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That’s the best write up of a pool swim head space.
I used to be there, but a while ago got into focussing on aspects of the stroke, a length of finger tips, then palms, wrists etc right down to the toes.
It’s really mindful and has made me way smoother. Toes are always the end of a set, not sure how many lengths that is, maybe 30. About a quarter of an hour.
I tell myself how many times I’m going to work the whole body, normally 4, and get out after a few more gentle lengths trying to think of nothing . So a little over an hour in the water.
Properly therapeutic and I’m not much slower than the guys doing intervals. Sometimes I put in a lot of effort, say on a shoulder length, or a palm of hand length. It really keeps me motivated and fresh. I absolutely do not count lengths any more!
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adroit
@Greenbank
Inner monologue....
"
...
And turn. Great! That's 27 lengths.
Only another 133 to go. 133, that's not divisible by 3. Or 5. 7? Yes, 7 * 19.
And 28 lengths. Easy one that.
Oh, the slow person has just joined me in the fast lane. Oh well, hope they'll get the message soon.
done 29. Still feeling good, nice rhythm this. 29 is prime! Yay.
Hello cracked tile on the floor. Hello hair band. Hello plaster. Ugh, hairball floating near face, do not want.
done 30 lengths, a multiple of 10.
Dodge hairball, hello plaster, hello hair band, hello cracked tile.
done 32. No, wrong end for an even number. Does that mean it's 31 or 33?
Probably lower, will check watch at end of next length.
Does the watch show the distance before the turn or after? Can never remember.
done 33. Good, slow person has got the message and moved to medium lane.
done 34. Other person in fast lane catching me up, we're almost matched for speed but they're ~1s a length faster.
done 35. Predict they'll be next to me in about 3 lengths, will pause and let them go.
done 36. 100m to go and that'll be 1k, remember to check time, want to be under 19 minutes.
Hello cracked tile...
...
done 146. Please tell me this will end soon.
done 147. I .. HATE .. SWIMMING
done 148. I COULD STOP RIGHT NOW. NO-ONE WOULD KNOW.
done 149. WHY DO I PUT MYSELF THROUGH THIS. I FEEL AWFUL.
done 150. YAY! 10 TO GO! I FEEL AWESOME.
...
done 160. Wait, why does watch say 3950m? Fuck, do 2 more to make sure.
done 162. Great. Fucking watch, why does it now say 4075m. Piece of shit. At least I'm done.
"
etc