Active Community: Message List - What do you think about when swimming?

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

Billiken on the Run — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:40:11 GMT

It usually goes something like this:

1...2...3...breathe...1...2...3...breathe...turn around...breathe...how many laps was that?...breathe...

Over & over again.

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

GBDobbas — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:06:42 GMT

If I am in the pool, I wonder how can I be going so slow and when will my body warm up. And swimming for distance I hate forgetting my lap count and wondering if I can beat the person next too me. And trying to forus on my stroke and form when I am dying and everything is falling apart

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

Barry11 — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:32:24 GMT

In the pool, I count up to the 1/2 way point and then count down. I try to focus on the numbers as I lose count when my mind drifts. In the open water I try to focus on the race and passing the person in front of me. When my mind drifts, I think of Sharks, Alligators, and other creatures that are not good to have around.

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

mwrdesign@msn.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:44:54 GMT

Be the fish.

Off the wall, the path of least resistance. Downhill all the way to the next flip turn.

Laughlin talks about the extra breath opposite side to make the turn fluid. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Rhythm, rhythm, ...

Swimming is meditation. The thoughts wash away.

When I am largely distracted by brain clatter, I lose the balance, lose the rhythm. The struggle that inevitably ensues brings me back to being the fish.

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

Martin02 — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:53:42 GMT

Usually I run music in my head. I love the 500, I love the fact it's more a mind game than anything else. So to keep myself occupied I run medium music at the begining and by counting the laps I know when to think about loud music and pick up my pace. It keeps me focused on my breathing and stroke and lets me concentrate at the same time. Sounds pretty corny but that is what I do.

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

swimmergirl — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:07:42 GMT

When I swim, I think about my swimming. I think about my tecnique and powering through the water.

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

ZionVier — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:43:12 GMT

I try to always think about my mechanics, trying to make sure that over time I'm not getting sloppy since it just wastes energy. When I'm in open water I let some periodic thoughts about the waves and the water around me. Are the waves still coming from the same direction? Are they choppy? do I need to breath more on one side to avoid the spray from the? etc. In a pool I try to remind myself of the lap number about 3 times every 25m, at the turn, half way and right before the turn. Also in the pool I take a moment to calculate what the timer should say at my next turn so that I can adjust my pace and stay consistent to what I planned. There's also the occasional contemplation of "All the lanes are full, should I pause at the next turn and see if that cute woman wants to share my lane?"

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

summergirl13 — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:07:47 GMT

I always get songs stuck in my head. if I look at the botom of the pool sometimes I freak out becuse my team is the sharks and I think there might be a shark at the bottom of the pool.

one time I was doing a IM and it was at a diffrent pool and I freaked out becuse the pool was all cold and dirty inside. eawww. but usualy i get songs stuck in my head. LOL

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

HALOjen — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:29:57 GMT

I just started swimming this past May. At first I was very focused on breathing or the lack thereof. Now, I think a lot about form and pacing myself through different sets. Recently, I've added a new drill where I try to increase my speed in each round of a set (3 x 75, 4 x100...etc). I say a short mantra to myself, like "nice and easy" and then say it a little bit faster for each round. This has helped me learn how to do this kind of drill. Sometimes I count laps, but cannot seem to count strokes. Also, since I swim at the end of the day before heading home from work, I find myself decompressing from the work day.

Re: What do you think about when swimming?

I am in control — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:24:40 GMT

anything but drowning. Hehe