Back in the saddle?!

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Paul Smith — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 02:47:57 GMT

Ahhhhh the joy of it all! 2 week post surgery went well.......Doc says I'm 3-4 weeks ahead of where he expcted (pretty much full range of motion). Mostly because there was less damage to the rotator cuff then expected and no sutures.....they did remove 1/2 ich of the clavicle and quite a bit of other crap (go some great photos to send you Nadine!). Now the hard part.....being patient! I'm doing rehab/PT and was given the green light to get back in the water for kick only workouts, here's todays: - 4 x 25 free left side, 25 back, 25 free right side, 25 *** (hands at sides for everything.....can you say balance drills!). - 500 free kick using Finis snorkel.....build each 100 and maintain 6 beat - 8 x 25 "power kick" (all out underwater with fins, no breath, rotate thru twice: fly, free, fly, back) - Vertical kicking; 4 x 45 seconds on 30 seconds off, alternate fly/free Only 8 more weeks till my first strokes again...giddy-up!

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 16:24:05 GMT

(Fritz, we need a backstroker so you can be an honorary CO member) Here we go with the recruiting thing again!

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 12:49:23 GMT

Obviously no breaststrokers here:mad: Right before Nationals, try to kick as hard as you can as wide as you can. Put all the stress you can on the groin muscles that you can. That formula is good for 6 weeks to two years of groin pull:D For Paul who would never fall for Fritz's coaching techniques, always warmup breaststroke gently will very small narrow kicks. You can't get into trouble that way. Speaking of Las Vegas, SPMA has a meet there January 28th. Special events will have age group winners in the 50 free and 100 free win Vegas Free Play from local casinos. There is also Vegas Free Play for the 200 mixed medley relay. You must be 21 to win:D :D :D

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Paul Smith — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 10:37:53 GMT

We've had some discussions about a 3 way meet with some folks from AZ (Simon) an Las Vegas next summer (Fritz, we need a backstroker so you can be an honorary CO member)........the plan would be to tie it in with the open water champs we will be hosting. I would however suggest we avoid Phil's suggestion for riding before the swims!

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 06:57:24 GMT

I would however suggest we avoid Phil's suggestion for riding before the swims! Hmph. Even Fritz says that my advice has some kind of value, and you say cross training is good! When the before-meet ride is finished, you should both do several maximum free-weight squats, as that is very similar to the breaststroke kick. Again, it is always a good idea to save that type of cross training to just before the meet. By the way, I will be going to a renaissance fair(e), and I need to know when you guys will be on those bikes. ;)

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 15:21:51 GMT

Mark can single handed win any beer race or relay:D

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 12:51:35 GMT

I could be talked into it.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 11:07:48 GMT

I am in, we have a place at Beaver Creek where we go for a week in the Summer and 2 in the Winter. I'll let you know, maybe it will work out...

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 10:27:45 GMT

You, me and Paul doing a breastroke workout together. I think I feel hell freezing over.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Paul Smith — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 09:47:26 GMT

Wayne......quite waiting and get the darn thing fixed!! Just like you advised me on lasik a couple of years back! Truth be told........I'm going to need to work on that bizarre stroke a bit more if evil-goodsmith rises to my challenge for next years nats; off events! JS has to swim: 50 back, 100 back, 100 fly, 50 ***, 200IM (he can pick his 6th) Me: 200IM, 400IM, 500 free, 1000 free, 100 back, not sure on the 6th. Ion.......we'll bring you into the challenge; off events as well! The main purpose of this of course is to end each day in so much pain that WE have to enter the beer relays that Mark Gill has proposed!

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 09:12:21 GMT

Can I join y'all???

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 08:37:06 GMT

Phil Thanks for the suggestions and I'll give them exactly the consideration they're due. Next stop, the breastroke lane. See you there Paul.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Paul Smith — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 07:02:40 GMT

Hey what the hell......I'm on pain killers drinking beer so I'm up for anything right now! Have to admit......some of you guys ctually coming out for a little mountain biking next summer could be pretty damn fun?! Bobby Patten makes it a regular trip, Mr. Abrahams enjoys a good ride.....and now that I gave evil-goodsmith a hand me down specialized team works he has no excuses......except keeping those bird legs (Hey john, are those really your legs or are you sitting on a chicken!).

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 05:39:02 GMT

More breastroke should help even more. Fritz, I think that is a great idea, and I think that you would be a better person to help Paul than Wayne. The weather in Colorodo is much better and the place is much more athlete friendly -- I think you should move. You should work on your breaststroke also, as it will really help your backstroke in a couple of decades, after you become a good at it. Mountain biking is good training also, but not on a regular basis. It is best to save the biking until the day before a big national meet, and then ride with Paul a good distance over some challenging trails. The mountains in Colorado are really beautiful. I think 100 miles is a good distance. Large front gears and small back ones will help you go over the uphill bumps more quickly. While in the mountains, if you run into a man in armor on a holy quest, please be belligerent. He will appreciate it.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 13:30:41 GMT

Paul, If you thought the 200 back was painfull, welcome to an all out, gut buster 200 breaststroke. Short course yards can be more painfull because of all the time spent underwater. There are times after a 200 *** that the lungs feel like they are on fire, as do the forearms, legs and even the hair on the back of your head!!! Right Jeff? Any time you want to work on your 200 yard breaststroke, I am there for you big fellow.:D I have needed right shoulder surgery for 15 years, I have broken both elbows and have a stainless steel plate in my left forearm, but the great thing is swimming breaststroke does not hurt the shoulder, only free, and fly. One year during a physical exam, the Doctor commented on my enlarged left chest muscles, much thicker than the right side. I had to think a moment, then exclaimed it must have been those thousands of laps of left handed one arm butterfly:p Hope that PT goes well. After conventions Sports Medicine presentation, Nadine Day would be the PERFECT PT therapist, she really understands getting swimmers back in the saddle.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 09:40:34 GMT

More breastroke should help even more.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:42:55 GMT

Or is that clavically challenged? :-) Hopefully they did yours w/out the "took off the arm and put a new one on" scar that I have from college. I think the med technology is a bit better these days, now that dinosaurs don't have to carry the surgical tools in the OR. Kick butt on your recovery, I'll be thinking good thoughts for you!! BUT take it slowly (smartly) and don't forget to keep your back strong. That's a lot of trauma for your shoulder to go through - after mine I pretty much found the structural integrity to be SHOT after a few months of trying to reassimilate w/my college team, and ended up out of the sport for 10+ years. So don't join a college team! Of course the more invasive approach on me (hence the scar) had a lot to do with it as well, and hopefully you don't have that either. Just don't push it too fast! Remember, this is masters, we've got forever. (Thank goodness, with as slow as I figger out stuff.) Sounds like you have a good PT plan and will be back in no time. I found strength outside the water (particularly in the back, broken record) helps tremendously. I also know a great PT in Phx who works with a lot of the ASU swimmers, if you need an extra in the recovery posse. BE NICE to lovely Laura! We miss youz guyz. I've also heard that Hawaii is very therapyooootic for shoulder, if y'all want to come out and visit!!! Take Care, Sandie

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Paul Smith — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 05:13:50 GMT

Hey stranger.......what the heck are you guys doing in Hawaii? Send me an email so we can catch up! Pretty lucky with this surgeon....only 5 holes and my intial PT (today) showed that i already ahd a pretty high degree of range of motion.......I'm optimistic but gotta long way to go!!

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 16:49:38 GMT

Oh Tall One, Good luck, and I hope you get better soon. I've appreciated our chances to chat, and occasionally joust about swimming, life the universe and everything. (The first person who shouts "42" will be shot summarily.) Truth be told, the reason that I sometimes get touchy about qualifying times for Nationals is that part of the thrill for me is being allowed to warm up in the same pool with swimmers like you, and seeing both of our names listed (albeit with about 5 pages of other athletes between our two names) in the results for an event. Matt

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 16:47:53 GMT

Hmmmm . . . I think Paul would have to be like the guy in Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail (you know, the one who ended up with no arms or legs) before I could have a chance at beating Paul! That was great! I can hear him now, "Come back here, it's just a flesh wound!"

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 16:44:59 GMT

In spite of this, why don't you come down to Phoenix, I would love to have a shot at you now! Hmmmm . . . I think Paul would have to be like the guy in Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail (you know, the one who ended up with no arms or legs) before I could have a chance at beating Paul! Hope you get better soon, Paul. I love to watch you swim (but not in your heat, when all I see are your bubbles.) It is very ominous, however, when most of the best swimmers in the age group have nice discrete scars around their shoulders. I'm with Jeff (though he has a few more years to go,) the thought of the knife is scary! (but you did talk me into going under the laser.) When my shoulder starts to hurt I stay home. (I think some of you fellows live your life, and use your shoulders, a little too hard.)

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 14:42:39 GMT

Fly and Free have taken it's toll on you. You won't swim the 200 back so what's the point. That leaves ***. I think it's obvious where your future lies.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:53:58 GMT

looking forward to Paul venturing into the 200 back again. It negates the height advantage.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

Former Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:14:47 GMT

Paul I think you should do whatever it takes to master the last stroke. Ignore everything else. It may take years of hard work but think of the feeling of accomplishment. I'll be behind you and support you all the way.

RE: Back in the saddle?!

jonblank — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:47:11 GMT

C'mon Fritz - Just because you think the 200 back is the world's most painful event doesn't mean you should "advise" Mr. Smith to move into a territory I'm fond of...