SWIMFEST!!
Some friends and people on Facebook organized a Christmas swimfest for people around the GSL area to get together and swim. I decided to go early because I wanted to get some more yards in and I knew Gords would be there.
I got there and sure enough, there he was. I got in and warmed up a bit and then after about 400, Gords asked if I wanted to do a set with him. We did 10x100 on the 2 min. I was happy that I held 1:27 pace through the first 9 consistently. The 10th I kept pace with Gords and we hit 1:18. I was cooked after this. I rested a bit then swam some more slow laps as people arrived at 0930. We did some small short sets then some IM sets. I did 50 fly 3 times which actually surprised me a bit. We then did some fast and slow kicking drills. The last thing we did were some relays. I haven't done relays in awhile and it was really fun for me. There were 3 men and about 7 women. We were all having a really good time.
After the swim, there was a water slide I could NOT resist. They turned it on for us then Josh went first and filmed himself all the way down then we all went down right after each other at a quick interval. Probably not the safest but it was fun.
We also all got some GREAT new swim caps with candy canes on them.
When all was done I had swam 2950 yards. Not bad!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
17Dec11
Went to the pool after work today and did an easy 1000. I did mix in some fly, back and breast in the workout. I realized that my main point of focus for now is to get back in the habit of swimming regularly as I slowly increase the yards.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
14Dec11
I have found the motivation to swim! I've been struggling with motivation lately to swim and get my butt in gear. Yesterday Gordon told me about a swim camp in California and the details sounded AMAZING. I knew space was limited since there are going to be some serious world class swimmers going. I got a hold of Jaimie Patrick who runs it and asked if a spot could be saved for me.
I got a call today from him saying that not only had a spot for me been saved but for my friends Gords and Josh too! I can not express how excited I was. Gords posted that he was so excited he was so excited he was shaking! I am so worked up over being able to swim with some world class swimmers that I felt like THIS.
So now I have real motivation to get my lazy ass to the pool and take my training from Marcia seriously. I can NOT show up with these people and look like a chump around them. I'm not going to embarrass myseself or the Utah swimmers I "roll with" like that.
Granted, I do have surgery next week and that will keep me out of the water until the stitches are removed but after that I'm going at it hardcore again.
I did get 1000 in today...not much but I wanted to get a feel of enjoying my swim more than worrying about cranking out yards...that will come soon enough!
I got a call today from him saying that not only had a spot for me been saved but for my friends Gords and Josh too! I can not express how excited I was. Gords posted that he was so excited he was so excited he was shaking! I am so worked up over being able to swim with some world class swimmers that I felt like THIS.
So now I have real motivation to get my lazy ass to the pool and take my training from Marcia seriously. I can NOT show up with these people and look like a chump around them. I'm not going to embarrass myseself or the Utah swimmers I "roll with" like that.
Granted, I do have surgery next week and that will keep me out of the water until the stitches are removed but after that I'm going at it hardcore again.
I did get 1000 in today...not much but I wanted to get a feel of enjoying my swim more than worrying about cranking out yards...that will come soon enough!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
8Dec11
Another week in the WFPBC in the books! I can't get there any earlier than 1630 and that is normally when Gords and Josh are getting in. I got a text from Josh asking if I was coming and when I called him back to tell him I was doing 90 MPH on I-80, he didn't pick up.
I arrived to see Josh already in a towel and Gords coming in. I'll admit I was a tiny bit disappointed that I wasn't there when they got in. There's just something nice about us all getting miserable at the same time I guess. I did, FOR ONE SECOND, foolishly think that maybe they'll just call it good and I might skip this week. Unfortunately at that EXACT second I had that thought, Gords yells, "You're up bro"! I have been sick the past few days and knew I wouldn't actually go for a swim but rather just get in and splash around some. I quickly stripped naked in front of the entire Wasatch Valley and put on my Speedo and goggles. Josh filmed me running into the water then diving under. Once I was under I turned around and started heading out. All I wanted to do considering how I felt was accomplished. If I had felt better, I would have stayed in for at least a minute like I normally do but I was okay with just 20 seconds...if that! The temp was just under 40. Ahhhh nice and COLD!
Gords, Josh, and I are getting a little "weary" of being the only ones that show up each week. Granted, what we do is EXTREMELY painful but there is something to it that brings satisfaction as a swimmer that we wish others could experience. I don't mind so much that people don't show but what I DO mind is when people are asking when we meet, say they'll be there or try to be there, and then it's just the 3 of us as usual. If people don't want to come then it's fine. Just don't "pretend" you'd ever do it then not show up. That is what is bugging me so much and I'm sure it's at least a part of what bugs Josh and Gords too. Gords is even offering a cash prize "bribe" and I'm seriously considering contributing also.
I feel a sense of pride lately when I wear my WFPBC hoodie because I know I've paid the price for it. Not with money (Thanks for the BD present again Gords!), but with actually DOING what it says on the hoodie. The 3 of us always look happy wearing it because we have earned it. I just wish more would at least make a shot at it.
One thing I say repeatedly to people when I coach them is, "If you never leave your comfort zone, you'll NEVER improve". We go well beyond our comfort zone each week and it WILL pay off when the spring comes and the water is 55 degrees and we think it's literally a JOKE when people complain that it's too cold to swim in when we are actually thinking it's warm. THAT is what it takes and that is what we are doing and we love it.
I'll step down now from my box...I hope this cold is completely gone by tomorrow because I want to get back in the pool and crank out some more yards. I'm starting to get a small itch to swim more and I want it to grow before I take too much time off and it goes away....again.
I arrived to see Josh already in a towel and Gords coming in. I'll admit I was a tiny bit disappointed that I wasn't there when they got in. There's just something nice about us all getting miserable at the same time I guess. I did, FOR ONE SECOND, foolishly think that maybe they'll just call it good and I might skip this week. Unfortunately at that EXACT second I had that thought, Gords yells, "You're up bro"! I have been sick the past few days and knew I wouldn't actually go for a swim but rather just get in and splash around some. I quickly stripped naked in front of the entire Wasatch Valley and put on my Speedo and goggles. Josh filmed me running into the water then diving under. Once I was under I turned around and started heading out. All I wanted to do considering how I felt was accomplished. If I had felt better, I would have stayed in for at least a minute like I normally do but I was okay with just 20 seconds...if that! The temp was just under 40. Ahhhh nice and COLD!
Gords, Josh, and I are getting a little "weary" of being the only ones that show up each week. Granted, what we do is EXTREMELY painful but there is something to it that brings satisfaction as a swimmer that we wish others could experience. I don't mind so much that people don't show but what I DO mind is when people are asking when we meet, say they'll be there or try to be there, and then it's just the 3 of us as usual. If people don't want to come then it's fine. Just don't "pretend" you'd ever do it then not show up. That is what is bugging me so much and I'm sure it's at least a part of what bugs Josh and Gords too. Gords is even offering a cash prize "bribe" and I'm seriously considering contributing also.
I feel a sense of pride lately when I wear my WFPBC hoodie because I know I've paid the price for it. Not with money (Thanks for the BD present again Gords!), but with actually DOING what it says on the hoodie. The 3 of us always look happy wearing it because we have earned it. I just wish more would at least make a shot at it.
One thing I say repeatedly to people when I coach them is, "If you never leave your comfort zone, you'll NEVER improve". We go well beyond our comfort zone each week and it WILL pay off when the spring comes and the water is 55 degrees and we think it's literally a JOKE when people complain that it's too cold to swim in when we are actually thinking it's warm. THAT is what it takes and that is what we are doing and we love it.
I'll step down now from my box...I hope this cold is completely gone by tomorrow because I want to get back in the pool and crank out some more yards. I'm starting to get a small itch to swim more and I want it to grow before I take too much time off and it goes away....again.
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