When swimming feels rough... quit for the day?

Don't know if it is the "right" thing to do or not but every coach I have had has said the same thing to me. If you are not hitting your intervals and/or form is breaking down, take an extended break. If you miss another interval, go home and try again tomorrow.

I typically have found that if I just get out of the pool, go to the restroom or refill my water bottle, that when I come back in I can finish the workout as prescribed. Sometimes though, I just don't have it and leave.

If swimming feels rough for me, I shift my focus to drills and feeling the water for a mental workout. Then do the planned swim another day.

I had this happen last night actually. Was swimming, labored, and barely hitting my intervals. A small child decided to get in my lane for some reason and mess up any mojo I had. I sat there for a few tried to relax, and calm myself. When he left the lane, I tried again, but it was worse. I chose to stop short and walk away. Next swim is tomorrow morning and it WILL BE better.

Sometimes I get that feeling in warm up. I try to swim it out with some 50's "building to fast" on a relatively easy interval (~20-25 seconds rest), then take
a stab at the main set. If I'm just not able to get on pace for the main set, I'll abandon it, and work on some breaststroke or do some easy pulling with paddles, concentrating on keeping low SPL.

This happens to me probably two or three times a month. For whatever reason, I simply cannot hit fast (for me) splits, and struggle to hit intervals that are usually easy. Have worked for years to figure out what causes that, to no avail. It's more likely if I'm neglected to have a snack or caffeine (for an afternoon workout) or am tired from work or other training, but sometimes there is no apparent cause.

As others have said, maybe try a bit longer warmup, or a longer rest between sets. If it really isn't happening, I generally don't totally bail on the workout (since my pool access is limited), unless I'm actually feeling unwell; just slow down and focus on good technique and try to complete the distance. Better to do that that slopping through a workout with lousy form. Sometimes, the splits come down. Sometimes they don't, but at least it's time in the pool, endurance work, and some technique practice.

No I'd push through or amend my swim set (if in a pool). I felt out of sorts on Monday, tired and had 10 x 400m, felt pretty crap, so dropped the set and switched to one that was mostly 25s and 50s.

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I forgot I even posted this until I was planning my swim workout for today...

Ridgelake and Gary P had some good thoughts about TRYING to get it to work with some 50s or then focusing on something else for the day.

Thanks everyone! Off to the pool...