Getting rested and ready, part next.

Today was my biggest practice, in terms of yardage and intensity, until after Nationals.

I took a rest day on Monday, and I did a "prep" practice yesterday (getting the rust out). But today was also my first "race rehearsal" day, which meant that I did rehearsals for both of my target events. Here is how it worked:

500 general warm-up
1000 prep: 20x50, doing the following 4 times:
* 25 drill/25 swim
* 50 build
* 25 fast/25 easy
* 2 x 50 easy
1800 race rehearsal
* 150 BR
* 350 easy
* 150 BR
* 350 easy
* 75 BR
* 325 easy
* 75 BR
* 325 easy

There were no intervals for any of this. I was aiming for a 2:00-2:05 on the 150s, and a :54-:56 on the 75s. I did not make those times. For the first 150, I swam 2:07, but I was able to realize that in trying to pick up the pace over the course of the 150, I was throwing myself off. So the second time I swam, I focused on maintaining my rhythm, which meant that I swam 9 strokes per every length, instead of starting to mess up on the last 50. The time was slower, though: 2:09. I can attribute some of that to having already swum the previous 150, which I was definitely feeling in my legs. And the pace I swam still sets me up for a best time, just not as fast as my coach-friend believes I can swim.

On the 75s, I swam 1:01 both times--again, slow. But I am hopeful that a certain amount of that was a result of having already swum the 2 x 150s, because my rhythm felt really good, my legs felt strong, and I felt as though I was getting a good pull every time.

At the meet, I will swim:
FRIDAY: 50 FL + 200 BR
SATURDAY: 50 FR + 100 BR
so on neither day will I need to do as much racing as I did today. That means that on future "rehearsal" practices (and I think I will try to swim 3 more), I will only swim 2 fast swims per day.

Meanwhile, please send all your super good wishes my way as I try to improve on those rehearsal times.