the17thman

Friday's Swim Report - We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better...stronger...faster

Lane 1 - Adelaide Now posts "Magnussen missile's set to launch.  JAMES Magnussen has six months to plot the perfect race before the London Olympic.  Yesterday was exactly six months to the London Olympics and Magnussen marked the milestone by hitting Adelaide's $100m aquatic centre for the start of the SA titles. It's the same pool that will decide Australia's Olympic team with the official trials in March.  This weekend in Adelaide and the NSW titles on February 10 are crucial steps in fine-tuning the power Magnussen hopes propels him to Olympic gold."  9MSN posts "Magnussen dominant in SA State Champs.  World 100m freestyle champion James Magnussen sounded a warning ahead of Olympic swimming trials in March with a dominant win at the South Australian championships on Friday.  Magnussen clocked 48.05 seconds, the quickest time in the world this year, to finish ahead of Matt Abood (49.85) and Eamon Sullivan (50.63) in the 100m final."

Lane 2 - USA Today posts (w/video) "Team is teen Missy Franklin's priority, not prize money.  In six months, the 2012 Summer Olympics open in London. There Missy Franklin, at 16 as precocious in the pool as the teen-aged Michael Phelps was, could be the breakout U.S. star.  Yet last weekend, she was at a high school dual meet — flipping a lap counter during the 500-yard freestyle, helping tend to a fellow swimmer's nosebleed, anchoring the 400-yard freestyle relay, then screaming and hugging her Regis Jesuit High School teammates when they learned they had topped perennial state power Cherry Creek High School."

Lane 3 - Digital Journal posts (w/video) "Shark attack victim Craig Hutto receives faster bionic leg.  Over six years ago while on vacation at Cape Sand Blas, about 50 miles southeast of Panama City, Florida, Craig Hutto, then aged 16, was fishing in waist-deep water about 60 feet from shore with his brother when he was attacked by a bull shark."

Lane 4 - Evening Standard posts "Michael Phelps' winning new formula.  With eight gold medals at the last Olympics, Michael Phelps does not exactly need additional help to beat his rivals. But the American's swimwear provider has learned from other sports, most notably Formula 1, to come up with an innovative system it believes will give Phelps and its other swimmers the edge from the moment they first dive into the pool at London 2012.  Leading that process is Dr Tom Waller, head of Speedo's Aqualab in Nottingham, where the Fastskin3 - as its new combination of cap, goggles and swimsuit, unveiled earlier this month, is known - was created."

Lane 5 - CTV posts "Open Water Swimmers Head for Brazil.  Seven Canadian swimmers will be taking part in the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup this Sunday in Santos, Brazil with hopes of getting closer to an Olympic birth.  Amongst these seven athletes, Victoria's Richard Weinberger is heading into the event with high expectations and the determination to extend his winning streak."

Lane 6 - ESPN posts "London's unemployed strive to get Olympic jobs.  The pay isn't great, the job is temporary and you could be a target for terrorists. But when Mabel Cross heard that she might be able to work at the 2012 Summer Olympics, she rushed to get to a London recruitment center early."

Lane 7 - ABC News posts "Aussie lifesavers helping Vietnam beachgoers.  As thousands of West Australians swarm to the beach this summer, they will be watched over by dedicated surf lifesaving volunteers.  There will be warnings about rips and sandbars and dangerous swimming conditions.  But beyond our shores in a country that's described as having some of the most luxurious beaches in the world, swimmers are not so lucky."

Lane 8 - Inside Japan posts "Plans afloat to create swimming pool in Osaka river.  Plans to turn a 2km stretch of river in Osaka into an international swimming pool have been announced by the Prefecture's governor, Ichiro Matsui."

A Q&A session with Speedo ambassador Ben Titley

Living Room Laps

"Living Room Laps: Stunning Clear-Glass Indoor Swimming Pool" via apartment therapy

Thursday's Swim Report - Showing Beauty and Strength Through Swimming

Lane 1 - The Gainsville Sun posts "Olympic swimmer in town to share message about

swimming safety. Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones has a compelling life-and-death story to tell that should resonate with all parents, among all races.  It's quite a story, and Jones is in Gainesville to share it with the many minority children (and everyone else) who will be in attendance tonight at the Gainesville Sports Commission's 24th Annual Meeting presented by Shands Health Care.  Jones' story comes with a well-defined message: Learn how to swim, it could save your life."

Lane 2 - PR Week posts "Speedo UK seeks brand boost in run-up to London 2012 Olympics.  Speedo UK has shortlisted four agencies as it seeks to strengthen the brand's connection to swimming and watersports in the run-up to the Olympics.  The international swimwear brand, which sponsors British Swimming and Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington, is threatening to end its five-year relationship with specialist sports PR agency Brandnation.  The company is understood to be seeking an agency to help with brand comms, with the aim of strengthening Speedo’s connection with waterspouts."  (spelling error from pr week not mine.  waterspouts, ha!)  Speedo.com posts "Speedo Roadshow Celebrates its 10,000th visitor at John Lewis Fitness Event at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol.  The Speedo Roadshow hits the road again to support John Lewis’s health and fitness event at the The Mall at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol 26th to 29th January. During the fitness event weekend the Speedo Roadshow will welcome its 10,000th visitor on board and to celebrate will offer this lucky individual £100 (or 10,000 pennies) to spend on board the wagon as well as a bottle of champagne."

Lane 3 - Adelaide Now posts "Superfish racing at aquatic centre.  AUSTRALIAN and world

champion swimmers descend on Adelaide this weekend, with the State Long Course Championships at the SA State Aquatic and Leisure Centre today until Sunday.  James Magnussen, the 100m freestyle world champion, will feature alongside his 4x100m team-mates who won gold at the World Championships last July, Eamon Sullivan, Matthew Abood and Matt Targett."

Lane 4 - Bloomberg posts "Power 100: Five Athletes to Watch in 2012.  Ryan Lochte: He’s been swimming in Michael Phelps’s wake for years, but Ryan Lochte is poised for a marketing breakout in 2012, thanks to the London Summer Olympics. Lochte was one of the hottest names at the end of 2011 as sponsors finalized their Olympic brand ambassador lists. His impressive sponsorship portfolio includes Gatorade, Speedo, Gillette, and Ralph Lauren. Having won five gold medals at the 2011 world championships, Lochte took home all major Swimmer of the Year awards. A strong showing in London will result in more gold medals and a spot in next year’s Power 100."

Lane 5 - The Australian posts "New plan to save Ian Thorpe's Olympic Games.  IAN Thorpe has made late changes to his training regime in an effort to find form before the Olympic trials in March, following disappointing performances at the Victorian titles in Melbourne last week."  Meanwhile Yahoo's Fouth-Place Medal posts "Ian Thorpe’s defeatist circular logic about his comeback.  Ian Thorpe is returning to the pool next month in hopes of making an Olympic comeback in London. Except, he's not at all confident about his prospects and already is making excuses for his failure. In a rambling interview with The Telegraph, Thorpe laid out his modest expectations for the comeback, then contradicted himself a few times before restating said modest expectations."

Lane 6 - Marketwatch posts "Olympic Swimmer Natalie Coughlin Showcases Beauty and Strength as the New Pantene Brand Ambassador.  Pantene Puts Beauty on the Podium for the London 2012 Olympic Games.  Pantene makes a splash with an exciting new campaign featuring one of the most decorated female American athletes. Two-time Olympic swimmer and 11-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin has partnered with the brand to showcase Pantene's performance in achieving healthy, moisturized, shiny hair."

Lane 7 - This Is London posts "Rebecca Adlington: Am I going to win gold at the Games?

Well, I've not even qualified yet.  Sleepless nights have not kicked into the psyche of Rebecca Adlington. Her gruelling training regime doesn't allow it, the two-time Olympic champion crashing to sleep the moment her head hits the pillow.  But when she thinks about qualifying for London 2012, her stomach is in knots, a bundle of nerves while her head is awash with the permutations of the unthinkable . . . namely that she won't make it to the startline for her main events in which she is the defending champion, the 400metres and 800m freestyle."

Lane 8 - Charlotte Observer posts "Olympics prep work in Charlotte.  Michael Phelps at UltraSwim in May; group of pentathletes coming for three days in March."

Push, Pull, Push, Pull. Pushing Past My Mind.

Oh yeah.  That hurt so good.  As Jillian Michaels once said "Unless You Puke, Faint or Die, Keep Going!"  This was one of those swim practices that I had to get beyond my head and just do it.  Enough of the slogans…

The Workout:
500 Loosen.  Oh well I did a 550 since I messed up how much I wanted to pull.  So a 550 followed by a 200 kick with fins.

3x100's on 1:40 Swim/Kick/Pull/Build by 25 (300/1050)

1x800 Good Pace - Even Split.  Well I tried.  My first 100 I was still working out the kinks and aches.  Was a 1:25.  But picked it up for a 200 but fell back for the 4th 100.  Then I picked it up.  I came in at about 10:30 which is 10 seconds faster then the 1:20 pace I was shooting for.  So that was llke a 1:18:45 pace or average.

4x100's on 1:30 descending.  Shit.  No I can't remember what I did.  Umm…I think it was 14, 13, 12 and 10.  Or something close to that.

1 minute rest
4x100's Pace on 1:45 holding the time of the last 100 which for me was 1:10 if I recall.  I did the first one on 1:10 then 1:07, 1:07 and 1:08. 

1 minute rest
4x100's on 2 Minute.  Pace/Fast/Pace/Fast so 1:20's for my two pace.  I forget my first fast one but my last fast one was like a 1:05.  I was shooting for a 1:01 but meh.  I really had to dig deep for the last 4.  I was the only person in the pool and no coach around.  So I had to push myself on the honor system.   Never been really good with that.  Mind over matter and matter usually wins.

2,000 main set plus 50 easy makes it 3100 yard workout.  Not bad for a Thursday.  Oh and I gotta admit I'm hurting.  My lats were burning during those 100's.  Really had to dig deep, think about my stroke and push through it.  Good swim!

Wednesday's Swim Report - Flailing Towards Glory

Lane 1 - Active.com posts "Why You Should Embrace Your Slow Swim Times.  During a recent Masters meet at Ithaca College, I swam the slowest 1000-yard freestyle of my life. And it may have been as valuable a gift as any I’ve received from 45 years of competitive swimming. You see, it provided a new perspective that could lead to limitless enjoyment in swimming—and competing—over the next 30 or more years, should I have the good fortune to swim that long."

Lane 2 - The Guardian posts "50 stunning Olympic moments No11: Eric Moussambani flails way to glory.  The Equatorial Guinea swimmer had never dipped a toe in an Olympic pool but left a hero despite a hapless performance."

Lane 3 - The West posts "Olympic hopeful Evans to test the water.  Commonwealth Games gold medallist Blair Evans travels to Adelaide today to familiarise herself with the new swimming venue that holds the key to her Olympic dreams.  The 20-year-old Perth swimmer has never competed at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, which was completed last year and will host the 2012 Australian championships from March 15-22.  The event will double as the Olympic trials for London and Evans hopes her experience in competing at the SA State championships starting on Friday, will hold her in good stead."

Lane 4 - Fox 13 posts "Swim coach rose above racism.  FOX 13 celebrates Black Heritage by saluting a community leader who has a tremendous impact on kids. Ed Kirk found his passion as a young boy and is now turning out young champions in Brandon. Ed's accomplishments are What's Right with Tampa Bay."

Lane 5 - Adelaide Now posts "ADELAIDE is this weekend the undisputed sporting capital of Australia.  The nation's best swimmers, track cyclists and athletics stars are all starting their charge to the London Olympics in the City of Churches.  Adelaide will host 100m freestyle world champion James Magnussen, 100m hurdles world champion Sally Pearson and triple cycling world champion Anna Meares, all headlining star-studded fields.Cycling champions descend on Adelaide."

Lane 6 - The Sydney Morning Herald posts "'Shark' footage has ironwoman spooked.  Just 10km north of where a man was attacked by a shark at Newcastle last week, alarming footage has emerged of what looks to be a large marine animal breaching from the water at Newcastle Beach."

Lane 7 - PR.com posts "It’s Not Just Kids That Drown in Pools… Watch Your Dogs Too!  A warning and reminder to homeowners – swimming pools are dangerous for pets as well as kids – from leading homeowner advocacy group HomeSource."

Lane 8 - Yahoo posts "Maughan leaves aside Olympic hype.  Amelia Maughan has vowed not to get caught up in the Olympic hype this year and insists she is targeting the European Junior Championships in 2012 – and a first individual medal to boot."

Q&A session with Speedo ambassador Liam Tancock

Tuesday's Swim Report - Swimming Is Good For Us Old Folks!

Lane 1 - Manly Daily of Australia posts "Breaking world records at 75.  THE only thing you usually break at 75 is a hip, but Manly Masters Swimming Club member Tony Goodwin is all about breaking world records.  In the first masters meet for 2012 last Saturday at Gosford, he set the new standard for 200m breaststroke entrants in the 75-79 years age group.  “It’s not my first one (world record), but I was pretty chuffed,” Goodwin said.  The veteran also set world marks in the 100m and 200m breaststroke in 2008."

Lane 2 - Chicago Tribune posts "Swimming lowers older adults' blood pressure.  Many older adults like to take a dip a pool, and now a small study suggests it can be good for their blood pressure.  Researchers found that among 43 older men and women, those who started swimming a few times a week lowered their systolic blood pressure -- the "top" number in a blood pressure reading.  On average, the swimmers started the study with a systolic blood pressure of 131 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Three months later, it was 122 mm Hg..  Published in the American Journal of Cardiology, the research appears to be the first to demonstrate that swimming can improve older adults' blood vessel function and curb their blood pressure.  The researchers randomly assigned them to either have supervised swimming sessions or learn relaxation exercises. Over 12 weeks, the swimmers got in the pool three or four times a week, gradually working their way up to 45 minutes of swimming at a time.  By the end of the study, the swimmers had shaved an average of nine points from their systolic blood pressure. In contrast, that number did not budge in the relaxation group."

Lane 3 - The Herald posts "Killey seeing stars: No time to party after sinking Thorpedo.  EVEN after slaying the giant of Australian swimming, there is no time for Jarrod Killey to let his hair down and celebrate.  Not even for his 21st birthday.  Merewether-raised Killey, who will return home in two weeks for a low-key birthday lunch with friends and family, clocked a personal-best time of one minute, 48.28seconds to defeat Ian Thorpe by 2.51seconds and win the 200-metres freestyle at the Victorian titles this month.  Not bad for the defending 1500m Australian champion up against the former 200m Olympic and world champion and world record-holder."

Lane 4 - Aquatics International posts "USLA Seeks Input on Open-Water Guideline Revamp.  In the wake of the 2010 death of swimmer Fran Crippen, the United States Lifesaving Association is looking to update its guidelines on open water swimming event safety.  The nonprofit, professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers has issued a call for comments and will review the issue at its April Board of Directors meeting."

Lane 5 - WALB10 posts "Alcatraz escapees remembered by family members.  A Lee County woman and her family will travel to the Alcatraz Prison National Park this summer, for the 50th anniversary of the only prisoner escape from the Rock-- the inescapable prison.  Her brothers are two of the three men credited with that escape, and she will go there to celebrate.  Marie Anglin Widner has a display by her door, showing her love for two of her brothers.  Colquitt, GA natives Clarence and John Anglin escaped from Alcatraz Prison in the San Francisco Bay, along with Frank Morris on June 11, 1962. They're the only men to escape the Rock.  Some said they drowned in the escape attempt, but Marie knows they made it and are still alive. "We know they are OK," Widner said."

Lane 6 - Detroit Free Press posts "Allison Schmitt's decision to train full time was stroke of genius.  When Schmitt left the University of Georgia last summer to commit to training full-time for the 2012 London Olympics, she suffered the usual pangs of missing her friends -- especially teammates on the Bulldogs' women's swimming team.  Schmitt, who graduated in 2008 from Canton High, had just come off a superb junior season, including winning her third straight NCAA title in the 500-yard freestyle. She also captured the NCAA title in the 200-yard free for the second year in a row.  But with London looming, Schmitt, 21, knew her drive to make her second Olympic team would be difficult to accomplish as a full-time student. Hence her decision last year to relocate to Baltimore to be guided by Bob Bowman -- the longtime coach of 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps -- at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club."

Lane 7 - The Telegraph posts "London 2012 Olympics: Team GB's home advantage is at risk of being frittered away through bureaucracy.  British athletes are being sold short. Here they are on the cusp of the London 2012 Olympics and some of the lead-up advantages of a home Games have become high hurdles.  Burdened by political correctness with a curtsy to British formality, the thousand or so athletes currently training for one of the 560 Team GB spots are finding the qualifying path isn’t always smooth."

Lane 8 - Austin360.com posts "Deep Eddy Pool getting a new bottom, decking and expanded beach entry.  Tractors are rumbling through the oldest concrete swimming pool in Texas, and machines are slicing its cement bottom into 4-foot chunks and lifting them out like square slices of cake.  But swimmers who peer over the fence at what now looks like a muddy strip mine shouldn't be too alarmed. City officials say they'll be leaping into a spruced-up, water-tight Deep Eddy Pool come March.  Designers consulted old photographs of the swimming hole, which features a deep end for lane swimming and a large shallow section for waders and children, before planning the improvements. They wanted to retain the historical integrity of the nearly 100-year-old pool while improving its circulation and making it more user-friendly."

Ted Talks - Diana Nyad: Extreme swimming with the world's most dangerous jellyfish

A Little Bit Of IM In The Morning...

Busy morning.  Heading out in a bit to head to the gym but before I do my morning swim workout…

250 Swim / 200 Pull / 200 Kick (650)

Wish I had mixed it up with some stroke…

6x175's on 3 minutes (50 Fly/Back/Breast and 25 Free) (800/1450) (1050/1700)

4x75's Free Pull breathing every 3 (300/1750) m(300/2000)

And that's it.  Now on to spinning at 9:30 and 10:45.

Alcatraz Escape News Reel - The Great Angeln Brothers Open Water Swim! #alcatraz

Monday's Swim Report - Going Beyond the Pool and Back Into the Pool

Lane 1 - Examiner posts "Olympic gold medalist, Jason Lezak, inspires Las Vegas swim team.  At a time when the world is preparing for another summer Olympic games, Clark County Sandpipers of Nevada swim team got a taste of Olympic glory from seven-time Olympic champion Jason Lezak. Lezak spoke at the team’s awards banquet on January 21, 2012 at Sun Coast Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas."

Lane 2 - Stanford Athletics posts "19 Hours : Stanford Women's Swimming Beyond the Pool" via youtube.

Lane 3 - My Central Jersey posts "Car plows through wall at Somerset Valley YMCA pool, scaring swimmers.  Somerville police: Driver, 79, unhurt; said gas pedal got stuck."

Lane 4 - Bakersfield.com posts "From rec pool to Athens, Woodward made splash. There are plenty of reasons for Gabe Woodward to abandon another Olympic swimming dream.  Woodward won a bronze medal in the 2004 Athens Games. But now there are other priorities: He's got a wife and four children, plus a fulltime job as a financial advisor with Wells Fargo.  But in the back of his mind, the Olympics dream remains."

Lane 5 - CBS Denver posts (w/video) "Colorado’s Missy Franklin Guns For Spot On The U.S. Olympic Team. egis Jesuit and Cherry Creek high schools met for a swim meet showdown Friday morning and one of the swimmers stood head and shoulders above the rest.  Regis junior Missy Franklin is gunning for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 2012 London Olympics."

Lane 6 - YNN posts (w/video) "Armstrong hits pool for Longhorn Aquatics event. Longhorn Aquatics was hosting its New Year's Classic, and Lance Armstrong decided to drop on by and hop in the pool.  The seven-time Tour de France champ swam in one of the 500 free heats, and going up against kids more than half his age, he looked much slower than he did all those years on a bike.  Armstrong finished seventh-of-eight in his heat, clocking a time of 5:08:11."

Lane 7 - The Age posts "Swim duty a welcome distraction.  Swimmer Matt Targett and and race steward Terry Bailey with the youngsters from the swimming club.  TO THE sporting public at large, the sight of Victoria's most senior racing steward and one of Australia's gifted Olympic swimmers leaning shoulder to shoulder at the edge of the Doncaster-Templestowe pool shouting encouragement to a group of youngsters was worth a second look."

Lane 8 - Sail World posts (w/video) "Not shark 'attack', it's an 'accident' + Video.  The concept of the 'rogue' shark, seeking revenge on its human nemesis is nothing more than Hollywood fodder, say experts, including Christopher Neff, a researcher at the University of Sydney carrying out the world's first PhD on the politics of 'shark bite incidents'."

Ultimate Water Challenge: PINK vs CLEAR

I was the first on deck but the last one to actually start swimming this morning as I was adjusting my new goggles.  Now I bought two different yet the same pairs of goggles at SwimOutlet.com so you'd figure they'd fit the same.  I got -
Sporti Antifog Swedish Goggles - Clear
Sporti Antifog Swedish Premium Goggles - Pink

They seem the same but on closer inspection the Pink or Premium Swedes feature a "Silicone eye gaskets."  So they seem to be nicer around the eyes.  I still gotta play around with them but the Pink do fit better.  Anyways, playing with them this morning took up some of my warm up time so I missed a junk of the warm up.

 

Warm Up

 

350 Swim / 200 Kick

Main Set:

5x100's on 1:40 - 50 Catch Up / 50 Build

2x500's on 7:30.  2nd one faster

5x100's on 1:30 Descend.

With no extra rest in between each section.  So a 2,000 yard main set.  Now my first 5x100's I was easily coming in the low 1:20's.  My first 500 I was coming in under 1:20's I forgot exactly what my time was in but I remember saying to my mate that we had one minute rest so I was under 6:30.  Grrr....for my 2nd one I was faster but I so can't remember what it was, when I landed on the clock to figure out the math but I was faster.  I know I was.  I know I started at like a 1:10 was below a 1:15 for the splits.    I wanna say I was like a 5:56 it my memory is right.  I know I was under the 6 minute mark. Which makes sense.  Then the last 5x100's were not descended.  But I was consistent coming in at 1:09 then all 1:10's. 

And that was it.  End of the swim.  2,550 yards in less then 45 minutes.  May have been 40 minutes but let's say 45.  I should have warmed down but really had to pee so once I got out I was out. 

The rest of the week is sorta up in the air.  I gotta work early Wednesday so most likely no swimming.  I should be able to swim tomorrow but they are working on the pool's heater today so who knows if it'll be open tomorrow or how cold or hot it'll be.  Thursday and Friday are clear for swimming.   That is if folks are swimming at the pool closer to me as the last two Fridays they've been swimming at another pool and I've slept in.  Then on Saturday we or they are having a Relay Carnival that I'll be swimming a few 50's in.  So got a bit of swimming to do this week.

Hopefully I'll get in some good yardage this week to boost up my Go The Distance.  I'm ahead of my revised down goal for 2012!

British Swimming History 2012

Sunday's Swim Report - From The Swim Lane To The Wine Vine

Lane 1 - The Independent Florida Gator posts "Florida swimming and diving defeats Auburn on Senior Day.  For Florida's swimming and diving teams, Saturday's meet with Auburn was special.  Not only did the Gators pick up a win against a Southeastern Conference opponent, but the team also held its annual Senior Day. The swimming and diving program honorably recognized its seniors with introductions before the contest took place.  Fans packed the seats and energy was high in the O'Connell Center Natatorium for the senior sendoff."

Lane 2 - The New York Times posts "Photographing the Pool, as California Icon.  What is the most enduring symbol of the Southern California lifestyle? Daniell Cornell, senior curator at the Palm Springs Art Museum, believes it’s the swimming pool.  “Backyard Oasis: The Swimming Pool in Southern California Photography, 1945-1982,” opening at the museum on Saturday, examines how pools became what Mr. Cornell calls the “suburban ideal” for postwar Americans, a design element that allowed for “nature and culture to come together in the modern house.”

Lane 3 - New Zealand Herald drinks it in with "Your Business: Swim-school owner follows dream to set up vineyard.  Ross Millar, owner of the Ross Millar Swim School, is planning to do just that with his new family business, Millars Vineyard at Mangawhai.  That may seem like a bit of stretch, but Millar grew up in West Auckland with vineyards all around."

Lane 4 - Metro posts "Keri-Anne Payne: Wedding planning takes my mind off Olympic pressure.  Swimmer Keri-Anne Payne has no time to get nervous about this summer's Olympic Games because she is so busy finalising her wedding plans."

Lane 5 - The Atlantic posts "The Bravery of Iran's Female Athletes.  What women like Faezeh Hashemi face in Iran and why their struggle matters.  In many ways, she is the godmother of women's sports in the Islamic Republic. An athlete herself, in the early 1990s she championed the right of women to have access to sports facilities and competition as the head of the Islamic Women's Sports Federation. In that role, she increased access for women to swimming pools and tennis courts and golf driving ranges. She established bike paths for women in Tehran's parks, despite that fact that conservatives are particularly bothered by the idea of women riding bicycles. She also paved the way for women to participate in international competition at the highest levels."

Lane 6 - Philly.com posts "Swimming with the homely, come-hither manatee.  From my vantage point, here in Crystal River, Fla., it's hard to see how Christopher Columbus - no matter how long he had been at sea - could possibly have mistaken a manatee for a mermaid, even if he did describe them in his journal in January of 1493 as being "not half as beautiful as they are painted to be."  And my vantage point is pretty conclusive: only six inches away from the wrinkly, puffy gray face of a decidedly Rubenesque, half-ton adult, her (or is it his?) heavily whiskered jowls drooping in what can hardly be described as a "come hither" look. Only the large fan-shaped tail at the end of her 10-foot body is even vaguely reminiscent of the legendary sirens of the sea."

Lane 7 - The Telegraph posts "London 2012 Olympics: Britain's athletes strike gold before the games begin.  Britain's elite athletes will earn up to ten times more in endorsements than during previous Olympic years thanks to their increasingly high profile in the run up to London 2012. Even a relative unknown Jenna Randall, a synchronised swimmer, has been successful in accruing endorsements Braun Female and Kellogg's, as well as a charity calendar shoot for Nichole de Carle London, the luxury lingerie brand, all on the strength of her potential this year."

Lane 8 - Mail Online posts "Ready for your close up? Diver survives tiger shark attack by fending off 12ft-beast with camera.  This is the terrifying moment a daring diver looked into the jaws of one of the world's most dangerous animals.  Forced to fend-off the tiger shark with just his camera the adventurer came perilously close to the wrong kind of snap.  Conservationalist Russell Easton was photographing the 12ft beast in the Bahamas when he got the close-up he was not expecting."

I See Everything In Pink! Pink Goggles That Is!

Sunday!  It's my morning for a nice long swim.  And this morning I got to try my new goggles. 

The Workout:

Warm Up
200 Swim / 100 Pull w/o Paddles / 200 Pull w/ Paddles
3x100's Kick on 2 minutes. (800)

6x50's Kick (300/1100)

3x200's Pulling with paddles on 3 minutes.  I alternated breathing every 3 and 5 by 50.  (600/1700)

6x50's Pulling w/o paddles (300/2000)

Then the other swimmers started to show up and I did about a 200 mixed kick and a 100 swim till everyone was ready to start together.  (300/2300)

3x100's Kick on 2 minutes.  I was flying on these with butterfly kick doing 1:35's.  Which is fast for me.  (300/2600)

3x200's Backstroke on 3:20.  I descended these and ended up at a 2:32.  I think.  It's a fuzzy.  I so need one of those swim watches to keep track of this shit.  (600/3200)

4x100's Breaststroke on some interval.  I actually felt okay with these and did a descend.  I think I ended up with like a 1:37 which is again fast for me.  (400/3600)

10x50's Butterfly on 55.  OY!  I was pretty much coming in between 35 and 40.  (500/4100)

And that was it.  I was beat and sooo hungry!  A banana on Sunday morning just doesn't cut it.  I felt okay during the last butterfly part except I had a damn Avril Lavigne or however you spell her name song stuck in my head.  That almost killed me!

 

Historical Olympic Swimming

Vintage swimming footage from the Japan 1933, Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960 and Munich 1972 Olympics

Smuggler's Back (Music Video)

It's official - Smugglers are back. There's even a music video clip to prove it. Courtesy of http://www.budgysmuggler.com.au

Super Eating Action Shark

via engrishfunny.com

Saturday's Swim Report - Going and Going and Going The Distance

Lane 1 - NINE posts "Magnussen's the man but needs support.  Just as well sprint swimming sensation James Magnussen has broad shoulders.  Because the 100m freestyle world champion is set to carry a huge weight of expectation as Australia's only genuine individual gold medal favourite heading to the pool at the London Olympics.  But beyond that, the Dolphins are banking on swag of athletes being ready to take "the next step" by turning a rush of silver at last year's world championships into gold.  Plenty is as stake, with Australia facing the prospect of their lowest swimming gold medal haul at an Olympics since taking two at Atlanta 1996 - and doing so in the backyard of their fiercest rivals."

Lane 2 - Rockford Register Star posts "60-year-old Rockford swimmer logs more than 500 miles in 2011.  Nancy Blomquist finished sixth in the U.S. in 2011 with over 516 miles.  Blomquist, 60, was sixth in the nation in mileage for her age group in 2011 according to the United States Masters Swimming Association. She finished the year with 516.5 miles — a number that was intimidating and seemed unreachable four years ago."

Lane 3 - Webwire posts "’Swim for Your Heart Feb 14’ to Raise Awareness and Funds for Heart Health.  Crissy Ahmann-Perham has joined "Swim for Your Heart Feb 14" as southern Arizona’s celebrity spokesperson. The Olympic swim champion encourages people of all ages to swim for your heart on February 14 to raise awareness and funds for heart health.  “Swim for Your Heart Feb 14” was initiated in 2011 by members of the international swimming community after losing one of their own, USA Open Water swim champion Fran Crippen, to what was believed to be a cardiac event. The inaugural event included swimmers from the United States, England, Australia, Mexico, Japan and India. This year 23 countries are participating."

Lane 4 - Gator Country posts "Senior Day for Florida’s swim teams.  he No. 9 University of Florida women’s swimming and diving team and No. 13 men’s squad return to the pool Saturday morning for the Gators’ annual Senior Day against SEC opponent No. 7/7 Auburn at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Natatorium."

Lane 5 - WaPo has "Brazilian swimmer Fabiola Molina gets increased 6-month doping ban from sports court.  Brazilian swimmer Fabiola Molina has been banned until April for doping, after testing positive for a stimulant.  The Court of Arbitration for Sport says the 36-year-old Molina received an increased six-month ban after swimming’s world governing body, FINA, appealed, claiming that Brazilian authorities treated her too leniently."

Lane 6 - Herald-Tribune posts "Burglar in wet suit swims away from police on St. Armands.  An burglar armed with a handgun and wearing a wet suit might have swum away from police this morning near St. Armands Circle.  Police officers responded to the 300 block of North Washington Drive after a construction worker reported the armed burglary.  The worker said he arrived at the home site this morning and saw a man in a wet suit in the middle of a burglary, Sarasota Police Capt. Paul Sutton said.  The officers searching for the suspect have to consider even more possible escape routes than usual — namely swimming away — because of the wet suit angle, Sutton said."

Lane 7 - Bettor.com posts "Legendary Olympian, Ian Thorpe: An overview of his comeback performances – Part 1. Five-time Olympic gold medallist and eleven-time world champion, Australia’s Ian Thorpe is trying hard to live up his 2012 London Olympic Games qualification dream. The 29-year-old Thorpe, who withdrew from competitive swimming in 2006, made a comeback to his beloved sport on Feb 1, 2011.  After five years of retirement, the Australian veteran has been putting a lot of effort in his training program to make a meaningful comeback."

Lane 8 - Vancouver Sun posts "Pit bulls of the ocean.  'Sharks will normally take a bite then spit you out.' At the world's deadliest beach, 'people are actually being eaten. It's very unusual'"

USA Swimming - Peter Vanderkaay Visits YMCA Detroit

Michael Phelps Winter Sunbathing Olympic Training

Michael Phelps spends some training time in Miami

 

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