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September 8, 2008
Swimming With the Big Boys
This morning was masters swim and I was pretty excited! As I wrote about last Friday, I was going to make an attempt to swim a lane up and challenge myself and my new found swim skills. Swim with the swimmers. Swim with the big boys. As I got closer and closer to the pool I started to get a little nervous... Who gets nervous for swim practice? Well, I guess I do. :)
Things didn't go exactly as planned.
First, I was one of the first ones there. This is usually the case and allows for a nice, long warmup, but what it doesn't allow for is picking who you want to swim with! You just have to pick a lane and go, and then see who shows up. So I picked a lane in the vicinity of the faster group and started my warmup.
BUT - there weren't enough fast guys to fill up all the other lanes so essentially everyone had their own lane! (we are back in the big pool which, when set up for SCY, has about 10,000 lanes to pick from!) So of course I'm thinking - "GREAT, I'm going to have to do this workout on my own strength when very clearly the deal was, I get to swim on someone's feet!" Problem #1.
Before I got to worrying about that too much though, Coach Jen was announcing the workout. A 600, 2x300, 3x200 and then either 6x100 or another 600 (your choice). Okay! Here we go! Although problem #2 was - my group already left!!!!!
I swear it - Coach Jen finished announcing the workout when the digital clock read 39:54 and those guys started their 600 on the top...as in 6 second later...as in I didn't even have time to put my goggles on my head and they are already starting the workout! These guys don't mess around!
Needless to say, things weren't starting off well.
I panicked a little and then I thought of my options. I really wanted to try to do this workout with them, on their intervals, not 30 seconds off. I could jump in one of their lanes right NOW. I could just swim a 550 to get myself back on par. Or, I could just start swimming and swim really hard and maybe I won't be behind that far.
I picked the last option.
Luckily the 600 was on 9 minutes so even though they got about 1 min ++ of rest and I only got about 30 seconds rest (I guess I got my other 30 seconds at the start!), by the time we started on the 2x300 we were all on the same page. WHEW!
Next up was the 2x300 which were on 4:15 and were to be negative split. Negative split? Yeah, I was mostly concerned with staying with Ray in the lane next to me. My mantra the whole workout was "stay with Ray, stay with Ray, stay with Ray". If I couldn't swim on his feet, I guess swimming next to him was the next best thing. Just stay with Ray!
So we swam our 300s. Not sure if we actually negative split them or not but I can tell you for sure, the 2nd 150 of each one was really hard. ;)
Now onto the 3x200s which were thankfully on 3 minutes but were to be descended. Hmmm...I like the descending! These guys were definitely taking it easier on the first one and I came in at 2:40. Next one 2:35. Next one 2:30.
I've never in my life wished more that I knew how to do flip turns. ARRGGHHH!! My stay with Ray mantra was getting harder and harder and man did those guys get WAYYYY ahead on the turns. I'm a good open turner (I've got lots of practice!) but there is no way that open turns are as fast as flip turns. Mental note - MUST learn how to do flip turns well this off season. (someone PLEASE hold me to that as I've said it many times before...but never stick to it)
Finally, the 6x100 or the 600 straight. I knew I wanted to do the 6x100 because at this point in the season I need speed more than strength and I'm training for shorter races, not longer ones. Most of my group choose the straight 600 though so I was on my own - still though, chasing after their feet. The 6x100s were supposed to be on the tightest interval you thought you could handle and I ALMOST choose 1:25. But I knew that was the easy way out. SO GUESS WHO DID 6X100 ON 1:20?!?! I can't believe I did it. I've never done that by myself and it wasn't too bad! I came in around 1:16 for each so I had a few seconds rest.
Of course I was tickled pink when the workout was done, not necessarily because I swam certain times or because I did it in my own lane and not drafting off those guys, but mostly because I committed myself last Thursday to getting out of my comfort zone and that's exactly what I did. Swimming is hard for me. It's the sport I feel least comfortable with and the one I'm most self concious about. So I know I have to keep pushing and I have to keep raising the bar. I have to try to swim the same workouts as that next faster lane. And I have to challenging myself to bite off more than I think I can chew.
Because here's what I keep learning over and over again - you WILL rise to the bar that you set. So don't set your bar too low.
Now seriously - will someone teach me how to really flip turn? :)
Good night all!
Posted by beth at September 8, 2008 6:41 PM
Comments
hee hee....Oh, I will hold you accountable BETH! :) I will email you everyday. Ok, just kidding. You CAN flip turn. Learning how to work the walls is soo important for good masters swimming - you CAN DO it - look how far your swimming has come! :) Good job on your swimming!
Posted by: Jennifer Harrison at September 8, 2008 7:49 PM
Great swim. Way to push your limits and not take the easy way out when you are given the choice.
Posted by: maija at September 8, 2008 9:47 PM
Oh, Flip Turn 101..that would be nice!! Good job keeping up with the boys.
Posted by: kerri at September 9, 2008 10:11 AM
You can do it Beth!! Flip turns are easy. Just commit to learning after your A races are over. I will even email you with how I learned if you want, just let me know.
GREAT JOB in your workout, those times are crazy fast!!!
Posted by: barb at September 9, 2008 10:23 AM
You can do flip turns! Even your really slow-swimming husband sort of does flip turns every once in a while!!!
Posted by: O at September 9, 2008 12:26 PM