I'm working on the 12 Days of Christmas challenge that Charlotte Brynn in Stowe, Vermont has dreamt up: Pick any 12 days in December and start on day 1 with 1,000 yards or meters. The next day do 2,000. On the third day do 3,000 and so on, increasing the distance each day by an additional 1,000 yards or meters until you get to 12,000 on the 12 day of the challenge. I just did day 5, and I'm already dragging. One week to go!
We also have a tradition here of doing 100 x 100 the day after Thanksgiving and on New Year's Eve. Got me wondering about what other special events and challenges other swimmers have during the holiday season. Got a fun workout with reindeer games? Or a special polar plunge event? Or some set workout you do every year like the 100 x 100 that you do with your team just for fun or as a fundraiser? If so, let me know! I'm interested to hear how other swimmers around the country ring in the New year and celebrate this festive season in swimming style.
Xmas Sets:
Warm-up
100 up to 1000 back down to 100
Warm-Down
A 10,000 for time. This is one of the most boring swims possible. I couldn't keep enough songs in my head.
My senior year of high school, 1994, we did 94x200's(not counting warm-up and down)
Last year, I challenged other Forumites to a 1,000 yard butterfly swim before the end of the year. That Guy and Yosemite took up the challenge, and the three of us accomplished the challenge. (I can't remember who else joined in.)
Can you guys believe it has been a year since we did that? Time :bolt:!
Today, in honor of those who count down to Christmas Day, I started with an 800 IM and worked down the IM's (400, 200, 100). It wasn't that grand of an accomplishment; however, I did attempt these at race pace, such as it was. :blush:
On Christmas Eve, we used to a different version of the "12 Days of Christmas" and it went like this:
12x25 warm up
11x50
10 x 75
9 x 100
8 x 125
7 x 150
6 x 175
5 x 200
4 x 225
3 x 250
2 x 275
1 x 300 warm down
If my math is correct, I think that is 9,300 yd. I don't remember what the specific parts of the set were but you can get painfully creative...
Last year, I challenged other Forumites to a 1,000 yard butterfly swim before the end of the year. That Guy and Yosemite took up the challenge, and the three of us accomplished the challenge. (I can't remember who else joined in.)
Can you guys believe it has been a year since we did that? Time :bolt:!
Today, in honor of those who count down to Christmas Day, I started with an 800 IM and worked down the IM's (400, 200, 100). It wasn't that grand of an accomplishment; however, I did attempt these at race pace, such as it was. :blush:
I think I was the other one. That was painful! Friday, we did a "make it up as you go" set. Roger picked a set first: 1000 yards of IMs. Everyone got to choose how they wanted to do it (e.g. 10 x 100 IM, 5 x 200 IM, 3 x 300 IM + 100 IM, etc.). I went ahead and just did 1 x 1000 IM. The goal time was 14:00. Nobody made it but I was close at 14:10. I probably would have made it if I had split up the fly but it was a fun set anyway.
So what's this years challenge? (NOT 2000 fly!)
I'm playing it smart this year. ;) Doctors orders were to lay off doing any extreme swims. As much as I would LOVE to beat my 2,000 fly record and throw that out as a challenge, I'm going to have to give it a miss. :cry: My 800-400-200-100 IM swim is as extreme as I am going to get.
Same goes for annual miles. I had originally set 475 as my goal this year after hitting 454 last year; however, I scaled it back to a goal of 425 for this year. I'm at 421 and will probably hit 430 or so for the year, so I'm keeping a max of 425 for future annual goals.
Unfortunately, my days of extreme swims are over if I want to keep off the surgery table and stay in the pool; BUT, I'm just happy to be able to swim at all! :bliss:
I think I was the other one. That was painful! Friday, we did a "make it up as you go" set. Roger picked a set first: 1000 yards of IMs. Everyone got to choose how they wanted to do it (e.g. 10 x 100 IM, 5 x 200 IM, 3 x 300 IM + 100 IM, etc.). I went ahead and just did 1 x 1000 IM. The goal time was 14:00. Nobody made it but I was close at 14:10. I probably would have made it if I had split up the fly but it was a fun set anyway.
How could I forget about you? Merry Christmas! Way to go on your IM! :applaud:
Will you and the Dave's be going to Auburn in February? If so, I'll see you there! :cheerleader:
Post #583:
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
Thanks, rx! My memory is :cane:.
These are the swimmers who took up last year's challenge:
That Guy- post #506- 13:56 :bow:
pmmcoy- post #528- 15:23
rxleam- post #539- 16:59* (including :57 break in between 500's)
Swimosaur- post #526- 17:52* (1000 split of a 1650! :applaud:)
jgale- post #550- 18:29
Yosemite- post #523- no time reported
Me- post #522- 23:07 :blush:
