The 90 Day Experiment

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Former Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:20:05 GMT

As for all the kids vacating the old people's lane that is great. I get a coached practice and a private lane. How can you go wrong? How do you guys do that?! I have the opposite issue. No one gets in my lane in masters and all the kids get in my lane in USAS. :rofl:

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Donna — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:27:37 GMT

I can't keep up with ya'll but I have a 90 day plan also. I have started swimming with the kids. My goal is perfect stroke each length and to keep up with the fastest kids. Not there yet but each week I seem to knock off another kid and my stroke feels better. Did 4600 tonight no problems and the stroke felt relaxed and comfortable. Got all my advice right hear from ya'll. Thank you. As for all the kids vacating the old people's lane that is great. I get a coached practice and a private lane. How can you go wrong? The coach is probably hoping your knocking off another kid each week will help motivate them to work harder and beat you. It is a great way for everyone to improve if the motivation is there. Good luck.

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Former Member — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:54:43 GMT

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

ande — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:55:46 GMT

btw if you aren't doing the 1,000 or 1,650 there are 92 days till nats and 91 if you are now is the perfect time to step it up

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

ande — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:50:15 GMT

how cool is that congratulations ande I pretty much did this experiment last year, though due to illness it was a 63 day rather than 90 day experiment (9 weeks up until the IL State meet). I cared about, and focussed on, one event only: the 100 free. Though I only made it to 3 practices a week, I 6-beat kicked all the time at practice; if the coach said sprint, I sprinted; if I was getting tired I imagined it was the last lap of the 100 free and I couldn't give up, etc etc. I ended up going lifetime bests in the 50, 100, 200 free and the 100 IM. The lifetime bests I broke were from 2002 for the frees and 1998 for the IM. It's safe to say I was a tad bit obsessed with the 100 free last season... and probably continue to be so... At the meet this past Sunday, my 2-1/2 year old was running around wearing a pair of goggles. I asked her, "What stroke are you going to race?" I expected an answer like, "butterfly" or, more likely, "scoops" (what they call freestyle arms/doggie paddle at her kiddie lessons). Instead she looked straight at me and said, "the 100 free." :)

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

ande — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:48:54 GMT

do it go for the 100 fly train to take bunches of SDKs off each turn you might shock yourself ande I'm not sure. I'm usually ranked highest in the 50 back. However, I believe I am better at LC sprints than SCY sprints. What I'd love most to improve in is the 100 fly. I have a sentimental attachment to that event as it was my best event a zillion years ago.

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Former Member — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:17:50 GMT

I've started my experiment back at 120 days, including squeezing extra training time in, laying out a plan, focusing on breaststroke, setting March 1st at DAM to make my qualifying times, and then perfecting by nationals; already I've made great progress, renovated my stroke technique, greatly improved endurance, getting feedback from everyone here (more always welcome) and I'm pumped and focused - I'll let you know how it goes as I keep pushing for more and better from myself; your self-motivational prompts are an inspiration, Ande - thanks!

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Former Member — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:36:04 GMT

Thanks Carrie,I would love to meet you at nationals too. The first time I tried keeping up with them I almost felt like giving up my lunch afterward, but luckly I didn't. Each time gets alittle easier. I used to try to choose a lane with the slower kids, but they all assumed I was getting in to swim my own modified workout so they would vacate the lane. After talking with the coaches son (who is the fastest on the team) we agreed I would have to go in his lane to force the rest of the kids to spread out. After all I guess it is easier to past one slower swimmer with fins than 2-3 swimmers. I also felt guilty about always getting my own lane. This worked great this morning and I kept up fine without getting lapped today. The experiment will continue this weekend with the Mt. Pleasant, SC meet. Should be a great time seeing my SC friends again. Donna that's awesom..but I think you should now change your avatar to one of you flexing your muscles!!! Kudos!

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Former Member — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:01:13 GMT

Can't quite wear the "Andy Says Do It For 90 Days!" T-shirt ! However I have I've upped yardage to avg 4k per swim 3 x a week plus a 1500-2000 sprint on Saturdays. I've dropped my intervals. I'm kicking more. I'm fitter. I'm stronger. I'm visualising beating Geek when it gets tough going. I'm not letting myself slack off so much. I'm reminding myself I want to get 't be at Nats...but I'll be looking to zones for my taper swims.

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Former Member — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:17:42 GMT

I like this. Good idea Ande. Will give it a try. I have 90 days and two weeks b/c I'm doing Y Nats instead. Will mostly focus on not backing down when the pain sets in while keeping great technique. That's a tall order! :cane:

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Donna — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:00:40 GMT

Sorry I don't have one of those for an avatar, but I do have a picture of me flinching while holding number 13 as Rob Copeland splashes up copious amounts of water during his 500 Free at nationals last year.

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Donna — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:27:15 GMT

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Former Member — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:01:10 GMT

+ what else? What's missing from this list? Need suggestions on where to send the kids for 90 days...for those 8 hours of sleep. :yawn:

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

aquaFeisty — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:03:47 GMT

I started mine back in August and I am already seeing the rewards. Now I am kicking it up an additional notch by moving out of my comfort zone and actually trying to keep up with the really fast kids in my workout group atleast 3-4 days per week even if I have to use fins to keep up. Donna, based on the time drops you are having, you are ROCKIN' this experiment! Way to go, and hope to meet you at Nationals!

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

aquaFeisty — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:52:45 GMT

I pretty much did this experiment last year, though due to illness it was a 63 day rather than 90 day experiment (9 weeks up until the IL State meet). I cared about, and focussed on, one event only: the 100 free. Though I only made it to 3 practices a week, I 6-beat kicked all the time at practice; if the coach said sprint, I sprinted; if I was getting tired I imagined it was the last lap of the 100 free and I couldn't give up, etc etc. I ended up going lifetime bests in the 50, 100, 200 free and the 100 IM. The lifetime bests I broke were from 2002 for the frees and 1998 for the IM. It's safe to say I was a tad bit obsessed with the 100 free last season... and probably continue to be so... At the meet this past Sunday, my 2-1/2 year old was running around wearing a pair of goggles. I asked her, "What stroke are you going to race?" I expected an answer like, "butterfly" or, more likely, "scoops" (what they call freestyle arms/doggie paddle at her kiddie lessons). Instead she looked straight at me and said, "the 100 free." :)

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

smontanaro — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:00:57 GMT

Really! There needs to be boarding school in this 90 day plan. No foolin'... Our third (and last!) is a senior this year. While I will miss him in some ways when he goes off to school, in some other ways I won't miss him a bit. I'm sure you other folks with teenagers know what I mean. My wife and a friend came up with the idea of creating a teenage "bouncer" service, so you could go away assure in the knowledge that your teenager wasn't having crazy parties while you were away. Skip

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

The Fortress — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:59:13 GMT

But If you train for one event and improve you're very likely to improve in your other events ie if I get faster in the 50 fr by default my 50 fl, 50 bk, 100's and even 50 br should be faster to what's your one best event? I'm not sure. I'm usually ranked highest in the 50 back. However, I believe I am better at LC sprints than SCY sprints. What I'd love most to improve in is the 100 fly. I have a sentimental attachment to that event as it was my best event a zillion years ago.

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

ande — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:54:43 GMT

I just copied it out of my swim Faster Faster thread and didn't edit it It's more sensible to train for several events why not get your moneys worth when you go to nats But If you train for one event and improve you're very likely to improve in your other events ie if I get faster in the 50 fr by default my 50 fl, 50 bk, 100's and even 50 br should be faster to what's your one best event? Really! There needs to be boarding school in this 90 day plan. Are you serious about focusing on just one event? Are you giving advice about each event? :laugh2:

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

The Fortress — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:46:16 GMT

Need suggestions on where to send the kids for 90 days...for those 8 hours of sleep. :yawn: Really! There needs to be boarding school in this 90 day plan. Are you serious about focusing on just one event? Are you giving advice about each event? :laugh2:

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

Donna — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:41:54 GMT

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

ande — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:56:19 GMT

excellent you're welcome I look forward to hearing how you do ande I've started my experiment back at 120 days, including squeezing extra training time in, laying out a plan, focusing on breaststroke, setting March 1st at DAM to make my qualifying times, and then perfecting by nationals; already I've made great progress, renovated my stroke technique, greatly improved endurance, getting feedback from everyone here (more always welcome) and I'm pumped and focused - I'll let you know how it goes as I keep pushing for more and better from myself; your self-motivational prompts are an inspiration, Ande - thanks!

RE: The 90 Day Experiment

aztimm — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:34:25 GMT

Sounds like a great plan. Let us know how it works.