Mix It Up: Swim After Lifting Weights

Starting a new category this morning called "Mix It Up," which is about different ways to increase variety in your workouts to break up the mental monotony and prevent plateaus (wow, the words flow quite nicely right after a workout!).

This morning I swam after lifting weights. I only did 2x100 + 1x50 for a total of 250 yards, which is the only 250 yards I've swam since mid-June except for the July 1500m I did at the Pocatello Triathlon. Anyway, I knew it was going to be difficult, but it was much harder than I expected. All of last year I was thinking that just 500 yards after any workout would greatly increase my swimming volume during the winter and set me up for a better spring and summer swims.

This 250 yards this morning really worked me. My last 50 yards on 40 seconds, but I highly doubt I could do that even ten times in a row, compared to 15x100 coming in on 1:20 and leaving at 1:40 during normal summer workouts. I didn't time the 2x100s because I just wanted to feel what the water felt like and where my form was at. I could definitely feel the weight lifting session in my strength, and I managed to have some decent form, but it didn't last long because I was so tired.

Anyway.. consider swimming directly after a weights session to mix up your workouts.  You'll be surprised. Another option is to lift weights, specifically leg curls and leg presses, before a bike workout...or do the bike and then lift weights.