Macstraw Member

Ashen - I tell the kids all the time that they aren't racing anybody else, that the other swimmers don't matter & their only concern is the clock. If their times keep trending down, they are seeing the results of their work. I'm glad you're getting so much out of the program, there's so much more to being a part of a swim…

Just like anything else, we will feel like we plateau, & then we all of a sudden we break through it & make the next bunch of improvements. The key is to keep going through those plateaus, especially since so many of the times we are actually doing better than what it seems like to ourselves....

Good to see you back, Holly. The whole idea of goals is for them to be relevant to you, what anybody else is doing should have zero effect on what you're trying to achieve & how you're trying to do it. Get your 2K in an hour & then decide what YOU want to do next...

I've never been part of a Masters program, but I have been involved in team swimming, both as a swimmer & a coach. dapunks brought up to me what is the single most important point - feedback. You can do all the distance you want, every drill known to man & anything else you can think of it but none of it means anything if…

My usual freestyle workout again today: 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 1500, 1000, 500, 250 I was going to attempt the workout with the IM's today even though I'm going to miss all next week, but fate intervened & made the pool too crowded today to try it. 19 people in the first hour & a half, 24 by the time I finished in 2 1/4…

It's the perfect mental approach to take - nobody is going to perfect their technique in 1 lesson, so the smart thing to do is to pick something to work on it & stay with it until it's right before moving on to the next thing. Too many times people bounce from 1 thing to another before getting the first one down pat & then…

There's one of them now.......

I read the article last night, so I counted today for the 1st time. I spot checked as opposed to counting every length, the vast majority of the time I was at 21 strokes in a 25 yard pool. I had the occasional length at 20 & 1 or 2 at 22, but I was pretty consistent with a count of 21......

AQ - I'm with you, joining this group has been the single biggest factor in avoiding bailing out on those days I wake up & just don't feel like going. There are plenty of days (especially lately) that I have legitimate reasons for not making it, but the thought of the people here pushing themselves gets me moving on those…

Great swimming, Juliet & AQ..... Juliet, it's probably not just the kicking that made the ankle complain, pushing off the wall from the flip turns puts a lot of stress on too. As for the piano, some days are just like that & sometimes there's no telling when they're going to happen.... All freestyle again today: 250, 500,…

Not meters, only yards B) Pleasant surprise today - the big job we've been doing at work is over 2 days early. It was supposed go to the end of this week, but we put a big push on & finished this afternoon. That means I pick up tomorrow & Friday as swim days. I still miss next week for my monthly medical treatments, but…

I was thinking the exact same thing..........

Welcome to the group, Sconnie - lotta great people here & I think you're really going to like it here.....

I definitely understand the woman swimming getting upset with the other 2 who were walking/exercising for the collision, but sometimes people (swimmers or not) don't necessarily know the etiquette & just need it explained to them. Repeated offenses definitely require a stronger response, but explaining it the first time…

I use the Ultra Swim shampoo, I get it on Amazon - it's great for removing chlorine. It's not my only shampoo, I use it on the days I swim, but for the majority of the year I swim 4-5 days a week & I'm in the water for over 2 hours each time. I also use the Ultra Swim conditioner because, while the shampoo does a great job…

All free: 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 1500, 1000, 500, 250

Great news, Amber!!!! As Juliet pointed out, swimming is a great exercise because it is so low impact on the joints. Other benefits include cardiovascular improvements & that it works all the muscle groups.....

WOW - that guy is out of his mind!!!!

ashen - make sure you're properly hydrated, I'm prone to cramping in my calves but drinking enough water before & during my workout helps....

All freestyle gain today: 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 1500, 1000, 500, 250

Clive - way to be smart about it, a couple of easy days allow the arms to recover.... Curly - some days are like that & the best thing to do is work through it. Nice job!!!!

All freestyle: 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 1500, 1000, 500, 250

This holds true not just for swimming, but for most of the things we do in life.....

Great work, everybody!!!! @Panda - the endurance for the turns will build quickly, your body just needs a few sessions to adjust & soon you'll be doing flip turns on every turn.....

Fantastic, Robertus!!!! You'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you'll be able to do it more often......

Fantastic blog, Noel!!!!

newoutlook - push yourself a little further each time you swim & you'll be amazed at how fast the endurance builds.....

Yup, all freestyle: 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 1500, 1000, 500, 250.......

I know you hate being out of the water, but it is best until this thing passes. It's also a good opportunity for a little rest for your body, then when you're over this you can jump right back in. Hope it happens quickly...

Gently - a trainer at my gym was talking to me about swimmers' shoulders & pointed out that, since swimming is such an unnatural overhead motion & the shoulders are the least stable major joints, swimmers are prone to pain. He turned me on to the exercises here:…