Today is Tuesday, so it is speed set day in the pool. I am determined to get down the 3,200 meter speed set within the send off times. After a 1,000 meter warmup, the main set is 4×100 on 2:20 with progressive 25 meter sprints. The first 100 I sprint the first 25, second 100 the second 25 and so on. The goal is to come in between 2:05 to 2:10. I am happy to say I nailed it. What changed in a week? I paced myself.

After a 200 pull to recover, 4×200 on 4:30 followed. This is harder for me. First it is 5 seconds faster per 100 than the 4×100. Second it isn’t a progressive sprint, but cumulative. The first 200 I sprint the last 50, then the last 100 until the last 200 is all out. Good news: I did all 4 on 4:30. Bad news: instead of coming in at 4:15, it was 4:20 to 4:27. Another 200 pull and I was back to 4×100 on 2:20 only cumulative. All were within 2:05 coming in, but each should have been faster. Not so much.

It is frustrating to eek by with baby step improvements. It was frustrating to lift weights this evening and deal with the bouncer types throwing the weights on the floor to feel empowered. It is also frustrating to type this on my iPhone… I am at dinner at my gym cafe and I left my iPad at home charging this morning. But in all instances I am determined to accomplish something and I am doing what ever I am able to over come the frustration and/or challenge. But as paper covers rock, determination covers frustration. I will deal with scissors another day…