So since at least two people on this board are interested in my adventures in joining my University's team I thought I'd create a thread (much like ande's swimming blog) to detail all of it. Yeah.
Since the season doesn't actually start regular practice for another week and a half, this is mainly an intro post - and I'll update it with what happens when I go meet the other girls on the team and such! Stay tuned! It'll be better than any general hospital or passions!
Today I actually swam for the first time (since my freshman swim test last year) in the University pool. It was huge. And cold. Over the summer I got used to swimming in health club pools with water hovering around 80-85. Not exactly the most comfortable water at times, but at least nice and warm. The Ratner pool here is...freezing by those standards. I'm guessing the water temp is 75 at the warmest. Gives new meaning to the term "warm up".
I was really nervous when I first got in - the girls and guys returning members were having informal practices and I was sort of afraid they'd notice me. Although, I don't think they did. Or maybe they did and I just didn't hear what they said about me. Haha.
I also swam a 600 for the first time in a long time. I mostly stuck to 400s and below in my summer workouts (yeah, I know, I'm a little bit of a wimp). Unfortunately, that couldn't last. The coach suggested when I met her that I get in the water and swim 6-800 straight every day this week as part of my workout. It kind of hurt. Actually, it was one of the odder experiences of my life. For the first 200 or so my chest was tight from my asthma and I was freaking out about the distance (I was also really cold). Then all of a sudden I started to get really into it and just kept on going. I probably could have done 1000 if I wanted to.
The workout was cut short - only about 2300yds - because I promised my friends I'd come home and cook dinner for them tonight. And that's where I leave it tonight.
Background: For those who didn't see my posts on the board throughout the year, I'm a soph. in college who has been going through the prepartion to join my school's team. I attend the University of Chicago (a div 3 school) and was a competitive swimmer for seven years before high school. Burnout put me out of the water for almost 5 years, however, and I'm only recently getting back into it.
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Woo for Saturday morning practice!
In the end, I decided not to swim yesterday. I still went to practice and briefly spoke with my coach about the state of my back. She was okay with me taking the day off. I've got to schedule an appointment with the athletic training room now (she's insisting on it) because even though I already know what's wrong the U has a policy whereby the training room has to be aware of any injury to an athlete. Ugh. Fun times.
Yesterday the pain in my back was pretty intense...but after some ice and more ibuprofen it leveled off and I was able to function again...and enjoy the festivities going on in my dorm room. (Beer Pong tournament). I really have to learn not to drink so much when I have morning practice the next day......
On to this morning!
I woke up at 7 to ice my back before heading over to practice at 8. We had a meeting about the swim lessons that we teach on sundays (starting tomorrow!) for the surrounding community.
We got in the water at about 8:30 and finished at 10:30. It wasn't a bad workout...but my back was tight all the way through it. I've pretty much discovered that no matter what I'm doing in the pool, I'm going to be in pain. It's just the level of pain changes based on the activity. I still can't do flip turns...*sigh*.
I've never actually been an injured athlete so this is new for me. Even when I was a club swimmer for seven years I never got injured. Sure, I had my sick days...but I was always back to my normal self within a week or so. The idea that I'm going to be not up to my best for at least 4-6 weeks just boggles my mind.
It's hard in practice too because I know that I can do sets faster and harder. I know I can make better intervals. But my body just won't let me do it. If I try I get excruciating pain....so yeah. Not an option.
Today I'm planning on relaxing and working a little bit (I work for the University doing computer tech support in my dorm...). I think I might go get a pastrami sandwich for lunch. Mmm....pastrami.
This mornings workout:
Warmup:
1200 choice. (I did 200 free, 200 back, 800 free kick)
Main:
4 x ( 4 x 50 on the 1:00)
1st 50 in each set: Build
2nd 50: Build
3rd 50: Sprint
4th 50: Recovery
200 easy kick
6 x ( 1 x 25 sprint kick on the :30, 1 x 50 easy (half drill/half recovery), 1 x 75 sprint kick on the 2:00)
100 easy swim
Series set:
1 x 500
1 x 400
1 x 300
1 x 200
1 x 100
:20 rest between each block.
Cool down:
200 choice
Total: About 4900yds
Of that I kicked 3100 yds today...I think I'm crazy.
The series set was defined as a swim....but I actually kicked the entire thing. I can't explain it, but the kicking felt really good on my back (as compared to everything else). I was still in pain, but kicking for some reason seemed to stretch my back and my thigh muscles and loosen me up a bit.
I actually felt okay after getting out of the pool. Still tight, but a lot better than when I got in.
Unfortunately, the pain has completely returned right now. Sigh.
Woo for Saturday morning practice!
In the end, I decided not to swim yesterday. I still went to practice and briefly spoke with my coach about the state of my back. She was okay with me taking the day off. I've got to schedule an appointment with the athletic training room now (she's insisting on it) because even though I already know what's wrong the U has a policy whereby the training room has to be aware of any injury to an athlete. Ugh. Fun times.
Yesterday the pain in my back was pretty intense...but after some ice and more ibuprofen it leveled off and I was able to function again...and enjoy the festivities going on in my dorm room. (Beer Pong tournament). I really have to learn not to drink so much when I have morning practice the next day......
On to this morning!
I woke up at 7 to ice my back before heading over to practice at 8. We had a meeting about the swim lessons that we teach on sundays (starting tomorrow!) for the surrounding community.
We got in the water at about 8:30 and finished at 10:30. It wasn't a bad workout...but my back was tight all the way through it. I've pretty much discovered that no matter what I'm doing in the pool, I'm going to be in pain. It's just the level of pain changes based on the activity. I still can't do flip turns...*sigh*.
I've never actually been an injured athlete so this is new for me. Even when I was a club swimmer for seven years I never got injured. Sure, I had my sick days...but I was always back to my normal self within a week or so. The idea that I'm going to be not up to my best for at least 4-6 weeks just boggles my mind.
It's hard in practice too because I know that I can do sets faster and harder. I know I can make better intervals. But my body just won't let me do it. If I try I get excruciating pain....so yeah. Not an option.
Today I'm planning on relaxing and working a little bit (I work for the University doing computer tech support in my dorm...). I think I might go get a pastrami sandwich for lunch. Mmm....pastrami.
This mornings workout:
Warmup:
1200 choice. (I did 200 free, 200 back, 800 free kick)
Main:
4 x ( 4 x 50 on the 1:00)
1st 50 in each set: Build
2nd 50: Build
3rd 50: Sprint
4th 50: Recovery
200 easy kick
6 x ( 1 x 25 sprint kick on the :30, 1 x 50 easy (half drill/half recovery), 1 x 75 sprint kick on the 2:00)
100 easy swim
Series set:
1 x 500
1 x 400
1 x 300
1 x 200
1 x 100
:20 rest between each block.
Cool down:
200 choice
Total: About 4900yds
Of that I kicked 3100 yds today...I think I'm crazy.
The series set was defined as a swim....but I actually kicked the entire thing. I can't explain it, but the kicking felt really good on my back (as compared to everything else). I was still in pain, but kicking for some reason seemed to stretch my back and my thigh muscles and loosen me up a bit.
I actually felt okay after getting out of the pool. Still tight, but a lot better than when I got in.
Unfortunately, the pain has completely returned right now. Sigh.
