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.
Former Member
No practice today...
We had the men's soccer game this afternoon. It was Chicago V. Rochester. Unfortunately, we lost in overtime. Sad :(. Most of the girls team was there cheering on the men's soccer team (see above post explaining exactly why if you're curious...). It was kind of funny because a lot of us don't really know a lot about soccer. I played when I was very little, but have no real idea of the actual rules...regs...or anything like that.
It was kind of weird sitting in the athlete section. There arn't actually a lot of stands out at Stagg field (maybe like room for 100 people..) but one of the bleacher sets is meant for athletes/coaches who come to the games. Fun times. I saw a girl who I take German with who's on the track and field team. I think she was a little surprised to see me there - didn't know I was a swimmer...haha.
After the game I hit up the training room. The male trainer was there again...and I managed to sneak in and meet with him without interacting with the evil female head trainer. I'm not sure if she would have actually been mean to me again...but I didn't want to risk it.
I had a heat pad and electro stim on my back for half an hour. First time I've ever had stim stuff done! It's freaky! After that I was stretched...and now I feel a lot better. I'm guarding my optimism though...I know that just because it's better one day doesn't mean it's going to stay that way. *Sigh*
Came back home...bought myself a Ben and Jerrys ice cream bar...don't know why...it's a beautiful day outside...kind of hot...and I just felt like ice cream. Haha. It tasted yummy.
Apparently the girl's team is doing a Big sister / Little sister program. It's kind of funny...because I'm a soph. so I'm not like...a freshman. I'm not new. Being the "little" one...is weird. I almost feel like I should be a big one...but obviously that makes no sense if it's my first season with the team! Oh well.
The girl who's assigned to me is very nice and I'm excited. Yey.
Well, today is Friday...which means...excitment on some level tonight. I have very little work until Sunday, finally some free time! Yey!
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
Swim lessons again today...
I was the locker room attendant. Er...basically I just sat around for an hour in the lockeroom, gave very few directions, and did homework for my political science class. Fun.
We start our dryland morning sessions on M-W-F tomorrow (or at least I think we do..) I'm excited.
Time for some desperate housewives!
Originally posted by dcswimguy
But I've heard of DIII conferences swimming the 50s of stroke and the 100 IM at their conference champs. So perhaps her school actually does swim 50s from time to time.
Interesting. I remember back before there was NCAA swimming for women the other championship (AIAW?) had 50s and the 100 IM, but I didn't know there were any college conferences still contesting these events today. I thought you had to join USMS if you wanted to swim (non-relay) 50s :)
Originally posted by knelson
Is there ever a 50 back? I know in Division I only 100 and 200 yard events are contested in the non-free strokes, but I suppose DIII could be different.
I guess you could consider leading off the 200 Medley Relay as swimming the 50 back. But I've heard of DIII conferences swimming the 50s of stroke and the 100 IM at their conference champs. So perhaps her school actually does swim 50s from time to time.
I think that in DIII meets, it's still 100s and 200s other than the 50 free and on the 200 medley and free relays.
Here is the link to the swimming championship from the conference to which the U. of Chicago belongs. You'll see the distances swam at the conference championships.
athletics.uchicago.edu/uaa-swim-championship-results.htm
Originally posted by botterud
I think that in DIII meets, it's still 100s and 200s other than the 50 free and on the 200 medley and free relays.
Here is the link to the swimming championship from the conference to which the U. of Chicago belongs. You'll see the distances swam at the conference championships.
athletics.uchicago.edu/uaa-swim-championship-results.htmwww.pjmm.net/.../friday-finals.html
At least one DIII Conference swims 50s and the 100 IM. Still strikes me as weird....college kids doing the same events as 10 and Unders. :D
That is odd . . . and it may just be the league meet. I looked to the results of the Wesleyan v. Williams dual meet and the only 50 was the free. Must be a conference rule. Any alums of any NESCAC schools out there to comment?
Yeah, I wasn't actually sure if the 50 back was ever an event, but you never know. Between the two, I'd much prefer to swim the 100 anyway...at least when I'm healthy enough to do a proper turn. Oddly enough though, at this meet I don't think they're even running events like the 100 ***...I'm not sure why.
Afternono practice today......
I made all of my intervals! Yey! Granted, they were generous intervals...but I was making them by a good portion of time. That makes me happy. And doing it while having no ibuprofen in my system? Even better!
I've noticed that something kind of odd happens when I'm at practice. When I'm going to and getting ready to swim I'm always kind of like "Blagh...workout...I have so much work to do! I'm so stressed", but as soon as I get the cap and goggles on that vanishes for the most part. I stop worrying about the papers I have due, the econ problem sets, or the german midterms...and I just kind of swim. It's nice.
Today's workout was not bad...although I was tired after this morning's dry land.
I attribute my rather constant beating of my intervals today to something kind of silly. As soon as we started the medium distance set, my mind started looping the Franz Ferdinand song "Do You Want To". That was entertaining. It's up tempo enough to keep me on pace...although I got kind of tired of hearing "aaaand I'm gonna make somebody love me...." everytime I pushed off the wall. Haha.
I did experience quite a large load of cramping during my last set. I cramped in my calves and in the area where I'm injured. I'm not sure if it was the use of the fins during that set or the side kicking, or just the total work load we did during the course of the day. I chugged some advil as soon as I got home and I'm icing all the areas where I cramped uo. Hopefully I won't be too tight to swim tomorrow.
Today's Workout:
Warmup:
600 swim
400 pull (w/ paddles for everyone else)
400 swim w/ snorkel
Main:
4 x 400 (our interval was the 8:00...pretty generous!)
1st 400: Straight through, aiming for 130-140bpm heart rate.
2nd 400: Straight through, aiming for 150-170bpm heart rate.
3rd 400: Broken at the 200 - 15 sec rest - aiming for 180-200bpm heart rate.
4th 400: Broken at the 100 - 5 sec rest - aiming for 200-220bpm heart rate.
100 easy swim recovery
10x50 (w/ fins) on the 1:00 ...side kick drill down, swim back (nice interval, but I think this is what caused the cramping in my injury)
100 easy swim recovery (alternate 25 "L" backstroke drill, 25 swim)
Total: 3700yds
At this point, she had everyone combine into three lanes to do some flip turn drills. Since I can't do turns right now because of my back, I hopped out and observed for a little while so I could understand what she was trying to teach us.
I did try to do a flip turn during warmup today. I was able to succesfully complete it, but the sensations I felt led me to believe that doing more than a handful of them would not have been a good thing.
It's really frustrating having to do open turns in practice. I lose a lot of time on my intervals, and I also get bored of the break in the continuity of my swimming. The smidge of extra rest I pick up at the wall isn't even worth it.
