Back into progress

Three weeks ago my session in the endless pool was unproductive, and unfortunately the next day I had shoulder pain and needed to book in with the physio! With hindsight I think there was a combination of holding a streamline position at the limit of my range of movement, a general lethargy of unknown origin, and no doubt an element of overtraining. Any one of these may well have been manageable in themselves but together they were too much.

After another endless pool session, some ordinary swims, another physio session, and a less busy week I felt back on track. Yesterday's endless pool session felt like a step forwards, my lead arm is usually facing forwards, my shoulder dive to the right is reduced and with concentration my head swinging disappears. When the pool speed was increased above my comfort zone I re-adopted some poor practices. I must remember to focus on the coaching tips even more when I need the power.

Today's 'ordinary' swim was more evidence that the coaching and focussed practice is working. I recorded a 200 yard PB of 4:10 minutes and two sets of 100 yards in 2:01 minutes, so not PBs, but demonstrative of consistency. Perhaps I was a little less efficient than for my last PB as my stroke average was 13 today, although some lengths were completed in 12 strokes (which of course means some were 14!).

I like to think that the plantar fasciitis is resolving slightly but the rate of improvement is so slow that I also wonder if I'm just hoping that to be true.