I cut back on computer usage but the debilitating pain in my arm and shoulder persisted. What's the cause? Only after swimming twice in one day did I realize the pain comes from how I turn in the pool. I can't flip turn, so I used my right arm to hoist my legs to the wall for push off. Too much. I've switched now to using both arms and the pain has lessened significantly.
I recently increased the length of time I swim from 70 minutes to 80 minutes. What I noticed about adding time is it isn't added in the middle when I still feel good. No, the added time necessarily comes at the end of the workout when I'd rather quit. But after a couple of weeks of swimming the extra ten minutes, I've gotten used to it.
I'm also attempting to change my breathing pattern. I presently breathe every third stoke which has the added benefit of working the kinks out of my neck. But some mornings the kinks don't work out no matter what, so I breathe every fifth stoke. I can do this for only about 15 minutes / 10 laps. I pull stronger on non-breath strokes. I equate this to 100 m hurdles technique, 3-step vs. 5-step1, except the numbers are inverted. Breathing every fifth stroke is preferred but I need to work up to it.
Beginning Tuesday, the swim team takes over the pool from 5 am to 6 am, the principle time I go each weekday, until February. I joined another pool in the meantime which doesn't open until 6 am. The other pool is geographically closer to my house but the later opening still means less time overall. I'll have to see how it goes. Most days I can swim after I've taken the kids to school.
1 I have never ran hurdles, neither have I ever swam competitively.
4 comments:
Good for you with the workout. I never swam competitively but I was a lifeguard and used to swim laps for exercise. I can't do the freestyle anymore--it hurts my shoulder.
I'm glad your arms are feeling better. And good for you for your workouts!
I admire you for being a good swimmer and for challenging yourself to improved fitness. If I didn't do my warm water pool workouts my fibro would be so much worse. Now I'm taking water Tai Chi, too, and it's demanding the use of a lot of muscles that are complaining quite a bit!
I visited the other pool for the first time this morning. It's a great pool, awesome facility and closer to home. But I could only squeeze in a 40 minute swim. I'm going to have to swim harder/faster.
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