! Not speedy by the standards of many of you but hugely satisfying to me! Did better w nutrition too!
And except for a moment of queasiness near the end, I didn't get seasick!
BLS relay almost upon me. No idea what to expect. New body of water...1st motorboat escort... And fresh over a bug. But swam today and felt fine!
AfterBLS, am I done? Nope! Valley Forge Marathon Swim -- 8 miles. So not making BLS lottery isn't doing me out of an 8 miler... Just changing its venue!
Now, God willing, may I stay healthy!
Getting hard now...gonna fly...fly...fly (cue in Rocky theme).
dpm50 said:
Goal adjustment for me. Didn't get into BLS as solo swimmer so now part of a relay. All good. My original plan had been to aim for the solo next year. So I go back to that and now will have a preview. Joined 2 Bridges, planning on Great South Bay Swim, and there's another 8 miler in the works early September, a series of 800m ow races I do for fun.... And of course BLS relay. Shaping up to be an interesting year!
Well, I finished all of my goals for this year with a finish at the Kingdom Swim 10 Mile in 5:14 last week. It was really a gorgeous swim. Pancake flat, beautiful weather and wonderful people. My kayaker was the bomb and kept me going in the right direction and kept me fed right on schedule. I did want to knock him out of the boat and steal his food at about mile 7, but that passed. All in all a successful event. I also had a wonderful time camping at Prouty Beach, even with the softball knuckleheads. I am pretty sure that @rosemarymint was our neighbor! Small world.
Definitely would do that again. Now I need to figure out what's to do next year.
Excellence is born of preparation, dedication, focus and tenacity; compromise on any of these and you become average.
Congratulations! That sounds like a super race! Maybe I should put it on my list!
I'm stepping up to the 8 mile distance (^). Ten miles... we'll see how I do with 8! Well done! I've had those "wanna steal the kayak" moments -- Or actually in my translation "Are we there yet?" moments -- this time, though I didn't get that feeling until near the end, so progress!
OnceaRunner said:
Well, I finished all of my goals for this year with a finish at the Kingdom Swim 10 Mile in 5:14 last week. It was really a gorgeous swim. Pancake flat, beautiful weather and wonderful people. My kayaker was the bomb and kept me going in the right direction and kept me fed right on schedule. I did want to knock him out of the boat and steal his food at about mile 7, but that passed. All in all a successful event. I also had a wonderful time camping at Prouty Beach, even with the softball knuckleheads. I am pretty sure that @rosemarymint was our neighbor! Small world.
Definitely would do that again. Now I need to figure out what's to do next year.
Pulled out of Rottnest Channel Swim (Feb 2015) due to combo of shoulder problems, and to top it off, a first seizure 4 weeks before the date, fortunately in bed asleep and not swimming. Had 3 months off swimming, very gradual start and build back into it. Just doing 3 x 3km per week, enough to get through a Swimtrek Greek Cyclades trip this Sept (in 3 weeks). Doesn't seem much swimming after 950km last year, but easy does it. Will increase the load when back from a month in Greek Islands in prep for the Aussie summer open water season. Doubt I'll do anything longer than 5k this coming summer. Will continue cross training, which I had stopped last year, running 3x per week (6-8km), and weights/exercises. I'm aiming for more/some rest days between swimming, e.g. 4 longer sessions per week rather than 6 medium sessions in the long term, and maybe Rotto in Feb 2017. Have lost the 16kg I put on for Rotto. It was actually quicker/easier than putting it on, though not as much fun.
My goal this year is to come up with a goal 2016 after my 2015 goals was deferred due to family fun times and lack of cold water long training swims for the longer 2015 goal!
As this is my first proper year without a wetsuit I shouldnt probably have made overambitious cold water long swims as goals!
A 3km in 42.30 has though made me very happy! and if the organiser says its 3km - its 3km!
I had the goal of completing the Catalina Channel and just finished it on the 24th! It turned out to be the first annual World Marathon Swimming Day so I picked a great way to celebrate the day. It was my first long marathon swim and while I felt like crap right after the swim it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be the day after. I learned a lot and think I will be able to improve with my next long marathon swim. I am now probably gonna cool down my training for a bit but then pick it up again to try and do MIMS in 2016. Thanks to everyone on the forum who has posted, I have learned a lot from reading what other people write.
One more goal: Valley Forge Marathon Swim. Doing a couple other ow swims in Sept but just short ones for fun. Training for next year gets going in the fall. Boston Light Solo, baby!
Comments
@KatieBun I ALMOST jumped off a roof into deep water at a lake swim last week. Having had the back surgery in February something stopped me. Reading your situation... I feel relief. I wish you the best healing and the most rapid healing ever.
So I just thought I would update and ask a few questions. Potomac swim was fantastic and I had a blast. 4:04 not blazing fast but respectable. No problem recovering, actually felt great and went swimming with the family later in the evening.
Bay Swim: Misery. 10 strokes in I knew I was in trouble. Couldn't catch my breath, no rhythm. Just couldn't go at all. Ended up in 2:32. On top of that I spent the rest of the day recovering. And still feel lethargic and achy while typing this. Skipped my morning swim.
The only difference between the two swims was that I wore a wetsuit for the Potomac swim. Could it be that my form is SO bad that I need the suit or am I just a headcase?
So my question is what do you do when you have a bad day? When I was a runner I could focus on my form or run from "post to post, turn to turn" or something like that. As a swimmer, what do you do to break out of a struggle?
As always, thanks for the advice and motivation!
Excellence is born of preparation, dedication, focus and tenacity; compromise on any of these and you become average.
Thanks, Holly. Am deferring Zurich till 2016, but slowly recovering. Only managed 3 hours in Dover Harbour on Sunday and the last 30 minutes were decidely uncomfortable. Have decided to do nothing longer than Coniston this year. Very pleased to hear that you didn't jump! :-)
Have a coach or someone you think has a great stroke to look at you with and without your wetsuit. They may be able to point out the differences and help you improve your "naked" swimming.
When I have a bad day, I focus on my form. If I'm tired, cold, something hurts or I find myself in a negative frame of mind, I focus on making my stroke as perfect as possible. Then, if nothing else, at least my stroke was pretty. Usually it makes me feel better and go faster, followed by feeling happier.
It's always a bad hair day when you work at a pool.
@OnceaRunner, the Potomac and the Chesapeake are very different bodies of water. In the bay, even on a calm day, you'll get a lot of rolling waves along with chop and current, not to mention the ridiculous temperature this year. It's easy to tense up and start fighting the conditions, and ultimately wear yourself out faster. Also, it was ridiculously hot this year - were you able to stay hydrated before the swim? That might have something to do with feeling so lousy right out of the gate.
My only goal this year is to have fun.
Second and biggest goal reached with a 24-minute PR. Finished the Kingdom Swim 3-miler on Saturday and was ready for more.
I need to thank my surgeon for giving me a faster arm.
I need to remind myself that I should be a little conservative the rest of the season and, just because it sounds like a good idea, it's probably not. (Repeat after me: I don't have time to drive back to Vermont for the Willoughby swim and be functional at work.)
Progress!
Great South Bay Swim a success! Beat my best time! And although I assumed the distance was 5.44 miles, it's listed as 5.57 in the results. Grew a bit while I wasn't looking!
First time I did this swim I was 8 years younger and the course was shorter (5.25 miles). I did 3:25 and was more than pleased. This year I did 3:20! Not speedy by the standards of many of you but hugely satisfying to me! Did better w nutrition too!
And except for a moment of queasiness near the end, I didn't get seasick!
BLS relay almost upon me. No idea what to expect. New body of water...1st motorboat escort... And fresh over a bug. But swam today and felt fine!
AfterBLS, am I done? Nope! Valley Forge Marathon Swim -- 8 miles. So not making BLS lottery isn't doing me out of an 8 miler... Just changing its venue!
Now, God willing, may I stay healthy!
Getting hard now...gonna fly...fly...fly (cue in Rocky theme).
Well, I finished all of my goals for this year with a finish at the Kingdom Swim 10 Mile in 5:14 last week. It was really a gorgeous swim. Pancake flat, beautiful weather and wonderful people. My kayaker was the bomb and kept me going in the right direction and kept me fed right on schedule. I did want to knock him out of the boat and steal his food at about mile 7, but that passed. All in all a successful event. I also had a wonderful time camping at Prouty Beach, even with the softball knuckleheads. I am pretty sure that @rosemarymint was our neighbor! Small world.
Definitely would do that again. Now I need to figure out what's to do next year.
Excellence is born of preparation, dedication, focus and tenacity; compromise on any of these and you become average.
Congratulations! That sounds like a super race! Maybe I should put it on my list!
I'm stepping up to the 8 mile distance (^). Ten miles... we'll see how I do with 8! Well done! I've had those "wanna steal the kayak" moments -- Or actually in my translation "Are we there yet?" moments -- this time, though I didn't get that feeling until near the end, so progress!
Small world, @OnceaRunner! We definitely were campsite neighbors. Congrats on your swim.
Pulled out of Rottnest Channel Swim (Feb 2015) due to combo of shoulder problems, and to top it off, a first seizure 4 weeks before the date, fortunately in bed asleep and not swimming. Had 3 months off swimming, very gradual start and build back into it. Just doing 3 x 3km per week, enough to get through a Swimtrek Greek Cyclades trip this Sept (in 3 weeks). Doesn't seem much swimming after 950km last year, but easy does it. Will increase the load when back from a month in Greek Islands in prep for the Aussie summer open water season. Doubt I'll do anything longer than 5k this coming summer. Will continue cross training, which I had stopped last year, running 3x per week (6-8km), and weights/exercises. I'm aiming for more/some rest days between swimming, e.g. 4 longer sessions per week rather than 6 medium sessions in the long term, and maybe Rotto in Feb 2017. Have lost the 16kg I put on for Rotto. It was actually quicker/easier than putting it on, though not as much fun.
gw
As this is my first proper year without a wetsuit I shouldnt probably have made overambitious cold water long swims as goals!
A 3km in 42.30 has though made me very happy! and if the organiser says its 3km - its 3km!
I had the goal of completing the Catalina Channel and just finished it on the 24th! It turned out to be the first annual World Marathon Swimming Day so I picked a great way to celebrate the day. It was my first long marathon swim and while I felt like crap right after the swim it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be the day after. I learned a lot and think I will be able to improve with my next long marathon swim. I am now probably gonna cool down my training for a bit but then pick it up again to try and do MIMS in 2016. Thanks to everyone on the forum who has posted, I have learned a lot from reading what other people write.
One more goal: Valley Forge Marathon Swim. Doing a couple other ow swims in Sept but just short ones for fun. Training for next year gets going in the fall. Boston Light Solo, baby!