Monday morning swims are one of the hardest workouts to motivate myself for. Not because of the swimming – I like swimming. But 1) it’s Monday and 2) it’s early. But it’s a good start to the week so I make a point to get there. Plus I don’t want to drown or get eaten by sharks come race day.
Today’s workout started great. I actually ended up with my own lane for the first 15 minutes, which never happens. Someone joined me eventually, and that was fine. We just split the lane. He was swimming butterfly for some of his laps, but was conscious of where I was and would pull his arms in when we passed so I didn’t get punched. All good.
Then a third guy asked to join the lane and we had to circle swim. Not a big deal except that I was a good deal slower than these guys. I can’t tell you how many times I got lapped. It was fine, really. The guys were more than polite about it. But it was really tough on my motivation. I really just wanted to quit. It was so demoralizing. I’m well aware that I’m not fast and I generally don’t care, but to have these guys swimming around me constantly was just tough.
But I stuck it out. Conveniently, the third guy joined just as I was starting a tempo set, so the added speed was a good push. I was definitely feeling it by the end. And by the time I was ready for cool down, I was once again in the lane alone. So all in all, a good workout that I was feeling afterwards, but it was a mental struggle for sure.
I just have to remember that it’s not about everyone else – it’s just about me. I’m doing this because I love to race and I want to improve myself. It’s not about anyone else but me.
Megan, what I take from this entry is that you started swimming 15 minutes before those guys and kept swimming after they left. Maybe they pushed themselves to swim longer because they wanted to go as long as you did!
I love the points Erin made above you worked out longer than them. Sometimes it is about endurance not speed. Great work.
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