2011 Look Back ++ 2012: Look Ahead

2011 Look Back ++ 2012: Look Ahead 2011: Look Back What did you accomplish in 2011? I finally did an OW marathon, swimming the Dart 10K in the UK. What were some of your best swims? I did manage to swim a sub 8:00 500 yard swim, which was a PR, especially since 14 years ago at the ripe age of 30 I swam the same distance in 9:33. What were your goals? How'd your results compare with your goals My goals included swimming 250 miles in the year, not take any time off from swimming except for illness or deployments, and complete the 10K. I managed all my goals, which feels great! What did you learn in 2011? I learned that the 10K distance is not impossible. As a matter of fact, I felt so good I could have swum longer. I already signed up for a 10-miler in October based on what I learned in 2011. 2012: Look Ahead What would you like to accomplish in 2012? Complete the 10-miler. Do another marathon, maybe 2. Join a masters team (there isn't one where I live now). What are your goals? 300 miles for the year; 10-miler in less than 5:10; How are you going to train? Add a dedicated 'long' day ("distance tolerance" whereby I swim a total of 8-10K along the lines of 10 x 800 with a 200 fast after each 800). Train according to Munatones' pyramid of OW success (highly recommended, btw). Really work on nutrition. Work with wife on kayak escorting and hand signals. Navigation for non-escorted swims (I suck at swimming straight). What events are you going to race? What meets do you plan to go to? Definitely Swim the Suck 10-miler; a 10K somewhere (Potomac?); Any other OW swims I can find/fit in. If I'm part of a masters team I'd like to do an actual swim meet, events tbd. What would you like to learn in 2012? To swim straight. (Yes, I know bilateral breathing is the answer. But try telling me that when I'm in race mode.) Why do you swim? Because it hurts less than running, and at least for marathon swimmers, my belly isn't a liability. ;)

2011 Look Back ++ 2012: Look Ahead 2011: Look Back What did you accomplish in 2011? I finally did an OW marathon, swimming the Dart 10K in the UK. What were some of your best swims? I did manage to swim a sub 8:00 500 yard swim, which was a PR, especially since 14 years ago at the ripe age of 30 I swam the same distance in 9:33. What were your goals? How'd your results compare with your goals My goals included swimming 250 miles in the year, not take any time off from swimming except for illness or deployments, and complete the 10K. I managed all my goals, which feels great! What did you learn in 2011? I learned that the 10K distance is not impossible. As a matter of fact, I felt so good I could have swum longer. I already signed up for a 10-miler in October based on what I learned in 2011. 2012: Look Ahead What would you like to accomplish in 2012? Complete the 10-miler. Do another marathon, maybe 2. Join a masters team (there isn't one where I live now). What are your goals? 300 miles for the year; 10-miler in less than 5:10; How are you going to train? Add a dedicated 'long' day ("distance tolerance" whereby I swim a total of 8-10K along the lines of 10 x 800 with a 200 fast after each 800). Train according to Munatones' pyramid of OW success (highly recommended, btw). Really work on nutrition. Work with wife on kayak escorting and hand signals. Navigation for non-escorted swims (I suck at swimming straight). What events are you going to race? What meets do you plan to go to? Definitely Swim the Suck 10-miler; a 10K somewhere (Potomac?); Any other OW swims I can find/fit in. If I'm part of a masters team I'd like to do an actual swim meet, events tbd. What would you like to learn in 2012? To swim straight. (Yes, I know bilateral breathing is the answer. But try telling me that when I'm in race mode.) Why do you swim? Because it hurts less than running, and at least for marathon swimmers, my belly isn't a liability. ;)