100's on the 1:20

Tonight at swim, we did 5x100 on the 1:20. We had already completed 5X200 on 2:50, descend 1-3, then holding 4 and 5. I was actually excited for the 100's, as I think any set on the 1:20 is a really good way for me to gauge my swimming fitness. I can hold a set on 1:25 and 1:30 pretty consistently, regardless of how much swimming I have been doing. But a set on 1:20 is a challenge for me, unless I have been putting the effort in at the pool.

Tonight the 5 100's went something like: 1:16, 1:18, 1:18, 1:19, (slow)

So I made 3 with a few seconds to recover, hardly made the 4th, and the 5th was slow and painful. Although it was a hard set, and I was disappointed not to make them all, I actually am quite happy with the outcome. I think that with just a few more weeks of work, I could push myself on this set, rather than simply have a goal to 'make it'. It is nice to know, that even if running is going to take longer to get back, swimming is like a good old friend for me, something that will always be there, even if I neglect it for awhile :)

The group I swim with on Sunday nights has really stepped up in terms of people who attend and their talent over the past year, and I am really excited and motivated to get back into the kind of shape to be able to keep up with the fast boys :)

I also did my 'long' run of the week this morning- up to about 5.25. Did bits of the bridle path in Central Park, and part on the main road. It went OK- no pain in the hip. My back/legs were a bit sore after a heavy week of working out, but nothing too bad.

I do have to admit that I need to be smarter with my nutrition on the weekends. It is a fine balance between trying to lose a few pounds and eating enough to support a 3 hour ride, long run, and hard swim in the span of 48 hours. I don't think
I ate enough to recover from the bike yesterday, and went into the run this morning at a deceit, and only had a yogurt before running. I felt bad on the run in terms of nutrition, and had to stop to get a Gatorade during the run.

All in all, I think this week taught me some good lessons as I made some good strides back to a level of fitness that I am happy with:

1. Strength training- Need to know my limits. Lifted too heavy/used too much weight on Tuesday in the strength class and my quads were recovering all week. Every little bit is going to help in terms of strength as I move forward in recovery, and I don't need to be lifting HEAVY, just CONSISTENTLY!

2. Nutrition- Need to be careful to be fueling properly and enough, even in the attempt to drop some weight.