Tuesday, October 15, 2013

October 15th - Riva

4000 at the pool.
600 w/u
mini pyramid 25-50-75-100-75-50-25 (1:30 base)

4x25; 4x50; 4x75 - 1:30 base
2x50; 2x100; 2x150 1:30 base
100; 200; 300 1:25 base

4 x 150 stroke sandwich on 2:30
8x75 kick sandwich on 1:15

October 12 -13 Deep Creek Search for Colder Water

This past weekend I ventured to Deep Creek Maryland to try to find colder water for some training swims. Alison Meehan, Janet Manning, Darren Miller, and his friend Max all met up at Jim Clifford's house. Jim was very gracious to offer his lake house as a home base for our swims.

Saturday Afternoon - Water Temperature 63.5. Air tem mid- 60s.Swim length: 90 mins.
Janet, Alison and I all swam. Darren and Max paddled and Darren joined us swimming at the end.  I was a little apprehensive because I had in my mind that I had no issue at all down to 65 degrees but that the work was going to begin below that. It was an arbitrary number but it stuck in my head. So when the thermometer read 63.5 I was a little worrisome. However, I know I need to get comfortable down below 60 so I was ready to begin. To my surprise, I entered the water with no problem and began swimming without issue. I felt a little cold at first but nothing dramatic. Of course, the more I swam the warmer I got and I soon was totally comfortable. At no point did I feel cold challenged. After I finished I got out on the dock and stood without drying off in my speedo. I wanted to see how my body did with recovery and didn't want to immedately wrap myself up. At no point did I get violent shivers or feel extreme cold. Eventually I dressed and warmed up steadily. When we returned to the house I did succumb to peer pressure and get into the hot tub and have a beer.

Sunday morning - We ventured out about 10 am. When we got to the dock the temperature read 62.5. Air temp low 60's. Swim Length again 90 mins. Janet and I swam first with Darren and Alison paddling. Alison got in at halfway point and swam 2 miles with us. I could feelt he water was colder. Janet said she felt warm but I definitely could feel a brief cold headache when I first got in. But again once I got going I felt fine. There was a little wind so the water was a tiny bit choppy. That made the swim more interesting. When we finished our first loop, Darren got in and we all waded around a little. He suggested I just float and get used to the cold without moving. So I floated and could definitely feel my body getting cold but it was still manageable. After 10 minutes or so of floating I swam a few more laps close to the dock and got out. Again I did not rush to bundle up. I felt a little shivery but did not have any trouble warming up once I got dressed.

All in all, it was a successful and reassuring swim. I know I have a lot of work to do with much colder temperatures but it was good to know I was able to push the bar a little farther down without much trouble. Of course 90 minutes is not enough time to gauge by either but it is a start. I plan on swimming in colder water as long as I can this fall. Thanks to Janet for putting this trip together and to Alison for supporting me by paddling yet again. Glad she got some swimming in too. It was great to meet Darren and his advice was really appreciated.

Friday, October 11, 2013

October 11th

Friday workout at Riva
1000 wu;
400 swim; 2x200; 4x100
300pull;2x150; 4x75
200IM; 2x100IM; 4 x 50 IM order
100 kick; 2x50 kick; 4x25 kick
Pushed hard on the 400 and 300 sets. Shoulder good!!
All free sets on 1:30 base.

Followed work out with 2 x 1000 on my own

6000yds total

October 9th - OW

Magothy swim - 2.00 mi. Kevin and I went a little longer than the others. Staying darker longer. Start at 6am and swim in dark and sunrise. 67 degrees. Windy 10-15mph. choppy (for the Magothy)

October 8th - Pool Swim

Back to Riva for 4000yds in the pool in 80 minutes. 1000 w/u ; 8x50 on :50; 6x150 stroke sandwich; 200 kick; 4x200 on 3mins; 4 x 125 IM; 200 cool down
Felt good in the pool. Shoulder doing very well. Was able to push some sets for the first time in a while.

Skipped Monday because got home from trip late (yes lazy)

College Visit to See Nora Oct. 4-6th.

Friday - Sunday took a long weekend to visit Nora in Providence. Kept thinking about the cooler water I could jump into but this was a family time outing :)

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Thursday, October 3rd - Riva Swim

4000 yds in the pool. I was beat from yoga the night before. Arms fatigued and tight. But I hung in there. 1000 warm up. Followed by a 2000 yard set of 100s and a broken 1000 set (the Erin 1000).

Wednesday, October 2nd - Yoga night

Tough class once again. Lots of Chair Pose, Eagle, Triangle and Half Moon Pose. Core and legs were beat. Guess thats good though.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Wednesday, October 2nd

Back in the Magothy.
2 miles from Laura's to Ulmsted beach. Kevin with me again. One jelly sting by the Big Unit dock. Water temp 69. Air 65...WTF? Indian Summer I guess. Shoulder feels fine. A little tight in general but no shoulder issue.
Skipped the hot tub in favor of a nice cold outdoor shower. Yay.

Tuesday, October 1st - Riva

Back to the pool for a workout. Captain Andy's call. 600 w/u and then sets of 5x300; 5x200; 5x100 (all broken in quarters, halves, whole). 4000 with the team. Then I stayed after and did 2 x 1000 on my own. Maureen kept me company for second 1000.
Total: 6000yds.

Monday, September 30th

Morning swim at Laura's. Kevin was hanging with me and we decided to go a little longer. Water temp 68. Air a warm 60. Went about 2.5 miles. Calm water. Hot tub after. Lelane, Alison and Maureen say no more hot tub for me. Ugh.

Saturday, September 28th - Night Swim

Night Swim in the Magothy
Addie Welch graciously allowed me to swim from her beach on the Magothy and Alison M. once again agreed to support me. We set out from Addie's at about 7:30. There was little moonlight and lots of speeding boats in the main channel. We were going to swim side by side equipped with beacons but the boat traffic and low visibility led to a change of plans. We returned to the dock shortly after starting out and Alison jumped in a kayak and paddled with me for the entire trip. We clipped her light on the kayak and I sighted off of that. We swam along the shore and across Deep Creek and then along the opposit shore to Laura's house. The roundtrip with initial false start was about 3 miles. Water temp still a warm 68-69. Air temp a little chilly but very manageable.
Thanks Alison