It's over! Another month closes on swimming. In September I swam a total of 41,150 yards. I didn't have any big goals for the month. Just thinking that I have the open water swim and then in two weeks a Masters meet. I did sandbag my entries a tiny bit. Not too much. But gave my self some cushion for my new slower self.
Past Months To Compare -
In August I swam 42,900 yards.
In July I swam 29,550 yards.
June I swam 42,000 yards
May I swam 47,950 yards.
April I swam 44,950 yards.
March I swam 62,125 yards.
February I swam 41,750 yards.
January I swam 42,300 yards.
In 2011 I've swum 341,675 yards.
So it's been a good month for swimming but not so much for running. I ran twice in the whole month. I didn't even run a total of 3 miles for the month. Ick! So so bad! I got to get back to running. Cooler weather is coming so it'll only get better. Until it gets too cold! I hate climate! I am so use to Los Angeles weather. Those few short weeks of "winter" was perfect for running outside. Oh well it is what it is. I should sign up for next weeks 5K since that will force me to run! I should talk someone at the gym about starting a running club. That way I'd have some folks to run with. Once again back in LA at least I always had the Thursday night Nike Run Club to keep me running. Even if I only ran once a week I was running.
Last Chance Workout! Well it is the last swim before I become shark bait. It's also the last day of September. Another month gone by. Bye September.
Warm Up
450 Mixed Swim / 150 Kick (600)
3x100's Drill/Backstroke/Breath every 3/Build by 25 (300/900)
4x50's on 50
4x50's on 55
4x50's on 60
Getting faster each round of 50's. (600/1500) Then afterwards every one chatted and told me open water war stories. From shark to oil slicks. Okay, so this might not have been my brightest ideas. Oh well I'm doing the 1K. For some reason I thought it was a 1 Mile Swim. But it's not. It's a 1K. So it's just a matter of not being attacked by sharks.
Image - Deadspin "This 6-Foot-4, 320-Pound NFL Player Drives A Hello Kitty Convertible Smart Car. Chargers DT Antonio Garay was just fined $15,000 by the NFL for a hit below the knee on Tom Brady in Week 2, but he will be laughing all the way to the bank, because he drives a tiny car with a Hello Kitty on it and tweets pictures of it all the time."
Lane 1 - Some Friday Funny from Universal Sports "Photo of the Week: Michael Phelps interrupts swim class, participants not amused."
Lane 2 - Swim of Ages. The Battle Creek Enquirer has "Harper swim team features mother/daughter connections. In her 17th season as the Harper Creek girls' swimming coach, Corrin Popps experienced a first during a recent practice. Kara swam for her mom in junior high, setting Harper Creek's middle school record in the backstroke. On Tuesday night, she qualified for the state meet in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1-minute, 5.40-seconds. She also has quite the swimming pedigree. Her grandfather, Dan Convis, was an All-American swimmer at both Battle Creek Central and Michigan State University. Her mother was a 12-time All-American swimmer at Division II Slippery Rock University, and continues to swim competitively for the YMCA Masters team."
Lane 3 - Athletic Business has "CPSC Changes Its Mind on Unblockable Pool Drains. Reversing a decision made nearly 18 months ago, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday voted, 3-2, to change its guidelines regarding how aquatic facility operators comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Now, in order to comply with the law aimed at preventing suction entrapment in pool drains, public pools with a single main drain must have a back-up system capable of shutting the drain's suction."
Lane 4 - "Phelps helps Ohno train for marathon CCTV News" via youtube
Lane 5 - Speedo posts "Introducing the new Aquabeat® 2.0 - Waterproof Mp3 Player" via youtube
Lane 6 - Gulf News has "UAE's rising star eyes swimming World Cup. Al Besher excited to compete in home waters next month. Dubai: With less than two weeks to go, UAE breaststroker Mubarak Al Besher will take to the starting blocks alongside some of the world's top swimmers when Dubai hosts the opening round of the 2011 Fina/Arena Swimming World Cup."
Lane 7 - The Telegraph has "London 2012 Olympics diary: athletes help Mark Ronson find his rhythm. Secret swim. Next Friday the British swim team members will have a swim in the Olympic Aquaticc Centre. But don't tell anybody. London olympic officials have told the swimmers the event is top secret".
Lane 8 - The Ledger has "Pool Proposal Draws Crowd. Officials plan more forums on plan to move recreation center. Residents filled the chamber until the fire inspector said no more could enter. They found seats in a nearby conference room and others stood in the hallways, peering through windows that look into the commission chamber. Inside, a 12-year-old girl held a kickboard. In black, bold letters, it read: 'Save the Rowdy Gaines Pool.'" Come on chant with me "Save the Rowdy Gaines Pool!!!"
Lane 1 - Adweek posts "PETA Shakes a Leg at Florida Shark-Attack Victim Toothy billboard has yet to find a home. The group is trying to put up a billboard, featuring a shark biting into a human leg, on Anna Maria Island, where someone was recently attacked by a bull-shark. The guy's still in the hospital, for chrissakes. The last thing he needs is a big sign saying "Payback is hell, go vegan" greeting him once he's discharged."
Lane 2 - WBAL 11 posts "Phelps Begins Training For 2012 Olympic. Swimmer Also Running With Another Olympian. his week, however, Phelps was actually in Manhattan with eight-time Winter Olympic Games medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, who's training for the New York City Marathon. The two ran together on the track. Ohno said he's always wanted to run a marathon; however, Phelps said he's definitely not running the race on Nov. 6."
Lane 3 - AFP has UPDATED "Aussie Olympic swimming hope Monk in hit-and-run. Australian swimmer Kenrick Monk's Olympic preparations were in turmoil Thursday with a broken elbow sustained in what he said was a deliberate hit-and-run incident which threw him from his bicycle…
was left unconscious after being hit by a car in Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon. Monk was on his way to training and was within minutes of the venue when he was hit. Fellow swimmers Ned McKendry, Nick D?Arcy and Stephanie Rice went to his aid before he was rushed to hospital…He claimed he was deliberately targeted, and had given a statement to police…His coach Michael Bohl said Monk was adamant it was no accident."
Lane 4 - Autoblog posts "Mini jumps to unveil 2012 London Olympics special edition Cooper. he Olympics are coming to London and the games are apparently a perfect opportunity for Mini to launch a new special edition. To be fair, Mini would view a sunny Tuesday as the perfect opportunity for a new special edition. Still, the Mini London 2012 Edition is here, and it's arrival has been marked in a rather unique way. Mini parked three examples of the all-new limited-edition Cooper side-by-side then enlisted the help of England Long Jump Champion J.J. Jegede to do what he does best."
Lane 5 - WaPo posts "Australia’s Oliver Wilkinson breaks record for swim around Manhattan. Australia’s Oliver Wilkinson broke the record for the fastest swim around Manhattan, completing the 28.5-mile course in 5 hours, 44 minutes, 2 seconds Wednesday in the NYC Swim Manhattan Match Race and Record Attempt."
Lane 6 - Yellow Advertiser has "Swimming scheme launched in Newham. NEWHAM residents are being encouraged to take the plunge as part of a new swimming initiative. The scheme was launched last Thursday by US swimmer, Rebecca Soni. It aims to get more people in the water and making the most of the borough’s four pools in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond. Soni, a three-time Olympic medallist, visited UEL’s Stratford campus to kick-start the campaign and talk to students about her career so far."
Lane 7 - IBI Times posts (w/video) "A British expatriate living in South Africa is said to be fighting for his life after he was attacked by a shark whilst swimming in South Africa Wednesday."
Lane 8 - ioL news posts "Neethling's swimming academy robbed. Olympic gold medalist Ryk Neethling's swimming academy in Garsfontein, Pretoria has been broken into and equipment to the value of R50 000 stolen, according to a news report on Wednesday. Robbers broke into the facility on Tuesday evening and stole cables, towels, swimming costumes, the sound system, and even the coffee and sweets for students. Neethling started the project for the less fortunate and mentally disabled almost two months ago."
Since Saturday is only a 1 mile open water swim I'm not tappering really but had an easy morning swim just the same. I was stiff and sore at first but felt better towards the end of the workout.
Warm Up
Mixed 450 (I did some stroke drilling and swimming at the end). Then 3x100's Kick. I mixed it up with all the strokes. (750)
6x100's Switches on 1:45. Fly/Back, Back/Breast and Breast/Free. I took a bit of extra rest after number 3 cuz' I was lazy and another 15 later while talking to the coach. I was by myself in this set so I wasn't worried about going to fast. Was working on my strokes even the breaststroke. (600/1350)
Then I did a bunch of 50's Pulling alternating breathing between 3 and 5. I guess I did 8 of them? (400/1750) Then I did sorta a 50 swim helping out with the lane lines. (50/1800) So 1,800 Yard swim.
Like I said I was sore but that may have been more about my dry land weight training. Since I was super sore while swimming yesterday I decided to skip on Group Power and do Group Active instead. I actually enjoy the class even when it's mostly women for some reason. I guess the first part of cardio using the step gives the guys and idea that it's some sort of Jane Fonda routine. But it's not. The second part is strength training. After the class I did some lunges with weights on the smith machine then did my 10x10 Jump Boxes on 1 Minute. Which while swimming this morning I felt those jumps paying off. My turns may not have been great but I was getting more distance off the walls with less effort.
So now it's all about recovery. No gym time today or tomorrow. Leave tomorrow at 1pm for Sarasota Shark Bait Festival. Actually it's "9th Annual Daiquiri Deck Tropical Splash Open Water Swim. Off Beautiful Siesta Key Beach - Sarasota, Florida. About Siesta Key: A gorgeous barrier island adjacent to Sarasota, Siesta Key Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States. Providing world class dining and shopping along with outstanding accommodations. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a great race and a special weekend." I'm only doing the 1K. I've never done an open water swim so that is more then enough. I've never actually swam in an ocean/bay/gulf/lake/river/pond/fountain or anything other body of water that didn't have a black line painted on the bottom of it. This is going to be interesting. My only goal is to not be shark bait. At least once I'm done I can cross it off The Bucket List and never ever speak of it again.
Note: The name "9th Annual Daiquiri Deck Tropical Splash Open Water Swim" is blatant false advertising as no Daiquiri's are offered to the swimmers before or after the race. I'm suing!
Lane 1 - Alligator posts "Swimmer arrested Monday on cocaine possession charge. Former Gators swimmer Lily Ramirez, 21, was arrested Monday night for cocaine possession and resisting an officer without violence at the Alachua County Fair Grounds. The drug charge is a third-degree felony and the latter is a first-degree misdemeanor. It is Ramirez’s second arrest since February, and it cost her any future she had with the Gators’ swimming and diving team."
Lane 2 - StarPulse posts "A Jacked Hugh Jackman Swimming In Sydney. We spotted a very fit Hugh Jackman going for a swim in the ocean at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach after an early morning training session yesterday."
Lane 3 - Swimming World posts "Third Annual Rowdy Gaines Classic To Feature Olympic Medalists, SwimmingWorld.TV To Interview Top Swimmers. THIS year's Rowdy Gaines Classic will be held at the YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando, Fla., from Oct. 14-16. Besides featuring the eponymous Olympic legend racing in the short course meters meet and hosting and a free swimming clinic, this year will also bring back a few Olympians to competitive swimming. On his Facebook page recently, Gaines announced that 1988 Olympians Tracey McFarlane (silver, 400 medley relay) and Mitzi Kremer (bronze, 400 free relay) will be racing in their first Masters competitions. Also, two-time Olympic diver Mark Ruiz will step up to the starting block instead of the diving board to compete in a couple of races. Olympic champion Martin Zubero (200 back, 1992) is also on the list of competitors. Zubero is no stranger to Masters swimming. He is a former USMS national record holder in the individual medley and backstroke events. SwimmingWorld.TV's Jeff Commings will attend the meet to conduct interviews with top swimmers and participate in the swimming clinic as he prepares to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials." I will also be swimming at this event but will be struggling just to finish the 200 butterfly.
Lane 4 - Asahi posts "Kitajima overcame self-doubt to get back on podium. During a period of painful self-reflection this summer, Olympic swimming gold-medalist Kosuke Kitajima found himself staring into the abyss. The valuable lessons he learned at the World Championships in July, however, might just help get him one step closer to Olympic gold at his third consecutive Games. At the World Championships in Shanghai, Kitajima almost gave up on himself."
Lane 5 - But how will Lisa over at The Swim Brief ever win the coveted Swim Blogger Award? I mean besides posting shower photos of Damon Albarn? Business Insider posts "The New York Times Lays Off 15 From About.com's Editorial Staff*"
Lane 6 - SI has "Phelps kicks off Olympic training regimen, including time with Ohno. It's still September, and Michael Phelps has already been training for six weeks. He couldn't say that in any of the last three years since his record-setting Beijing Olympics. The 16-time medalist is swimming more yards per week now - 10 months before the London Games - than he ever did in the lead-up to this past summer's world championships."
Lane 7 - Goldcoast has "McEvoy to line up alongside Thorpe. CAMERON McEvoy's dreams of swimming against his idol were crushed when Ian Thorpe retired. But the rising star of Australian sprint swimming will realise his goal after all when he lines up alongside Thorpe in his return World Cup meet."
Lane 8 - Arizona Daily Star posts "Ex-Cat Chandler already has the smile of winner. A few days ago, a film crew from Indianapolis arrived at her house to get some video for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Because Chandler will be at the Pan Am Games on the night of the ceremony, they asked if she would tape an acceptance speech in advance."
It's Wednesday and we are back to swimming down in Leesburg at 5:30am. Which means waking up between 4:15 and 4:30 to leave here by 5. Call me crazy but that is really early to be up in the morning. I was jolted out of bed by my alarm. I think I was in the middle of a great dream. I sorta got my act together before leaving. Once at the pool it was a struggle. The workout via email -
1x500 loosen. Like I said it was a struggle. My arms were sore from yesterday's weight training.
1x300 kick with fins. I didnt' even do legs yesterday and my legs were sore. Guess I'll take Thursday and Friday off from the gym before this weekend shark bait event. (300/800)
6x50 on 1:10 with fins - drill/swim. I actually was thinking of my drills for a change. I actually missed some of the old tedious long driling sets I use to do. (300/1100)
1x300 stretch out swim. I had to do a 350. I was stuggling with this. At first I was okay but the last 150 I was just getting slower and feeling the weight training in my arms. (350/1450)
5x100 descending on 1:40. Okay, I started to bounce back. I was 1:16, 1:15, 1:13, 1:10 and a 1:07. A nice little descend. (500/1950)
3x100 at the fastest pace above on 2:00. I started a bit off with a 1:06 then did back 2 back 1:03's. The first 100 I missed a turn then stupid mistakes in the other 100's. It's all the stuff I should have mastered years ago but still struggling with. Bad turns, breathing first stroke off the wall, gliding into the finish and all the basics. (300/2250)
1x200 pull with paddles and pull buoy breathe every 3. I only did a 150. I was toast. (2400)
4x50 good pace head out the 1st 15 yds. We didn't do this. More like 4x25's working on sighting for this weekends open water swim. (100/2500).
loosen up
That was it. 2,500 yard morning swim. I'm feeling some muscle fatigue after yesterday's last chance gym workout. Push my arms to the breaking point. Figured I have time to recover for the weekend. No expecations about this weekends open water swim besides not being shark bait. With that in mind gotta make sure I don't wear my swim suit that has "Bite Me" written on my ass. But gotta find one of my fun suits. Is it too early for one of my Christmas suits? Was thinking of the Pink Xmas Suit. Pink is always a good choice! And the song in my head today, again was...
(Note: Image from Motor Trend magazine "The 2012 Fiat 500 Pink Ribbon Gives Back to Charity. The stripe’s 500 logo also has a pink ribbon. Inside, the Pink Ribbon continues to use pink accents, albeit subtly. The black leather seats get pink contrast stitching and 500 logos, the floormats get pink embroidery for the 500 logo, and the leather steering wheel gets pink stitching. To top it off, Fiat throws out the 500’s standard black key fob and gives the Pink Ribbon model a white fob with–you guessed it–a pink ribbon painted on the front." As a former Fiat owner I love the 500. Now hopefully Impatto Custom Marketing, Inc./Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP. won't come after me again for being a Fiat Fan / copyright infringement. UPDATE: No sooner do I type Impatto Custom Marketing, Inc. then I read on Autoblog "Fiat 500 sales in U.S. not meeting expectations amidst marketing meltdown. .Fiat has dumped its main advertising agency, Impatto, a small Southfield, Michigan-based firm that previously employed Laura Soave, who is now serving as Fiat's North American CEO. According to the report, Soave herself hired the Impatto back in January, and the ad industry rumormill has her on the hot seat for the failed relationship." Schadenfreude!)
