8Jan14

Alarm went off at 0430.  I turned it off and said to myself, "Rest Day".  I laid back down and instead of seeing myself falling back asleep, I got a CRYSTAL CLEAR picture of the USMS FLOG page in my head and how there would be a missing spot for this week.  I immediately got out of bed...NOPE!  The thought of an empty spot scared me too much.

5 x 200 (1,3,5 swim 2 kick, 4 drill)
3 x 200 Not hitting the times I want.  Was not happy but not doing to get down on myself considering it is still the first week
50 easy
2 x 200 pull
50 easy
2 x 200 swim with snorkel
50 easy
2 x 200 pull with snorkel
50 easy
200 HARD. I hit 2:43 Decent time
100 hard.  Got 1:12
50 hard. Got :29
Did easy 50's until my lap counter hit the number 70.

I did something today that I felt an IMMEDIATE impact when I did it.  When I did my 200,100, and 50 hard.  When I was done, I was gasping for air.  I did not let myself get full breaths.  I put my snorkel in my mouth and put my face in the water.  I was able to breathe but it was limited.  I could still feel my lungs "flexing" for air even though I was breathing.  I was getting air just in limited amounts.  It was really tough but holy cow I know my lungs were opening up!  Great way to raise your oxygen threshold.

3500 SCY

7Jan14

Easy day today.  I wasn't physically ready for the 114 x 50 on New Years Day but I did see a 114 x 25 workout on a board by the pool.  Looked fun.
All of these are by 10 x 25:
Free
Drill
Fly
Back
Breast
Free
Kick
1 Min Rest
Pull -Kept buoy at ankles.
1 Min Rest
Free on :35
Free on :30
Free on :25
Last 4 x 25 was on the :20.  I missed the last one by a second.
I then did 6 x 25 with the snorkel.

Only been a week and I'm at 18,000 yards total for the year.  I'm 2% to my goal of 500 miles for the year.  OH YEAH!!!
3000 SCY

6Jan14

Up at 0430.  As I arrived at the pool and was about to get out of my car, a thought came to me.  I even spoke out loud.  "Am I really doing this?  Am I really starting this AM routine again"?
Yes, yes  I am!
I still am forcing myself to not go nuts on the distance or effort right now.  2 weeks of just stroke work and 80% effort for top effort on sets.  I want to do 5k-6k yards per workout with tons of intense intervals but I'm pretty sure my muscles aren't ready for that and I run too high a risk of getting a stupid injury.  Just swim to swim, work on technique, and in 2 weeks I'll start cranking it up.  You don't wear full pads and take full speed tackles the first day of football season so I'm not going to go all out when I'm at the beginning of my swim season either.

3 x (100 swim, 50 K, 100 pull)
4 x 75 pull  buoy at knees
4 x 75 DPS
8 x 100 on the 1:45 - I actually had to put some effort into a few of these to make 1:30
100 easy
100 kick
2 x 100 pull breathing 3-5-3
750 with snorkel
200 CD

I got out feeling like I had done a workout but not completely physically wasted.  I'm focusing a LOT of my workout on stroke work and feeling good mentally when I'm done more than being physically tired.  There will be PLENTY of kick my butt workouts coming up.  For now I'm happy working on stroke and feeling proud of myself when I'm done.  I also need to get myself back into the routine of waking up at 0430 each day!  As my friend Sue has told me a few times the past week, the first 2 weeks back are the hardest.  Yeah, no S**T!

3500 SCY

4Jan13

Saturday usually equals longer day.
I decided to do a "longer" day of 5k.  This is usually a normal workout distance but I'm not going to let myself go nuts and injure myself.
 Ladders by 50 up to 500 then back down
I mixed in some kicking and did all snorkel on the first 450, 500, and the 2nd 300.
I felt pretty good.  My right shoulder hurt a bit going back down but I pushed through it.
Got out feeling tired but VERY happy mentally.

5000  SCY

3Jan14

Shoulder was still sore when my alarm went off this morning.  I slept until work then decided to swim after work.  I normally HATE swimming after work but I'm trying to make a point to swim SOMETHING each day.
10 x 50 on the minute.  I hit :39 - :40 on each
500 with snorkel
500 easy

1500 SCY total

2Jan14

I need to start getting in the habit of waking up early and swimming before work again.  I knew my right shoulder was not 100% yet so I was only going to do 2000.
500 WU
500 swim with snorkel
25 kick then 50 swim repeated 6 times then 50 free
5 x 50 fly
250 free CD
The fly was tougher than expected.  I need to keep in mind that I'm really out of shape and I'm dragging an extra 30 lbs I don't need.  My stroke is bad and inefficient.  I am currently talking with 2 marathon butterfly swimmers and will get workouts and help from them.  I was just doing the fly wondering, which way should I breathe?, pull under or on sides?, how strong should my kick be?, etc.  Holy Hell this is TOUGH!  I have a LONG road ahead of me.  Did I bite off more than I could chew?

2000 SCY

1Jan14 - Humble Pie

I will admit that I have been eating a ton of junk the last few days.  I an use the holidays as an excuse but my diet hasn't been really good the past 2 months.  I have taken Nov and Dec off to let my body and brain rest form swimming and get ready for a new year.
I decided to join Sue with the KEARNS Masters for the New Years Day swim.  114 x 50 workout.  Sounded fun.
It was nice to be back and fun to be swimming with friends again.
I got in and was in the :55 lane.  I was going to start each 50 on the :55.  Not too bad.  I must have been too cocky or thinking I was in shape enough to handle this.....WRONG.
10 x 50 free - easy
10 x 50 fly - starting to struggle
10 x 50 back - falling behind
10 x 50 breast - got lapped ( was too far behind to make the time)
10 x 50 free - was ok
1 min rest
10 x 50 kick - had fins on but legs started to cramp after a few.  Had to skip one
10 x 50 pull - right shoulder started to hurt and my stroke COMPLETELY fell apart.  I only made a few of these when I knew it was time to be done.  I could push it but I might injure myself.  1st day back in 2 months, lets not be dumb.
There was more to the workout but I was DONE.
I figure I did at least 3000 so I'm comfortable saying 3k.  Not bad for my first day back.  I was able to skip breakfast this morning because my stomach was so full from humble pie.
It was fun being back but a reality check that I'm back at the beginning again.

3000 SCY