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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Hey...I'm a cubs fan...I can't control them :p
Morning & Afternoon practice today...
Morning was dry land as usual for M-W-F. Fun. It wasn't so bad...except after our weights she made us get in the water.
Now, I normally don't mind getting in the water.
Normally, we do like a 1200 choice. That's not bad. That loosens me up and makes it easier to deal with afternoon practice.
Normally. Heh.
Today, she was giving us sets. Now the sets wern't hard.....except I had just LIFTED. I was in so much pain in my shoulders / upper arms for the entirety of the sets. It was horrible. Horrible.
Afternoon practice wasn't so bad...I was still sore from the morning, but I dealt with it.
My back managed to last through the entire workout, which I consider a good thing. Hopefully a sign of improvement.
Now I just have to avoid developing a shoulder injury in the process, hahah.
After the practice was done we were all just goofing off during our cool down. It was pretty funny. Dolphin dives and just random swimming...kicking backwards...fun stuff. Those times with the team is what makes it worth comming back everytime. Even if the pain is really intense.
Right now I've taken 600mg of ibuprofen, slapped two bengay patches on each of my shoulders, put an ice pack under my back, and am drinking chocolate soy milk. I'm not sure how the chocolate soy milk speeds my recovery, but it sure does taste good......
Workouts for today:
Morning (after weights):
Warmup:
600 swim
300 IM order 25 swim, 25 drill, 25 kick
Main:
8 x 125 on the 1:45, build, 1-4 free, 5-8 stroke
8 x 25 on the :30 build
Cool Down:
200 choice
Total: 2700yds
Afternoon (long course):
Warmup:
4 x 150 Reverse IM order, 50 stroke, 50 drill, 50 stroke
4 x 200 pull w/ paddles, snorkel
Main:
4 x 100 Stroke on the 1:15 descend
300 free swim on the 6:00
3 x 100 Stroke on the 1:15 fast but relaxed
300 free swim on the 6:00
2 x 100 Stroke on the 1:15 fast
300 free swim on the 6:00
1 x 100 swim on the 1:15 CRAZY FAST
100 easy
8 x 50 kick on the 1:15, odds normal, evens fast
8 x 50 swim on the 1:00 drill down, build back
Cool down:
400 choice/swim
Total: 4,300m
Hey...I'm a cubs fan...I can't control them :p
Morning & Afternoon practice today...
Morning was dry land as usual for M-W-F. Fun. It wasn't so bad...except after our weights she made us get in the water.
Now, I normally don't mind getting in the water.
Normally, we do like a 1200 choice. That's not bad. That loosens me up and makes it easier to deal with afternoon practice.
Normally. Heh.
Today, she was giving us sets. Now the sets wern't hard.....except I had just LIFTED. I was in so much pain in my shoulders / upper arms for the entirety of the sets. It was horrible. Horrible.
Afternoon practice wasn't so bad...I was still sore from the morning, but I dealt with it.
My back managed to last through the entire workout, which I consider a good thing. Hopefully a sign of improvement.
Now I just have to avoid developing a shoulder injury in the process, hahah.
After the practice was done we were all just goofing off during our cool down. It was pretty funny. Dolphin dives and just random swimming...kicking backwards...fun stuff. Those times with the team is what makes it worth comming back everytime. Even if the pain is really intense.
Right now I've taken 600mg of ibuprofen, slapped two bengay patches on each of my shoulders, put an ice pack under my back, and am drinking chocolate soy milk. I'm not sure how the chocolate soy milk speeds my recovery, but it sure does taste good......
Workouts for today:
Morning (after weights):
Warmup:
600 swim
300 IM order 25 swim, 25 drill, 25 kick
Main:
8 x 125 on the 1:45, build, 1-4 free, 5-8 stroke
8 x 25 on the :30 build
Cool Down:
200 choice
Total: 2700yds
Afternoon (long course):
Warmup:
4 x 150 Reverse IM order, 50 stroke, 50 drill, 50 stroke
4 x 200 pull w/ paddles, snorkel
Main:
4 x 100 Stroke on the 1:15 descend
300 free swim on the 6:00
3 x 100 Stroke on the 1:15 fast but relaxed
300 free swim on the 6:00
2 x 100 Stroke on the 1:15 fast
300 free swim on the 6:00
1 x 100 swim on the 1:15 CRAZY FAST
100 easy
8 x 50 kick on the 1:15, odds normal, evens fast
8 x 50 swim on the 1:00 drill down, build back
Cool down:
400 choice/swim
Total: 4,300m
