Splashing around

We covered a lot of ground (or water) in the pool today. Usually we'll do about 3500m on a Monday or Friday swim (90 minutes), and about 3000-3200m on Wednesday (75 minutes). Today we got up to 3500m, and it was from a near continuous set. Lots of movement, with the rest being done "on the go". It was descending distance, and alternating intensity, so a good workout to just remove your brain and do the work. I felt pretty good, and gave pretty solid efforts when the need arose, trying not to leave too much in the bank.

I have one lanemate with whom I've developed a friendly rivalry. We push each other pretty consistently, he's much faster on the short stuff, I have more staying power in the long sets (and through a whole workout). During the 400m timed set, he sprinted onto my feet pretty quick (by the 100-150m mark), then rode the slipstream until the 350m mark, and sprinted past me for a fast finish. The coach and I both gave him a bit of grief for taking the easy way in the draft and making me do all the work, so for the last timed 200 I got to ride right in the draft the whole way. He pushed, I followed immediately, and just cruised. Because of the speed, I was doing some work, but not as much as I would to produce that pace on my own, or as much as I would doing a hard 200 on my own. It's amazing how much you can save when you get those feet. A good reminder with racing starting in a month.

Swim: w/u - 200m each free, non-free, pull
500 free as 25 head-up/75 ez free, 30"
400 as 100 ez back/300 ez pull, 30"
300 pull w/paddles, 30"
200 as 100 ez back/100 ez pull, 30"
100 free timed, 1' (1:29)
500 as 100 ez back/300 ez pull/100 ez breast, 30"
400 free timed, 30" (6:45)
300 as 100 ez back/100 ez pull/100 ez breast, 30"
200 free timed, 30" (3:08, drafting)
Total: 3500m

Run: 2.5 miles, ez