Post by MarkD on Jul 13, 2008 10:36:05 GMT -5
Last year I discovered that swimming is key recovery tool in this sport for running, biking, and racing. An easy OW swim or a recovery-style pool swim were wonderful on Monday evenings for making the body feel better FAST.
Today, I just discovered that it is also an invaluable tool for full-body pain. After my first hard mountain bike experience, I woke up this morning with a really stiff body - all over - especially the shoulders, back, arms, and calves. I had a 2,800 yard challenging pool swim planned this morning - thought about backing it off to a recovery swim, but, told my self "suck it up princess & git 'er done !". The warm up was tough (600 yards S-K-P). My first 400 interval was hard as well, but it was designed to be slow. The next set was 4 x 100 at threshold pace. The first one sucked, but, after that, my body responded like a champ. I was able to bang out another 1,600 yards of 400's and 100's at below TP and felt great. Its 2 hours later and I feel unbelievably recovered (with one big-ass appetite !!).
My point, you ask...
Throw those recovery drinks away (just kidding). Triathlon began because runners were looking for a way to do active recovery. Swimming, and a lot of it, may just be the key to a long, relatively injury free triathlon lifestyle.
Now to get the ladder out and do a bunch of house work (without the stiff body)...
Today, I just discovered that it is also an invaluable tool for full-body pain. After my first hard mountain bike experience, I woke up this morning with a really stiff body - all over - especially the shoulders, back, arms, and calves. I had a 2,800 yard challenging pool swim planned this morning - thought about backing it off to a recovery swim, but, told my self "suck it up princess & git 'er done !". The warm up was tough (600 yards S-K-P). My first 400 interval was hard as well, but it was designed to be slow. The next set was 4 x 100 at threshold pace. The first one sucked, but, after that, my body responded like a champ. I was able to bang out another 1,600 yards of 400's and 100's at below TP and felt great. Its 2 hours later and I feel unbelievably recovered (with one big-ass appetite !!).
My point, you ask...
Throw those recovery drinks away (just kidding). Triathlon began because runners were looking for a way to do active recovery. Swimming, and a lot of it, may just be the key to a long, relatively injury free triathlon lifestyle.
Now to get the ladder out and do a bunch of house work (without the stiff body)...
