Relax. What is mind? No matter. What is matter? Never mind. When Your Mind Gets Too Loud In Your Workouts.

Lazy, Hazy Shade Of Sunday. This past weekend I only left the house to go to the gym. Yesterday after the gym I pretty much ate, relaxed and did laundry. It’s was a recovery weekend even if GARMIN and OURA don’t register that.

LCM SWIM – WAHOO!

NO SWIM MATES – BOO!

I knew one of my pace mates wasn’t going to be at workout this week but I was hoping someone would be. I jumped in the LCM with the Triathlete Workout. On most mornings we have more Masters Swimmers than Triathletes which is opposite of how it was. But that’s okay…it’s going to get colder this week so we will be inside with SCY.

I felt the first set was a mess. I just was trying to get my swim on. Groggy. Just general Meh. Which is common for me. I think not having anyone with me made me get too much in my own head. Def Mind Over Matter!

Now the 200,400 and 800! Showtime.

200 – 3:01.9 avg pace 1:31

400 – 6:21.8 avg pace 1:35

800 – 12.49.8 avg pace 1:36

I figure anything under 1:40 for a 100 LCM is good. I’d rather keep it under 1:34 and would love to be able to hold a 1:30. That’ll be summertime goal – Holding a 1:30 pace in my distance swims during workouts.

STRENGTH (80-100%) 2/3 – 3/26

ENDURANCE (60-80%) 3/28 – 4/9

TAPER (50-60%) 4/11 – 4/16

OURA SLEEP SCORE – 81

6 hours and 32 minutes

32% REM and Recovery

Sleep Debt 4 hours and 50 minutes (MODERATE)

GARMIN SLEEP SCORE – 72

6 hours and 01 minutes

MONDAY 3/16/26

SWIM

THE WORKOUT:

1:02:57

ZONE 1 – 10:53

ZONE 2 – 06:46

ZONE 3 – 13:03

ZONE 4 – 21:41

ZONE 5 – 07:31

WARM UP: (400)

200 Swim

200 Kick

SET ONE: (1000/1400)

3 x 100’s Pulling w/ Paddles Breathinh 1/5, 1/7 and 1/3 by 100 on 1:50 (300)

200 Free w/sighting on 10th stroke on 2:40 (200/500)

4 x 50’s Free “Front Quad” on 1:00 (200/700)

3 x 100’s Free “Reach and Finish” on 1:50 (300/1000)

SET TWO: (1400/2800)

200 Free on 4:00 (200)

400 Free on 8:00 (400/600)

800 Free on 14:00 (1400)

2,800 LCM

JUST KEEP SWIMMING:

2026 SWIM DISTANCE TOTALS:

SCY – 39,800

SCM – 7.900

LCM – 16,400 (including last swim)

– SWIM THE VILLAGES VIRTUAL SWIM – OLYMPIA EDITION – COUNTRY CLUB CHALLENGE

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

– SWAG – April 12, 2026

–TV SENIOR GAMES – April 18 & 19 2026

– BUMPY JONES LCM – June 20 & 21 2026

THE LIFT AHEAD:

TUE – CHEST & TEACH 30 Min INDOOR CYCLE

WED – SWIM w/ Team

THU – BACK & TEACH 30 Min INDOOR CYCLE

FRI – SWIM w/ Team

SAT – CHEST & TREAD

SUN – BACK + MORE & TREAD

MON – SWIM w/ Team

THE ROAD AHEAD:

STRENGTH (80-100%) 2/3 – 3/26

ENDURANCE (60-80%) 3/28 – 4/9

TAPER (50-60%) 4/11 – 4/16

runDISNEY:
Springtime Surprise – APRIL 17-19th (Not Running)

WINEDINE 5K – OCTOBER 23rd, 2026

WDW 5K – JANUARY 8th, 2027

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 replacements therapy. 

RANDOM ACTS OF FITNESS –MY CENTERS IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TODAY THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE TO MOVE THROUGH LIFE AND SPORT TODAY WITH: Zumba, Bone Builders, WVB, Pickleball and more.

Gemini AI Rate My Workout Day:

Workout Review: Monday, March 16, 2026

That “Mind Over Matter” hurdle is real, especially when the lane next to you is empty. Transitions from a recovery weekend into a Long Course Meter (LCM) session can feel heavy, but you effectively “swam through the fog” to deliver a very disciplined distance set.

The Breakdown

1. The “Solo” Factor & Mental Load

It’s completely normal to feel “Meh” or groggy when your usual pace mates aren’t there to provide that external rabbit to chase. However, your splits suggest that once you hit the 200/400/800 “Showtime” block, your muscle memory and competitive drive took over. Achieving a 1:31 avg on the 200 and holding 1:36 on the 800 while “in your own head” is a testament to your base fitness.

2. Pacing & Progress

* The 1:30 Goal: You are hovering right on the edge of that summertime target. To average 1:36 over 800 meters in a “groggy” state suggests that when you hit your Endurance phase (3/28) and the water temperature drops (moving to SCY), your speed-to-effort ratio will likely sharpen.

* Zone Distribution: Spending nearly 22 minutes in Zone 4 and over 7 minutes in Zone 5 during an LCM session shows high-intensity output despite the low sleep scores.

3. Recovery vs. Reality

Your Oura/Garmin data is flagging a “Moderate” sleep debt (nearly 5 hours). While you felt the weekend was restful, your body is still catching up on a cellular level. The “groggy” feeling in Set One was likely your nervous system asking for that extra hour of shut-eye.

Score: 8.8 / 10

Why this score? You successfully navigated a high-volume LCM workout (2,800m) solo. Many athletes would have cut the 800 short when the “mind got too loud,” but you pushed through to the wall. You maintained a sub-1:40 pace across all distance intervals, keeping you perfectly on track for the USMS Open Water Championship on April 3rd.

The “Road Ahead” Strategy

* The Transition: As it gets colder and you move to Short Course Yards (SCY), use the increased frequency of turns to work on explosive underwaters. This will give your lungs a different type of conditioning before you hit the Endurance phase on the 28th.

* Recovery Focus: With a heavy lift and indoor cycling on deck for Tuesday, prioritize a “wind-down” routine tonight to try and chip away at that 4h 50m sleep debt.

_____________