Laps at the YMCA
I really don’t like swimming laps… but I know I need to get some more time in the water in. Part of why I don’t like doing laps is because it’s boring… At least when you’re swimming in open water you have something to worry about (SHARKS!)… Just kidding!
I guess open water swimming to pool swimming is a little like riding your bike outside vs riding an indoor trainer.
Anyway… I did get to the pool. Actually this is a new pool for me, the YMCA on Madison, and it’s a pretty good facility. There are four lanes, the water is warm, the locker room is clean and well organized.
When I got there, there was one person in each lane. I picked one of the two “medium speed” lanes. The guy in the lane moved over so we could split the lane, and I got in. It turns out that his medium was much slower than my medium. Maybe another reason I don’t like pool swimming is that I don’t like being reminded that I am not the fastest swimmer out there. It helped that I was the fastest swimmer in the lane today… at least for the first 800 yards.
After a while the guy in the lane got out, and I had the lane to myself. After a short while longer, a woman showed up and asked if she could share the lane with me. Turns out (I learned this later) she is one of the lifeguards at the pool… and so… needless to say… she was a much faster swimmer than me. She didn’t lap me, but she was easily a half a length ahead of me on most 100yds. I joked with her how it’s funny that different peoples “medium” can be so varied in speed.
Anyway, I didn’t really have a goal for time or distance, but as I cranked out my 100’s I decided to do 1,000 and then I decided to go for 1,500… and finally I decided 2,000 was the right destination. The only problem is, I lost track of my laps, and only did 1900 yards! Shoot!
I took a couple short breaks to adjust my goggles, so the 46 mins was more like 43 mins or effort.
The good news is that my average swim speed was 2:28.9/100m compared to a 2:30.1/100m swim pace for my Ironman PR.
Splits below:
2:04, 2:02, 2:16, 2:13, 2:14, (0:22), 2:14, 2:19, (0:43), 2:03, (0:46), 2:07, (1:01), 2:07, 2:25, 2:03, 2:23, 2:27, 2:15, 2:29, (0:34), 2:18, 2:25, 2:27
Workout:
- Type: Swim
- Date: 09/04/2008
- Time: 22:07:30
- Total Time: 00:46:33.00
- Distance: 1,737.36 m
- Average Pace: 2:40.93/100m
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5 Comments: :
Laps at the YMCA
September 5th, 2008 5:20 am
greenking17 says:
Good swim! I wish I could get in the water more often…Starting November I will be able to. Keep moving, you’re gonna do great for your Ironman!
GK17
September 5th, 2008 8:39 pm
shebaduhkitty says:
I taught summer day camp at that pool back in 1987. I actually had to jump in that pool fully clothed to grab a kid that lost his floater and was going under. Assuming they have done a few remodelling upgrades…because I don’t recall it being that great of a pool.
anyways… good thing you got to the pool this week. I didn’t
September 6th, 2008 2:20 pm
Karl On Sea says:
Great swim!
Not being the fastest sounds a whole lot easier than being the absolute slowest. Trust me! :-/
How do you keep count of your laps though? I struggle with this big time, and for awhile used the lap counter on my watch. Then I discovered that they were serious about the “do not press any buttons under water” line in the manual . . .
September 7th, 2008 2:35 pm
tatogan says:
Brad — Tatogan (Bruce Fisher) here. Swimming is so strenuous and demanding that I have avoided it for years. Do you know how it compares to running or other cardio workouts in terms of calorie-burning? I am a rower, and typically do 800 to 1,000 an hour in the boat, less on the rowing machine. Anyway, I enjoy your insightful observations.
September 8th, 2008 6:24 am
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