Mad Scientist, 28.8 from a push and 8.6 from a dive

Lots to write but short on time as usual.  Saturday I got to work with Mark, the mad scientist who has been studying cyclist wind tunnels and swimmer fluid dynamics since 1988.  I swear, when the guy starts talking about this stuff, there is a significant possiblity his brain power is creating a drain on the electrical grid.  Since I missed the meet this weekend, I got to work with him for 2 hours.  I was his testing subject for his new machine.  It tows the swimmer through the water and analyzes body type and drag.  We worked above the water and below.  Although I don't know all the stats, his machine used a maximum of 6 volts to tow me at a rate of 2.5 meters per second.  This represents the fastest I've ever moved through the water, especially underwater.  I imagine I was going faster when I was riding a dolphin a few years ago, but besides that experience, this was pretty darn fast.  There was a lot of great conversation in both directions.  He is a great resource for the techinical side of swimming.  Afterward we reviewed some data with a few U of M engineers and Jim Richardson, the womens coach.  There was a lot of intelilgence on deck that day (not referring to myself).

Prior to that experience, I trained with the Womens team since the Mens team was at the OLY meet.  Jim Richardson wrote a great set:

5x (4x50 D1-4 @ 1:00 + 200 Easy Swim @ 4:00)

I love sets like this, it reminded me of an EMU workout.  I did quite well.  I descended to a great 4th round time of 28.8 from a push!  Probably the fastest I've ever swam backstroke from a push.  I am, without question, making progress.  I'm feeling fantastic and swimming great.

That set was followed by 6 x (25 Dive Fast + 25 Easy @ 1:30)

I had the privilage of swimming alongside an Olympian from Asia.  He was a butterflier so after 2 rounds freestyle, I switched to butterfly to see where I stood against him.  In the last 3 swims, he beat me 2 out of 3 times, but not by much, perhaps an arms length at the 25 meter mark.  The last one I got him though, by just a tenth.  The coach changed the last 25 to a sprint 50 for the very last round.  The other swimmer was going to swim butterfly, so I chose the same.  We were neck and neck for the whole 50 down to the finish, he touched me out with a 25.4 to my 25.6.  I was proud that I hung with him the entire race and that I'm 0.2 secoonds off my lifetime best butterfly time IN PRACTICE.

I'm having a blast.

Monday was a power lift and swim set.  There are lots of details but I've already written for too long.  We ended with all out 25's underwater with fins for time.  Sadly I was at the back of the pack.  I'm just not a great kicker with fins on.  I'm among the fastest without fins, but I lack the strength to utilize the extra surface area fins offer.  I was a 8.6 from a dive.  That ranks among the slowest sprinters.  The fastest was a 7.4, a very impressive time.  I'll get better.