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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I didn't have excitement last night :(...on any level... I got kind of sick and went to be early while my friends went out. It was sad.
Woke up this morning for morning practice and was feeling alright...a little stiff...but certainly better than Friday morning.
Drove on over and hopped in the pool. The workout today was pretty okay. We were doing some sets that were designed to get our heart rate up and get us into a race mode.
For some reason, I had trouble making an interval I know I'm capable of making. I don't know why.
It really frustrated me....
I was also tired in the sets easily...perhaps because I didn't eat this morning before practice (related to my being sick the night before...).
Being slow is annoying. I know my injury affects my performance, but all the same...
The muscles stiffened up during the last element of our second set, so I cooled down and hopped out. In retrospect, I wish I had known what we had been set to do before I got out. We were doing time trial work. Unfortunately since I had ended my workout already I wasn't able to get in on a heat and practice a start or do a time for the races I could have done.
Sigh.
I had a good reason for getting out - it was pretty tight and bad...but all the same. If I had known we were going to do time trials at the end of practice I would have taken it a little easier during the main workout so I could have done them too...
Today's workout:
Warmup:
300 swim
300 swim w/ snorkel
300 pull
100 kick (was supposed to be a 300, but she held everyone up at the point where I was at 100)
Main set:
12 x 100 on the 2:00...descend (1-4 free, 5-8 IM (modified for me), 9-12 (non-free, non-im))
12 x 50 on the 1:00...descend (1-4 free, 5-8 non-free, 9-12 non-free)
Cool down:
200 swim.
I stuck around to watch and cheer on my team mates through the time trials....even though I wasn't swimming them I still felt like I should be there to cheer them on.
Man...being slow and injured sucks. It would be fine if I was just one or the other...since then my times wouldn't be bad. But combine the two? Agh!
Total today: 3,000yds
I didn't have excitement last night :(...on any level... I got kind of sick and went to be early while my friends went out. It was sad.
Woke up this morning for morning practice and was feeling alright...a little stiff...but certainly better than Friday morning.
Drove on over and hopped in the pool. The workout today was pretty okay. We were doing some sets that were designed to get our heart rate up and get us into a race mode.
For some reason, I had trouble making an interval I know I'm capable of making. I don't know why.
It really frustrated me....
I was also tired in the sets easily...perhaps because I didn't eat this morning before practice (related to my being sick the night before...).
Being slow is annoying. I know my injury affects my performance, but all the same...
The muscles stiffened up during the last element of our second set, so I cooled down and hopped out. In retrospect, I wish I had known what we had been set to do before I got out. We were doing time trial work. Unfortunately since I had ended my workout already I wasn't able to get in on a heat and practice a start or do a time for the races I could have done.
Sigh.
I had a good reason for getting out - it was pretty tight and bad...but all the same. If I had known we were going to do time trials at the end of practice I would have taken it a little easier during the main workout so I could have done them too...
Today's workout:
Warmup:
300 swim
300 swim w/ snorkel
300 pull
100 kick (was supposed to be a 300, but she held everyone up at the point where I was at 100)
Main set:
12 x 100 on the 2:00...descend (1-4 free, 5-8 IM (modified for me), 9-12 (non-free, non-im))
12 x 50 on the 1:00...descend (1-4 free, 5-8 non-free, 9-12 non-free)
Cool down:
200 swim.
I stuck around to watch and cheer on my team mates through the time trials....even though I wasn't swimming them I still felt like I should be there to cheer them on.
Man...being slow and injured sucks. It would be fine if I was just one or the other...since then my times wouldn't be bad. But combine the two? Agh!
Total today: 3,000yds
