Peak, Peaking and Peaked.

I had a good workout once I got past the warm up. My swim mate and I modified the workout to toss in some IM to the Triathlete Workout. I got a lot of distance free coming up so I needed a heavy Free workout. Just like Friday Inwas on FIRE which scares me that I might be peaking too soon.

My mate crushed me in the 200 IM’s which is okay as I’m not swimming IMat Rowdy and they are. But for the Free we were even or I was ahead. I felt good this morning.

MONDAY 1/19/26

SWIM DAY – TRI (Modified) TECHNIQUE

THE WORKOUT:

1:05:05

ZONE 1 – 03:58

ZONE 2 – 10:59

ZONE 3 – 28:29

ZONE 4 – 08:42

ZONE 5 – 07:03

WARM UP: (400)

200 Free

200 Kick w/ Fins

SET ONE: (1100/1500)

4 x 50’s Descend Stroke Count on 1:10 (200)

2 x 200’s IM on 3:30 (400/600)

5 x 100’s Descending Free on 1:50 (500/1100)

SET TWO: (1000/2500)

500 Free w/ Sighting every 7 strokes on 9:00 (500)

3 x 100’s Free Breathing 3/5/7 by 100 on 1:50 (300/800)

200 Free sub 3:00 (200/1000)

SET THREE: (600/3100)

4 x 50’s Fist Drill on 60 (200)

3 x 100’s Free Pull w/ Paddles on 1:40 (300/500)

100 Cool Down (100/600)

3,100 SCY

JUST KEEP SWIMMING:

2026 SWIM DISTANCE TOTALS:

SCY – 21,000 (including this last swim)

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

USMS OPEN WATER CHAMPIONSHIP 1K – April 3, 2026 Sarasota

TV SENIOR GAMES – April 18 & 19 2026

THE LIFT AHEAD:

TUE – CHEST + TREAD & TEACH 30 Min INDOOR CYCLE

WED – TBD (evening event on Tuesday)

THU – BACK & TEACH 30 Min INDOOR CYCLE

FRI – SWIM w/ Team

SAT – CHEST – TREAD

SUN – BACK & BICEPS

MON – SWIM w/ Team

TUE – CHEST & TEACH 30 Min INDOOR CYCLE

WED – SWIM w/ Team

THU – BACK & TEACH 30 Min INDOOR CYCLE

FRI – SWIM ROWDY 800 Free / 25 Fly

SAT – 400 Free / 200 Fly / 100 Back

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

MON – RECOVERY

THE ROAD AHEAD:

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:

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

Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before considering the use of peptides and/or testosterone replacement therapy. 

GEMINI AI RATE MY WORKOUT:

That feeling of being “on fire” is a double-edged sword for an athlete. It’s exhilarating, but when you are 11 days out from a major meet like the Rowdy Gaines Classic, it triggers that “am I peaking too soon?” anxiety.

Based on your data and the “Road Ahead,” here is the breakdown of today’s session.

The Workout Rating: 9/10 (Elite Execution)

This was a highly productive session. You didn’t just “mindlessly swim” you balanced the technical demands of a Tri-workout with the aerobic engine building needed for your upcoming distance events.

* Zone Distribution: This is the star of the show. Spending 28 minutes in Zone 3 is the “Sweet Spot” for distance swimmers. It builds the aerobic capacity you’ll need for that 800 and 1500 Free.

* The “Fire” Factor: Your concern about peaking is valid, but feeling fast now usually means your base fitness is finally catching up to your effort. You haven’t started your true taper (which begins Jan 24th), so this “on fire” feeling is likely taper-priming rather than a premature peak.

* IM Modification: Wise move. Even if you aren’t racing IM, the stroke variety prevents shoulder overuse and builds “feel for the water” that translates back to a more efficient Freestyle.

Rowdy Gaines Prep: The Distance Challenge

You have a massive weekend coming up (800, 400, and 1500 Free). Today’s Set Two was the most critical part of your prep:

| Drill/Set | Purpose for Rowdy Gaines |

|—|—|

| Sighting every 7 | Critical for your April Open Water 1K; keeps you mindful of head position. |

| Breathing 3/5/7 | Lung capacity and panic control. If you get splashed or crowded in the 1500, you’ll be glad you did this. |

| Sub 3:00 200 Free | This is your “threshold check.” Hitting this late in a 3,100-yard workout proves your endurance is exactly where it needs to be. |

Insights & Observations

* Peaking Anxiety: You are currently in your “Endurance” phase (60-80%). If you feel this good now, it means you aren’t overtrained. The danger of “peaking too soon” usually only happens if you drop volume too early. Stick to your 1/24 taper date, and you’ll hit the meet perfectly.

* The “Mate” Factor: Don’t let the 200 IM loss get in your head. IM is a different beast of transitions and turns. Being “even or ahead” in the Free—your primary discipline—is the metric that matters for your 800/1500 goals.

* Volume Check: 21,000 SCY for the year so far is a solid foundation. You are averaging about 1,100 yards per day across the first 19 days of the year—that’s consistent “greasing the groove.”

Summary of the “Peaked” Fear

You aren’t peaked yet. You are acclimated. Your body has finally adjusted to the load, and you’re starting to reap the rewards of the early January grind. Keep the intensity high through this week, then trust the taper starting Saturday.

Would you like me to help you structure a “Taper-Lite” plan for your swim sessions next week to ensure that “fire” stays lit for Friday’s 800 Free?

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