the17thman

Top 10 Search Words / Items of 2008

Well it's almost the end of the year and with a few hours to go here are the top searched words/items of 2008 for my blog:

10. Gregor Tait  (Olympic swimmer.  was on a UK reality show and appeared naked in a photo shoot)

9. Arena Revolution (beating out all other swim tech suits including the Speedo LZR)

8. Nike+

7. the17thman (well duh)

6. Nike Run Remix 2008

5. Ian Thorpe (was shocked that his fans still google him over and over again)

4. Aquaman

3. Dara Torres (the only women i found in the top 50)

2. Swimmers Bulge (says a lot about me and my readers)

and the number one search term for the17thman for 2008 is...

1. Michael Phelps (after winning 8 gold medals at the Olympics he was clearly the winner by a 100s searches)

AQUAview: Hand Over Hand

At least once a week I hear one of the coaches talk about streamline off the wall keeping those arms tucked in tight and hand over hand.  So for the second time this week here is another picture of swimmers off the blocks.  Notice in this picture the difference in arm position and hands over hands of the three swimmers.

The top swimmers has his hands closed very tight over each other.  The second one has his arms not as tight and it looks like his hands are clasping and not creating a streamline.  The third and bottom swimmer hand his hands over each other but not as tight at the top swimmer.  I am guessing that the correct one is...the top or first swimmer with his hands tight over each other.  That looks like the best streamline of the three. 

2008 Swimming * (Asterisk)

Over the last week if not year tons of stories have hit the internet regarding the latest swim tech suits that all started with the Speedo LZR.  With a year of great swims at both the Olympics and FINA / ARENA World Cup in which over 100 world records were smashed FINA and critics are taking a look at these tech suits.  Some have suggested a roll back to pre-2008 swim suits and to place an aserisk next to those records broken by swimmers wearing said swim tech suits.  The only thing that one can be certain about is that no one will walk away happy in February when FINA sends forth it's new swim tech suit rules.  Speedo, Blueseventy and other swim suit makers may walk away with nothing after spending millions in research and development on these suits.  Swimmers who broke records in these suits will forever be marked with an asterisk next to said records just like those who used illegal dopping drugs.  Millions more will be left holding expensive swim suits that are worthless for competitive swimming. 

The only winner that I can see in this whole mess is Speedo.  If the LZR suit isn't all out banned they still will have other body styles to sell unlike other smaller swim suit makers.  Already we have seen Nike among other swim suit companies leave the competitve tech suit battle and come February we are sure to see more leave.  No matter what FINA decides when they meet will leave a lingering asterisk around the sport for years to come.  Even Michael Phelps 8 Olympic Golds will have 8 Golden Asterisks. 

Underwater ice hockey

Another Ad From Michael Phelps

Here is an ad from Asia for some MP3 player...

Almost Back In The Swim Of Things

After another day of hacking and a running nose I felt like I was ready to go swimming.  Plus sleeping most of yesterday left me restless and up hours before 5am.  I was up early enough to hear the LA Times being delivered at 3:15am.  So I headed to swim but on my way I was having second thoughts as I wasn't feeling so hot.  I kept telling myself to give it a try this morning and if after warmup if I still felt icky I'd leave. 

I warmed up around a 400 and felt confident enough to stay for the workout.  We then did a 100 DPS counting the first lap, minus one stroke the second lap, minus two strokes the third lap and then regular dps for the last lap.  I started with 21 strokes the first lap, 19 the 2nd, 17 the 3rd and 18 the last lap.  I need to work on my strokes per lap.

4x125s 10 secs rest.  50 drill / 75 swim.  First drill was  modified swordfish, then one arm, then some drill that I don't know the name of then the last one was fist.

Then we did a 300 Pull.  50 DPS / 50 Fast

A 50.  Build the first 25.  Sprint the second 25.

5x300's on 4:15
first one the first 50 & last 50 fast
second one the last 100 fast
third one the middle 100 fast
fourth one the first 100 fast
last one 100 technique then 200 race strategy. 
These were to be descended.  My times were slow with a 3:41, 3:39, 3:38, 3:40 and 3:34.  Not bad considering I've been sick and out of the water but not fast in any way.  If I didn't have my lane mate on my feet the whole time I would have been a lot slower.  He pushed me even when I didn't feel like going fast.

100 easy

2x
4x25's on 30/30/30/45
100 on 1:45
These were choice and I did them all backstroke.  Didn't feel strong enough to do any butterfly. 

Overall the workout was good for me so I'm glad I went.  I wont' be swimming full steam by Friday but I'm getting back swim by swim.  Tomorrow is New Years so no swimming!  Hope everyone has a great New Year full of some great swims!

Taking A Day Off

My cold is still sticking with me so I'm taking today as a recovery day.  It was to be my first weight training day in a month but I'll start that on Thursday.  On New Years Day which will be the busiest day at the gym of the year.  GREAT!  I do plan on swimming tomorrow morning so I'll be back up and running at my usual pace by the weekend.

Cindy Crawford and Michael Phelps

AQUAview: Pieter Van den Hoogenband

2009 USMS Renewal

Just finished renewing my US Masters Swimming for 2009.  One more year of swimming!