Swimming: Aerobic

I traveled for business last week and didn't have the opportunity to swim. So tonight was my first session back after a ten day hiatus. It was a complete and utter disaster. Not that I was ever a fantastic swimmer, but I had lost what little coordination and rhythm that I had developed in the previous 2-3 weeks. I didn't think it would be possible, but I swam even worse than usual. Tonight's workout:

• Warm up
• 5 rounds: 200M crawl at 90% intensity (5% above cruise pace), 50M relaxing stroke, 50M any kick
• 250M pull
• 75M IM: fly, backstroke, breast stroke, 100M crawl
• 75M IM: breast stroke, backstroke, fly
• 200M crawl, 200M kick ...

I can't remember what the last part was because I didn't even get to the kick. I also developed a headache and couldn't get wait to get out of the pool.

One of the many reasons why I swim so slowly is that I swim uphill. I asked Greg (coach) how to swim horizontally. His advice:

• Kick off horizontally
• Press your sternum down
• Head should be halfway submerged in water
• Kick a couple of times to propel yourself forward, NOT to keep yourself afloat
• Lift your hips up so that they're close to the surface of the water, but booty should not be in the air
• Take a few strokes and realign if necessary

Very helpful since per Terry Laughlin's "hide your head" advice, I've been sinking my head in the water. This has made it difficult to breathe and I've been lifting my head to compensate.

I slogged my way through as much of the workout as possible. Fortunately, I partially rediscovered my groove by the end of it. I'll be back tomorrow.