I've Got Work to Do!!!

Well, this morning's swim practice went really well. I'm having less and less trouble with my back, which is encouraging. The workout sets went really well. Then, the ugly truth was seen. It was our first timing session of the season. We only timed today in what we plan to swim for the November meet. I've decided to swim the 100 back and the 50 back. I timed my 100 first. I actually swam my 50 split in the 100 faster!! My 100 time ended up being 1:51.3. Not too bad for never having competed back, but bad for qualifying for Nationals. For Nationals, I need at least a 1:14.03. I need to trim 37 secs off of my time! I did only start from the wall, though. When I do my real start, I'm sure some time will come off. I think, I can't remember exactly, my time for the 50 was :51.8. That was BAD, but it was at the end of practice and I was tired and a little anxious. We'll see how much time I can drop between this week and the first of the month. I'm going to be doing a lot of speed training between now and then. I just don't want to embarrass myself at the meet!!

Team Practice

For the past two weeks, I've been going to the full Master's Swim Team practice. It feels so different to be doing the same workout as a lot of other folks. We have a GREAT coach, who manages to individualize our workouts, even though we are there as a group! I was really nervous the first week. Coach Chris was very nice and patient. There was still a lot of swim workout lingo that I didn't know. I REALLY enjoyed the practice and felt great afterwards. So last week, I went back. He'd decided that I need to build my endurance quickly, so he gave me pyramid workouts! I'm wise to his plan now. He's nice the first week, torture the rest, but that's o.k. Even though I'm hurting, I know that it will make me a MUCH better swimmer and competitor. I feel like I'm going to be so much more prepared for Nationals this way too! We'll see what this week holds.

Spring Training

I've got a lot on my plate (athletically) this spring. I'm back in training for two new 5ks. One is in late March and the other is in mid April. Both of them are pet friendly 5ks, so it looks like Indiana will be training with me. That, alone, will probably trash my time, but that's o.k. I'll enjoy having him with me on the runs. I hope that he will eventually be my regular running buddy for 5ks and afternoon runs. He's got LOTS of energy, so I'm not sure what distance that he'll top out at.

I'm also training for my first "real" swim meet at the end of May. It's the U.S. Master's Swimming Short Course Nationals Championships. I'm only going to swim about 3 events, since I won't be going to lots of other meets to qualify. I'm nervous as a cat about it, though. I have SO MUCH that I need to improve on. I'm hitting the team practice for the first time this semester this coming Thursday. Hopefully, I won't embarrass myself. I've lost a lot of conditioning, since I was sick over Christmas and New Year's. It's taking a frustratingly long time to get my endurance back. I'm sure that running will help with that. I should also be meeting with my coach, one on one, on Tuesday. I've got a lot of diving block work to do. I just hope to stay healthy for the rest of the year now. Unfortunately, after swimming laps midday today, I have water in my left ear. I guess that I need to break out the vinegar, when I get home. Here's a few videos of me swimming. Casey did the taping with my new camcorder that he got me for my birthday. Like I said, I have LOTS of work to do.

1. Strengthen my flutter kick.

2. Work on my freestyle pull and catch.

3. Build my endurance doing flipturns.

4. Stop over rotating on my breaths. Remember to rotate my body more.

Practicing my backstroke flipturns.

First time doing freestyle flipturns with fins.

Breaststroke. I haven't learned breaststroke turns yet. I need to keep my arms closer and work on my starts with this one.

Freestyle, no fins.

More freestyle with fins.

Well Rounded

My swim coach is determined to make me a well rounded swimmer. When I went to practice yesterday, I thought that I was only going to work on my flip turns. Turns out, I refined my flip turns, worked on my backstroke and turns, and practiced my breaststroke quite a bit. Slowly but surely, I'm getting the hang of all the fundamentals that will make me a competitive swimmer. Also to my suprise, I was told at the end of practice that I'd be learning the Butterfly stroke next week! Eeeeep!!

WHEWWWW!!!!

Just when I didn't think it could get any hotter. The forecasters are saying that this will feel like the hottest day of the year! I believe them. I feel like I'm melting.

Yesterday, I went for my first swim practice for the Master Swim Club. I actually had my very own coach to refine my stoke yesterday. Needless to say, practice kicked my butt! I went through and hour and a half of drills and laps (about 3000 yds). I even managed to pull my shoulder somehow too. You can guess how good I slept last night. It was very hot outside during practice yesterday so, I decided to get to the pool earlier this morning. I was in and swimming about 10:30. The water hadn't heated up too much and was perfect this morning. I only managed about 1750 yds. today, but I did manage to get in all of my new drills. I had to swim really slow, because my shoulder was REALLY achy this morning. It's still bothering me some, but it felt better, when the muscle warmed up. I sure hope I don't regret the laps I did manage, tomorrow morning.

Now, keeping in today's hot, swimming theme....

see more dog and puppy pictures

see more dog and puppy pictures

see more dog and puppy pictures