Beer Drinker's Appreciation Society--Always Open (Page 8)

As a poor swimmer, I'll translate.  Short version - Nicole is a pro, don't try this at home! 

Longer version - not entirely sure on the combo strokes like 'back/breast' but guessing you either have a choice to do one or you alternate, potentially each 50 being 25 of one then the 25 back the other.

10x50 is 10 times 50 yards, for most of us with 25 yard pools (your average YMCA) - a 50 is a single lap, or out and back so you return to where you started.  This would have to be adjusted for meter pools or for shorter or longer pools. 

The 'on 1:05' means you have a minute 5 seconds to do the 50 and rest.  If you are fast, great you get a longer rest.  If you are slow, you may get no rest.  Since you're doing 10 at a time this gets more challenging as you go.

Sculling - not 100% sure but it's a stroke training technique of some kind. (edited because I was wrong on which drill sculling is actually)

Sprints from the blocks - you probably figured this out, but instead of starting in the water on the wall, they're starting on the 'starting blocks' - the platforms on the edge of pools used for racing.  This technique is great for competitive swimmers to practice since they need it for meets.  In tri, the only time you would use it is if the swim start were off of a dock or a boat.  Nicole can confirm but I'm guessing it's faster as well.

4 100 sprints with 100 active recovery - translated this is an 800, where 100 is as fast as you can go then the next 100 is slower for recovery, but no stopping, and repeat 4 times fast - slow.  

You know, for as bad as I am at the swim and as much as my swim workouts have always scared me - I miss them.  Tri is just so much more bada$$ (since the message board won't let me spell out b a d a s s) than duathlon.  

Ack Nicole beat me to it :D

For workouts, I use this, and its been great:

https://www.amazon.com/Swim-Workouts-Triathletes-Practical-Endurance/dp/1934030759/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548709863&sr=8-1&keywords=swim+workouts+for+triathletes

It's a little pricey but it's spiralbound and waterproof so you can leave it poolside.  It has descriptions for how to do all the drills, as well as all of the translations.  And it's broken down not only by Tri distance, but with levels as well for beginner/intermediate.

Or you can always get free workouts, print them on paper, and put them in one of those clear sleeves.  Usually the paper gets wet anyway but it lasts long enough that you can read it during the workout.

Andrew - congrats on the weight loss and big cheers to being a multisport athlete again!!

Gretchen - good luck with the weather.  I know this polar vortex business is wreaking havoc in the midwest with the wind chills.  And yes, running in less than 10F is not ok. Especially not if it results in a cough!

Got in my longest 'long' run of 2019 yesterday, to make up for not running this weekend.  5.25 miles :D  Far cry from my HM in November but since I took two months off, baby steps to get back.  Really I only stopped at 5 mi because I ran out of sunlight, and really at that - very happy I can stop work and start a run around 5pm in January and get 5 miles in before dark!  Managed to keep it mostly in Z3 which, for me, might as well be Z2 for how often I see that during a run!

I am back to being careful after two weeks off. I get quite bad anxiety issues and tend to comfort eat/drink when I am mega-stressed. Now I am more settled I can focus in on eating better again. 

Does anybody else struggle with this? Any tips?

I have in the past.  For me the best thing was managing the stress itself causing the anxiety/depression.  Being left to my own devices while stressed always goes poorly, and the food/drink/whatever (in my case sometimes self destructive behaviors) never help.  

I manage stress in the short term by working out.  I know this doesn't work for everyone and even for me, sometimes a workout can seem like it's adding stress rather than subtracting, and so it makes it hard to get started.  The thing is, I've never regretted doing a workout.  I always feel better afterwards.  During my workout I forget about whatever is causing me issues (even if the issues are purely in my own mind), and just focus on the workout.  

The long term is tougher, I've had to reduce or eliminate the sources of the stress.  This sometimes involves some sort of major life change.  Last time through this a few years back (panic attacks resulting in chest pains - had dr appts for cardiac workover) - I ended up making a significant career change and getting myself a new car at the same time.  The career change was actually a decent step back in terms of 'climbing the ladder', and also resulted in a decrease in pay of around 10%.  I haven't regretted this at all.  The car, the old one was at that point where it's paid off but every month it needs major repairs costing around a car payment.  Combined with a really bad/stressful work situation, my capacity for handling stress was way past it's limit.  Any significant decrease in source of stress is more than worth it.

I should also add that through all of it, I was seeing a therapist either weekly or every-other.  Really a lot of times just talking through issues with someone adept at listening and identifying, I'm able to see my own way through whatever the issue is.  Not always of course, but we can never really eliminate all stress - only reduce to the point where it is manageable.

I do wish you all the best in whatever you are going through and always - we're here to help, whatever it is.

You guys are all so lovely! I am fortunate that most of the time my mental health is ok, but it is when I get overwhelmed is when the food goes out the window. I like the idea of immediately exercising and I have also tried meditating (headspace app is my flavour!). Plus also taking the step back and asking if I am really hungry or wanting to comfort eat?

Thanks for your support! 

Tomorrow for me is my normal commute but as it is my half day I get to ride home along the canal and then on a disused railway line (made into a walkway) so it is lovely

Oh and tonight I started prep for Sunday by buying:

 - rubbish pi$$ I know but it's Superbowl Sunday!

I just got a headache looking at the picture of that beer.

Here's another source for workouts:

http://mastersswimworkoutsbysaramclarty.blogspot.com/

They start at like 2000-2500 yards per workout which is pretty tough for a beginner (and me, right now LOL), but you could easily cut out a few intervals to pare it down.  I copy the workout onto MS Word, put it in big font (so my old eyes can read it) and print it on one page, then wet it and slap it onto a kickboard.  She also has a glossary for all the terminology on there somewhere.

Been surely but slowly getting back into the swing of workouts while still beating down the remnants of this plague (still a little sniffly and a dry cough - so that's a month now).  Got it four straight days of various things so taking a day off today.

We're getting the cold tomorrow but nothing like the midwest, low of 2 degrees here.  I love having a garage (that is partially insulated, too) in the winter.

Welcome back to the living, Mike!

My garage (not insulated) is where I have my trainer set up.  We have plenty of room for it in the living room, but the wife doesn't want it there...  The good news is the cold front here means it's in the 40s (F).  Should crest 50 by afternoon.  And it'll be back in the 70s this weekend.  Planned interval workout on the trainer today, after work.

Anyone besides Gretchen using Zwift?  I'm strongly considering it.  Just curious as to people's experience with it.