Last night while running it got me thinking about things. You know the kind of run I am talking about. Where you have time to just think? It got me thinking about my swim. I realized as I saw some people running up the trail (and I thought to myself I can catch them) that riding or running I don't lack any oomph to push myself but when I swim, I JUST SWIM. One pace, same time, same place. Saturday's swims were enough for me to realize something has to change. I am not afraid of working hard for swimming but in the open water I turn into a different person. It takes me at least 20 minutes to relax and then I am the worlds worst navigator. In my mind it should be find fast feet and hang on right? WRONG. I must get complacent and back off and then la di da my way through. After a small pity party and some shopping here I have come up with my plan of attack. It probably wont make much of a difference in CA but by Arizona I hope to have improved my IM swim time. DRASTICALLY! I am going to channel Michelle and Kiet in my head every swim!
Plus I have to share my challenge for IM Arizona in my next blog! Stay tuned...
Well, Michelle and Kiet will actually be swimming, biking, and running together come next week so your channeling must be working. Totally agree with you on getting out of your comfort zone in the swim and you're not alone in the la di da, stuck in one pace swim training, lots of ironman athletes get stuck in that rut, including me. Since IMCDA, I've been definitely getting out of my comfort zone in the swim, tonight was holding 1:04's with Bree and the Kona Aquatics. Giddy up and get uncomfortable!
ReplyDeleteDid the shopping help? What did you get?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear what you have planned for AZ!!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes- you cannot just swim one pace. NO! Doesn't your coach give you challenging swim sets? Watch the clock and start racing it while you swim- know the splits you can hold for repeat 100's and on what interval and then work to bring that down... say you do 15 x 100's @ 2:00 and can hold 1:47... start by picking it up every 3rd one so you go 1:42 on the fast ones and then back to your 1:47's... then do it every other one. Then bring your avg pace down to 1:44, etc. GO FOR IT!
ReplyDeleteUm agreed! Oh goodness! I would slit my wrists if I did not have paces and send offs and specifics. YES, you need to do that!!! YOU CAN!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about becoming a different swimmer in open water! I have to focus so hard the entire time and just repeat to myself "keep swimming hard, keep swimming hard" otherwise I literally space out and just drift. Having hard swim workouts in the pool has made a big difference though - now when I go into a race in open water I just tell myself "it should feel like my 100s workout" or something similar.
ReplyDeleteGood luck at Canada! I'll send good thoughts from Louisville :)