I will go ahead and embrace the fact that I am probably around the 10 billionth person to say, type, or write this phrase, but here it is: IT IS SUMMER. Now that I got that out there, I will proceed to my point, namely heat, RUNNING, swimming, constant “just took a shower, oh wait that’s sweat” look, excessive amounts of tree roaches and other things that should never have been invented, and DREAD-FREE ICE BATHS!!! Man, if that isn’t exciting then I really don’t know what is.
I had to : )
My plan is to incorporate a swim workout about 3 days a week. Mostly I just swim 36-40 laps moderately hard (but comfortable enough) and only breath between every 5th and 10th stroke. I started hypoxic training in high school as a way to make a medium speed long distance swim feel even more like a cardio workout. It really does work and it allows you to focus on controlling your breathing and forces your body to perform with less oxygen. Point being, the goal is to make your lungs and body use the oxygen more efficiently and be able to do more on less. My science is based on fact at some level, but I’d say I’m working at a sub-Bill Nye level at the moment, which is fine by me.
At some point I will probably do a few repeat 100-200m intervals in there, but it will be entirely contingent on how I feel running-wise. If I’m tired, swim easy so I can run well. If I feel great, swim how I want and no harm. The big challenge will be enjoying swimming again. I recently told my mom (ironman athlete), “I f-ing hate swimming, it is so boring. I don’t know how I did it for so many years.” Well, I am going to try to tolerate the boredom once more, mom.
DISCLAIMER:
AT NO POINT WILL I EVER DO A TRIATHLON AGAIN. ONCE WAS GREAT, I HAD FUN, DID WELL, AND PROMPTLY RETIRED. BIKING IS LIKE THE TENTH CIRCLE OF HELL AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, SO IF I GET DELUSIONAL ALONG THE WAY, SLAP THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I ALSO DO NOT NEED TO ADD SHORTS WITH A BUTT-PAD TO MY WARDROBE. NO ONE REALLY DOES.
Swimmer Dayzzz probably bigger guns then than now
Off the Front 