Evolve swim and post OWS analysis

SWIM 55 mins and 2200y I think
COMMUTE 6 miles on Puppy

When TH said goodbye yesterday and added "see you at the swim tomorrow morning" I groaned and got to wondering how I'd feel then! A hard swimming following my 2.1 mile race, hoo boy. So I was happy to find I was moving OK this morning, and even happier to find I had some great swimming in me! No tired arms, no achy back (that didn't happen until I put on a backpack and rode a bike...), and good energy.

The main sets were a 400 and 300 and 200, each having the last 100 at an uptempo pace. It was hard to find that pace, took extra energy, but I got it done. I even timed a few of the fast 100's (not the 100's is above sets) at 1:45! I think that's a PR, I don't clock those very often.

Later in the day I got to researching some sources of my questions and problems yesterday. One at a time.

The pain in my throat. Still there when I eat, although not as bad and getting better. It's focused down in my esophagus, like where the collarbones meet in the middle of my chest. TH had the best suggestion for this one -- my wetsuit is too tight at the neck. It is very snug! And the location of the pain pretty much matches. How to fix that?!

Another option could be using different muscles because I was sighting, but when I stretch my neck right now I don't feel pain.
Another option for this pain is gasping for air and taxing the esophageal muscles. See more below.

The inhaled air. Ugh, I think I had this at IM CDA, I get this in the pool in long hard sets, and now again here. I'm sure many other races could be added to that list. Some reading on the internets revealed what was a common sense answer -- I'm swallowing air -- but I did find a more mechanistic explanation too. When you gasp air, and especially when you gasp  in volumes exceeding that of lung capacity, the excess air can go to the stomach. When you exhale, the lung air is expelled first and not so much of the stomach air. Gasping, holding your breath, and staying underwater too long all contribute. I was was gasping early in the swim after inhaling and sputtering on water a few times! And it took some time before the first buoy to settle into a rhythm for the swim.

How to build on success so far. I asked swim coach SM how to take this to the next level. She said I "no more straight sets for you", and "initially we get fast from gaining endurance. You are past that now. Now you add work to all sets". This is some of the best advice I've received!

Sounds familiar, that's what I did this morning!! And I see a potential haiku I could make from her advice.