My workout today fell in line with this week’s theme of rest and recovery.  I was scheduled to do an easy 2,000 yard swim and I chose to go do it before work.

My coach gives me total flexibility to do what I like in these easy swim sessions.  Today I chose to do 16 x 100 yards steady swimming on 20 seconds rest, sandwiched between a 200 yard warm up and a 200 yard cool down.  For those 100 yards intervals, I alternated between using a pull buoy and just swimming.

This should have been a very relaxed and comfortable swim.  It turned out not to be that easy.  I felt tired and a little weak in the water.  My pace was a little slower than normal and I was feeling it in my arms and shoulders.  This kind of low energy workout happens occasionally, and if you dig deep enough, you can often figure out a probable reason for it.

You may remember this blog post that I did on Sunday, where I resolved to follow a healthier diet.  In that blog, I also talked about trying to hit certain target macronutrient levels.  Well it turns out, that on Monday and Tuesday of this week, I fell well short of my target for carbohydrates.   

I wonder … low on carbohydrates for two days followed by feeling weak during my swim today.  I can’t be certain, but I would think it’s highly likely, that I was simply under-fueled for my workout.

This low carbohydrate theory came from the fact that I have been tracking my food.  Tracking things like nutrition and how I feel during workouts is starting to really help me learn more about my body.  It’s also helping me make changes.  I am definitely eating more carbohydrates today, including this yummy tuna and vegetables lunch. 

A car can’t run without fuel, and neither can your body!!