the17thman

WANT! Swim Schleppbag

Spending too much time on Pinterest but I want this... via trumpette

The 17 Days Of Swimming. Day Seventeen - My Swim Bag Wish List

Well due my bad planning this really is Day 18 since I had two Day 5's in a row.  Opps!  So I've listed 17 Swim Related things that I've used in the last year but now it's time for a few Swim Thingies that I want!

Lane 1.  Forearm Paddles from Athlete Approved - "The Forearm paddles are specially designed to help swimmers understand how to use a high-elbow catch. They can be used for all four strokes. The paddles start at the fingers and go down to the forearm. They are perfect for beginners to elite athletes to teach and reinforce technique. They are also great to building strength in the upper body."  19.99 USD Available at AthleteApproved.com

Lane 2.  Sporti Training Swim Fins from Swim Oulet. - "Soft, flexible, and comfortable enough to log countless hours in the pool, the Sporti Training fins are a must have for your swimming workouts. Featuring a short blade, these fins won't overstrain your muscles so you can focus on a proper kick to propel you through the water as fast as possible. Each fin size has its own distinct color, so there's no wasting time finding your perfect fit.

• 2-toned
• Shorter blade to aid proper kicking form
• Each size has its own distinct blade color
• Flexible foot pocket
• Closed ankle provides extra support
• Fins float to the surface
• Easy on and off
• Sizing is based on men's shoe sizes
• 100% Rubber
• Imported"

Why these?  Well a swim mate of mine wears them and I tried them on.  They seems to be a lot more comfortable then my Yellow/Golden Zoomers.  Or course now these won't match the color of my paddles or d-band but alas color is good!  Available at SwimOulet.com

Lane 3.  TYR Men's Full Zip Event Hoodie.  "Men's Full Zip Event Hoodie offers warmth without bulk. Built for the elements, this sweatshirt features a banded bottom and banded cuffs to block cold air, an attached 3-Piece Hood for coverage and front hand warmer pockets for warmth. Inspired by the raw ambition of sport, The Event Zip Up Sweatshirt is designed for people who like making themselves stronger, faster and more comfortable. The perfect go-to piece when the competition has ended."  65.99 USD Available at tyr.com

Lane 4. Mesh Equipment Bag.  I don't know why I don't have someone so practical and so cheap but I don't own a Mesh Equipment Bag.   SwimOutlet.com has Speedo Mesh Equipment Bag is assorted solid colors.  With its comfortable and sturdy Nylon shoulder straps, this ventilated mesh equipment bag will be a pleasure to carry no matter how full you stuff it.   If you need more then just a splash of color Splish.com has some great designs including my personal favorite!

Lane 5.  LifeProof Case. A LifeProof case for my iPhone 4S.  I'd like one for my iPad Mini but they don't have one yet.  Why?  So I can film underwater of course!  Plus I wouldn't be afraid using it on the pool deck.

Lane 6. FINIS Freestyle Snorkel.  Another item that has been on my Wish List for several years.  But between buying new swim suits, goggles and other daily must haves the snorkel is always on the wish list.  "The front-mounted Freestyle Snorkel is the first snorkel designed specifically for freestylers. The new design allows triathletes, sprinters and long-distance freestylers to achieve a lower head position to further optimize body position and achieve faster times." - SwimOutlet.com  Maybe this will be the year I break down and buy one.  Check more at finisinc.com

Lane 7.  Arena PADDLEBALL OL.  Living in Florida we don't have many really cold mornings but when we do I have my Swim Parka.  But what about those almost cold mornings?  I don't really have much which is why I'm wishing for the Arena PADDLEBALL OL this holiday season.  It seems to be unisex but like that really matters.  What matters is that it is a hoodie!  Which is great to cover pre-workout just out of bed head and post-workout my hair is wet!  It only comes in black but that is a good thing so it'll look clean after a few Gatorade spills.  Available at arenausa.com 90 USD.

Lane 8.  Athletic Foodie Kitchen Apron.  Come on and show your support for the Athletic Foodie with this cool apron.  Real Olympic Medals Sold Separately.  Sold via Facebook.

I could list about 100 small items from specific books, swim clinics, iOS apps and tons of gadgets but enough is enough for me.  So what about you feel free to comment on your Holiday Wish List Swim Items!

The 17 Days Of Swimming. Day Sixteen - Mission Skincare

Between swimming, running, spinning and gym going my skin and hair take a beating.  To combat all this heavy wear and tear I use various Mission Skincare products. 

When running or spinning I prepare for a long workout with 5-Hour Anti-Chafe Cream.  All that moving can slowly torture you during a workout and the silicone and tea-tree oil-based 5-Hour Anti-Chafe Cream is perfect for preventing chaffing and irritations. 

When running or swimming outdoors I reach for two sunscreen products.  First off is the SPF 30 No Sting Sunscreen Facestick.  You just rub the facestick and go.  It's UV/UVB coverage is clinical proven not to sting eyes.  Which is important while out running!  Next up is the Sun Deafeated Continious Spray 50.  Fast-drying, no-rub and no-mess.  No more asking a stranger on deck to "rub it in". 

After the shower I got two more products before I'm done.  First off the Rejuvenating Face Moisturizer.  Oil-free formula!  Rejuvenating Face Moisturizer contains Aloe, extract of Ginger Root, Ginseng, Lemon Peel, Rosehip, Grapefruit and Jojoba.  After a workout in the water and in the sun this is like a slice of heaven!  Up next Food Rehab Cream.  After a run or a spin my feet are tired.  Foot Rehab Cream brings them back to life.  It's Deoplex and Pepermint oil also help control odor and soothe hot, tired feet. 

That is my daily regiment.  Mission Skincare has a lot more workout related skincare products no matter what sport you play.  Hey, if it's good enough for Olympian Amanda Beard it's good enough for you and I.

Meet Olympic Gold Medalist and Mission Athlete Partner Amanda Beard.

www.missionathletecare.com

The 17 Days Of Swimming. Day Fifteen - The Gift of Books

Simple right?  There must be a ton of books on swimmers?  Yes and no.  But with the help of some swimming elfs from a few years ago here is a list of some swim books.  It's not a complete list so if you know of any more feel free to list the title and author in the comments.  Thanks!

Petria Thomas    Against the Tide
Dara Torres    Age is just a number
Gertrude Ederle     America's Girl
Michael Phelps    An Epic Olympic Journey
Michael Phelps    Beneath the Surface
Greg Louganis    Breaking the Surface
Lois Ruskai Melina    By a Fraction of a Second
Summer Sanders    Champions Are Raised, Not Born
Ryk Neethling    Chasing the Dream
Steve Clark    Competitive swimming as I see it
Mark Spitz    Complete Book of Swimming
Don Schollander    Deep Water
Donna de Verona    Donna de Varona Gold Medal Swimmer
Natalie Coughlin    Golden Girl
Don Schollander    Inside Swimming
Kieren Perkins    Kieren Perkins
Sam Riley    Life of Riley
Don Talbot    Nothing but the best
Jeff Commings    Odd Man Out
W Hodding Carter    Off the Deep End
Susie O'Neill    Our Champion
Penny Heynes    Penny Heynes
Mark Spitz    Seven Golds
Jeff Farrell    Six days to swim
Pauline Maroney    Susie: A Mothers Story
Don Gambril    Swimmer And Team
G Leyshon    Swimmers
Rosemary Freas    Swimming Just for Laughs
Johnny Weissmuller    Swimming the American crawl
Lynn Cox    Swimming to Antarctica
Sherm Chavoor    The 50-meter jungle
Captain Webb    The Art of Swimming
Doc Counsilman    The Complete Book of Swimming
Kathy Watson    The Crossing
Ken Knox    The Dawn of Swimming
Ian Thorpe    The Journey
Bernard Bede Kieran    The Sobraon Wonder
Michael Phelps    The Untold Story of a Champion
Tracey Wickham    Treading Water
Shane Gould    Tumble Turns
Haley Scot    What Though The Odds
Brooke Hanson    When Silver is Gold
Nadine Neumann    Wobbles

The 17 Days Of Swimming. Day Fourteen - TYR Hydrofoil Kickboard

I hate kicking, I hate kicking, I hate kicking!  I know it's good for me but I still hate kicking.  Long before I was teaching a billion spinning classes a week I wasn't a big fan of kicking.  Now that I teach spinning I don't want to kick at all.  But since I know it's good for me I recently decided to purchase a kickboard.  The all new TYR Hydrofoil Kickboard.  Why?  Because of this video…


More from TYR.com

•  Designed for Elite Athletes, the Hydrofoil Kickboard Offers a Very Natural Body Position While Training
•  The Convex Base Promotes a Natural Roll With Your Hips, Torso and Shoulders Through the Water, Making for a Very Realistic Kicking Experience
•  Hand Cutouts Provide Proper Placement for Extended Arms

I gotta admit I'm always on the hunt for new swim things to make my workouts more enjoyable and easier.  Just watching this video I could hear years of coaches words in my head about body rotating and all that stuff.  So I went to the TYR site right away.  But at that time they had no "Add To Cart" button so I emailed them waiting to see if the kickboard was yet available.  After a week without hearing anything from TYR I headed over to the good folks at SwimOutlet.com and ordered it.  And what do I think?

Well the one thing I noticed off the bat is how light it is and how small it is.  Which is what I like when I'm digging for a kickboard in the kickboard pile.  Recently the pool got these longer dense kickboards and since they are new everyone likes them.  Me I am always going back to the storage room and looking for the smaller older kickboards.  For as much as I hate kicking I know what I like in a kickboard. 

How Does It Feel In The Water?  Light!  It was super comfortable just kicking away.  I was swimming or kicking a bit more then usual and faster then I like (the workout) and the board  just always felt great.  Goldilocks would have approved!  It's light enough and strong enough so that you can swoop it like a big fin when you get to the wall (pulling but that would be cheating so call it swooping) the board is also perfect for when you push off underwater streamline with the kickboard. Some kickboards bend and just feel awkward when swooping and stream lining but the Hydrofoil held up strong.

Because it is convex it makes it easier to keep a slight body roll while you kick.  With regular flat boards you kick flat or you try to roll your body only to tweak your lower back. So in theory it should help me with my bodyroll or to develop a bodyroll in my swim.

Now this board won't make me a fan of kicking anytime soon but it did make it a lot more comfortable. 

And with the shape and it's color black it just looks so cool like a stealth airplane.  So it's got the coolness factor.  Now only if they could add in little jets to make me faster!

If you think the Hydrofoil is the kickboard for you head on over to SwimOulet.com to buy it!