My coach provides me with a well scripted plan, that is designed to maximize my training, while keeping me happy and injury free.  Occasionally however, I will go off script and change things.  This is fine, as long as it only happens once in a while and that I am responsible with it.

Today was one of those days.  I had a short swim set on the schedule.  When I wrote out the set to take with me to the pool, I decided it was too short.  I didn’t want to go all the way to the pool and only swim 1,600 yards.

So, on the way to the pool, I made the decision to add on extra intervals to each of the components of the swim set.  Instead of a set of 12 x 25 intervals, I did 16. I did 10 x 50 yards, instead of 8 x 50 yards.  By doing this kind of thing, I ended up swimming 600 more yards than what was scheduled.

Did I push beyond what was scheduled?  Yes.  

Was this supposed to be a little bit of an easier day?  Yes.

Did swimming an extra 600 yards really impact my training plan?  Absolutely not.

Don’t feel like you have to perfectly execute, every single workout prescribed by your coach.  If you are tired, cut the workout a little short.  Feeling spicy, then go a little longer.  Going off script in a responsible manner is encouraged.  You know your body and how it is feeling; respect that.