Watch out Sprint Classic meet - here I come

There is no 200 back!!! This is a one day SPRINT meet. Muhahahaha. Go to www.patriotmasters.org for the entry form. Shoot I looked at it (it's been on my desk top for weeks now) and I thought it had all 200's. That stinks. Maybe I'll just do the 3 free events then. save the embarassment of a backstroke start. Alison

Yu must be reminiscing of the great time you had at the fabulous Colonies Zone LCM Championship meet hosted by Terrapin Masters at the University of Maryland, College Park. Hope to see you doing your 200!

Best thing I did after my back surgery was get back into the water. My surgeon at first would not let me lift my arms above my shoulders (right after the surgery I could feel it pulling in my back if I lifted my arms) so I just started in the water walking at first, then joined the water aerobics ladies in their class once I was stronger and just didn't do the arm stuff. I had to be completely off the pain medication before I could actually swim so I could "let pain be my guide" as the surgeon said. Thanks doc! But that was really the best route for me as I had a lot of pain after repair of two back disks. Once I could swim again I kicked a lot, without a board, with and without fins (I wore out a set of fins) and after a summer of that long course I really noticed how much more flexible I was, plus being in the water was very good for my attitude. An unanticipated bonus was that I got to know the water aerobics group and they got to know me and my situation. Now they cheer me on with my swimming and I am more careful not to swamp them in the pool on my turns. Ok not everyone loves me swimming with them but its better!

Yu must be reminiscing of the great time you had at the fabulous Colonies Zone LCM Championship meet hosted by Terrapin Masters at the University of Maryland, College Park. Hope to see you doing your 200! I think my mind was more on the pizza and fun afterwards. Ann, swimming is an awesome recovery. I wish I could say it was successful for me right now. I was in tears in pain this morning. The swelling is bad and so is the bruising. I think it's getting worse :cry: Alison

Oh no! I think you did too much to start out - I was four weeks post op before I got into the pool to walk and did that for a month, then four weeks of aerobics classes, so it was twelve weeks before I could actually swim. Give yourself a break and don't expect to just jump back into full practices at once. I did eight months of "rehab" swimming, would not go with a practice agenda like I do now, just would do my stretching and kicking and see how I felt. Are you still taking pain meds? Although I didn't appreciate the surgeon's comment at the time he knew the pain was important for me to self regulate and not do too much, not just with swimming but with daily life as well. I couldn't be on medication that masked the pain or I would do too much. It was certainly a lot slower progress than I wanted! Remember you are pacing yourself over a lifetime not just your competitive swimming career. I don't know what type of surgery you had or what the original problems were. I had ruptured L4-L5 and herniated L3-L4 to the point it also needed repair. After dealing with that and the surgery, today I am happy to be able to walk, sit stand and bend (to some extent) pain free let alone swim again. My swimming is very important to me so I understand your frustration but you are going to have to let things heal. You will get there, be patient and give yourself a break.

Thanks Ann. The surgery I had was for tendonitis in the thumb joint. Minor compared to what you had. I'm not on pain meds. Stopped them on the first day. The reason I was hurting so bad yesterday was that I picked my son up, twice. I just did it wrong and hence the pain. Today it's fine (I still sleep in the brace) so I'm heading back into the water. I won't do a full practice. I'll be happy with another 2300, some kicking. The kicking will be based on the pain. I was good on Thurs and stopped even if I felt uncomfortable. I will do the same today. With GTD this year, it's not a good year to have a surgery and be out of the water :( Alison

Update: one week in the water and Im up to 4200. I only sat out 200 of the kids practice after I pushed off the wall and had some pain but very little. Yesterday and today my wrist feels great and is finally losing its swelling. Tomorrow - 2 hour practice. Ack. Alison

Update: one week in the water and Im up to 4200. I only sat out 200 of the kids practice after I pushed off the wall and had some pain but very little. Yesterday and today my wrist feels great and is finally losing its swelling. Tomorrow - 2 hour practice. Ack. Alison Great to hear you're getting back to form Alison...how does the "domestic bliss" induced finger wagging feeling on that hand? ;)

So are we all going out to a late lunch post-meet? Had to ask that to annoy Aquageek. Although hopefully we can get some videos for the poor fellow.

i'm up for it, but am planning on attending the pvlmsc meeting after the meet. perhaps the blue muppet will order me some food. or perhaps i will have to pass on this round of eating:cane: