Water Running
Pyramid session today
5 minute warm up
1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1 minute hard with 1 minute easy in between
Instead of the 5 minute water running cool down I spent some time working on my freestyle technique and breathing. I bought a Triathlete Magazine today (there’s a whole new world right there) because it had a very well timed article on breathing technique while swimming.
So heres the thing, when breathing we always pause briefly before the inhale or exhale, this is also true when running or cycling or any other land based exercise. However when swimming we switch to breathing when we can and that natural rhythm is disrupted. A mistake made by beginners is to gasp for air when the opportunity to breath is presented, which is what I was doing, or to try to get the exhale and inhale done all at once. At least I wasn’t doing the second one, I did have the presence of mind to exhale underwater and inhale when my head was turned, but I was gasping for breath and panicking. The article suggested doing drills and practicing a slight pause before each inhale/exhale. So instead of jumping in the lap lane I just did some mini laps in the general purpose area and messed around with technique.
This is what I found – The slower I try to swim the more water I take in and the harder it is for me to regulate my breathing. When I picked up the stroke rate and moved a little faster I found it easier to get a good rhythm going and the breathing was easier. With more time on my hands on the weekend I will spend a bit more time in the lap lane after my session.
Why is it that after previously swearing blind “I hate swimming”, “I can’t swim” and so on and I making so much effort to get it right?
I was thinking the other day that I just need to shake this negativity, it really is terribly tedious. I have been blessed with a pretty strong (stress fracture not withstanding of course 
) athletic build, it is criminal to waste it with self doubt and a negative attitude. 4 years ago I was overweight and miserable and was declaring in a conversation with a runner that “oh, I can’t run, it’s bad for my knees” or some such defeatist garbage, basically just making lame excuses for my laziness. And look at me know, a good 18 months of solid running under my belt and no intention of stopping, and my knees are just fine thanks (yeah yeah, lets not mention the other thing). But again here I am declaring, I can’t swim because……….or I can’t ride because……….
Because WHAT? there is no because, I have a healthy body and it can do whatever the hell it damn well pleases, it just takes the effort to give it a go and practice until I get it right.
It’s not bloody rocket science, there will be no more can’t in my vocabulary.
I read a great interview with Sarah Jamieson today, I knew she had some injury problems over the years, but I was surprised to read how bad her run with them really had been, right from the start. Can you see my current obsession with elite athletes and their injuries 
oh well, it just gives me confidence that I can overcome.
Ok, time for the nightly routine, anti-inflam, ice, massage and core work.
How cool is the fog in Melbourne today, I love it when it is foggy, especially nice and thick like it is today, it’s so atmospheric and mysterious.
