I thought I'd try an experiment here. I propose that anyone of any swimming level can use this thread (or not) when, whether in a small way or earthshaking manner you've done something in the pool that you're proud and/or pleased by. Anyone is welcome to add encouraging comments (or not) or ask for more info., but please no grandstanding or feuding.
Okay- I'll go first (and I'm just as hesitant as anyone else). Context: last few months hellish: collapse of my dream business, death in family, huge money troubles etc. result months out of water & exercise & 30lb gain. Further, I just went back over the last 10 yrs, averaged 1 meet a year, no more than 4 months training in any one year. So- been back in water 4 weeks, 2-3 times a week and mostly feeling like chopped liver. Monday night coach say we're going to do dive 25's (meters) from blocks, starter's instructions. Now I haven't done this in years 'cause I have a very bad neck- but I've been frustrated so...did all 3 breastroke 16.3, 15.5, 16.2 which tells me I've still got prospects to go fast again! I am pleased.
Former Member
I'm trying to rest, but chess is so stressful when you're not an expert like the Bork. :rofl:
I have a heavy night of TV watching ahead later, I think. Rome and The Tudors are on HBO tonight.
I should give an attagirl to Julie too while I'm typing. She was at the meet and swam tremendously, rounding trouncing me in the 100 back and looking like a superstar in the 400 IM.
That almost sounds like a challenge of some sort Fort?!
Newmastersswimmer
Today, 3/25, I kept my goggles water free and did my first 100 IM.:drink:
I am very, very proud of you, SS, for giving one of my fav events a try!! I hope you had a good meet. I know you were battling much adversity, but it builds character to give it a go anyway! PM me with all your times or else I'll look them up. Attaboy!
Julie:
I was warming down from the 50 free while you were doing you fly, so I missed that bit of the 400 IM. I saw the rest. You looked smooth, strong, in control and really, really good. I didn't even see your time; I knew it was good just from watching you! You hammered everyone the rest of the race! And BTW, that breaststroke leg looked really good; I think you might be quite good at the 200 breaststroke after all! And of course, I saw that speedy 100 back, 2 full seconds faster than a year ago. All your training is really paying off. You're going to have a great zones! Glad y'all went to practice. I was too dead. Going for an easy swim tomorrow. Here's another plug: Our training partner Wally Dicks set a WR in the 50 *** SCM: 29.9, men's 40-44, with outrageously wiggly starting blocks and timing pads. That's flying!
Peter and Jim:
I only play figurative chess with bookworms, Jim, although I see my worthy opponent took a day off. Maybe I am fatal. Ha! I forget how to play the real deal with the likes of you! I am so glad you are working so hard on your training. I'm a little scared how fast you're going to go when we all meet up in Austin though. You'll be great!
If you really must know, argh, I couldn't feel my arms and legs on the last 15 meters of the 100 back. Bad training, no engine building ... But I was told I had a good start with a lot of SDKs. He, he.
I am oh so shy and retiring as everyone knows. :rofl: 50 free and 50 fly were the MRs. (I was 2nd to the WR holder in the 100 back, so I didn't go home with my nail between my legs.) I don't believe those conversation tables, Jim. They always give you slow converted times. So I prefer to think I went a converted 25.8 or 25.9 in the 50 free rather than a 26.0, which is faster than last October. LOL. But, since I haven't really sprinted much lately, I was flailing around, looking very un-TI. I also breathed way too much. Not used to swimming meters. Did the best I could for that day in my life.
Muppet and SwimmieAvsFan also had very solid untapered, unclipped swims with nary a fastskin in sight. Youngsters. Muppet might have gone faster (although he PR'd the 100 free) if he had focused on his races instead of obsessing on the long windy kiddie water slide. He, he. Swimmie had a really good 200 free at the end of a long meet.
Jeff Roddin, although he doesn't post much, went a :58 in the 100 fly. OMG. Scarey fast.
Great job Mausy and globuggie!! Thanks for reporting.
I have to say that I am trying to get back into shape after 1.5 years off and in practice last week I did 21x100 IM on 1:35 and made the majority of them with 5-10 sec. rest. Obviously, there were a few that were pretty close to no rest. I was in a freestyle lane and slowly worked my way up to third. I was very pleased!
Mausy- sounds like you are well on your way back- good tough swimming!
Julie- sounds like a great effort on that 400IM, good stuff! And Leslie is obviously too shy and withdrawn to give us specifics, so why don't you?
(BTW it is fine to inform on good performances of other forum regulars in this thread. I have decided.)
I will be anxious to here how poolraat and Richie Rich both did this weekend.
Jim,
My meet is still a week away. I'll be sure to let you guys know how it goes. I'll be at the same meet as Kyra.
Congratulations to all who had great swims in their meets this weekend.
:applaud: :applaud: :applaud:
Good stuff, Bork- the weight will come off.
Don't challenge Leslie, it is invariably fatal.
I appreciate your encouraging words Peter! I have to challenge Fort in something ....She's been dissing on me for a couple of days now LOL!:thhbbb: So Fortissimo crushed several records I hear....Thats awesome news Fort!! You must have been smokin fast this weekend! And with the shoulder probs and everything....pretty impressive stuff!
So Lets hear the details,.... We're all so curious now! ...And Its o.k. to brag on yourself on this thread Fort...its kind of what the thread is all about.... so no need to be bashful about it...so spill the beans now o.k.!
Newmastersswimmer
Yesterday, I swam on my first ever 200+ years relay! It was the mixed 200 free relay in SCM. It was an honor to swim with my two 60+ year old male teammates who are in outstanding shape as well as my speedy girl teammate. We went a 2:00, pretty good for old codgers. Even though we were dead tired as the relay was at the end of the meet at 7:00 pm, we had great fun. I love relays. I led off with a 29.1. Since it was my first meet ever swimming the 50 free in SCM (aside from the open event a bit earlier in the day, 29.2), it was a automatic PR. He, he, he. (I passed on the 400 IM.) Today, though, I feel like a mack truck ran over me. Haven't done much sprinting at all for 2 weeks because of the science experiment, so now I really feel it. My other two events weren't PRs, but close enough. Happy.
Kirk:
I can't believe you swam those two events back to back with such fabulous results. I'd say you're in great shape for Nats. Congrats!
I just swam my first ever 500 free yesterday, and it actually went pretty well! I paced it conservatively, and felt good all the way through. My time was about 7:40, which wasn't fast, but is much faster than I've ever gone in practice. Hopefully I'll get to swim it again soon and improve my time - my team had time trials, so that was my 3rd of 6 events in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
