June 2010
Dropping weight
I'm eating constantly but dropping a little weight which is probably a good thing. Had a great workout but a sad broken 200m backstroke at the end. I never even bothered to do the math but it wasn't pretty. Still improving and feeling good about training!
Post-Practice Weight: 172.2 lbs
Planning on the 2012 Olympic Trials!
We are officially 2 years away from the 2012 Olympic U.S.A. Swimming Team Trials! I've decided to compete once again at the trials as I did in 2008. The time standards have not been released yet however, I have a goal time below the fastest I could even conceive them setting the cutoff at.
A Nice Easy Active Rest Workout!
It was an enjoyable 5,000 meters! A little fast swimming with a main set of:
4 x [4x50 Easy 50/Fast 50 + 100 Easy/100 Fast]
I'm not proud of my times, but I'm feeling more confident each practice. I was anywhere from 33.xx to 36.xx on the 50's and 1:19 to 1:21 on the 100's.
I'm the lowest weight I've been in months!
Post-Practice Weight: 173.9 lbs
Practice Type: Active Rest
ALMOST sent myself home
I had a very tough start to my practice today. The warmup of:
3 x (300 Free + 200 IM)
was immediately wearing me out, it was followed by 600 meters of Easy/Fast IM 50's. I really wasn't feeling well, I think it was a combination of 4 hours of sleep and eating too recently prior to practice. I was 99.9% ready to send myself home after the warmup but I stuck it out and I'm glad I did.
We ended the 6,900 meter practice with 3 x 100's D1-3 MAX and I finished with a 1:08.5, it represented the fastest I've swam a 100 Back LCM in practice in quite some time.
Post-Practice Weight: 174.9 lbs
Took Sunday Off
Since I fit in one weight workout and one dryland workout on Saturday I took Sunday off. I had planned to hit an outdoor pool but there was some Tornado activity in the area. Back at it today
Site under construction
I took down some of the features of the site as I do some upgrades on the times, videos and meet databases. Hang in there, they'll be back soon
Weights but no swimming today
I got to the gym today to put in a 45 minutes lifting workout. I'll probably hit a local pool tomorrow to loosen up before another week with EMU.
My time training with EMU has been slightly frustrating simply because I'm so out of shape. I think the coaching staff writes good workouts with fair intervals but I'm just not prepared for them.
Active Rest... Finally
400 Free
300 BBF
200 Free
100 IM
FINS
8 x 50 Two Each Stroke IM Order
2 x 200 IM
PULL
4 x [200 D1-4 + 100 Easy]
KICK
4 x [4 x 50 Moderate @ 1:00 + 200 D1-4]
MAIN
4 x [50 Easy + 150 Free D1-4]
6 x [100 #1 D1-3 MAX + 100 Easy]
8 x [50 Easy + 50 Fast #1]
Loosen
Post-Practice Weight: 175.8 lbs
Practice Type: Active Rest
You gonna eat that?
I can't even believe how much food I consume in a 24 hour period training 2-3 hours a day. I think it will take some time to adjust to this type of training. I think we did over 6,000 meters today. The main set itself was 3,000 meters. I did it all backstroke, which was comprised of 3 sets of 5x200's. Yea... not fun
Post-Practice Weight: 174.8 lbs
Making Time To Swim, Not to Blog...
I've been in the pool with EMU for almost a week. In short, I'm simply desolated. Honestly I haven't even counted the yards, but I'm pretty much swimming all out for 2 hours straight. The coaching staff seems to think a 1:20 LCM freestyle pace equates to an easy swim. I'm busting my butt to make them on the 1:20. This past week has been a harsh reminder of how much I suck at swimming right now. I regularly get owned by ~14 year old boys and girls.
Post-Practice Weight: 177.1 lbs
Back for more
I felt like I swam a meet yesterday, I had to come home and take a 30 minute nap just to function the rest of the night. This morning I hit up another EMU practice 14 hours after the first one I got ruined in. I was a little short on sleep and my left shoulder is already overworked. Since I won't have time to swim on Sunday I figured I would squeeze another one in today. Today was no different than yesterday other than the fact I got trampled by more swimmers than yesterday... mostly because there were more swimmers in attendance.
Post-Practice Weight: 175.4 lbs
Just got ruined by everybody
I was in the mood to get my butt kicked so I dropped in on an EMU practice. Most of the 120 minute practice was solid with me holding my own against the three other swimmers (low attendance, friday... go figure). I felt like the warmup was a main set, which really isn't a great way to start out!
LCM
5x100's Free @ 1:40
5x100's FRIM @ 1:40
5x100's IM @ 1:40
400 Easy Kick
8 x [100 Kick D1-4 Hold Max last 4 + 50 Easy kick]
8x50's 25 Max Fly + 25 Easy Free @ 1:00
6 x [100 Back D1-3 + 50 Easy Free @:50
8x [50's Breast @:50 + 50 Easy Free @:50]
Post-Practice Weight: 174.8 lbs
Weights
Ouch
Yea, kinda overdid it, but I knew I was. I won't have much time to workout in the next few days so I wanted to get the most out of it. I'm very sore. I'll do an easy aerobic practice later in a community pool.
I love getting exercise, even as painful as it is sometimes!
First day in the Gym
I had a great hour in the gym. Back in the day I would isolate arms or legs, since I'll only be doing weight workouts a few days a week, I'll be doing a full body workout each time. I did every machine I was comfortable with, which was at least half of them in there. I pushed it a little but didn't max anything out in hopes I won't desolate my muscles. The machines in the gym are all new and really nice. It was the first time I'd seen machines with a simple switch on each weight plate rather than a pin you need to swap in and out. It was a pleasure to use such nice machines.
Changes to Training
I figured that as soon as I bought my gym membership I would start getting stronger, somehow it's just not working out that way. It's been 6 hours and I don't see any improvements...
I got a membership to a 24/7 Gym, I'm excited to start using it! I've noticed a few things that have changed about my training over the last few years. As recently as 2007-2008, I was self motivated in both the pool and the gym. I could push myself in practice and work out in the gym at EMU. I had personal success in both areas.
Brief Club Pool Practice
Knowing My Limits
After three tough days training, I decided to enjoy a nice long nap rather than swimming. It was a conscious decision (no pun intended) and I'm really glad I didn't push myself for yet another day. I'll be back in the pool tomorrow. Planning on weights tonight!
I'm really enjoying improving the site's functions, I'll get around to making it prettier sometime soon, for now I'm focused on the actual usability of the features.
Some UGLY Long Course Practices
I practiced long course with EMU again yesterday. I gotta say, it was mostly an embarrassment. I have a long way to go to excel in these workouts. During a set of 6x100's D1-3 descend freestyle, I could get down to a 1:06 and then 1:12... really bad. My kicking set was good, but I rarely have a bad kick set. My paddle pull set was pathetic, I couldn't even make a 2:50 interval on the 200's pull. The last set of 8x50's all out on 1:30 backstroke was the worst, I only saw one :35, most were :36's... just really bad for me. I've done the set last summer holding solid :29's.
Post-Practice Weight: 178.1 lbs
Considering a Gym Membership
In years past I've just used my membership to EMU to use their weight room. My schedule and training situations have changed to the point that lifting at EMU may not work in my day anymore. Seems like I could probably use the heck out of a $29.99 membership to one of the many 24/7 workout facilities. These really attract me because I happen to be one of those weirdo's who likes working out at 3am. $360.00 a year on top of the $205.00 I pay at EMU... hmm.
That was Graceful...
I personally like celebrating my failures as well as my triumphs. Today I stopped by EMU to train with the team. I actually had a great practice! I lead all but one set overall. Due to a busy schedule I had to take off about 30 minutes before practice was over. The pool was full because Club Wolverine had just gotten in. This meant I was short on space to even exit the pool. As I have in the past I grabbed the false start line pole right in front of me and hoisted myself out of the water. Midway up the pole shifted and my hand slipped down...
Adding TONS of Videos
It will take me a few days to complete, but I'm porting in ALL the video content I have to the site in my own video player. Each swim that has ever been videotaped will be available on the site and will be fully searchable! I'll be actively testing the system over the next few days so expect some wacky video issues till it's complete.
I'll be really glad to get back in the water today, I can't stand when all pools are closed for days on end.