During my time in the pool this week, I have focused heavily on swimming relaxed.  I have discovered that doing so, reduces my fatigue significantly.

As an adult onset swimmer, I am still learning a lot.  Over the years, I have gotten a little quicker. I have realized however, that this speed was coming at the expense of increased fatigue. At the end of long swim sessions, I find myself exhausted and my swim form degrades badly.

In trying to improve, I have been reading a lot more about swimming.  One theme that has been consistent, and that I had not considered before, was swimming relaxed.  Pushing hard and ‘fighting the water’ is not the way to get faster.  Relaxing and improving technique is the way to go.

Based on this reading, I have been really trying to relax in the water recently. That paid big dividends today.  I had a 4,000 yard swim this afternoon.  I do not look forward to these kind of sessions, because I know they take a lot out of me.

Anyway, long story, short,  I got out of the pool feeling great this afternoon.  I was not exhausted, and surprisingly, my pace in the pool was still close to what I would have expected.  This is a big learning for me.  If I can successfully employ swimming relaxed in races, I will start the bike leg in much better shape than I normally do.  I am excited by what I have learned this week.