Now this looks like fun. A trailer for Helix on Wii Ware shows people moving to the beat of what sounds like the soundtrack for any club in WeHo has just been released. Basically you follow the moves to music using your Wii remote. The video claims that it is a great upper body workout, which it might be but I think it's a fun inexpensive party game. Check out the video
Gay athletes from Europe are converging in Barcelona this week for the 2008 EuroGames. Different from the Gay Games or Out Games the Eurogames like the name implies is for gay athletes who live in Europe.
Eurogames officials are expecting over 5,000 athletes and over 30,000 spectators. Like the Gay Games and Out Games the Eurogames are more than just sports although this years Eurogames have 28 different sports they also feature cultural and social events. The games start this Thursday and run for three days.
According to the official press release:
The Eurogames 2008, which settle in Barcelona this year, may well be much more than a sportive event! The European Gay & Lesbian Championship aim to offer three days of sport and tolerance from July 24th to 27th. Besides sportive competitions, a variety of conferences, debates and parties will be held throughout these days in Barcelona, in order to fight against discrimination and homophobia, and to support the integration and the emancipation of the LGTB (Lesbian Gay Transsexual Bisexual) community.
Hopefully I'll be able to track down some swimming news during the Eurogames so keep checking back for updates. For now check out the Eurogames official website HERE
Ever since I got my iPhone version 1.0 I started to use it as an alarm clock as I can only plug so many things into the wall socket near my night stand. My iPhone charges up while I sleep and usually I check email and surf the web before falling asleep. Of late though I wake up different times of different days so instead of changing the alarm time I've created various alarms to go off on specified days and times. Well last night when I was half asleep I turned on the Tuesday and Thursday alarm instead of my M/W/F alarm so I ended up missing the 6am workout. Well I woke up at 5:55am so in theory I could of made it to the pool by 6:10 and be able to swim but why rush it. So I got up, read the paper and biked to the 7:15 workout. The only difference between the workouts is that the 7:15 is a bit more crowded.
Warmed up about a 300. Then we did a 100 distance per (DPS) the coach gave the other lanes a workout. From that we did 2x400's the first one 25 swim / 75 kick and the second one 50 swim / 50 kick.
Main Set:
400 Pull DPS on 5:20 (i think that was it)
4x200's rotating a 100 fast. 1st one the 1st 100 fast. 2nd one the middle 100 fast. 3rd one the 2nd 100 fast. 4th one race strategy. (forgot the interval as I think we went faster than what the coach gave us)
400 Pull on 5:20 (once again I think) 1st 200 breath control breathing every 3/5/any/7 by 50 and 2nd 200 DPS
8x100's on 1:20 descend 1-4 and 5-8
100 easy
16x25's. 4 free / 4 fly / 4 back / 4 breast. (free on 20 and stroke on 25)
And that was it. I was a bit stiff and sore from yesterday. It's odd that flipping my routine by doing swimming than weights seemed to fatigue me more than my weights in the morning and swimming at night. Must have been the long course workout. Although between swimming long course yesterday and short course today I think I'm liking the long course. Which is odd since I've always hated long course. Guess I just like it because it's different.
Okay so yeah this was some time ago and I can't remember if I have yet to post this so here are my official 10K results from this years LA Pride 10K.
My time: 49:31
Pace:7:58
Overall I came in 65th.
In my age category I came in 12th.
For me this is good. Never been much of a runner and my runner training is laughable at best. But I'm happy with it as it was my fastest 10K so far. I need to run more.
Since I swapped my usual Tuesday evening swim practice to a Tuesday morning long course swim I decided to rest a bit then hit the gym. I ran the quick bit to the gym.
Then I did my usual boring circuit routine. Although the eye candy is pretty good in the afternoon. Lot's of out of work actors in the afternoon. Then I ran home.
I need to do a real run soon. Going to run the 5 mile run Thursday night at the Beverly Hills Niketown.
After swimming this morning I came home ate breakfast, showered then went out to run a few errands. On
my way on my errands I was craving something yummy. As I was passing my one of the 3 Starbucks near me I decided to stop and try one of those new blended drinks. I decided to try the Orange Mango Banana Blend since it has whey protein. I figured it was sorta like a protein drink but not really. I also picked up a very high calorie pastry. After I ordered my drink I sat down in one of the big comfy chairs while the barista flew to the jungle to get the banana's and other ingredients. Well maybe the barista didn't fly to the jungle but boy did it take some time. Mind you this was around 11am and it was myself and one lady getting a coffee drink and that was it. But the time issue was the laziness or lack of seeing my cup waiting for my drink to be made.
My first sip of the drink pretty much was pretty much bland. It tasted like milk. As I slowly drank the Vivanno I would taste different flavors as the cup slowly emptied. It was blended that well I'd have to guess. I'd taste the light hint of what seemed to taste like an orange cremesicle and once I thought I tasted a banana. I gotta admit it wasn't that good. I went in thinking that if I like it I'll be going back to Starbucks after working out everyday. But no! I'll stick to making my own blended protein drinks and the occasional Jamba Juice or gym protein drink. As for the Vivanno I'll think I'll pass.
The 2010 Cologne Gay Games VIII will be testing for anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs in all sporting events for the first time in Gay Games history. The Cologne Gay Games plans to base it’s testing on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This expanded testing to all sports follows the 2006 Chicago Gay Games that just tested athletes in bodybuilding, powerlifting and wrestling.
With this more stringent drug test policy comes issues with those athletes who are HIV+ who take supplements and steroids as part of a treatment program. The 2006 Chicago Gay Games allowed those who were on various treatment programs to participate in powerlifting as “Guest Lifters”. This classification allowed “Guest Lifters” to compete in powerlifting in order for them to achieve personal bests but were not awarded any medals.
The 2010 Cologne Gay Games hope to redefine the WADA standards to allow for those athletes who have medical concerns. The Bay Area Reporter LINK reports that, “FGG (Federation of Gay Games) and Games Cologne representatives are formulating a policy that would create a medical commission of experts in the fields of sports medicine, drug testing, and medical care, who would oversee an essentially two-tiered approach in which competitors could apply for a streamlined waiver for medications critical to their well-being.
Hopefully once the Federation of Gay Games comes out with it’s testing standards it will allow the games to be inclusive of all athletes even those who suffer from HIV and are on supplements.
Wow! I hope to look this good when I get older! Pictue of fashion designers Girogio Amrani and Stefano Gabbana. Armani is 74 years old and is in better shape than a lot of 20-somethings I see at the beach. Stefano is 46 and it still a HOTTIE!
souce: Catwalk Queen
via: Wendy
With Regionals LCM only about a week away I decided I needed to swim a few long course workouts. So instead of running to the gym for weights this morning I jumped on my bike and rode the 4 miles to the Culver City Plunge. The Culver City Plunge has a lap swim from 6am - 8:30 that is LCM. So I paid my $3 and got in the pool right at 6am. I warmed up a mixed 600. One of my coaches was nice enough to give me a long course workout.
The only thing about swimming in long course is that I don't swim it enough to get a feeling for it. I did do one lap swim a few months ago but the pool was crowded and I got out after 40 minutes of just doing laps. This was my first long course workout in about two years. I'd have to double check and I might have done one workout a year ago but seriously I was doing at least long course regularly during my training for the Gay Games two years ago. Needless to say I got fatigued and tired so I did about 75% of the workout the coach gave me. Okay maybe 60%. But I made the key intervals!
Warmed up 2x200's mixed. It was 4x200's broken drilling, kicking and swimming. I just did two because I wanted to get to the main set.
Main Set:
500 on 7:15. Made it with plenty of rest.
300 on 4:30. Once again made it.
700 on 10:30. Made it even though I did have to swim around slower swimmers.
200 on 2:50. Also made this.
Took a quick pee break. Then talked to the other swimmers in my lane than warmed down a 200. The workout still had another 1800 left in it. I could have done it but it was already about 70 minutes into the workout. Enough is enough.
I plan on swimming two more long course workouts before regionals. I'll hit the pool again this Thursday and next Tuesday. Tomorrow I'm going back to the short course pool for the 6am distance freestyle workout. I'll just move around my recovery days to make sure I'm getting this long course workouts in. Also normally during this time I go to the gym and do weights. That will happen later today. Need to let the body recover a bit.
photo from bauergriffin see more HERE
was going to email those of you who comment or that I email with but I need your help and anyone who is reading this! I'm making the big switch and going to buy new goggles. Over the last three years I've been buying the same style of goggles. Speedo something or another. I found them, I liked them so I went back and stocked up on them. Now I'm on my last pair and they are leaking like crazy. My contacts are all fucked up because of them. Today during the set I had to stop and empty them out as I couldn't see anything. So I'm going online in the next 48 hours and buying a pair. So if anyone has a favorite brand, style or have any suggestions please comment or email me.
I want to order them ASAP to have them for a swim meet on August 1st.
Thanks!
In less than two weeks I'm doing something I've never done in my life. I'm going to swim in a Long Course Meters swim meet! When I was a kid I don't recall swimming in any LCM meets. Mostly because I don't think there are too many in age group swimming. Plus it's fucking long! But for insane reason I sent off my entry in today's mail for the Regional Championships for the Southern Pacific US Masters. Oy!
Since I really enjoy the 1500 SCM I decided to swim the 1500 LCM. Hey it's only 30 laps instead of 60. That's half the flip turns and my turns suck. That is the only and only event on the Friday. Then on Saturday I'm entered to swim the 400 LCM and the 200 LCM Butterfly. To finish up the weekend if I decide to make it on Sunday I entered the 800 LCM and the 100 LCM Butterfly. I assume that if you read this blog you know the 1500, 800 and 400 are freestyle events.
My entry times are made up. I basically took my SCM times pre-IGLA so my 2nd fastest times and converted them to LCM. I forgot which website I used to do this as I was rushing to enter this morning before the morning mail pickup as they need to be post marked by tomorrow at midnight. I used my 2nd fastest SCM times then converted them to LCM times and actually rounded up to give pretty flat times such as 19:10.0 for the 1500 for example. I did this just in case I panic in my races as I'm not use to swimming long course.
My goal is to get up bright and early and be at the Culver City pool at 6am tomorrow (Tuesday) and get in a Long Course workout. Than I'll try one more this week. Just to get use to swimming in a long course pool.
I think this will be a fun meet and based on last years 2007 USMS Top 10 Times for my age group I should be able to get at least one for LCM if not more. Yes, I'm doing it all for the glory!
In the musical Avenue Q one of the characters sings a number called "Yes I have a girlfriend, who lives in Canada!!". In other news...
The Herald Sun:
SUPERFISH Ian Thorpe has put paid to whispers about his sexuality by revealing that his new love is a girl.
Thorpe admits he is seeing a girl believed to live near him in Los Angeles.
This morning the alarm on my iPhone when off on time at 5am. After hitting snooze twice I really wanted to stay in bed as I had a rough sleep last night. First I had a hard time falling asleep then I tossed and turned all night. For some reason Sunday has always been a tough night for sleeping for me. Luckily some guy was yelling to his girlfriend around 5:10 so that drove me out of bed. First I heard her walk down the alley between out building and the building next door then I head her use the sliding door. Then I heard the guy yelling "Ursula" over and over.
I biked to swim nice and slow. Once at practice it took me a bit to actually start swimming. It was pretty chilly this morning! I warmed up about a 300.
Warm Up Set:
2x
100 Free Kick
50 Free Drill
50 Free Swim
450 Pull. First 200 breathing every 3/5/any/7 by 50 then the rest just DPS (distance per stroke)
Main Free Set:
3x225's Free on 3:00
3x125's Free on 2:00
3x75's Free on 1:15
Stroke Warm Up:
300 IM 25 kick / 25 dril / 25 swim
Main Stroke Set:
3x125's did these backstroke
3x75's on 1:15 I did these fly
Then I warmed down a 150. Oy! I was a bit sore and tired from yesterday. At least I have today to recover.
When it comes to my Wii one of the games that get the most play is Sonic and Mario at the Olympic Games. I like the quick play and well almost everything but the swimming. I so frustrated with the swimming. I come in 8th more times than I would like. It's cute but not realistic. The game is by Sonic and for Wii and here is LINK to the official site.
Now the Wii is fun and all but the graphics are not the best. The Xbox 360 and PS3 iare a whole different ballgame and Sega has done a fine job with the game "Beijing 2008: The Official Video Game Of The Olympic Games". IGN the video game website has a few screen grabs of the swimming which are below. I haven't played this game so I don't know if the play action is any good but the graphics look incredible. I wonder if Phelps has this on his Xbox?
After weight training and spin class this morning it was time to go swimming. Warmed up around a 300 mixed free and backstroke.
Then we did a warm up set:
150 Free on 2:15
100 Drill on 1:30 Free
3x50's Kick on 60 Free
150 Choice on 2:15 did backstroke
100 Drill on 1:30 did backstroke
3x50's Kick on 60 did backstroke
took a quick pee break and did a 50 fly
100 Drill fly
3x50's Kick on 60 did them butterfly
Main Set:
400 Free Pull on 5:10
4x100's Choice on 1:30. 4th one fast. Did them all backstroke
300 Free Pull (we messed up the interval but it was a 1:15 base)
3x100's Choice on 1:30. 3rd one fast. Did them all backstroke.
200 Free Pul (we messed up the interval but it was suppose to be on 2:30)
2x100's Choice on 1:30. 2nd one fast. Did them both butterfly.
100 Free Pull on 1:15
1x100 FAST. Did this one butterfly.
Final Set:
75 on 1:15 50 fly / 25 back
25 Sprint on 30. Did this fly
75 on 1:15 50 back / 25 breast
25 Sprint on 30. Did this back.
75 on 1:15. well i did it 50 back / 25 free
25 Sprint on 30. Did this fly
75 on 1:15 50 Free / 25 fly
25 Sprint. Did this fly.
And that is it. Now it's time to watch movies on the couch.
I don't remember who it was and I'm sure a quick google search would turn up the answer but I remember reading about a MLB player who burned himself extensively while trying to iron either pants or a shirt while
he was wearing them. It's one of those stories which may be an urban legend but has stuck in my head and makes me so careful around an iron. Well when I iron which is usually when I'm in a hotel and need to iron as when I'm home everything goes to the dry cleaner. I never thought I'd hear a dumber jock story than that till today as it seems another MLB has taken the cake in dumb jock stories.
It seems baseballer Daric Barton on his All Star break was fooling around at a friends house in Orange County when he dived into a shallow pool. Barton must have whacked the bottom pretty hard as he ended up needing six staples in his head and had to miss a game with a stiff neck. The SF Gate quotes Barton as saying "a stupid mistake," and added, "I've got to take full responsibility for it and deal with the consequences." The online article goes on to report that "Barton's staples are clearly visible at the top of his head. He was told that he will be left with a sizable scar and that the hair around the scar will not grow back. He still plans to keep his buzz cut, though."
Jumping into a pool without looking is pretty lame. I do feel Barton's pain about having a scar on his head. Back when I was 2 in 1972 my parents had a Ford Grand Torino that was filled with chrome all over the interior of the car including on the back of the front seats. On the way to see Santa Claus at the Midland Mall in Warwick, RI my mother stopped quickly. I banged my head against the front seat splitting my head open. Since I was 2 and so wanted to see Santa I bit my upper lip and covered my bleeding head with a hat. Once at the mall my mother wanted me to take my hat off so she could comb my hair. I refused saying I wanted to wear my hat. Somehow she eventually got my hat off only to find my hair sticking straight up in the hair encrusted with dry blood. To this day I have a scar on my head and when I have shaved my head the scar is very obvious. Of course I have that fun story to tell when asked about the scar Barton's story isn't going to be as cute to tell.
Back in 2005 NY Magazine had a competition for readers to "Create A Gym". The magazine's website didn't have much detail on rules but the lead paragraph stated:
At the end (or beginning) of a long workday, the gym—crowded and fluorescent—is often the last place anyone’s aching to go. Hence this challenge: to create a new one. Ideas ranged from the gimmicky—a “Star Gym,” with rooms where members strive to attain J.Lo’s butt and Madonna’s arms—to the romantically gimmicky: a “Pecs and the City” gym for singles. Most entrants, however, concentrated on alleviating New Yorkers’ time burdens: a gym that’s also a laundromat, and one where workouts double as therapy sessions. Gym impresario David Barton chose these three as winners.
The article featured 3 winning designs. The winning gym was the Tra(in) Station which combined the gym into a train car. Perfect way to commute home. The coolest one in my opinion is The River Gym.
The Idea:
This floating gym is “a machine of human propulsion that helps purify water, provides spectacular views, and transports less-motivated citizens.” It’s powered by the human exertion from cardio machines.
Last night I went to The Justice Ball and saw The Psychedelic Furs in concert. I took a bunch of pictures and will upload them later. I tried doing a post using the new Typepad iPhone application during the concert but it didn't work. I'll figure that out later. Afterwards it was home and early to bed. My goal was to wake up this morning and be at the gym by 8:15 so I could lift then do the 9:15 spin class. After hitting snooze a few times I was on my way and on time.
After my quick run to the gym I did my usual circuit weight plan. I posted it months and months ago so I'll be reposting it again once I look it over and re-edit it. Then after doing weights I went over to my saved bike and started to warm up before class. I learned the hard way that on weekends you need to save a bike way in advance to the class so when I got to the gym an hour before class I place my water bottle on a bike. The instructor started class a bit later so I had a very long warm up but she did a full one hour class so it went over in time.
This was my first spin class in months and boy did she kick my ass. I forgot how much I actually enjoy going to spin class. I really need to go more often. After an hour of ass kicking it was time for a light jog back home.
Now I have a few hours to eat a good lunch and recover before swim at 3:15. This week I need to sorta play with my swim practice routine. I want to do at least two long course swims as I am going to long course regionals August 1st and 2nd. Right now my team isn't swimming at any long course pools so I may head over to Culver for a few lap swims in the morning. Just need to decide which mornings!
Need that extra something to get you to workout in the morning? Check out this novelty alarm clock that forces you to actually workout. The Shape Up! basically is an alarm clock that is a dumbbell. When the alarm goes off in the morning it wont shut off till after you done a set of 30 reps.
Available HERE
Story via OhGizmo!
Israel swimmer Max Jaben has tested positive for anabolic steroid boldenone. Jaban has denies any steroid use as they all do even when they test positive. Jaban was slated to swim in the 200 meter freestyle . He is the second Israeli Olympic athlete to fail a drug test. According to CNN/SI sailor Udi Gal tested positive for a masking drug to cover a substance that is found in the anti-hair loss drug Propeciar. You can read the full story HERE.
Competitor Magazine's July edition is out and it's covering Open Water Swimming. Check it out online HERE or at your local gym/bike/athletic store.
Ready to show some style while watching the summer Olympics next month? Well the US Olympic Shop is selling the official US Olympic wear online HERE. The Ralph Lauren stuff isn't so bad but does remind me back to my high school days of being a preppy.
Great promo for the 2008 Olympics. They are comparing the athletes of the games to greek gods. For some reason they called the swimmer "Aquatic Woman". Just thought that was an odd choice. Now according to Greek mythology Poseidon had several children and from my quick wiki search it seems like he only has one aquatic child a male Triton the merman. Also according to wiki the term triton can be used by either males or females to describe marine divinities. So Aquatic Woman? Where did that come from?
Anyways, the video is cool.
via gaysportsblog
Not that I'm alleging anything but to add more fuel to the fire:
The latest trend among athletes who defy expectations--including 41-year-old swimmer Dara Torres--is to request a drug test to deflect suspicion of an artificially enhanced performance.
Those athletes should be careful what they ask for
Simon Vroemen, a 39-year-old steeplechaser from the Netherlands, ran the third-fastest time in the world this year last month in Germany. After realizing that there might be questions, he then asked to be drug tested.
The test revealed a steroid. Vroemen confirmed this week on his website that the B sample also came back positive.
He has a hearing scheduled Monday before Dutch Olympic and track and field officials and could be removed from the Olympic team..
- LATIMES
About a year ago other swimmers on my team started to wear hand paddles. One by one various swimmers in the fast lane started to bring paddles to workout. Once everyone in the fast lanes got them an arms race of who has the biggest paddles started to happen. In time some swimmers had paddles that looked more like wings. I had an old pair of the square paddles kicking around so I eventually broke down and started to bring them to workout. At first they just sat on deck as I remembered hating paddles in age group swimming. I slowly integrated them into my workout. Now some of our coaches have paddles and non-paddle sets in our workouts. Pretty much only the fast lanes use them.
Recently some swimmers have started to bring zoomers to workout. Actually two or three swimmers have a bag full of swim tools. Sometimes it looks like a Finis Swim catalog had exploded on deck with all the shit people are bringing. I figured since I have already crossed the line and have paddles I too am about to join the equipment crew. I've been debating on buying Zoomers for about a month. If you read my blog you know I pretty much take a pee break during the kick sets at each and every workout. So why would I want zoomers? Well I think I'd stay in and do the sets if it meant taking zoomers on and off. I'd just take my pee breaks at a rest period during workouts.
The debate on to fin or not to fin has come to a close with a sale. Swimming World's website has a
promo that when you buy Zoomer's or other select Finis products you not only get a sale price or "special" price but you also get a FREE pair of Finis Shockwave Goggles. Since I need new goggles I'm going to order the zoomer's and get my free goggles. Oy! I hate spending money but if it will help me swim better. You too can get in on this deal by clicking HERE. I just need to read up on which kind I should get the stiff or flexible.
DISCLAIMER: This sale is active as of today Friday, July 18th and may no longer be active if you click after this date. the17thman has not been paid or received any goods, services of anything else in exchange for this post. I just felt like passing it on. Of course is anyone wants to change that and send me something feel free to email me. NOTE: If any of these links aren't working let me know in the comment section as Typepad as been buggy with adding links today.
UPDATE: They can be found even CHEAPER online at swimoutlet.com.
When it comes to swimming size really does matter. It’s not what one stuffs in his speedo but his arms, feet and body size that matters. Two cases that prove size matters in swimming are Michael Phelps with his size 14 feet and Matt Grevers who is 6’8
If you watched any of the US Olympic Trials the other week you may have noticed that at every turn Phelps does dolphin kick off the wall propelling him ahead of everyone else before he even breaks the surface of the water. His trick? His size 14 feet act like two big fins making his kick one of the most powerful swimmers under water. Phelps swim under water like one giant merman.
Matt Grevers who finished second in the 100 Backstroke in the US Olympic Trials in an upset against swimmer Ryan Lochte admits that being 6’8” was to his advantage. Grevers is quoted in the NY Times as saying “I like touching people out and laughing about how their head might be ahead of mine and my arms still get them”.
Of course you don’t have to be tall to swim fast if you have good technique and practice, practice, practice. But like they say the bigger the feet the bigger the…
Check out Terry Laughlin's book excerpt online on "How To Swim Taller" HERE
Swimming this morning was a bit harder than it should have been. Of course I started off the wrong foot with some negative attitude right from the warm up. Even after taking Wednesday off from swimming my arms are a bit sore from my weight training. I had planned on adding one more day to my two days a week weight training routine but I may hold off. I took the warm up a bit easy just swimming about a 350 mixed freestyle and backstroke.
After our "on your own" warm up it was time for the warm up set. I wasn't ready for that. The set was a 200 swim on 2:45 then 4x50's kick on 55. Then a 200 swim on 2:45 folowed by 4x50's drill on 45. Then another 200 swim on 2:45 followed by 4x50's swim on 40. Our coach said to mix in some stroke with our free as the workout would have both. Well I started my first 200 backstroke barely making the interval. Like I said I wasn't ready for the set. I missed 2x50's kick to take a pee break as I usually do during the kick portion of a workout. Then my 2nd 200 I did it 175 back with a 25 fly. The interval was still too quick. After the that I moved over to a slower lane for the rest of the set. I continued doing stroke. It turns out that the 200 should have been free and that was why I was having a hard time with the warm up interval. I moved back to the fast lane for the rest of the workout.
Main Set:
150 Free on 2:00
100 Stroke or IM on 1:30
4x50's Free Fast on ??
take extra rest but no more than 20 seconds
150 Free on 2:00
4x100's Stroke or IM fast on 1:45. The 1st 100 I did all back. The 2nd 100 I did fly/back/back/fly. The 3rd one 75 fly / 25 back. The 4th one all fly. We had the wall lane so I was did the pattern to do fly away from the wall.
50 Free Easy on ??
take extra rest but no more than 20 seconds
4x150's Fast Free on 1:50
100 Easy on 1:30 Did backstroke
50 Easy Free no interval
Pulling:
200 Pull Breathing every 3/5/3/7 by 50
6x75's. 1st/4th first lap NO BREATHING, 2nd/5th middle lap NO BREATHING and 3rd/6th last lap NO BREATHING. OY! During the no breathing 25's I took one breath in all of them but one which I was able to do no breathing. I only used paddles for 2 of the 75's one of which was the one I was able to make without breathing. Pulling with paddles is easier but with our narrow lanes and being in the wall lane I didn't want to kill my lane mates.
And that was it. Over and done with. Another week of swimming is over with. I want to hit a gym spin class either later today or tomorrow but we will see. I haven't been to a spin class in months. I figure I'm riding on the streets more running errands but that really isn't the same thing as a spin class.
I don't even know who Royston is but if the tabloids are taking photos of him I guess he is famous?
More on Buzz Foto
I snapped this photo with my iphone it is Rockband 2.
I just got home from the Joystiq E3 After Party held at the Mahalo.com offices in beautiful Santa Monica. In case you didn't know E3 is a once a year event when software developers show off for the press all the new games that are coming out in the next few months. It's not open to the public and all those fanboys out there so Joystiq throws an annual part to the public. This year I decided to head down and check it out.
I need to state that I am not a gamer. Yes, I have my Wii and play it but to be honest I pick it up every few days not every day and only play for short amounts. I'm a casual gamer and the Wii is made for people like me. Even being a casual gamer I like to keep up with what is new in games and gadgets. So I figured hell it's free and they are giving shit away so I am there. Or so I went there. Once there I walked around and checked out the two gaming rooms. The first one had Rockband 2. It was still early enough that everyone was playing in the small room. I've seen Rockband but never have played it but from what I've seen tonight Rockband 2 is leaps and bounds ahead. Later on they moved Rockband 2 to the main room and had the original Rockband in the other room. In another room they had PS3 with some shooter game and a Wii with Super Smash Brothers. It's a shame the Nintendo didn't supply one of the new games just announced or a game that utilized the WiiFit Balance Board. I gotta admit the hope that I'd get to play with the Balance Board is what made me go in the first place.
Now as I was one of the oldest people there I will say I felt like a parent on Christmas morning. Listening to the "kids" talk about and then watching them play Rockband 2 was incredible. If you have no idea what Rockband is check it out HERE. If you have kids I'm sure you not only know what it is but have it at your house. After seeing it I want it! I'd only play it one the rare occasion I have people over my place but then it would give me an excuse to have a party.
Overall it was a fun night. Oh and I got a free game. Everyone got a free game and some other swag. I picked up "Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law". I have no idea if the game is any good but I like the show on Adult Swim. I passed up on grabbing any swag as I just wanted to go home. I had enough of the crowd. Of course if they did have the balance board I would have never left. Oh and speaking of kids there was this one kid dressed up as Master Chef from Halo. (picture from Joystiq)
Thanks for the free game Joystiq!
Instead of the One Hit Remix or Run Hit Remix or One Hit Wunder this year Nike is having The Human Race 10K. In order to pump up runners various Niketown's around the country will be having training runs. Here is Southern California we will have a few scattered about at various locations. Nike's Inside Running blog has a list of them HERE. In LA we have two training groups:
Not running the Nike+ Human Race 10K in one of the 25 worldwide cities, but still need some training support to run it where you are? We’ve got you covered. Train for the race no matter your location! Find your state below for training locations, days and times, then start pounding the pavement with your local retailer. See you on 8.31.08!
NIKETOWN Los Angeles
Thursdays @ 6:30pm
9560 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90212
310.275.9998
Starbucks
Saturdays @ 7:45am
5301 Centinella Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90045
So for the next month you can run with a pace group so you can be ready for your 10k. Trust me these runs are a lot of fun. It beats running alone or on a boring treadmill! After your second week running you get to know your pace group runners which makes it easier to comeback week after week. And after you have run your Human Race 10K you can keep on coming back for the fun runs.
thanks to MGoSwim
Matthew and Lance workout out again.
Pictures from Pink Is The New Blog
Since I didn't swim or do anything related to working out I have nothing really to post. But in order to take up some space I'm going to talk about Wendy and her blog "Of(f) the deep end". Last week Wendy posted an article about Lane Etiquette entitled "Bits, Bobs and a Swim Bit" in which she tackles questions like "How does one let another person pass in a pool lane?" You can read her post and various commentators HERE.
When I didn't swim at practice this morning I was thinking of going to swim at a lap swim but remember how annoying I get during them. The fast lanes always have someone or more than one person who is a medium lane swimmer at best. We have them in swim practice too but when you are all doing the same thing it's less annoying. Now I've always felt that you wait to you get to the wall for passing. Even when it's only two people per lane unless you are far from the walls let's say in the middle of a long course lap. The reason why you shouldn't swim to the persons left is that he/she may not see you and start moving to the left to do a flip turn. Usually in lap swimming and in practices a swimmer approaching the wall to turn should start moving to the left of the lane at the end of the lap. That way when pushing off you are out of the way for the person behind you. Therefore anyone sitting out MUST stay to the RIGHT of the swimmer as he/she approaches the wall. This is a big pet peeve of mine. I almost did a flip turn on someone in practice the other day. I was swimming backstroke and as I turned over to flip I got a glimpse of someone standing at the wall. He was on his right or my left. Luckily for him I have a bad habit of slowing up and looking up on my turns.
This has led me to try to find acceptable universal swim etiquette rules. Here is what I've found so far:
http://www.cartegic.com/pooletiquette.htm
http://www.mvm.org/workouts-lane-etiquette.php
http://www.usms.org/articles/articledisplay.php?a=138
http://www.active.com/story.cfm?STORY_ID=5729&CHECKSSO=0
I could go on and on with the hundreds of links regarding lane etiquette but those are a nice overview. My favorite is from active.com:
Lesson #3: Don't be a ...
Don't become a "Drag Queen," a derogatory term in swimming circles (non-gender specific), describing someone who drags/drafts off of a slightly faster swimmer by swimming directly behind them and continuously tapping their feet but not offering to take their spot.
Also, while on the subject of swimmer's lingo and hip terminology, avoid being a "Sammy Save-Up" ? the type of swimmer who loafs the first three quarters of an organized workout only to shine for the coaches' approval during the final sprint and timed sets. This type of behavior in my adolescent years resulted in surefire locker-room brawls and Speedo-wedgies that I would hope would not be evident in dignified masters and recreational circles ... but then again, after the things I've seen, it wouldn't surprise me.
Love the drag queen and sammy save up. When swimming on a masters swim team we all know a few of those and most of us have been guilty from time to time ourselves.
I will never complain again about having 6 people per lane again. Well till' next time.
photo from the Daily Mail
