the17thman

One Last Swim For May

I didn't think I was going to swim this morning but I woke up around 4:30 am so I figured since I was up I would work out.  Mind you I woke up most likely from some lower back pain.  So thinking I'd go swim it out wasn't the smartest thing to do this morning.  I've had back issues in the past from my bad posture and sitting at a desk for long periods.  Back before I started to work out and was 40 pounds heavier I woke up every day with lower back pain.  Once I started to work out and doing ab work the pain slowly went away.  Even the smallest bit of ab work seemed to work magic.  The last week the pain has come back.  It could be from a lack of ab workouts, the extra few pounds I packed on (which is good since i was too skinny) or being back at a desk for most of my days.  Either way it's back.  My lower right side is tweaked. 

When I was on deck this morning I tried to rub my lower back thinking that it'll just go away.  I got in the water and started a very slow warm up.  I think I did a 250.  We then did a warm up set that I took my time since I was feeling a bit achy. 

Three Rounds

50 Kick

50 Drill

50 Swim

50 Swordfish with underwater recovery.

I kicked with a kickboard which was a mistake.  The last round I was barely kicking and just floating.  The other fast lane lapped me.  I didn't care.  (600/850)

We then did a 600 Pull.  The first 400 was distance per stroke and the last 200 was breathing 3/5/3/5 by 50.  I sorta felt okay.  Turns felt a bit off on my back but swimming was okay.  Think the pulling with the buoy kept my legs elevated. 
(600/1450)

Then we had 3x300's descend.  The first one hurt.  I started the 2nd one and did 6 laps and gave up.  Normally I think I would have pushed past the tweaked back but I was tired and just couldn't muster the strength.  (450/1900)

I started to ride home but my lower back started to ache.  So I walked up the hill to Fountain and walking was tweaking my back.  I rode home the rest of the way thinking riding would be faster.  I'm just going to lay down today and let my back recover.  The rest of the week I'll just make sure I sit in the chair at work with correct posture.  I figure the lower back pain will vanish in a few days. 

The Biggest Loser Michael Ventrella - Got Milk?

 

Sunday Afternoon Swim

That hurt!  After this mornings weight training it was time for a round of swimming.  I may not swim tomorrow so I wanted to fit in one more workout for May.  And this was a good one.

Warmed Up about a 400.  Then we did a warm up set

2 Rounds - 100 IM Drill / 75 Free Drill Fist / 50 Kick / 25 Distance Per Stroke.  I forgot the intervals but they were very touch and go.  (500/900)

4x50's Descend free on 50 (200/1100)

Now the coach told me about two things to work on in my freestyle.  The first one was that I was bobbing a bit in my freestyle so to watch my head position.  The second was to relax my recovery arm but keep my elbows up.  So in the freestyle of the main set I tried to keep that in mind.  

Main Set: 2 Rounds -

200 Free on 2:40

2x100's IM on 1:30

2x75's Breast on an interval I don't remember but know I didn't make.  I think 1:15 maybe.

200 Back on another interval I don't remember but know I didn't make.  Which is odd cuz' normally I like the 200 back.  But after the breaststroke I was tired and this morning's weight training left me sore.

8x25's fly on 30.  (1900/3000)

We did a 50 easy before going on to a kick set.

Three Rounds

125 Kick on 2:30

75 Kick on 1:20

or was it a 25 kick on 2:20 and a 75 kick on 1:30.  OH well something like that.  (600/3600)

Then I did a 100 warm down for a total of 3,700 yards.  Tough yards.  I was dying.  I was sore.  But it was worth it!

Giant Neon Swimmer Dives Into Santa Monica Blvd!

This morning while riding my bicycle to the gym I noticed a new piece of artwork on the boulevard.  It was a big giant swimmer.  Since it was pretty early in the morning I stopped and snapped a pix with my iPhone.  I didn't know what it was or why it was on the boulevard till' I got home.  The swimmer is part of "One Route - 66 Lights":

The City of West Hollywood in collaboration with the Museum of Neon Art presents On Route—66 Lights, vintage and contemporary neon on historic Route 66 (Santa Monica Boulevard) and the Sunset Strip. Four large-scale classic neon lights are on display in the City. Three in the center median of Santa Monica Boulevard near Barney's Beanery, and one at Plummer Park.

You can read more about it at the cities website weho.org.  I'm going to have to check them out some night. 

As for my workout it was a decent morning.  Between it being a Holiday weekend and a Sunday the gym was empty.  At times I'd be the only one around the section of the gym I'd be working out in.  Which was nice.  I was able to get in a good workout and did some ab work at the end.  Since I've started to neglect ab work on the gym I realized last week that I was having lower back pain again from time to time.  Usually when I am doing my ab workouts I don't have lower back pain.  I know I get it from sitting at a desk and with weak abs the lower back has to endure the brunt of carrying my upper body weight.  So gotta do more ab work even if it kills me.  It's the price of getting old. 

Later on today I plan on swimming.  Going to be a hot hot day so the pool will be nice!  Hopefully people won't show up and the lanes will be empty!

Friday Morning Freestyle Workout - Meh

Looking back at this morning's workout it seems to me that I should have enjoyed it more.  It was freestyle with some distance in it. I did enjoy the mind numbing 400 and 300 freestyles.  I did however forget a key component of the set till just now.  Before that the warm up was a 400 or so for me.  Wasn't really counting and spent time on deck shivering in the cold while delaying getting into the water. 

then we did a warm up set:

3 Rounds - 25 Distance Per Stroke / 75 Drill / 100 Swim (rounds 1 & 3 were freestyle and 2 was choice which I did backstroke) (600/1000)

Main Set:

400 Pull on 5:45

100 Free on 1:20

300 Pull on 4:15 (which i screwed up so we did it on a 4:40)

2x100's Free on 1:20

200 Pull on 2:50

3x100's Free on 1:20

100 Pull on 1:25

4x100's Free on 1:20

I forgot that the last 100 in each group of 100's was to be fast or was it all descend within each set of 100's?  Something like that.  I swam in the slower fast lane.  I figured I'm just rebuilding so no need to kill myself yet.  Well that and it was a choice of swimming in a lane of 3 people or 5 people including myself.  So 3 won out!  The faster lane did the pulling on a 1:20 base and the 100's on 1:15.  Also in the pulling I tried to split it evenly between 1/2 pulling with paddles and 1/2 without.  So for the 400 it was 200 with then 200 without.  Don't want to get too attached to paddles but I do think they help me with hand entry and catch.  If I get tired and sloppy having paddles isn't helping much.  But if I start off with them then finish the pull without them I cn feel a difference and adjust my arms a bit.  Trying to use them as training tools and not a crutch.  Also when I use paddles I can torque my hips more to get a rotation instead of my flat swimming.  (2000/3000)

Then we had a kick set.  While the coach was giving the set I took a quick pee break.  I was about to start kicking when I noticed someone took the kick board.  Grrr.  One of my biggest pet peeves (and boy do i have many) is when people don't come to the lane with equipment and just take whatever is around.  It's the reason why I went and purchased my own pull buoy.  That way with my name plastered all over it people won't use it.  So when I come to the wall to start pulling my pull equipment is there.  I don't bring a kick board but have been considering one.  I do have a favorite one that is available at the pool.  I like the shape and I like that it's purple.  There's is enough of the purple ones for a few of us to use one.  So when we started the kick set and someone took the kick board I started to kick without.  After 2x50's I gave up.  Fuck it!  It was 60 minutes of swimming which is enough anyways.  Until I learn how to kick and swim at the same time kicking is pretty pointless anyways. 

So another workout this time being 3100 yards.  I'm slowly feeling more comfortable with faster intervals.  I wasn't keeping track of my 100's times so I really don't know if I am swimming better then Tuesday.  Tuesday night I couldn't descend at all and was ascending.  Would have been interesting to see how I was holding up this morning.  Next time I'll try to keep an eye out on my swimming.  This morning I was struggling trying to remember what the interval was and what was next. 

Morning Swim Show talks to USMS' Rob Butcher

Swimming World Magazine's Morning Swim Show talks to USMS' Rob Butcher and the possible future of high tech swim suits.  Yup, you read right HIGH TECH SWIM SUITS may live on!  Long Live The Tech Suit!

Meh. Another Trip To The Gym.

After a rough night of tossing and turning I woke up and cycled over to the gym.  It was actually nice this morning cycling which means that it's going to be a hot one today!  I was so unmotivated at the gym.  I was going to get up on the treadmill and run for a bit but didn't feel like it.  Just did my weight training.  Nothing exciting.  Today will be a long day so no swimming or running tonight.  I'll get up early tomorrow and swim and this weekend will hopefully mark my return to running. 

Season 9 The Biggest Loser Is Michael

Who is The Biggest Loser?  Michael Ventrella has been crowned the winner of The Biggest Loser: Couples and took home the Yoplait Light $250,000 Grand Prize.  But before we get into that here is a play by play recap of tonight's season finale.

The finale started off like most reality show's do with a look back at the season.  I had forgotten not only of some of the contestants but also the challenges.  So forgot about the truck pulling challenge.  That looked like it hurt.  Then the final four came out.  Wow oh Woh!  Amazing transformations!  In what was so touching Daris was on stage first and introduced us all to his new girlfriend!  Earlier this season in one of the most touching moments of the season Daris talked about how being fat caused him from never having a girlfriend.  I cried when he said that so to have him come on and introduce his new girlfriend was a great moment of the season.  Then Koli Bear was next, um, what is up with those pants?  Last week Koli and Daris were the bottom two so it was up to America to vote to see who'd be part of the final three.  And it was Daris!  But that isn't the end for Koli as he'll get to compete in the home challenge prize for $100,000.

Before we get to the Take Home Challenge it was time to meet an old friend from season 8, Shay!  Although Shay didn't win Season 8 of The Biggest Loser she was given a challenge to continue her journey towards living a healthy life.  Subway challenged her by offering her $1,000 dollars for every pound she lost.  Tonight was the big weigh in to see how Shay did.  Over the last 5 months Shay lost 52 pounds to weigh in at 252 pounds.  That is $52,000 from Subway to Shay.  But wait, there's more!  Jarad on behalf of Subway came out to give Shay a check but the check was blank.  Subway doubled down on the Challenge by challenging Shay to run a marathon and train with Jarad.  If she completes a marathon by the end of 2010 they will double that $52,000!  Shay has lost a total of 224 pounds since she started The Biggest Loser! 

So then it was time for the Take Home Challenge for $100,000.  The winner will be the one who has lost the highest percentage of fat from day one of the show till tonight.  Here are the weigh ins (percentages may be off a bit as they were flashed so quick on tv and couldn't keep up even rewinding with dvr):

Cherita was 277 pounds and weighed in at 186 pounds for a 91 pound / 32.85% weight loss.

Victoria was 358 pounds and weighed in at 222 pounds for a 136 pound / 37.99% weight loss.

Sherry was 218 pounds and weighed in at 119 pounds for a 99 pound/ 45.41% weight loss.  That gave her the lead.  And she looked amazing!  Inspiring even!

Patti  was 346 pounds and weighed in at 170 pounds for a 73 pound / 30.04% weight loss.

Stephanie was 264 pounds and weighed in at 165 pounds for a 99 pound / 37.50% weight loss.

James was 485 pounds and weighed in at 357 pounds for a 128 pound / 26.39% weight loss.

John was 484 pounds and weighed in at 335 pounds for a 149 pound / 30.79% weight loss.

Melissa was 233 pounds and weighed in at 143 pounds for a 90 pound / 38.62% weight loss.  Good bye and Good Riddance.  Melissa will most likely go up as one of the least liked contestants on The Biggest Loser. 

Lance was 365 pounds and weighed in at 237 pounds for a 128 pound / 35.07% weight loss.  I feel for this guy as he has to live with Melissa.  I'd eat my weight in food every day to stand living with her.

Migdalia was 265 pounds and weighed in at 213 pounds for a 52 pound / 19.62% weight loss.  Migdalia was one of the first to leave so you gotta give her props for over coming her battle.  Those who go home first and early have a harder time losing the weight!  Being on the ranch with Bob and Jillian really matters in this game and it is a game.

Miggy was 240 pounds and weighed in at 149 pounds for a 91 pound / 37.92% weight loss.

O'Neil was 389 pounds and weighed in at 230 pounds for a 159 pound / 40.87% weight loss.  O'Neil came on stage looking like a different person.  For me this whole season was all about O'Neil and his daughter Sunshine.  They tugged at the heart strings and made me cry and then inspired me.  

Sunshine was 275 pounds and weighed in at 161 pounds for a 114 pound / 41.45% weight loss.

Darrel was 413 pounds and weighed in at 224 pounds for a 189 pound / 45.76% weight loss. 

Sherry is still in the lead.  Go Sherry!  

Andrea was 298 pounds and weighed in at 214 pounds for a 84 pound / 28.19% weight loss.

Sam oh Sam!  Sam was next and he was 372 pounds and weighed in at 230 pounds for a 142 pound / 38.17% weight loss.  But he looked hot and buff.  Seriously!  Think he must be the HOTTEST BIGGEST LOSER CONTESTANT ever!  Well at least by the finale!

Last but not least Koli Bear.  Koli was 403 pounds and weighed in at 188 pounds for a 215 pound / 59.35% weight loss. 

KOLI won the Take Home Challenge.  He gets to take home $100,000.  Koli was behind Sam's shadow for most of the season but shined at the end.  Glad he won the take home challenge.  Although he was with the show all the way to the end. 

After that Jillian came on to plug her new show "Losing It With Jillian".  The show premieres next Tuesday at 10pm. Then came a bit about the Pound For Pound Challenge. NBC will donate 1 pound of food for every 1 pound that people pledge to lose online.  Working with Feeding America the challenge has pledged 5.8 million pounds already.  Find out more about the Pound For Pound Challenge at pfpchallenge.com.  In the video clip of the Pound For Pound Challenge and old friend of Season 9 appeared.  Back when the BL9 contestants visited a food bank they ran into an over weight employee of the food bank who they inspired to join the challenge which he did and has lost weight.  A good cause and some inspiration it's a win / win!

Then it was time for the final three to weigh in for the Yoplait Light Grand Prize of $250,000!  In case you missed the first paragraph and don't know who won the final three are Daris, Ashley and Michael.  I got to admit that if you were have told me that Ashley and Michael would be in the final three I wouldn't have believed you.  I thought Ashley should have been gone a long time ago.  And Michael just didn't seem to be the guy like Koli and Sam were.  Glad I'm not a betting man!

The Final Weigh In!

Darris was 346 pounds and weighed in at 178 for a 158 pound / 48.55% weight loss! 

Ahsley was 374 pounds and weighed in at 191 for a 184 pound / 48.93% weight loss!

Michael was 526 pounds and weighed in at 262 for a 264 pound / 50.19% weight loss!

Michael is The Biggest Loser and takes home the Yoplait Light Grand Prize!  Michael will be on The Today Show tomorrow so check local listings and set the DVR's.  All three of the final contestants lost 1/2 a person.  Amazing!  This season started off a bit slow for me.  Didn't know who I liked for a while into the season.  Once again I'm glad I'm not a betting man!  Season 10 is filming now but won't air to fall.  Fall seems a very long way away! 

That Was Craptastic!

I didn't hit the gym for weight training this morning so I figured I'd swim tonight.  I'm out of shape and sync with my swimming right now.  I will admit that I'm swimming at the slowest I've swam in years.  What little technique I had is pretty much gone.  So I'm rebuilding and retraining.  My theory is that I will retrain myself the right technique way and in time the speed will come.  I'm not planning on swimming at a meet any time soon so speed is so not on my agenda.  So with that said here is tonight's workout with some of my thoughts on it.

Warm Up

500

I mixed it up with some swim, pull and drill.  Wasn't much of anything to write about.

Warm Up Drill:

2 Rounds

25 Kick

50 Swordfish with underwater recovery

25 kick

50 drill

100 swim

The first round the drill was finger tip drag and the second round the drill was fist.  I went 2nd to last in my lane and was lapped in both rounds.  Mainly cuz' I suck at kicking but more cuz' I was trying to do the swordfish and drilling correctly.  Swordfish with underwater recovery is super slow and hard for me.  I feel like I'm swimming backwards.  So I struggle with it but it's okay.  I've resolved not to care about others in my lane when I'm drilling so if I get lapped whatever.  As long as I'm doing the drill as best as I can.  I think that is the point of drilling anyways.

Then we did 3x200's Pull descending.  Well the coach said descending but with my swimming I am just ascending.  I think I did a 2:14, 2:17 and a 2:21.  The lanes were set up tonight to have two fast lanes with one being on a faster interval.  For this set the intervals were one lane of 1:40 and another of 1:50.  The coach wanted me to be in the lane that did a 1:40 but I said no and swam in the 1:50 lane.  I was getting plenty of rest but just don't have the endurance to keep a good pace and descend.

Then we did a series of 100's.  The coach once again asked me to move to the faster lane.  After me whining I did move over.  I mean I really was whining.  Everyone's eyes were rolling over my whining.  But whatever, once again I'd rather swim a set correctly than in the faster lane just to swim in the faster lane.  So many times in the past I've said this about my swimming "I'm not fast, I just have endurance.  So when the other swimmers get tired I finally pull ahead."  But right now I don't have endurance.  No speed, no technique and no endurance.  So instead of descending the set I ascended. 

Three Rounds of 3x100's on 1:15.  Taking 15 seconds rest in between each round.  Descending with in each set of 3.  Also descending from each of the fastest one.  So the third one of each set had to be faster then the previous.  How did I do?  Craptastical!

1.  1:07

2.  1:09

3.  1:11

4.  1:07

5.  1:07

6   1:07

7.  1:07

8.  1:09

9.  1:12

I was splashing like hell with windmill like arms just to move.  So not pretty.  But I was trying to descend.  But that didn't happen at all.

Then we did some 25's which I did like 10 of and I got out.  It was another sucky swim.  I regret swimming at all tonight.  Felt I was there more for just cardio cuz' I didn't work on any technique besides the warm up.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day.  Now to eat and watch some The Biggest Loser!

Morning Workout - That Hurt

Getting back into swimming at 6am was a bit more difficult than I had thought.  My alarm went off and I slowly moved out of bed after 10 minutes of snoozing.  Mostly I can blame staying up to watch Lost for my sluggishness. 

Warm Up

400 Swim

50 Drill / 50 Kick

300 Pull first 200 breathing every 3/5/3/5 by 50 / last 100 distance per stroke. (800)

I think that was all we did for a warm up.  It's all a blur with yesterday afternoons workout. 

Main Set:

4x100's on 1:25 descend.  I did a 1:14. 1:13, 1:11 and 1:10.  Not blazing fast but knowing we had...

right into 2x100's on 3 minutes race strategy.  I think I did a 1:28 and a 1:27.  Hmm...maybe that is wrong.  Meh...

Then after a bit over a minute we did a 400 for time.  I felt okay during it.  By the last 50 I had caught up to the other person in my lane slowing me up a bit so I did a 4:38.  I think. (1200/2000)

Then we did a 100 easy recovery. (100/2100)

Then we went onto the stroke portion of the workout.

150 IM Kick / 100 IM drill (no free).  (300/2400)

And that was it for me.  Between weights and swimming yesterday my body was beat.  During the kicking my legs were hurting.  I had nothing.  So I called it quits.  2400 yards was enough for today.  One thing I've realized is that I've gotten sloppy with my stroke.  Hopefully I'll get back to my swim of things shortly.  And if not I don't have any meets coming up so I have plenty of time to work on technique and build up endurance again.