Thursday, April 16, 2009
Off to DC...
Just me and the 3 kids. I always love a good road trip. But with the way my kids have been bickering lately I just hope we won't end up like this. Wish me luck!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Bowdoin swim clinic: Waltzing through the water
Apparently I never knew. Swimming is kind of like waltzing through the water. We swam to a 1-2 underwater metronome at the Bowdoin Clinic. At first he had us swimming at 20 cycles per minute- very slow. Hard to even move continuously. 30 per minute was more my pace. After a lengthy lecture on how to go fast on a bike (a description that flew completely over my head and was geared for all the triathletes in the audience), the analogy to swimming was made.
To go fast -- the only way -- is either to increase cycles per minute (cadence or tempo) OR distance per stroke. That's it.
All that fancy stuff -- be it suits, new techniques, weights, cords -- only make you faster if they affect tempo or distance per stroke.
And to think all I did before was just decide to "go fast". Intuitively I knew this but had never thought about it. So for that alone I think the clinic was helpful.
We also got to swim on video several times to look at our body position and technique. Coach Brad said I need to pull in my core more and tighten my butt muslces (do I have any?) and lengthen my stroke. He also said I was an "advanced" swimmer... Zach was jealous...haha.
But really the best part was swimming in a different pool with Deb, Kathy, Adrian, John, John G., Zach, & Son and just having fun with it all. That's what it's all about.
Here's what I want to try next..... getting towed.
To go fast -- the only way -- is either to increase cycles per minute (cadence or tempo) OR distance per stroke. That's it.
All that fancy stuff -- be it suits, new techniques, weights, cords -- only make you faster if they affect tempo or distance per stroke.
And to think all I did before was just decide to "go fast". Intuitively I knew this but had never thought about it. So for that alone I think the clinic was helpful.
We also got to swim on video several times to look at our body position and technique. Coach Brad said I need to pull in my core more and tighten my butt muslces (do I have any?) and lengthen my stroke. He also said I was an "advanced" swimmer... Zach was jealous...haha.
But really the best part was swimming in a different pool with Deb, Kathy, Adrian, John, John G., Zach, & Son and just having fun with it all. That's what it's all about.
Here's what I want to try next..... getting towed.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Endurance workout
Today was different, which is why I love having a coach on deck telling me what to do.
Swim as far as you can for each time period BUT increase your distance each time.
12:30 rest 2:30
11:50 rest 3:30
11:10 rest 4:30
10:30 the end
I'm a terrible counter but I think this is how far I went... I'm positive on the last set b/c I counted (a hard skill for a sprinter).
750
775
775
850 yds
It felt good!
Swim as far as you can for each time period BUT increase your distance each time.
12:30 rest 2:30
11:50 rest 3:30
11:10 rest 4:30
10:30 the end
I'm a terrible counter but I think this is how far I went... I'm positive on the last set b/c I counted (a hard skill for a sprinter).
750
775
775
850 yds
It felt good!
Monday, April 6, 2009
First Tri workout
Today was a nice break from the same old same old. Coach had us mix it up a bit. We started out with a few hundred warm up and then a super set -- 10 x 100 @ 1:25. We really should have been doing 1:20 but we all wimped out. Deb hasn't been in the water for 3 weeks, me for a week and well we probably could have made 5 or so on 1:20... we'll do it next month (we do them on the first monday of the month and try to drop 5 seconds each month). Well after that nice set we got out and went to the track behind the pool. I did a mile (which is a lot considering I haven't run in 5 years or more). Katie passed me twice --ha ha! Time to get my bike on the road I think...
Friday, April 3, 2009
400 Free Relay
One more picture from the 400 free relay on Friday night
(L to R) Zach, Sean, Jess, me; time 3:34.14
(L to R) Zach, Sean, Jess, me; time 3:34.14
Monday, March 30, 2009
NESCY Championship 2009 report
Subtitle: Is it the suit or is it me? Heck who cares!
On the blocks in my new suit
As I mentioned back in February after the Cape Sprint meet, it was time to get me a new suit. Well I've done that and I am in love with my (kind of new) Speedo FastSkin-PRO. I never knew what a difference a suit could make. I had the meet of my life. I couldn't be more happy. When I arrived Mike, the president, asked "What suit are you wearing?" I thought that was a wierd question but he had in mind getting me into a fast suit. What a good idea! Thank you to Beth for lending me the suit and then selling it to me and thank you to Mike for even getting me to consider the idea of a fast suit.
Maine Masters is a great group and were so welcoming to me. There were only 3 people from my workout group out of the 80+ people that came from MESC but it didn't matter because after the first minute I was there people were chatting it up and giving me great advice.
So here is the short version cause frankly I am still kind of wiped out from the meet!
Friday
50 back - I had no idea what to expect with my new suit and figured this was just a warm up for the 100 fly so I'd take it out not too fast so I didn't miss the turn... whoa final time 30.88, 3 second drop from my seed and 3rd place.
100 fly - this was it. The race I came a day early for. The one I really cared about. I felt good. I felt like a superwoman in my new suit. I knew I had to sprint the first 50 and then come back for the second 50 with all I had left...yes!! I just looked at the clock and said "Holy sh#@$t!" Was it possible? 1:02.53, five seconds off my time from February and 2 seconds off my best high school time.
400 free relay - 56.86 split ..yes! and second place
Saturday
100 free - I was nervous about swimming this without a warm up event and I even though I was seeded 3rd we were all packed in together. I had some bad turns, but still dropped 2 seconds off my time coming in at a 57.22 for 4th place (only .1 off of 2nd -- like I said it was tight).
100 back - I figured what the heck just go have some fun with this one. I was seeded 10th and just wanted to get some points for the team. I took the first 50 all out and came back with what I had left. It was fun cause I could see the clock on the scoreboard counting up 59, 1:00, 1:01.... final time 1:07.9, five seconds off my seed and 6th place!
200 medley relay - 27.66 split in the fly -- yes now I knew what I was capable of for tomorrow-- 2nd place
200 free relay - 25.69 -- ditto above -- 1st place!!
Sunday
50 fly - I was a bit nervous having this without a warm up event but decided early that morning that this was my race for the day. This was the one I was going to focus on. Sprints are great because you don't need to think you just have to react and go. I did... 27.8...whoa!!! yes!! only .4 off the NE record!! 1st place by 2 seconds.
50 free - this was another event that was packed tight in the seeds. I had seen the other women go fast in the 100 free, but I also knew they had all been swimming a lot of events. I was in a great heat, lane 4, with all young muffins around me, only one 35-39 woman over in lane 8. I just had to go for my personal best and let the cards fall where they may. And yes coach 2 breaths down, a tight turn, long streamline and 3 breaths back. Kick it! Yeah baby.... 25.64 and 1st place!!
400 medley relay - 100 fly, I just planned to take it out easy and come back with what I had, but hey I did a 1:02.9?? This time it hurt! See the video below (thanks Elia and Mark!) Nice job team!
Bridget, Jessica, Cheryl, me - 400 medley relay
Mary and I
My medals!
Simon, Cheryl and Jeremy
The overall team 1st place plaque for Maine Masters
Cheryl in the 100 breast
Lap 1, 50 free
Lap 2, 50 free
On the blocks in my new suit
As I mentioned back in February after the Cape Sprint meet, it was time to get me a new suit. Well I've done that and I am in love with my (kind of new) Speedo FastSkin-PRO. I never knew what a difference a suit could make. I had the meet of my life. I couldn't be more happy. When I arrived Mike, the president, asked "What suit are you wearing?" I thought that was a wierd question but he had in mind getting me into a fast suit. What a good idea! Thank you to Beth for lending me the suit and then selling it to me and thank you to Mike for even getting me to consider the idea of a fast suit.
Maine Masters is a great group and were so welcoming to me. There were only 3 people from my workout group out of the 80+ people that came from MESC but it didn't matter because after the first minute I was there people were chatting it up and giving me great advice.
So here is the short version cause frankly I am still kind of wiped out from the meet!
Friday
50 back - I had no idea what to expect with my new suit and figured this was just a warm up for the 100 fly so I'd take it out not too fast so I didn't miss the turn... whoa final time 30.88, 3 second drop from my seed and 3rd place.
100 fly - this was it. The race I came a day early for. The one I really cared about. I felt good. I felt like a superwoman in my new suit. I knew I had to sprint the first 50 and then come back for the second 50 with all I had left...yes!! I just looked at the clock and said "Holy sh#@$t!" Was it possible? 1:02.53, five seconds off my time from February and 2 seconds off my best high school time.
400 free relay - 56.86 split ..yes! and second place
Saturday
100 free - I was nervous about swimming this without a warm up event and I even though I was seeded 3rd we were all packed in together. I had some bad turns, but still dropped 2 seconds off my time coming in at a 57.22 for 4th place (only .1 off of 2nd -- like I said it was tight).
100 back - I figured what the heck just go have some fun with this one. I was seeded 10th and just wanted to get some points for the team. I took the first 50 all out and came back with what I had left. It was fun cause I could see the clock on the scoreboard counting up 59, 1:00, 1:01.... final time 1:07.9, five seconds off my seed and 6th place!
200 medley relay - 27.66 split in the fly -- yes now I knew what I was capable of for tomorrow-- 2nd place
200 free relay - 25.69 -- ditto above -- 1st place!!
Sunday
50 fly - I was a bit nervous having this without a warm up event but decided early that morning that this was my race for the day. This was the one I was going to focus on. Sprints are great because you don't need to think you just have to react and go. I did... 27.8...whoa!!! yes!! only .4 off the NE record!! 1st place by 2 seconds.
50 free - this was another event that was packed tight in the seeds. I had seen the other women go fast in the 100 free, but I also knew they had all been swimming a lot of events. I was in a great heat, lane 4, with all young muffins around me, only one 35-39 woman over in lane 8. I just had to go for my personal best and let the cards fall where they may. And yes coach 2 breaths down, a tight turn, long streamline and 3 breaths back. Kick it! Yeah baby.... 25.64 and 1st place!!
400 medley relay - 100 fly, I just planned to take it out easy and come back with what I had, but hey I did a 1:02.9?? This time it hurt! See the video below (thanks Elia and Mark!) Nice job team!
Bridget, Jessica, Cheryl, me - 400 medley relay
Mary and I
My medals!
Simon, Cheryl and Jeremy
The overall team 1st place plaque for Maine Masters
Cheryl in the 100 breast
Lap 1, 50 free
Lap 2, 50 free
Monday, March 23, 2009
When I get weddinged...a chicken or an egg?
Another priceless conversation with my 3 year old.
Where do I get babies after I am weddinged?
Um well after you get "weddinged" or married you'll have some eggs that can make babies.
(Pause)... Do they come from the refrigerator?
Oh no (LOL) .... you have them inside of you and once you are "weddinged" they can grow into babies.
(Pause)... But how do babies get arms?
Later I realized she thought she might be growing chicken babies -- thus the no arms possibility.
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