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
Ach me lad, me bein' but a simple country lad, in awe I was at the charm ye be handin' out to the ladies.
PR in the 100 free today by .5 by going out all out from the start or at least my version of all out on a 100. Splits were 2.5 apart. Happy about this and ready to see how much I drop at taper!!!
Congrats to everyone that has been improving!
What? is "charming" now banned too? :D
Only when you steal a bunch of :smooch: and :hug: from the female posters and make us American guys jealous!!
On a serious note though...I have really enjoyed reading the postings on this thread...I nominate it for one of the highly coveted USMS Threadie awards for the most feel good thread of the year.....I guess every once in a while the Ranger from The North has a decent idea or two...(j/k of course Peter!...or am I?)
Newmastersswimmer
gee, i read all of these and i kinda feel horribly outclassed here.... but...
i've been back in the water since dec 06 (after 30+ year hiatus). friday night i swam (swum, swimmed) two miles continuo...contim... continuu... without stopping. it all felt very good, very smooth... and felt i could go further when i did stop.....
no startling speed, no races, no great competition... just one with the water....
be,
jim
gee, i read all of these and i kinda feel horribly outclassed here.... but...
i've been back in the water since dec 06 (after 30+ year hiatus). friday night i swam (swum, swimmed) two miles continuo...contim... continuu... without stopping. it all felt very good, very smooth... and felt i could go further when i did stop.....
no startling speed, no races, no great competition... just one with the water....
be,
jim
That's a lot of conitou..conteni.. non stop swimming for not having been in the pool for all these years! You MUST have been doing something else to maintain all that strength, endurance and aerobic capacity:woot:
Good job, and welcome back to the pool....:groovy:
Ok, here goes....
I did a meet today, only signed up last Wednesday. It started off awful...18 seconds slower in the 500 than at zones last year and ended up at 5:58. I went 5:50 in practice a few weeks ago. Shook it off, got a good warm down and then went into 100 back feeling much more relaxed. I took .8 seconds off my best time in masters. I was thrilled! Had a long break and then the 200 IM...just had nothing, I tried to swim fast, but couldn't even push myself to go faster. Got out of the pool, moved from lane 6 over to lane 3, watched the three heats of 50 *** and then back up on the blocks for my once in a lifetime 200 fly. Could barely get my arms out of the water for the last 25, but did it legally and actually think I may do it again someday.
Despite all the time I added to my 500, I'm not worried about zones. I think with taper, rest, etc. I will be faster than last year. It was good to do this meet because I needed a kick in the butt to focus more during my workouts. I'm excited about my 100 back and think that my college PR is somewhere in my future, but maybe not this year. Still, I'm excited for the Albatross Open in three weeks and then Zones in April.
Does anyone else have trouble with their first event of the meet? This is becoming a chronic problem that I have had for the last two years. I am always so wound up before the first event and do really bad, then am able to regroup and follow it up with good swims.
Oh, and I met swimshark in the locker room after the meet. Looking forward to chatting more at the next meet :)
Julie
Julie never fear. I and my amazing 50 fly and 100IM will be on hand at Zones to make you feel much better. OMG is all I can say about my IM and fly! I sometimes feel I'm not awake on my first event if it's early...I think I need to be a little more vigourous in the warm up...
I think I have the opposite problem because I was so wound up this morning that my hands were shaking before the 500. Maybe I should back off on the coffee before meets. I always have the same amount every day, but I guess I could have less before meets. It never seems to be a problem before morning swim practice. Strange.
Last year at Zones, I swam the 1650 on Friday night and went out WAY too fast. I think my first 500 was 5:44, way faster than this morning! But once I got that event over with, I just felt better. We did a lot of relays on Sat/Sun so that helped a lot with calming me down for the individual events. I'll have to recruit some teammates to swim in the meet and we'll put some relays together.
Can't wait to meet you at zones!!!!
Peter,
Way WAY cool thread! Congrats to everyone on their achievements!
Ensignada, dropping 5 seconds in a 50 free is fantastic, no matter what time you're starting from. Yay for you!!
:D
Julie, I have big problems with my first event too. Particularly if it is a 50 (tend to spin spin spin). But my 100 IM had some serious issues today, too, with choking on water while trying to make my fly go faster than it should. It does seem to help if I do some 12 1/2 yd sprints from the blocks at the end of warmup. Alas, skipped the sprints today!
It does seem to help if I do some 12 1/2 yd sprints from the blocks at the end of warmup. Alas, skipped the sprints today!
Funny because I had a whole debate with myself during warm up about doing sprints from the blocks today. I did only one and I didn't even sprint.
I wish I had done a 50 first rather than suffering through the 500 as my first event. I honestly thought about just getting out after the 200 but then yelled at myself for wanting to be a quitter.
I'm glad I have one more meet before zones to work this all out.
