Getting shown up by Jim Hubbard!

Got Salt?  

Jim Hubbard swam
10 minutes in icy wota

Jim's a stud and one of the friendliest guys I know, and he had double my mental strength tonight!  I'm not ashamed though, I'm used to getting my butt kicked by older dudes.  The SALT Club members are all in their 50's and they're making me swallow their wake.  I wanna be like alot of these guys when I grow up.

At 4:36pm, I picked up Cathi from the downtown Frontrunner station, and we sped out to the GSL Marina, where I met Josh, Goody and Jim for our weekly swim.  The water warmed up to 41°F and I did my typical lap.  I wasn't really prepared mentally for more than that today.  I enjoyed getting out and not having my hands and feet feel like they were going to break off.

Josh followed me out to the marina opening, and Goody made it to the other side of the Marina as well.  Jim did two laps and was in the water for over 10 minutes!  Wow!  I was very impressed.  When we all got out were were all looked like, well.... Hellboy.  Red as lobsters.

Fun times.  Next time I'll be prepared for a double.


Total Distance: 350 yards in 5:15

Harrison just to the left of Josh, also joined the club as he put his foot in the
water a couple times tonight.  Can't wait to see him in the coming years
be as daring as his Dad.

Here's a video:

The best 50 yards I've ever swam in my life

Critical angularity: "The further the destination or goal, the greater the importance of the first few steps or decisions, that get you started in the right direction". - Gords

I'm not an astronaut, but I've heard that when it comes to reentering earth's atmosphere the difference between bouncing off, burning up and entering the atmosphere safely is just a fraction of a degree depending on where you are coming from.

From Swimming

That's the same with life.  If you have certain life objectives and plans, you need to consider the small decisions that will help get you started and on your way, as not really insignificant.  Every single facet of my life is thanks to my wife, Cathi.  My happy marriage, my family, my career, and even my swimming achievements are ALL because of her.  I'm almost certain my life would pretty much suck right now if I hadn't decided to pursue her.  Even though it wasn't fast, that first lap I took with her was the best 50 yards of my entire life and always will be.

This morning I was able to get out of bed, but I took my sweet time getting ready and I wasn't in the water until 0530.  I did:

1000 free
1000 kick with fins
2000 pull
2000 finger paddles
1000 - 200 kick no fins, 300 free, 200 kick no fins, 300 free


7,000 yards total in 2:10 


Left early as I was REALLY slow this morning.  Even Raj was keeping up.  I went over to the lab and gave up about 2oz of my blood to the vampire for mercury testing.  I can't wait for the report.

Meeting with WFPBC this afternoon for a ice water swim.

I passed

After this morning's swim I went to my Dr who filled out the CS&PF Medical form.   He officially deemed me FIT physically to swim the English Channel.  They should really consider sending you to a psychologist as well given that swimming the channel is also such a mentally challenging feat.

I have a lab form for getting my blood taken, but I have to be fasting for 8 hours so I'll take it tomorrow morning.  Then I'll get to the bottom of this methyl mercury business.

This morning I swam at SDRC since my Dr. office is right across the street from the pool.  I was in at 0500 and did:

2000 free
2000 pull
2000 - 1000 kick, 10 x 100's odd free on 1:30 (hold under 1:20), even back/breast on 2:00
2000 - 2 x 1000's free
2000 - pull with finger paddles
2000 - 500 PT paddles, 500 no paddles, 10 x 100's odd free desc on 1:30 (1:20, 1:18, 1:16, 1:11, 1:10), even back/breast on 2:00
500 free easy


12,500 yards total in 3:45

600s

This morning's workout was full of 600.  Will and Gary lapped me at least once on almost every 600 and I was the last one in the lane.  I wasn't dogging it either.  They're just good IMers and kickers.  I'm definitely the small fish in this pool.

Randy's compilation

Started at 0512 with:  1200 free, then joined the SALT club with:

600 - 200 swim, 200 drill, 200 kick
600 - odd 50 free, even 50 kick (with fins)
600 - 300 swim, 300 pull
600  - 400 pull, 200 back
600 - 200 IM, 200 free, 200 kick
600 - 150 IM, 150 free, 150 kick, 150 stroke
600 - 100 IM, 100 free, 100 kick, 100 one arm fly, 100 back, 100 breast
600 - 200 kick with fins, 200 back, 200 free

500 easy

then joined Masters group #2 with
200 easy
200 - 4 x 50's one arm
200 - 4 x 50's desc 1-4
3 sets of

200 pull on 3:00, 4 x 100's (first set get 1:20 on 1:30, 2nd 1:15 on 1:40, 3rd 1:10 on 1:50), 200 kick

200 easy

Then did my own thing:

1800 - 3 x 600's first finger paddles, 2nd large paddles, 3rd - 1/2 PT, 1/2 no equip


 11,200 yards in 3:20

My Swimsense froze up around 7am and wouldn't even turn off, it just wasn't responsive.  I've got it plugged in to the computer charging and it responds now.  Good thing I had a set workout so it was easy to know where I was and not rely totally on the watch for keeping track of distance.

 

Not amused

The last 20 minutes of today's workout some old guy in the lane next to me was wearing a french cut speedo.  If I had a "slightly off" fuel mixture I would have thrown it up this morning.  I was NOT amused.

Was in the water at 0510 and did:

1050 free and joined masters:

600 warmup
600 - 6 x 100's 3rd length kick on 1:45
600 - 3 x 200's, 150 @ 65%, 50 @ 85% on 2:45
600 - 3 x 200's, 100 @ 65%, 100 @ 85% on 2:45
600 - 3 x 200's, 150 @ 65%, 50 @ 85% on 2:45
200 easy on 3:00
200 all out (got 2:15)
300 - 3 x 100's fly/back on 1:30
300 - 3 x 100's back/breast on 1:30
300 - 3 x 100's breast/free on 1:30
100 IM all out
400 - 8 x 50's free no breath in/out turns on :50
Then did my own thing with Will for part of it:

1000 pull big paddles
1000 pull finger paddles
1000 free no equipment
1000 kick with fins
1000 free no equipment
500 - 4 x 100's free strong on 1:30, 100 back easy


11,350 yards total in 3:20

Finally hit my 500 mile goal

This morning I had to pass up the Polar Bear Dip so that I could baptize my son Isaac.  This morning I told him, "Make sure you dress warm, we're baptizing you out at the Great Salt Lake.  It's gonna be cold."  He go this terrified look on his face.  I said, "Yeah, we'll go real fast and you can get dried off and warmed up.  You'll never forget your baptism!"  He almost started to cry so I told him I was just kidding.  (I wish I wasn't).  Had a great time with family and there was a great spirit at his baptism.  He was so happy today.

We had family come over and ate a ton of food.  Party was over around 11am so I got the thumbs up from Cathi to do a swim this afternoon.  So I went to SDRC and was in the water at 1:30pm.  I did the same workout that Will posted that the SALT club did this morning, with a few minor modifications since I was going off memory and not a piece of paper.


1000 free easy
900 - 9 x 100's free fast on 1:30 (got all just under 1:20)
800 - 4 x 200's finger paddles on 2:50
700 - 300 free, 100 back, 300 free
600 kick with fins
500 free drill
400 pull
300 free easy
200 PT Paddles
100 - Two over/unders
2000 - 8 x 250's odd free, even back or breast no rest interval

100 - Two over/unders
200 PT Paddles
300 free easy
400 pull
500 free drill
600 kick with fins
700 - 300 free, 100 back, 300 free
800 - 4 x 200's finger paddles on 2:50 (got all under 2:40)

900 - 9 x 100's free fast on 1:30 (got all just under 1:15)
1000 free easy
200 back/breast
13,200 yards total in 3:55

Starting in October was this virtual open water race that was 250 miles.  I tried talking Karen Reeder into creating a 500 mile race, but she didn't want to do it this year.   Probably not enough nuts out there to go for that distance in 6 months.  Well I hit it almost two months ahead of the cutoff.  500 miles in 127 days.

Today I drank a Orange/Vanilla Perpetuem with about 12 ounces of OJ added.  Not so good.  It tasted like Orange Juice and milk mixed together.  Not really gross, but not anywhere as good as yesterday.  I think I need to stick with pear juice and not OJ.

Finally found the most tasty workout fuel so far

This morning when I woke up my shoulder was not feeling great and I was still so exhausted!  So I went back to bed and slept in.  Man that felt so good.  I had a busy day at work and got off at 4:30 pm then went over to SDRC on the way home and swam:

2000 free
2000 - 4 x 500's PT Paddle/no equip/finger paddles/Huge Paddles
2000 free
100 easy
900 - 9 x 100's kick with fins
1000 - 200's free, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 pull
2000 cruising pace


10,000 yards total in 2:35

When I got in the water my shoulder was only feeling like 75%, but by the time I got out, it felt like 95%.  I really enjoyed this swim cause I was alone and didn't feel pressured to go fast to hit certain times.  I really enjoyed today's pace.  Very relaxing and therapeutic for my shoulder.

Today's fuel source was fantastic!  I mixed Strawbery Perpetuem with 16 oz of water, and 8 ounces of pear juice.  Oh my gosh it was awesome.  What a treat!  I'm definitely going to reuse that recipe.

When I was finished I called Cathi on the way home and she was having a good time with the kids and said everything was fine and that she saved me some dinner.  What a dream woman!  She's so patient with me and the time I'm spending in the pool.  I'm so grateful for her!

Eerie, cold Groundhog day

This afternoon at 4:45 I met Goody out at the GSL Marina.  We were hoping to have Michelle and her friends meet us out there, but we waiting until 5 and then figure it was just us.   So we took the temp and it came to 35.9°F (2.2°C).  The wind was going pretty strong from the northwest and there were some pretty decent waves and water movement coming from the marina opening.

I resolved to do my normal lap of going to the marina opening and back.  I got in and started making my way there.  My goggles worked out great and didn't fog at all.  I've been using an anti-fog on them before putting them away each time.  As I swam closer to the turn around point, the waves were getting stronger, I breathed to the right side and in three different times ended up not only getting water in my mouth but ended up swallowing it.  (Now before JQ pipes up with some smart ass comment, I'm going to see my Dr next Wednesday for my EC medical papers, and at the same time am going to demand I get a mercury level blood test to see how bad it really is).

I made it to the turn around point no problem and made my way back.  Why is it that the last 100 yards, time slows down and it seems to take forever!  I stopped my watch when I got out and it was 5 minutes exactly.  Awesome.  Got dressed and went back to my warm car.  Another week of overcoming my lazy weak self.


350 yards in 5 minutes in 2.2c


I won't be able to join the group on Saturday since my son Isaac is getting baptized.  Too bad we can't do it in the GSL and he can have quite the baptism story for his grandkids.  Instead it'll be in a nice clean font with water that is probably 95 degrees.

Having the "Will" to give 100%

Today Will came up with the workout.  Man it was awesome!  It involved giving 100% and rewarded with more rest.  He said often we focus on a low amount of rest and only go at about 80-90% at most.  Occasionally it's OK to take lots of rest, as long as you go all out!  And that's what we did today on several sets of 100s.

Got in the water at 0515 and did:

1100 free, then joined masters...
600 warmup
300 - 6 x 50's descending stroke count on 1:00
4000 - 4 sets of

200 pull on 3:30,
6 x 100's free (first round on 1:30 (hit 1:20), second round on 1:40 (hit 1:15), third round on 1:50 (hit 1:10, fourth round of six on 2:00 (hit 1:05) I used finger paddles on the fourth round, but the rest were all me. I was very happy with the effort I gave on these. My HR was just above 170bpm and I was breathing like an asthmatic upon hitting the wall, but by the time it was time to go for the next rep I was almost breathing normal.  I was right behind Will.  I left exactly 5 seconds after he did, and my goal was to just stay 5 seconds behind him (or less).  .
200 kick (no fins)

400 easy

Fantastic workout!!!

Then a TON of people came in for Masters (round 2).  This group of swimmers are much more varied in abilities.  I initially swam with the wrong group.  They were really slow.  So I moved to the other side of the pool and the two fast lanes already had like 7-8 people in them.  It was really crowded.  I got in at the butt end of the second lane.  It sucked cause everyone ahead of me still was a tad too slow, but the fastest lane was just as crowded and were faster people.  Oh well, I was really tired at this point, so I just went at the slower pace.

300 - 3 x 100's 50 kick/50 swim
200 - 4 x 50's back
100 - 4 x 25's varied swim
Main set:
300 - 3 x 100's free base +5, base, base -5
300 - 6 x 50's kick on 1:00
400 - 4 x 100's free base +5, base, base - 5
200 - 4 x 50's one arm fly/free on 1:00
500 - 5 x 100's free base +5, base, base -5
100 - 2 x 50's back, free
600 drill/kick/swim

Then everyone got out and it was a ghost town. I continued with:
1000 pull cruising pace
500 kick with fins


10,900 yards in 3:20


I left my prepared mixture of hammer drink in the fridge and I had an extra gatorade in my car so I used that.  After the workout, on the way to work I tried a Hammer Almond Raisin bar.  Holy crap was that good!  I've tried all sorts of different energy bars, and most of them taste like crap, even the ones that are supposed to taste like a candy bar instead of an energy bar.  They taste so fake.  But this was authentic, it tasted like a delicious bowl of raisin bran, except in a bar.  It has 270 calories, and a good blend of carbs, fat, protein.  I'm definitely going to keep this one on my list.


Tonight I'm going for a short cold water swim in the GSL.  Looking forward to that.

February Fitness Challenge

Yesterday I hit snooze too many times and was seriously late to swim, so I decided to just go to work early and get in some serious hours so that I front load the week with hours.  Because of that I was eager to get up this morning and did not hit snooze.  Cathi did her traditional back scratch for me for about 30 seconds.  Awesome way to wake up!

This morning I was in the water at 5:15am and did:

Kyle Treadway came up with this doozy

1150 yards free then joined masters:

600 free easy

1250 - 3 x 250 (100 free pull, 50 back pull, 100 free pull), 3 x 100 IM, 4 x 50's kick

repeated three times

600 - 4 x 100's hypoxic breathing/50 back

100 easy

I was in Will's lane, and for most of the entire workout I either only got 3 seconds rest or had to flip turn right into the next rep.  I'm definitely one of the slowest guys there.

Then did my own thing after everyone left:

2000 - 2 x 1000's free cruising pace

2000 - 500 PT paddles, 500 no equip, 500 finger paddles,  500 huge paddles

800 - 8 x 100's kick with fins

11,000 yards total in 3:10

I just signed up for the "February Fitness" challenge today.  My goal is to swim a quarter million yards.  That's gonna mean an average of 62,500 yards per week.  That's some SERIOUS yardage.  But not unreasonable for me.

I also tried the Unflavored Sustained Energy today.  I mixed it with about 20 ounces of water, 6 ounces of concentrated pear juice and about 8 ounces of pure orange juice.  It actually was good!  It wasn't extremely powerful, but had enough taste to make my taste buds happy.  I can't say it really helped me during my workout today, I don't think I've ever had a "popeye reaction" to anything I've had.

But in the past I've definitely had a negative reaction to not taking anything at all.  And I didn't bomb out today.   This stuff wasn't bad, but for me it's about taste anyway and the added juices were the key here.  I'm looking forward to my shipment of Orange flavored Perpetuem to arrive.