Nightcrawler's Journey to European Masters Swimming Championships (Slovenia)

11.10.2017 - 07:00-07:30 - SCM 2100m

Set1: 800m crawl with paddles (10:32, pace:1:19) 

Set2: 800m crawl doggy paddle drill (11:42,  pace:1:28) 

Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:01)

Note: No break and no fade after being the "FAKE/PHONEY CHAMPION" of the Turkish Open Water Masters Championship (Aquamasters Arena Cup). I am still a very poor awimmer, have a long way to go...
Today 2017-2018 season has begun for me, I started with lower distance than usual, gradually will increase the volume.  

Today's session:

13.10.2017 - Morning Session - 06:30-07:30 - SCM 4000m

100m easy

Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (19:17, pace:1:17) 

100m easy

Set2: 1500m crawl doggy paddle drill (21:26, pace:1:26) 

100m easy

Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 6:52)

200m easy

Notes: I was alone in the darkness of the dawn at the pool again. I have begun the new season with my PB in 1500 free, but this is still very poor when compared with FINA World Masters Championships' performances. Need to work harder.

14-15.10.2017 3000m-5000m Open Water
Pool was closed due to tournaments, so that i had to train in the sea. Weather and the sea both were 18C. Here are some phootages from yesterday and today's sessions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaO0bxHhcEy/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaO1KJgBq5w/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaRQvQxB8u-/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaRbVbchygF/

17.10.2017 - Morning Session - 06:30-07:30 - SCM 4000m

100m easy

Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:12, pace:1:21)

100m easy

Set2: 1500m crawl doggy paddle drill (22:46, pace:1:31)

100m easy

Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:06)

200m easy

Notes: I have begun to swim with boxer shorts with pockets by its sides. It is nice to perform my usual pace with shorts.

18.10.2017 - Morning Session - 06:30-07:30 - SCM 4000m

100m easy

Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (19:32, pace:1:18)

100m easy

Set2: 1500m crawl doggy paddle drill (22:10, pace:1:29)

100m easy

Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:07)

200m easy

Notes: With shorts having side pockets.

A photo after the 1st set:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaX_8YRBlkA/

19.10.2017 - Morning Session - 06:30-07:30 - SCM 1500m (Wearing short with pockets)
I didnt want to swim at all, wanted to go to Starbucks for a filter coffee, chocolate with hazelnuts and a cigar after that. And I cut off the training went to Starbucks and did all!


20.10.2017 - Morning Session - 06:30-07:30 - SCM 4000m (Wearing short with pockets)
100m easy
Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:28, pace:1:22)
100m easy
Set2: 1500m crawl doggy paddle drill (22:59, pace:1:32)
100m easy
Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:14)
200m easy
Notes: I was feeling better than yeterday, 1:22 pace was not satisfying when compared with Tuesday's session's pace (1:18), but I was feeling comfortable during the whole workout. I m going to use shorts for a couple of weeks then looking forward to see what will happen when I take off shorts and wear my race suit )

20.10.2017 - Lunch Time Session - SCM 1500m (Wearing short with pockets)
Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (19:57, pace:1:20)
Notes: I went to pool for taking the revenge of the inadequate performance of the morning session, this time the result was quite satisfying for me

Today's session:

21.10.2017 - Morning Session - 08:30-09:30 - SCM 4000m

100m easy

Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:16, pace:1:21) 

100m easy

Set2: 1500m crawl doggy paddle drill (22:29,  pace:1:30) 

100m easy

Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:03)

200m easy

Notes: Swam with boxer shorts having side pockets.

Today's session:

22.10.2017 - 12:30-13:30 - SCM 4000m

100m easy

Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:13, pace:1:21)

100m easy

Set2: 1500m crawl doggy paddle drill (22:23,  pace:1:30)

100m easy

Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:11)

200m easy

Notes: Swam with boxer shorts having side pockets.

24.10.2017 - 06:30-07:30 - SCM 4500m (Wearing short with pockets)

Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:25, pace:1:22) 

Set2: 1500m crawl doggy paddle drill (23:16, pace:1:33)

Set3: 500m crawl with ankle bands 7:21 (pace: 1:28)

Set4: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:21)

Notes: My asthma was triggered due to over dose chlorine, especially in set3,4 i ran out of breath.

A day in 1984 Olympic Games' 200m butterfly silver medalist Karen Phillips, daily total distance 17200m.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BanteVmhVod/

What have we given to swimming and what are we expexting from swimming?

Today's session:

25.10.2017 - 06:30-07:30 - SCM 4000m (Wearing short with pockets)

Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:31, pace:1:22) 

Set2: 1500m crawl doggy paddle drill (22:56, pace:1:32)

Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:09)

150m easy recovery among the sets.

Notes: Didnt push so hard, tried to maintain a nice and sustainable technique. I have a long way to go to reach my target pace.

25.10.2017 - Lunch Time Session - SCM 2000m
10x200m crawl with paddles int:2:40 (2:32-2:36, avg:2:34)

nightcrawler wrote:25.10.2017 - Lunch Time Session - SCM 2000m
10x200m crawl with paddles int:2:40 (2:32-2:36, avg:2:34)

That's a monster set!!!

Hi Salvo,
) I have still a long way to go for reaching my goal pace(1:15/100m) in 3km.

Today's session:

26.10.2017 - 06:30-07:30 - SCM 4000m (Wearing short with pockets)

Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:34, pace:1:22)

Set2: 1500m crawl with ankle bands (22:05, pace:1:28)

Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:19)

150m easy recovery among the sets.

Notes:

Couldnt recover well enoguh after yesterday's double sessions, today morning i paid the price of yesterday, anyway soon I will have the opportunity for a recovery. Until the following Tuesday the pool will be closed due to a local race, i will swim in the evenings in a very crowded environment and unfortunately will obey the average pace in the lane, maybe this will be a chance for a recovery for me.

Today I made an arrangement in my plan, substituted the doggy paddle drill (or someones may call hand drag drill) with "Ankle Bands" drill. I tied up my ankles with elastic bands, which results in sinky legs and in order not to drop the legs I had to increase the stroke rate. Decided to make this substitution because I though that since I am utilizing vertical straight arm recovery in the races, the broken elbow recovery in doggy paddle(hand drag) drill would decelerate the impovement of my straight arm technique. I think that for a couple of weeks it will be harder to increase the stroke rate, shoulders may hurt a bit, but as a result I am expecting a faster improvement in my pace.

27.10.2017 - 18:30-19:30 - SCM 4000m (Wearing Arena training suit)
Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (19:52, pace:1:19)
Set2: 1500m crawl with ankle bands (21:04, pace:1:24)
Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 6:56)
150m easy recovery among the sets.
Notes: My pool was closed due to local championships for 3 days, and also on Monday it would be closed due to cleaning. So that I swam with a friend in the evening at his pool.

28.10.2017 - OFF (pool was closed and I went out to find out another alternative pool)

ALL IN ALL; There are only 2 indoor semi olympic pools left in Istanbul/Turkey, and these pools are often closed due to races. DAMN!!! Such being the case, I searched for an additional pool where I could swim in crisis time. I decided to go to the Wow Hotel's indoor pool (19m) near my office, this means that from now on I can swim when the 25m pool is closed and/or at lunch time as a double session. My monthly budget for 2 pools is now 100$.

29.10.2017 - 18:00-18:30
2000m easy at 18m pool, wore short with pockets for creating more drag.

30.10.2017 - 07:00-08:00
2500m easy at 19m pool, wore short with pockets for creating more drag.

nightcrawler wrote:

My monthly budget for 2 pools is now 100$.

Too bad. I was shocked to read a while ago how cheap swimming can be in the US:

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Is_Swimming_the_Cheapest_Sport%3F%3A_Discuss_P6434410/?search_string=is%20swim%20the%20cheapest#p6434410

For $480 for the year, I can use all the pools in the City (around 25 of them) and all the gyms associated with them.

swimming is 240 a year theoretically for pool membership locally

I could never pay less than 600 euros per year to access one pool just 3-4 times a week (unlimited access would cost much more and some pools don't even allow it). The problem in my area is that the majority of pools are not stand-alone but they are included into sporting centers with gym etc. and they get more expensive just for this. If I want to just swim I also have to pay for the gym that I never use.

Guess I'm going to start a new thread about this

Salvo

Here in the UK I pay £324 (=USD $427) per year for access to 4 pools (though I only ever use 2 of them). I don't get gym access for that price. My biggest gripe is that they don't open early enough. The one nearest me doesn't open until 7am; the one nearer my work opens at 6:30 but only 2 mornings per week.

My favourite pool is an unheated outdoor pool, which is open from June through to September. For the 7am-9am session, it's just £2 per swim or £42 for the season. Excellent value and great for wetsuit training!

Mike A wrote:Here in the UK I pay £324 (=USD $427) per year for access to 4 pools (though I only ever use 2 of them). I don't get gym access for that price. My biggest gripe is that they don't open early enough. The one nearest me doesn't open until 7am; the one nearer my work opens at 6:30 but only 2 mornings per week.

My favourite pool is an unheated outdoor pool, which is open from June through to September. For the 7am-9am session, it's just £2 per swim or £42 for the season. Excellent value and great for wetsuit training!

What ever people may say, we are living in a third world country (though our prime ministers never admit this, in my opinion it is so!!!)

I and my students, "we", dont deserve this, because we swim with enthusiasm, try to transform and extend knowledge, etc.

I and my wife are waking at 5:30 AM in the morning to swim in a silent and comfortable environment because people dont swim in the pools they are "having bath - playing - doing picnic" in the crowded environment. Because they dont have sports culture and discipline. If we go to pool in the afternoon or evening, the view would be like this:

Actually by saying "pools" you mustnt guess "many" pools, only 2 pools left in Istanbul - 1 is in the European and 1 is in the Asian side, no more options, bacause they are destructing the pools in order to build mosques, garages or residences, DAMN!!!

In swimming (or also in any kind of sport) US, UK, EU are 500+ years ahead than Turkey, because we are lazy and ignorant!

What is more, we cant sell the flat due to economical crises, as soon as it is sold we have the intention of resigning from our works and moving to Antalya(small city near by the Mediterranean Sea) where we can swim in all seasons in the sparkling sea. We dont mind work because we swim with enhusiasm and love, work can be found anywhere if we have a good pshchology and health.

31.10.2017 - 6:30-7:30 - 4000m (SCM) (Wearing short with pockets)
Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:13, pace:1:21)
Set2: 1500m crawl with ankle bands (22:15, pace:1:29)
Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:18)
150m easy recovery among the sets.

31.10.2017 - 12:30-13:00 - 1500m (19m pool, assuming 3 laps as 50 meters, wearing short with pockets)
3x500m (7:48-7:7:40-7:50)

I completed November's first session in the dawn:

01.11.2017 - 6:30-7:30 - 4000m (SCM) (Wearing short with pockets)
Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:06, pace:1:20) 
Set2: 1500m crawl hand drag drill (22:21, pace:1:29)
Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:03)
150m easy recovery among the sets.

Notes: I again started doing the hand drag drill in the Set2 due to the reason that not to do 2 sequential harsh sets, because after swimming with paddles shoulders are worn out. Hand drag drill is a good way to both recovery and shoulder rehabilitation, moreover it enables me to concentrate on proper rotation and catch/or may call "oomph"  at the front before the pulling phase, as may be guessed there should be a bit sculling whilist catching, true, but its degree depends on the person, my hand's up and down sweep during the catch phase is smaller in comparison to short distance sprinters'.

01.11.2017 - 12:30-13:00 - 1500m (19m pool, assuming 3 laps as 50 meters, wearing short with pockets)
3x500m crawl descending (7:32 - 7:27 - 7:23)

02.11.2017 - 6:30-7:30 - 4000m (SCM) (Wearing short with pockets)
Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:37, pace:1:22)
Set2: 1500m crawl hand drag drill (22:56, pace:1:32)
Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:15)
150m easy recovery among the sets.

Notes: I was a bit tired and reluctant today.

03.11.2017 - 6:30-7:30 - 4000m (SCM) (Wearing short with pockets)
Set1: 1500m crawl with paddles (20:28, pace:1:22) 
Set2: 1500m crawl hand drag drill (22:58, pace:1:32)
Set3: 10x50m crawl R:5" - 400 race pace (recoveries included total time: 7:20)
150m easy recovery among the sets.

Notes: Trusting in my system.