Milestone: Swim 100 miles in one month

So I was watching my mileage for this month and knew that I was coming close to swimming 100 miles in one month, so I made sure to get my yardage to where I could reach that milestone.  This morning I got up at 4:20 and drove to SDRC to do this workout so that I could get in early and still get to work at a decent time.  

I got this workout from Graham Wardell, who said that this workout is "A Real Killer!!"

1200 warmup - 3 x 200 free, 3 x 200 IM

800 - 1 x 800 free on 11:30

1200 - 2 x 600 free on 8:00

1200 - 3 x 400 free on 5:30

800 - 4 x 200's (1st free, 2nd 50 fly/150 free, 3rd 100 fly/100 free, 4th 150 fly/50 free)

1000 - 20 x 50's kick odd 25's steady/fast, even fast/steady on 1:00

400 - 400 pull (50 free/ 50 back) on 6:00

400 - 2 x 200's pull (50 free/50 back) on 3:00

400 - 4 x 100's pull (50 free/50 back) on 1:30

200 - 4 x 50's pull back on 1:00

Added this to the original "killer"....

400 - 400 free on 6:00

400 - 2 x 200's free on 3:00

400 - 4 x 100's free on 1:30

200 - 4 x 50's free on 1:00

1000 warmdown Long easy strokes

10,000 yards total

So my total so far on the Lake Huron swim is:  70.83% complete (311,650 yards or 177.07 miles total)  In order to complete my goal of finishing before Dec 31st, I'll have to swim only 73 more miles.  Something I should be able to easily do in December.  The rush is on!

Back home, but doesn't feel like it

I made it back to Layton since they were closed last week with a broken heater.  I guess my heart has transitioned over to SDRC as my "home pool".  The water felt fine.  It was cool.  But I just didn't have my heart in todays workout.  Don't get me wrong.  I swam hard, didn't feel like quiting, or had any pain issues,  I just missed my SDRC pool.  Its a much more inviting pool.  I think it might be the bubble. Anyhow, here is what I did today:

1000 free
800 - 4 x 200's IM on 3:30
3200 - 8 x 400's free odd easy, even fast on 6:30
800 - 16 x 50's free fast on 1:00 (hold :32)
3000 - 6 x 500's free (1 & 2 pull all equip, 3 & 4, no ankle strap, 5 paddles only, 6 no equipment)
1000 - 10 x 100's odd IM, even free on 1:45
200 grandpa swimming

10,000 yards total

My goggles have finally bitten the dust.  The plastic outer gasket has lost it's spring and my eyelashes are brushing the inside front.  So I threw them away and went with my backup pairs which I hate cause they fog like crazy.  Time for a trip to Big 5 for another pair.

After tonight's Lifeguarding class I got in and did 3000 yards free in 42:05

13,000 yards daily total

Drained

This morning I started my swim at 7:00am.  I was pretty drained right from the start, so today's workout was about just getting in and not being a bum.

1000 yards easy
2000 - 400 IM, 600 pull, 600 pull, 400 IM
500 kick (10 x 25 underwater dolphin, 25 back kick) with fins
500 - 5 x 100's odd IM, even free on 1:45
2000  pull
500 easy

6500 yards total

So this week was a record breaking week.  Swam 59,800 yards total this week.  I'm pretty happy with that.  I need to have a 40K average to get the Huron swim by the end of the year.  So I'm doing pretty good.

Long Black Friday swim

Since we didn't go to the cabin for Thanksgiving, and stayed home I was blessed with the opportunity to do a long swim.  I got up at 5:30am.  Cathi drove me to SDRC (where she continued on to Sandy to run with an old friend) and I was in the water at 6:30am.  Here was the workout I wrote on a piece of paper on the way:

1000 warmup
1000 - 1 x 1000 strong (14:15)
1800 - 2 x 900's (800 free immediately followed by 100 back)
2400 - 3 x 800's pull
2800 - 4 x 700's

Take a quick bathroom break and take a buzz bite for energy.

3000 - 5 x 600's
3000 - 6 x 500's kick odd w/fins, even w/o
2800 - 7 x 400's IM (fly one arm only)

Cathi showed right at the end of this set.  She was done running with her friend and also going to breakfast with her sisters in Bountiful.  She brought a book and was really supportive as she said she was willing to wait and read her book while I finished out the remaining sets.

2400 - 8 x 300's pull strong

Take a buzz bite

1800 - 9 x 200's free on 3:00
1000 - 10 x 100's odd IM, even free on 1:45
100 - 2 over unders

23,100 yards (13.125 miles) in 6:25

That's a new PR for the most yards in one day.  I felt great.  I definitely could have kept going but Cathi was waiting for me.  Actually she fell asleep up in the stands, but the kids were home and already broke the record and didn't need to be a deadbeat Dad the day after thanksgiving.  So now I'm off to play games and hang with the kids!

Pre-Thanksgiving swim - 10,100 yards

This morning my swim went much better than yesterday.  I was able to get into meditation mode within the first 1000.  My last set with IM's in it was also very good.  Got some good speed and strength on those even though I had already swam 9000 yards.

3000 yards effortless free
1000 - 2 x 500's kick w/fins
2000 - 2000 pull w/ankle bands
3000 - 3000 effortless free
1000 - 10 x 100's odd IM, even free on 1:45
100 - 2 over unders

10,100 yards

Felt great, no joint issues, or weakness.

I'm very thankful to have the health that allows me to do what I want to do - SWIM!

Swimming right next to an old friend - Sarah Hansen

I wasn't sure if Layton was closed again or not so I went straight to SDRC this morning.

Sarah Hansen was in the next lane over.  We never talked cause we were both doing laps and I don't think she recognized me.  That's one thing about swimming.  It is definitely not a social sport (unless your a slacker and just chatting it up at the wall).  

My arms never got into power mode, but I was able to get through it. I think most of the problem today was yesterday I didn't eat all that much and didn't have enough calories to power up for this morning's swim.  So today I'll stop at Smiths and load up on stuff for tomorrow's swim.  Then I'll take Thu/Fri off and then do another long swim on Saturday afternoon.

3000 yards free
3000 - 2 x 1500 yards free
1000 - 2 x (400 free right into100 back)
2000 - 4 x 500's free
1000 - 10 x 100's odd IM, even free on 1:45
100 - 25 breast, 25 free really easy, 25 underwater, 25 free really easy

10100 yards total

Acting dumb

This morning I got up early for a long swim, but Layton Surf N' Swim was closed due to the heater going out and the water being "too cold".  I was like "It's probably just right then since it's usually too warm anyway."  But the lifeguard wasn't having it.  So I drove to SDRC.  Thank goodness for a backup plan.

When I got to the pool Tim was there and asked, hey are you swimming alone?  I said well Yes.  Then I was like "I don't have a membership yet and wasn't sure how much the charge was for Masters.  So how much is it?"  I didn't want to say, Look I'm going for yardage today and don't want to work on short speed sets.  So I played dumb and just swam in the Northern lanes by myself.  Here's what I did:

4000 yards free strong
1000 - 2 x 500's kick with fins
3000 pull w/ ankle strap
1000 - timed 1000.   Go fast (13:52)
1000 - 10 x 100's odd IM on 1:45, even free on 1:30

10,000 yards total

Felt great!

Long swim after High School Thanksgiving Invitational at SDRC

The pool was closed until 3pm as there were probably a dozen high school swim teams at a meet at SDRC.  I got there at 2:20 and watched the last two events which had 5 heats each.  It was the female and male 400 yard free relay.  There were some fast kids!

I got in at 3:10pm and did the following:

4000 yards free strong

get a drink of gatorade

2000 yards free
1000 yards - 2 x 500's kick with fins
2000 yards pull w/ankle strap

get a drink of gatorade

3000 yards free strong with tempo trainer getting faster each 1000.

12000 yards total

More than halfway across lake Huron.  Hope to finish that before end of year.

Feeling great!

This morning I got up at 5:10am and got to the pool at 5:40am.  I was able to have a very relaxing, yet strong swim.  Alot of my swims included lots of prolonged reach before pulling and more focus on the pull:

5000 yards free straight no stop (Noticed that at the one hour mark I was at 4280 yards which is awesome.

1000 - 2 x 500's kick.  First 500 w/fins, second 500 without.
2000 - 2000 pull.  Long deliberate strokes with a little extra glide
2000 - 2000 free no equipment but with Tempo Trainer set at 1:00
400 - 4 x 100's first 100 IM strong, second 100 free strong, 3rd IM sprint, 4th free sprint  :20
100 easy

10,500 yards total

No joint or energy issues, swam strong the whole time and never felt like giving up.  Best swim in a LONG time!

Smiling Underwater

Last night on the way home from Lifeguard class I was thinking about things I'm thankful for. I kept thinking about Cathi and our life together. I was overwhelmed with love and gratitude for that woman. So I spent a few hours last night scanning pictures and narrowing all the good ones down to about 40 pictures and put this video together:



This morning I watched the video before coming swimming to appreciate the work I did last night. So I kept thinking about Cathi while I swam and often found myself smiling underwater while I was exhaling!

4000 yards straight strong (58:45)
1000 kick with fins
2000 free pull
100 free swim backwards

This was tough getting the breathing down. You actually swim front crawl backwards as if you were watching front crawl in reverse. Fun stuff!

1000 free with tempo trainer set to :97
100 IM strong

8200 yards total