Today, I swam the 200 yards free in 2:09.11.
This beats my previous best of 2:09.54 from April 1994.
I challenged the 2:09.54 in the past 11 years, over 20 times, many times under what I learned the hard way to be the wrong preparation, and never came close.
My result will be posted officially in the USMS databse.
I won't be able to make the 2005 Short Course Nationals, but hopefully I will make the 2005 Long Course Nationals.
The reason that I bring this success here is that there are some lessons to learn from it:
1.) to pursue virtue and excellence by meeting the intrinsic requirements that come to having a worthwhile goal (in my case, the goal is to stay in my prime intellectually and physically, for longtime), that's intelligence and tenacious work;
I immigrated to U.S. and relocated within U.S. on job skills in science to live my lifestyle;
this lifestyle comprises now, over 39 weeks of the 2004-2005 season so far, of 1,093 kilometers of training (an average of 28.025 kilometers per week, or 30,828 yards per week, no matter the holidays, tapering or illness, that includes kicking, strokes, and technique quotas), the most mileage I slowly built my late starter physiology up to in life, mostly under a Masters club with primarly college and age group swimming expertise, which I searched for and choosed;
I also cross train consistently in weights and running;
2.) I scrutinize self-indulgence and greed (to an employer who was asking me to work overtime like his Japanese employees do, even though I was ahead in schedule in a project, and who thought that I am a slave to him giving me a work visa, I stated "You know, my life doesn't depend on you." and I walked away from a near six-figures salary because it was jeopardizing my swim training; I looked for and found another) and I scrutinize good intentions backed up by feelings without hard data.
2:09.11 and staying in my prime, that's a tribute to 1.) and 2.).
Former Member
Oh, I lived in a glass house once ... didn't work out too well, darn neighbors kept staring ... I did loose a glass slipper once, anyone find that?
Former Member
I must go...and I enjoyed this rather demented thread this fine Friday....and all the wonderful company.....
I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend!
Lastly, my comments were not meant in a mean spirited manner...If I offended anyone...I am sorry.....I took no offense and none was intended....Some get it, some never will, but that is ok...
Take care.....
Kindest regards,
Tom, Ralph & Mr. Moose....
Originally posted by Ion Beza
But it works.
As in opposed to it works not.
As for 11 years, it would be less if I was doing what I do now, and not stumble on the wrong Masters programs across U.S..
So, let me understand your point here. If you improve your time, we are supposed to pay homage to the great Ion. If, on the other hand, you grind out big yardage but don't improve, it's the fault of the Masters program. Seems your process is more about making excuses.
What is this bologna about ten year old hormones? I thought you respected little kids, after all you sing the praises of their discussion forum, USSWIM.org.
More crumbling
Originally posted by Ion Beza
No:
it works as in producing lifetime bests.
This is not just one instance of lifetime best, in this Masters program I got a lifetime best 50 free in 2003, a fourth lifetime best in 200 yards free in 2004, a fourth lifetime best in 200 meters free in 2004, a second lifetime best in the 100 yards free in 2003.
Wow, so now we get to congratulate you more. You gon't give a dawg a treat every time he brings home a dug up sock.
Originally posted by Ion Beza
Then you speak from the height of a 15:xx in the 1,000 and different league, different goals.
Be careful about unqualified advice.
As for the 10 years old, it means that she has more hormones than an adult, swims on energy not on technique, and that she burns out.
There is someone in Florida doing 5:10 in the 500 free, at age 10.
She has more hormones than an adult, swims on energy from her hormones, not on technique, she overtrains and burns out.
This girl was not training on hormones, was not at all physically developed, and is not burned out. She is 16, at the National level now, and will probably get a darn good scholarship to somewhere like Standford. She has spent a tremendous amount of time developing her technique along with the yards she trains.
I posted before I read the rest, so am editing. Truly this 10 year old and other's like her our very talented and that attributes to her success alot. My daughter has undergone the same program, but does not have the passion or the talent this girl has, so therefore, does not swim as fast. Talent has a whole bunch to do with young swimmers swimming that fast. Now you add to that talent, quality technique work, and you get the great times.
Ion, you are very dedicated, that is very obvious, and I believe you will continue to improve. I don't know if you are working alot or a little on technique. I am just saying, I hope you do, because it will greatly enhance your times to do so. In swimming, you can overcome things like a late start with hard work. You are showing that. Now continue with the technique work too.
I would not have even compared the 10 year to your times, but you were pretty unkind about my times. Whether someone swims a 1000 in 8 minutes or 16 a PB is a PB, and P stands for personal. Remember that and have a great day!
I have always understood your process of training. I am not denying that high yardage can obtain results. I have applied it to myself to a certain extent when there has been time to train, and it works. However, you are not understanding my point and others that if you took a small portion of the energy and tremendous focus you have and apply it to improving turns, stroke effeciency, your personal improvements would probably be even greater. The hard part with changing inefficiencies in your stroke, is that at first it tends to slow you down, and this truly can be discouraging. I have seen many of the Senior swimmers have this happen. But if they believe in the efficiencies and truly work on applying the changes the speed comes back, and then some.
And hey, I have lots and lots of things I need to work on, and sometimes it is just easier to swim the yardage than think about my elbows dropping, my arms crossing across my body, my rotation not deep enough, my head position not right, my kick to much back then even, my heels not on the wall when turning, and on and on and on. Technique work is HARD! If I worked on it more, I could probably drop another minute easily on the 1000.
BTW, that was my first 1000 racing, so in all likelyhood, I will drop time, and I liked the race, it was more fun than I expected, so will probably do it again.
Originally posted by gull80
I trust Dr. DeBakey and the other phsyicians who trained me at Baylor.
By the way, I have the day off, in case you were wondering.
Lucky dog, wish I had the day off!!
Where is technique in your list, I see the crosstraining, I see putting swimming and the training for it first in your life above all else. Where do you say you work on technique. I did READ!
