Quoted message said:Claire Petersky said:"dgk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:So is the concept of swimming back and forth in a pool. You
end up the same place that you started!
Oh poor you! Swimming in a pool is *so* boring. Back and forth, back and
forth, and the smell of chlorine to boot. The only thing equally dull is
riding or running around a track in a circle. These are the things you are
stuck with when there's no other choice.
You must enjoy cycling for the reasons I do -- new things to look at all the
time, the adventure of the open road, the challenge of traffic. The honest
smell of trees, flowers, and lake. It's different all the time.
I wish you a speedy recovery, such that you can be done with the dullness of
the pool, and can get back on the bike again soon!
It's actually funny but if you think of it, anything can sound boring.
I know one guy who cycled but gave it up because it was 'boring just
staring at someone's back wheel." Too bad because it's the only thing
he did and now he's all tubby. And he spends most of his spare time
hanging out with his parents, so I think, boring compared to what?
Maybe it's me, but I find swimming laps a lot of fun and enjoyable. Each
time I turn I try to set up for a good flip-turn, and I try to check my
stroke for good mechanics now and then, and finally try to get more
comfortable breathing on both sides and not just on the right. So there's a
lot of 'stuff' to do.
The other thing is that among the three endurance activities, swimming,
running and cycling (could include 'paddling', but I've never done it),
I've found swimming the quickest to get you into the 'zone', i.e. where
you've got a rhythm going and feel like you can swim forever, and you
forget your surroundings (while still being alert to problems) - I guess
basically, 'endorphin city'. We have a set of long windows at the end of
the pool and it's oriented to the west. I still remember being mesmerized
by the golden droplets and bubbles when I stroked and breathed! <g>
It only takes me about 15-20 minutes to get into the zone in the pool, but
takes me over 70-80 minutes jogging.
Cycling? I'm not sure I've gotten to the zone. I think I've gotten there
once. A couple times I've covered a mile or so and being 'lost in thought'
I suddenly 'woke up' and realized I had absolutely -no memory- of the
previous mile or so. Usually I'm aware of every little pot-hole or stick on
the trail - you have to be. It may be that getting to the 'zone' takes over
two hours, or perhaps a faster pacing than I'm familiar with. After all
cycling is so easy on the body it may be hard to get to the point of
constant suffering for long enough to get endorphins going?
So, no, I never get bored with any long slow distance training, but could
be some of us are sprinters and others marathoners?
In that case if you are getting bored, then inject interval training. Train
harder, not longer.
I bet your swimming would improve if instead of swimming laps you raced
another swimmer for 100 meters, followed by resting for 2-3 minutes, and
then sprint again. Four or five hundred meters of this kind of training
three times a week would improve your cardio and swimming as much as
swimming a mile for twenty or thirty minutes, eh?
jj