the17thman

Sunday Afternoon Suntime Workout

 Sunday's workouts are always tough and today was tough.  Luckily the sun came out during practice giving this pale Irish guy some sun time.  I'm still sporting my Clovis tan and hope to keep it up.  June Gloom be damned!

Warmed Up
100 Free Swim
100 Free Kick
150 IM no Free (350)

Warm Up Set:
3x100's Free on 1:15
6x50's Drill on 55
2x100's Stroke on ??
6x50's Kick on 55
1x100 Stroke No interval (1200/1550)

Next Up:
2x
75 IM on 1:10 (I think)
100
50
100  (i'm guessing at this set.  I so can't remember now)  Ugh!  (650/2200)

Main Set:
4 Times
200 IM or Stroke on 3 mins
4x50's Descend Stroke on 55
100 Fast Stroke on 1:20
50 recovery.
The 50 was not on an interval but it seemed we bounced back and forth between 2 minutes and 2:30.  Round one I did the set all backstroke.  Round two I did the 200 IM the switched to backstroke.  Round three I did the 200 IM then the rest freestyle.  Round four I did the 200 back and then the rest free.  (2200/4400)

And then I did another 50 easy.  I'm beat.  This was a tough workout.  Since I've been hit or miss with swimming since Nationals these last two workouts have kicked my ass.  Hopefully I'll be back in the swing of things pretty quickly. 

MTD Yardage:  38,875
MTD LCM:  0

YTD Yardage: 271,575
YTD LCM 2,000

My yardage was way down for the month compared to other months.  But tapering and 4 days at Nationals will do that.  Plus like I've said I have been hit or miss with attending workouts.  But tomorrow is a new month and I can't start training hard again. 

Gray May

I'm about to head to the last swim practice of May which lead me to reflect on the month.  I know I went to Nationals and swam like crazy but since I've been back I haven't logged that many swims.  I did gain 4 pounds this month.  Even though people are still asking me if I'm losing weight.  I started to go back and add up the yardage from past workouts which I'll update later including today's swim.  It'll be interesting to see my yardage compared Month To Month for 2009 so far.  I know May is the least amount of yardage.  But that is okay with Tapering and Nationals.  In two week I am suppose to run a 10K.  Hmm...I better start running soon!  Of course I've been saying that for months now.  Earlier today I got a Direct Message via twiiter.  The person likes my bog but thinks it's a bit too gay.  One too many Freddie Bousquet pictures for his liking.  Note to self:  MORE AQUAview of Bousquet in June!  Well it's almost time to go swimming.  Ciao!

British Swimming Team Visit 2012 Olympic Aquatic Park

Men's Journal: Best Overall Swim Goggles TYR Racetech

If you read this blog you know that I'm a fan of the Swede Goggles LINK.  But I'm not closed off to trying new goggles.  So while I was reading the June issue of Men's Journal I was stopped in my tracks flipping pages to read that TYR Racetech goggle was listed as the "best overall goggle".  According to 2 time Ironman world champion the Racetech goggle:

“It’s really comfortable, and during an hour-long swim, that’s huge,”  - source

I am assuming that when Men's Journal meant by overall goggle was that it was for open and pool water swimming.  I tried to find more information to link a page on the Men's Journal but couldn't find anything about the goggles.  For now I'm sticking with my Swede's but if I happen to find the TYR Racetech on my next swim shopping spree I may pick up a pair.  Check out more TYR products at TYR.com.

Matthew Mitcham New Promo For Gay Games 2010

Gold Medal Diver Matthew Mitcham is featured in a new promo for the Federation of  Gay Games.  In theme of the video is basically the motto of the Gay Games which is Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best.   Per the press release:

 “You don’t have to be an Olympian to participate in the Gay Games. The motto of the Federation of Gay Games is participation, inclusion, and personal best. Everyone can play in sport and culture. Why not be part of it?”

A second video is up which is a promo specifically for the 2010 Cologne Gay Games.  In this video Mitcham encourages participation in the 2010 Gay Games.

For more information on the Federation of Gay Games check out ttp://www.gaygames.com and for more information on the 2010 Cologne Gay Games go to http://www.games-cologne.com.

Getting Wet Again

It feels like I haven't swam in ages.  After SCY National's it's been hit or miss.  This week between Memorial Day's Pool Closure and No on 8 March I've been out of the pool.  I did swim for 60 minutes on Sunday but it was a disaster in the pool as I felt like crap.   Swam an easy lap swim on Tuesday so that doesn't count for much.  At least I've done a few trips to the gym for weights and spin classes to keep me active. 

Once in the pool I was out of the gate right from the onset.  Which is not normal for me.  Usually I struggle with warm up and build from that.  Today I was strong and kept on going. 

Warmed Up a 450

Then we did a warm up set.  2x
200 Kick on 4 Minutes (200)
50 Drill (50/250)
3x75's Free on 1:05 (225/475)
100 im on 1:40  (100/575)  (1,150/1,600)

I can't remember if we did one short warm up set here.  We normally do but I forgot.

Main Set:
2x
75 IM on 1:05
50 Stroke on 55 (50/125)
4x100's Free on 1:15 (400/525)
4x25's Free on 40 (100/625)
1x200 Free fast on 3 mins. (200/825)
I went second in my lane behind another swimmer who is on par with me when it comes to times.  We sorta jockey back and forth at swim meets.  One meet I'll be ahead of him in an event then the next he pulls on ahead of me.  I figured going 10 seconds behind him I'd be able to pace off of him.  He had a sluggish workout so I ended up pulling ahead and leading towards the end.  The 100's felt so easy.  Maybe cuz' of the draft but it didn't feel like I had to push myself that far.  I was getting at least 7 seconds rest on each one.  As for the 200's my first one was on 2:15 and my second one was on 2:16.  The set was  a total of 1700 yards. (1700/3400)

8x50's Pull. (400/3800)
1 on 50 the 2nd 25 breathing only 5 times
1x50 on 45 the 2nd 25 breathing only 4 times
1x50 on 45 the 2nd 25 breathing only 3 times
1x40 on 40 the 2nd 25 breathing only 2 times.

Warmed Down a 50 (50/3850)

I figure I'll get one more swim practice in for the month of May.  Then it's a new month!  June.  Then it'll be July and my back to swim annviersay on the 5th.  5 years back to swimming on the 5th.  I grew up doing age group swimming and stopped when i was 16 in highschool.  I didn't swim a lap till after my 34th birthday.  So now it's approaching 5 years and somedays it feels like I am swimming for the first time again

MTD Yardage:  34,425
MTD LCM:  0

YTD Yardage: 267,125
YTD LCM 2,000

Thursday Night Is For Spinning

I went to the gym and did weight training and spin class.  I gotta admit that I like the Thursday night instructor.  She knows her shit.  Unlike some of the other instructors.  She gets off her bike and helps people and corrects body position.  She speaks clearly. The music tonight was ok.  If you belong to 24 Hour Fitness in WeHo and want a spin class go to the Thursday Night 6pm class.  It's my personal best.

Eric Shanteau Fights Back

The folks over at Universal Sports has a great article on breaststroker Eric Shanteau.  Check it out LINK here is a little snippet:

Shanteau noted that since returning from surgery, he has gotten stronger in the weight room. His maximum bench press is up about 40 pounds, his stamina during training sessions is better and he’s packed on 10 pounds of muscle. Shanteau works out with coaches Eddie Reese and Doug Rusk at Longhorn Aquatics in Austin, Texas.

“It’s way above where it was last summer, which is really, really really good because I made a conscious effort to be the strongest I ever was going into Trials and going into the Olympics. And I was,” said Shanteau on his current fitness level. “Since then, I don’t know what cancer did to me but I put on probably 10 pounds of muscle and got a lot stronger in the weight room and during our dry-land stuff.”

The article also talks about his fight with cancer and his hopes for his swimming career. You can follow Eric on Twitter http://twitter.com/Shanteau

Noon Time Spin Class - 24 Hour Fitness WeHo

Since I was beat from last nights march I did skip swimming this morning but I did hit the noon time spin class.  The instructor's name was Bob (but not The Bob) and he did make a point to talk to everyone in class.  He asked a few of us including myself our name.  Which was nice.  If I was to grade the class I hafta say ss Pelly in Animal Crossing says "Hmm, it's not a passing grade, but it's not a failing".  The music was good if not set to what we were doing  At odd times we were sprinting during the slow parts of the music.  Also he didn't give much instruction in the class.  It was very random.  I know it's 24 Hours Fitness but I don't understand why the instructors don't correct bad technique.  People are so going to hurt themselves someday in one of these classes.  I got to admit any one plays the song "Howard The Duck" can't be all that bad.  Now I need to rest my legs.  Ouch!

Out Of The Courts And Into The Streets

Last night I joined a few thousand of my closest friends and took to the street for the Decision Day Protest March in West Hollywood.  Along the way a Tweeted a few pictures.  I also took several short videos that I'm going to post.  Since I did all that walking and yelling last night I decided to skip swim practice.  My legs are sore and my voice is raspy.  So instead of my normal swimming news enjoy these NOH8 videos of the march.

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks out against Prop 8:

Chanting Out of The Courts, Into The Streets. Ready To Fight, We Wont Be Beat!

Marching along Santa Monica Blvd