30Apr11

Still have my cold but could not deal with having 4 days off of swimming so I went and did 2500.
I had to get SOMETHING in today.
Arms felt great but lungs were clearly hurting from chest cold still.  Did 50 laps easy then got out.  Lungs are tired but body feels fine.

28Apr11

I will be doing no swim today.
I felt my nose drying out during my swim yesterday and it was getting steadily worse as the night progressed.  I woke up at midnight unable to breath and my head weighing about 50 lbs.  I couldn't even get back to sleep until 6 which only gave me 40 minutes until I had to get up for work.
My plan is to finish work, finish cutting my backyard then go to BED!!!

GL to all who do the GSL swim this afternoon.

27Apr11

Ladders today.  Up to 700, repeat, then back down.
Total was 10,500

Felt MUCH better than yesterday.  I got "tired" around 7k-8k like I normally do but pushed through it and felt good when I finished.  I was just REALLY hungry during most of the swim.  I think I need to look into increasing my daily intake of food and increasing my calories again.

26Apr11

I had to find the silver lining today.

I did a 1000 warmup then just did 200 swim and 50 breast repeats over and over till I hit 5000 yards.  My total was 5k.  I felt TERRIBLE today.  I had no energy and at times I felt like my arms were filled with sand.  I really have no idea why I felt like this.  Was it lack of sleep from past 2 nights, bad diet, taking Monday off, etc???  What was it?? 
Well I just kept making myself "go through the motions" of swimming as I pathetically moved towards 100 laps.  The ONLY positive thing I could get out of today is that despite how miserable and slow I was, I kept making myself keep going and so if I'm ever feeling REALLY worn out on a long swim in open water, at least I can use this as "experience" that I can keep moving on despite how I feel.
If I feel like this again tomorrow, I might be in some trouble!

25Apr11

Day off today.
LONG weekend with family and my mother being in town.  THEN Patricia is sick as can be so I'm takig care of kids today.  Did yardwork so oh well on swim today.

23Apr11

10,000 straight!!!  I broke the 10k barrier!!!  Hooray for me.
I got pretty tired at 7k but kept trugging along and at 8k I got a 2nd wind and I think I actually picked up some speed for my last 1500.  My arms are tired but I feel GREAT!!!

22Apr11

Just did 2500 today.
1000 WU
2 x 200 (50K, 100 swim, 50K)
100 breast
1000 swim

The first 1000 I felt like invisible bricks were tied to my ankles.  Shoulders were still feeling it a bit from my 9100 2 days ago.  Just wanted to get SOMETHING in today.  I'm planning on at least 9k tomorrow and depending on how I feel when I hit 9k, I might add another 1000....we'll see!

21Apr11

I took the day off.  Between family funeral, and several other engagements throughout the day, I felt it was best to just rest a day and be supportive to my wife during this difficult time.

20Apr11

ladders today  by 50 up to 650 then repeat back down.
I got REAL tired at 8000 but made myself continue anyway.
Glad I did but I'm paying for it now and even walking is taking some effort because my endocrine system is SHOT!
I did finish with 9100 yards.  Very happy with this.  One more week and I'll break the 10k barrier!!!

Even though she doesn't read this, I'm VERY thankful for my wife allowing me the time each day to swim.  She is training for a marathon but normally does her running at night so I can swim during the day while she watches the kids.  I know it's a sacrifice and I can't thank her enough for the support that she gives me by little things like that.

19Apr11

1000 warmup
1000 by kick 50 swim 100 kick 50 repeat
3x1000 with only 10 sec rest between sets for drink.

5000 total

18Apr11

5000 today.  Met with my friend Gords and had him watch and film my stroke.  Felt good to swim with someone I know again.  It's been awhile and normally I'm in there solo and it just makes it a bit easier to keep going when you are doing sets with someone else.  Another benefit is that the time seemed to go by faster.  I paced myself with him once and awhile and I could keep up with him as long as he had not decided it was enough and dropped me like I was treading water!
Overall it was a good swim and a good start for this weeks workouts.

16Apr11

8000 straight today.  Stopped every 2k for food and drink and short break.
Total time was 2 hrs and 22 min.

15Apr11

4500 straight today.  Just got in and did 90 laps nice and easy

14Apr11

My shoulders were NOT happy with me this morning.  If they could talk they would have said things to me they would have to repent for later!
I did get to try my new toy.  I got the electronic finger counter because I'm tired of using my water bottles and keeping track in my head.  I'd rather think about my stroke, sing songs, or day-dream about butterflies.....or ZOMBIES!
Anyhow  500 for warmup
Taking the idea from Gords, I mixed in some back. 
500 back mixing in breast randomly.
500 swim
150 CD
1650 total.  HA.  What a joke for distance but I got to pool late and didn't want to push it too much and cause injury from overworking muscles.  When I got out I felt like I had not done anything at all.  I remember when I used to think swimming a mile was "long distance".  Now it's literally laughable to me.  I like that.

13Apr11

ladders today by 50 up to 600 then back down. 
That is 7800....well I couldn't stop there could I??
Added another 200 for 8000 total.
HEAR THAT GORDS??  Distance wise, I'm coming for YOU!  LOL
2 more weeks and I'll be at 10k swims!
My arms felt like tar the last 1000 though  :(

btw, I just did the math and I'm now at 106,000 yards so far for this year in training.  WOOOOT!!!

12Apr11

I fasted half the day yesterday for a medical exam in the afternoon.  I then ate "less than healthy" for dinner.  I paid for it today.  I had very little energy and I kept thinking, "You eat crap, you feel like it!"

WU was 300 swim, 200 kick, 200 pull, 200 swim
Main was 4 x 150
2 x 300
2 x 200
400
4 x 250
CD was 600
4500 total 

I need to discipline myself better on my dinner diet!

11Apr11

Got up at 0515 to get my swim in early today.  Apparently my body decided to sleep for most of my swim today and I definitely felt like it.

1000 warmup
500 pull
5 x 200 kick
5 x 200 (50 kick, 100 swim, 50 kick)
500 swim
4000 total   I got the yards in but felt the workout was pretty useless considering how my body was moving and my level of motivation.

OK  Something else has been bothering me that hopefully writing it down will help ease the anger.

1. I have NO problem with fat women swimming.  I never make fun of fat people working out because you never know how far they have already come along or if this is the first day of them turning their life aruond.  If you are a woman and weigh 250 lbs, I will gladly share a land and watch you swim 1/5 MPH.  All I ask is that you DON'T WEAR A BIKINI!!!
2.  For the love of Pete, it's a POOL, not a Relief Society or Elders Quarum meeting.  You are there to SWIM.  Don't stack 2-4 people at the end of the land then stand there TALKING for 10 minutes at a time all the while refusing to MOVE when I approach to do a turn.  You are only tempting me to flip turn late so I kick you in the face!
3. Old Women - Wash that HORRIBLE perfume off that is actually chocking me while I'm trying to breath!  I have no idea what body odor you are trying to cover but if it takes 1/2 bottle of your perfume to cover it, you might want to see a Dr. about it.
4. There is a lap section (CLEARLY marked by lane lines) and a WADING section. (The big open area outside of lane lines)  Please learn what each one is for!
5. If you physically dive OVER the Do Not Dive sign for your entry, you are RETARDED!  We have enough handicapped people taking all the good parking.  Don't need to add more becuase of stupidity.

Please add to this list of grievances as you wish.

8Apr11

7050 straight today.  That = exactly 4 miles!  Took me about 700 to warm up then I found a good comfortable stride.  Never really felt bad at any point.  I knew I was getting tired but still kept good pace throughout.  I did throw some breast in there once in awhile for 50 just to mix it up some.
Stopped every 2k for food and drink as usual.  Found 2 new food items I can eat that help sustain energy.
140 laps in the pool can get pretty boring....I'm very much looking forward to warmer lakes so I can do some real swims.

7Apr11

Thanks to Gords, I was reminded about the Summer Games records for swimming.  I had actually forgotten that I'd set a couple.  That won't be happening again this year since all I'm focusing on is long distance. 
On that note, I"m also seriously considering taking the day off from working out.  I think my body needs a break for a day.  I'll clean my shed and do some house work and count that for exercise.  :)

6Apr11

ladders by 50 up to 500 then back down

5500 total

5Apr11

500 for warmup
5x 100 (25 drill 25 swim 25 drill 25 swim)
10 x 200 - breast or back on 3rd 50 for 50
9 x 100 Odd = kick 25, swim 50, kick 25
             Even = Swim but breathe every 4 or 5 strokes
2 x 50 slow CD

4000 Total
Shoulders were not really into it today.  I kept going but motivation and body was not there.  Too much on my mind I suppose. 
Looking forward to the lake this afternoon.  Hopefully my shoulders will have decided to get with the program by then....AND....hopefully the lake is above 55 degrees.

My hoping was fruitless.  The water temp was 48-49 and the wind was blowing pretty good with very cold wind chill.  I was NOT looking forward to getting in the lake this afternoon.  When I got to the dock and was getting ready, the ONLY reason that I decided to get in was because it was my idea to change the lake swim to Tuesday and that would seem real idiotic of me to do that and not go through with it!
Once I got in, I felt the same pain and shock that I did the first time.  I suffered through it and started to breaststroke but every time I went to breathe, water splashed into my face from the choppy water.  I even inhaled some droplets into my lungs a couple of times.  THAT was fun.
I changed to the side stroke as I watched Josh and his brother pass by me.  I was about halfway done when I spotted Gords swimming by with at least 90% speed to get himself the hell out of the lake.  :)
When I was done, I got no adrenaline rush, no sense of "accomplishment" and no other feeling besides being freezing cold and miserable.  I'm sure my face showed it.  I swim to have fun and enjoy myself.  I found no joy in the swim this afternoon.  For some reason, it hurt more than previous swims.  Others seemed to agree.

If the lake is that cold and miserable again, I can't say for sure if I'll be going back in until it is warmer and I can actually swim.  These 200 yards of breaststroke while hurting and hating life at the moment isn't worth it anymore for now.  I need a REAL open water swim.......There!, Bitching session over.  :P

4Apr11

600 for warmup
4 x (50 1 arm L down and R back, 50 kick, then 100 swim)
2x400 NS
6 x 100 50 Med, 50 Hard
6x100 pull steady and strong, focus on follow through
2x100 easy then 50 easy and 50 breast

3700 total

It went by FAST and I truly felt like I had just started and could do the whole thing over again.  I'm glad to be at the point where a mile is a joke to me and now it seems 2 miles is just as easy.  I hope it continues this way!

2Apr11

Did 6000 straight today.  I felt GREAT!  Stopped every 2000 for hydration and food trials.  Learned that taking a bit of banana and eating it makes me sick 500 yards later.  Taking a bite and mushing it in my mouth until it's baby food THEN swallowing is ok.

Finished entire swim including eating breaks in 1:47.
 Felt really good when done.  I'm feeling more confident about my upcoming swims and any doubts about finishing them are slowly going away.

1Apr11

WU 300 then 100 drill 200 swim 100 drill 100 swim 100 drill
500 Neg split
3x100 Descending by 100
300 NS
2 x 100 Desc
100 NS
100 Fast
CD 200
2600 Total