Let’s do inventory
As we roll in, midway mark of workout
Let’s check on the status of things. It’s hard to believe we’re halfway done.
Laps 19 and 20 come and go so fast I don’t have time to say goodbye. The first laps were au natural (1,2), nothing assisted & no boost in glide speed. They caused me to be winded but I adjusted my pace down and added fins.
So the second pair was with fins and the third pair included tail buoy.
Lap seven is Lazy River — any stroke, any speed, considered a vacation.
We slip on the paddle hands when the warmup is considered complete.
We do that to protect the body from danger created by extra pull power.
If want to be on vacation during laps 2–4, you’re encouraged to do so. Laps number five and six are intended as honest laps — mind your early pace.
Lap 7 — mandatory vacation hours — you can’t come to work — go lay out.
Laps number 8–10 / You have one job / 125 yards then rolling rest
That’s five lengths honest, one length Lazy River. Can you make it?
This might be the most difficult part of the entire day’s workout.
Lap number 11 — You have mandatory vacation hours again
You can’t come to work — call it a mental health break
Laps 12,13
Take an honest lap — then another lap with rest modification
Laps 14,15
Get Swimly 40 Laps 40 Minutes’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Honest lap, then do something that’s designed to cut corners
Lap number 16
Believe it or not, you are once again required to go on vacation
You want to be doing that vacation style lap in the first-of-fives
Laps 17,18
You are employing the buoy-assisted pair within your fourth five-set
Laps 19,20
You are doing the paddles or free swim to reach 50% of your set
As you roll into being halfway complete, you have many options
When I reach 20 — I can hardly believe how easy it’s been
There’s mesmerizing power in becoming the passenger
To the driver of your own focused intention
It’s not a bad way to reach goals
Repeating pattern: Honest-rest-vacation-repeat all the way to the moon
Forget lap count? Vacation is 6, 11, 16, 21 — Lazy River is back of each pair
You’re free to change from lap count (# of laps) to time count (# of minutes)
There’s beautiful zen to doing exactly that — a lot of people only watch time
Create intention about how far you want to go on today’s particular workout
Body inventory — see if you’re injured, distracted, resentful, in good spirit.
Halfway check in — are we doing another 20? Want to be done right now?
Freedom to double or leave the workout — is worth its weight in gold.
If you’re having bitter thoughts you might not be enjoying yourself enough.
What’s up with that? If you’re finding ease and grace, more power to you.
Friend — don’t be bitter — There is no need for that, dear Reader.
