Progressive Swims and Runs, 28/04/10

I found that in (my) swimming, the first 300m is very crucial to the overall swim distance I could complete. Start to eagerly, I'd even bonk in the first 100m. Survive 300m comfortably, I can go on making more laps.

This afternoon, I managed the first 700m, and could have gone more had I not become so thirsty, and the throat was burning from dehydration. Rested, and continued for the remaining 500m before the office bell rang in my head for the time to head back. The right shoulder and neck was slightly tight, as I have not been doing bilateral breathing, and body so warm. 

After a while, the laps became monotonous, with my mind counting laps, and seeing the pool floor. It was weird that an exercise could become so uneventful, so devoid of exciting things as opposed to running. I only managed to have Eric's voice correcting my strokes - no smell of fresh, misty air etc. But then again, Kash would be fast to point that I need to get my swims in the sea. I remembered the snorkeling trip last year, and yes... that swim was beautiful.

On Monday, I only managed an after work's 5x100m with heavy lunch (fried spaghetti and chicken), and the anxiety of long meetings and paperworks. After almost 2 weeks the pool was closed and me having sporadic swims at my brother's place, Monday swim was laboured.

Yesterday, I started a little off-paced, and completed 300x200x200m with heavy strokes. Getting better feeling the water. 

Normal pre-swim meals are 2 chocolate-cream Gardenias and water as usual - still with no other compatible diet and nutrition advice out there, so for now these would suffice. I tried heavier complex carbo before, but breathing was heavy, and strokes sporadic. Pre-swim is a no-no for peanut butter, any nuts, 100+, and any salty food (there's Cheezels going down). 

Post swims? Anything goes, within means.

And yesterday I was torn seeing the rain from the office, and heavy traffic towards Ampang. But we had some arguments and heated discussion for the project earlier (arguments and heated discussion are good, so do not be alarmed), that the only easy way to cool my head off is to run. Thought of going to Kg. Pandan tracks, but the traffic was similar to the clog in my throat so I steered towards KLC instead. When I arrived, it was raining and I saw Shuk doing his laps and joined him running my first 3 laps, all with my phlegm running down my nose. Lucky because of the rain, there were no chicks (or anybody except for runners) on the track and throw smiles at my sloppiness.

Shuk went off, and I went on further to soaking myself in the drizzle. Would have been better if the poco-poco group be around, so I could borrow their cheesy tunes every 7 minutes or so...