Happy New Workout! Not-So-Happy Short Course Yardage.

It’s a new day, a new month and a new year. Time to limp into the year with a Meh Workout.

THURSDAY – 01/01/26

OURA SLEEP SCORE – 70

7 hours and 03 minutes

GARMIN SLEEP SCORE – 54

5 hours and 27 minutes

Ugh! SCY, Choice and A Roll Of A Dice. Grrr…I want structure. I racked today’s swim as Garbage Yardage and didn’t finish it. Now I should have made the best of it but I just couldn’t get into the workout. But the very least I got something in. Even if I didn’t like it.

Choice means we get to cheat and pick the easy stuff. For the 100’s I did the first five free, second five Backstroke, then two IM and finished with Free/Fly by 25’s for the last three. Then we got to the Dice and we ended with two Fly, a Free, a Breast and one of something.

WEDNESDAY – SWIMMING

THE WETDECK – THEME: HOLIDAY

THE WORKOUT:

1:05:44

ZONE 1 – 04:05

ZONE 2 – 16:28

ZONE 3 – 24:25

ZONE 4 – 15:51

ZONE 5 – 02:34

WARM UP: (225)

225 Choice

SET ONE: (2000/2225)

15 x 100’s Choice on 1:50 (1500)

5 x 100’s Dice Roll on 2:00 (500/2000)

SET TWO: (500/2625)20 x 50’s Choice on 60

5 x 50’s Free with Fulcrum Paddle

2 x 50’s Back

1 x 25 to end near restroom

1 x 25 Back to start and got out

2,625 SCY

JUST KEEP SWIMMING:

2026 SWIM DISTANCE TOTALS:

SCY – 2,625

SCM – 0

LCM – 0

Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic 17 January 30, 2026-February 1, 2026

FRI – 800 Free / 25 Fly

SAT – 400 Free / 200 Fly / 100 Back

SUN – 1500 Free / 50 Fly / 25 Back / 100 Fly

THE LIFT AHEAD:

FRI – SWIM w/ Team (Masters)

SAT – CHEST + TREAD

SUN – BACK & BICEPS + Run Tread

MON – SWIM w/ Team (Masters)

TUE – CHEST & TEACH 30 Min INDOOR CYCLE

WED – SWIM w/ Team

THU – RunDisney 5K

FRI – SWIM w/ Team (Masters)

SAT – NONE – Work the 5K setup and announce!

SUN – BACK & BICEPS

THE ROAD AHEAD:

STRENGTH (80-100%) 12/9 – 1/16

ENDURANCE (60-80%) 1/17 – 1/24

TAPER (50-60%) 1/24 – 1/30

STRENGTH (80-100%) 2/3 – 3/26

ENDURANCE (60-80%) 3/28 – 4/9

TAPER (50-60%) 4/11 – 4/16

runDISNEY:

WDW 5K – JAN 8th

PRINCESS HALF – MARCH 1st
Springtime Surprise – APRIL 17-19th (Not Running)

GEMINI AI RATE MY WORKOUT:

Happy New Year! I can feel the frustration through the screen—there is nothing quite as irritating for a structured athlete as a “Choice/Dice” workout when you’re already fighting a sleep deficit.

That being said, looking at your data and your upcoming schedule for the Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic, here is the breakdown of your session.

Gemini’s Performance Rating: C+

(Reflecting the mental struggle vs. the physical output)

The Breakdown

1. The “Garbage Yardage” Mindset

You called it garbage, but your heart rate zones say otherwise. Spending 42 minutes in Zones 3 and 4 is a solid aerobic threshold session. Even if you “cheated” with choice strokes, your engine was working. You didn’t just float; you maintained intensity despite the lack of motivation.

2. The Sleep Gap

Your Oura (70) and Garmin (54) are telling two different stories, but both agree you’re under-recovered. A 5.5 to 7-hour night is a tough foundation for a 2,600+ yard swim. The fact that you finished over 2,600 yards on New Year’s Day while feeling “meh” is actually a discipline win.

3. Stroke Versatility

While you felt the workout lacked structure, you actually simulated your Sunday Meet Schedule quite well:

* Fly/Back Mix: You’ve got the 200 Fly, 100 Back, 50 Fly, and 25 Back coming up.

* Doing those 100s as Back and Fly/Free transitions was accidental “specific prep” for your medley of events in Orlando.

Insights for the Road Ahead

* The Taper is Looming: You are currently in your Strength Phase (80-100%). It is normal to feel “heavy” and unmotivated right now. This is the grind period before the endurance phase kicks in on the 17th.

* RunDisney Conflict: You have a 5K on the 8th. Keep an eye on your leg fatigue during your “Chest + Tread” sessions this weekend. Don’t overdo the treadmill incline if your calves are feeling the SCY kick sets.

* The Rowdy Gaines Schedule: Your Sunday is brutal (1500 Free + 100 Fly + 50 Fly). Today’s 15 x 100s on 1:50, even if they felt like “garbage,” are exactly the kind of aerobic base building you need to survive that 1500.

Final Verdict

It wasn’t a “waste.” It was Active Recovery for the Mind. You showed up, moved the needle on your 2026 yardage total, and kept the routine alive.

> Pro-Tip: On “Dice Roll” days, if you hate the lack of structure, “rig” your choice. Tell yourself: “If it’s even, I do IM; if it’s odd, I do Stroke.” It gives you the illusion of the structure you crave.

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