If the Weather is Wet Then Go Swimming!

It's wet. Very wet! So what do you do when it is raining cats and dogs? Of course, go to swimming training!

This week has seen a "perfect storm" of monsoonal weather. About 25- 50mm of rain each day, with some areas getting more, in several short sharp bursts both during daylight hours but especially at night, or late afternoon. Plus a strong westerly wind, of maybe 25kms/hr or more.

Ideal conditions for a good solid outdoors swim training session each afternoon.

The local pool [ 25m one this time] has had extra water that has not been pumped out so it is like swimming in a rough open water swim, with a good surface choppy sea. Good practice for the coming open water swims.

Have increased the regular daily swim sessions to about 2km, or just under, using a series of intervals after a warm up. Typically 2 x 400m freestyle [or an 800m freestyle] at around 80% pace, then a serious interval session of about 8-12 x 50m freestyle at 1.10 or 1.15 intervals holding around 45 secs repeats over the set. Sometimes a set of 100m intervals is used too. Plus a few sets of kick, drill and a longer set of several 200m freestyle swims concentrating on smoothness and style round out the session. I use an older guide book for Masters swimmers, but have a reasonable idea of trainng sessions, based on my own swim coaching experience. Group sessions are fine, but my job does not allow that to happen so a plan built around "doing my own thing" has worked for a long time. It is hard to cheat on the pace clock!

This along with cycling the 6km each way to and from the pool plus a few gym sessions each week and the regular 5 times per week dog walk of 30 - 40 mins covers the training.

Gym sessions do make a difference in the strength area and especially in developing a strong underwater pull through in freestyle. That elongated pull into a push does add a bit of zip and the strength training helps.

Especially for us slightly older swimmers. We do have some sharp older swimmers in Darwin, with a few world record holders in Masters events, but mostly women. There are some excellent men swimmers too, but not quite in that class!

I am determined to improve performances in the coming open water swims.

There is a certain lure of chasing a black line each day. Unwinds the brain, improves the mood as the endorphins kick in. I am a more pleasant person after my swim! Even if a bit knackered when the effort goes up.