1 mile open-water swim

This was a very interesting swim.  Here are some things that I learned:
-I am able to "push it" for a long distance.  I had somebody beside me on a SUP.  I felt as though I was slowing them down a lot, so I pushed myself faster.  I felt that I was going at a very fast clip and didn't actually know if I could maintain the pace the entire way.  I was able to.
-It is OK to get air "when" you need.  I have always heard "You should bi-lateral breathe", "You should breathe every other stroke", blah blah blah.  Here's the deal.  BREATHE WHEN YOU NEED AIR.  When I would lock myself into a specific breathing routine, I would also be locked into a pace. 
I threw that out the window and said, "I am going to go hard and breathe when I need air.  At a few points, this meant breathing on each stroke (back and forth).  My speed is higher and I am happy with that.

-You train harder when somebody is pacing you.  That is right:  If somebody is on a boat beside you, you swim faster.  If somebody is on a bike during your run, you run faster.  If somebody is driving beside you while you ride, you ride faster.  These scenarios help create the race-day adrenaline in your training to push your body harder than you normally would.

Comments