Suddenly, my time on one swimmer's mile (66 short laps/lengths of this open air pool) has improved by 3 minutes! After making that 6 km swim I went back to 1.5 km a day to the same time as before: around 45 minutes, and today it was under 42!
Additionally, for the first time I made a couple of lengths (25 yards) in 34 seconds, my best time before was 36. Additionally, I had several 35-s in a row.
No idea why. I did not sleep well for two last nights because of the troubles in my private life, and the last night I slept on a rather soft surface, not on my usual double yoga mat, and my back was aching.
On the other hand, my style gets better, effortlessly (still breaststroke).
Also, it was the first time in a long while when I ate something before a long distance exercise (swim or run): 2 hours before arriving at the pool today I had a glass of a fresh blood orange juice and a few pieces of dark raw vegan chocolate. Maybe it gave me additional energy, because normally my last meal is 10-26 hours before my training start, and most often lately it was around 20 hours. There is a downside to eating short before a training session, I afraid: I had a slight discomfort on my right side by the end, and I remember I happened before when I ran for an hour or two soon after a meal.
But in general, I am glad now, wish you the same!
PS: Several times in my mind I thanked a girl named Savannah or Paloma (or similar beautiful name) who works in the "Swim West" store in Encinitas for an excellent piece of advice: to pre-wet hair before the pool! Even with my new silicone swim cup designed for long hair it gets soaked in chlorinated water and even after repeated washes I still smell it later, not any more! Thank you!