We opened the pool. Dad has been heating it up to 70 so I can swim tethered. I broke the tether twice before finally swimming for the equivalent of 1km. I really don't like doing it, but Christine says its important, even for me to mentally have to endure something I hate.....just like kick sets!
A couple big workouts this week, 5.2 and 5.6. But most significantly this week I got into the old Welland Canal today which will be my new training space now that we're heading into summer. I did 2km with Christine and the girls beside me. No wetsuit, and the water was again around 60 degrees. I felt really good afterwards even though Christine said I should experience an "after-drop". Basically that's where your body temperature actually reaches its lowest point (potential hypothermia) after I'm already out of the water. This is dangerous if you're not used to it, especially if you're alone, or driving. I was neither this time, but felt fine anyways. Christine was pleased and impressed by how I handled cold water, so those are the feelings I'm choosing to have about it to. Now I'm off to a Car Wash to raise money for Jumpstart Kids Campaign which is the charity that Christine's family and the WPAC relay have chosen to support, and which I will be sending a donation to after my swim.
Mileage: 29km!!!!
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Training Journal #18
Lots to report:
May 10th: 5km swim, first time trying out the parachute at the YMCA. Got a bunch of interesting looks from the lifeguards and other swimmers.
May 14th: Kiwanis version of a test set (15x100m). Christine found this guy who coaches on another day to swim with me that day and he's fast. He's training for Brock varsity try-outs and he was exactly what I needed. While Christine gave everyone else a mid-way break this guy got me to swim 2 extra 100s, so I actually did 17x100m and all on 1:24-1:25. My lungs felt like they were going to explode. I have such a love-hate with those kinds of sets. SO DIFFICULT in the moment, but really satisfying afterwards.
Then we went up to Chesley for the weekend. On the Sunday I did a double crossing of the lake (there and back) for a whopping 2.2km. But do not be fooled by the low amount of km, those were probably some of my most important kilometres so far because they were cold. I was in a wetsuit and the water was hovering around 60 degrees. The wetsuit however was not designed for actually swimming and on the return trip I peeled it off and swam the rest bare-limbed. The open water season has officially begun. Christine will be pleased. All the cottagers thought I was nuts. I am a little bit nuts.
Mileage last week: 23.8km
May 19th: We did the most bizarre and extreme sprint set 30x50m I managed to hold 0:39.
May 22nd: Brock Masters 20x100 in 1:27 or under. I'm swimming neck and neck with another guy named Dave. He still beats me 90% of the time, but he's the only one faster than me now.
Mileage this week: 22.6km
May 10th: 5km swim, first time trying out the parachute at the YMCA. Got a bunch of interesting looks from the lifeguards and other swimmers.
May 14th: Kiwanis version of a test set (15x100m). Christine found this guy who coaches on another day to swim with me that day and he's fast. He's training for Brock varsity try-outs and he was exactly what I needed. While Christine gave everyone else a mid-way break this guy got me to swim 2 extra 100s, so I actually did 17x100m and all on 1:24-1:25. My lungs felt like they were going to explode. I have such a love-hate with those kinds of sets. SO DIFFICULT in the moment, but really satisfying afterwards.
Then we went up to Chesley for the weekend. On the Sunday I did a double crossing of the lake (there and back) for a whopping 2.2km. But do not be fooled by the low amount of km, those were probably some of my most important kilometres so far because they were cold. I was in a wetsuit and the water was hovering around 60 degrees. The wetsuit however was not designed for actually swimming and on the return trip I peeled it off and swam the rest bare-limbed. The open water season has officially begun. Christine will be pleased. All the cottagers thought I was nuts. I am a little bit nuts.
Mileage last week: 23.8km
May 19th: We did the most bizarre and extreme sprint set 30x50m I managed to hold 0:39.
May 22nd: Brock Masters 20x100 in 1:27 or under. I'm swimming neck and neck with another guy named Dave. He still beats me 90% of the time, but he's the only one faster than me now.
Mileage this week: 22.6km
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Training Journal #17
We're at 9 weeks away from my swim! I've been learning how to look at water temperature and waves on Erie. Most of the lake is still high 40s, low 50s but I'm told it will warm up fast once it starts. At some point this month I'm supposed to get into open water. Maybe Chesley will be warm enough on the May long.
100m in 1:18 this past Wednesday!!
Mileage: 21.7km
A new element that has been added into my training is called resistance training. It all started on Thursday morning with what Christine calls Cords and Buckets. The work out is two-fold. For the Buckets part of it you have 2 buckets, attached to a bungee cord, attached to your waist. And then you swim, and then buckets catch the water creating resistance, and then you hate your life. For the second part - Cords, you have these same bungee cords attached around the handles of the deep end diving blocks and then attached around your waist. And then you swim, and the bungee stretches, but only so much creating resistance, and then you hate your life even more than when you were dragging the buckets. The whole idea is that by creating extra resistance you are not only strengthening your muscles to be able to handle things like waves/currents. In addition, when the resistance comes off you should be able to do some sprints and pull off some awesome times since your "new, lighter body" will feel so easy to move. Christine is letting me borrow her "parachute" to swim with. Its basically like the bucket idea, it just looks slightly less ridiculous and is easier to carry in a backpack. Something I have to be aware of is getting too comfortable in my workouts. If I'm not uncomfortable for at least some of it, I'm not improving. There's something deep and philosophical about that.
100m in 1:18 this past Wednesday!!
Mileage: 21.7km
A new element that has been added into my training is called resistance training. It all started on Thursday morning with what Christine calls Cords and Buckets. The work out is two-fold. For the Buckets part of it you have 2 buckets, attached to a bungee cord, attached to your waist. And then you swim, and then buckets catch the water creating resistance, and then you hate your life. For the second part - Cords, you have these same bungee cords attached around the handles of the deep end diving blocks and then attached around your waist. And then you swim, and the bungee stretches, but only so much creating resistance, and then you hate your life even more than when you were dragging the buckets. The whole idea is that by creating extra resistance you are not only strengthening your muscles to be able to handle things like waves/currents. In addition, when the resistance comes off you should be able to do some sprints and pull off some awesome times since your "new, lighter body" will feel so easy to move. Christine is letting me borrow her "parachute" to swim with. Its basically like the bucket idea, it just looks slightly less ridiculous and is easier to carry in a backpack. Something I have to be aware of is getting too comfortable in my workouts. If I'm not uncomfortable for at least some of it, I'm not improving. There's something deep and philosophical about that.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Training Journal #16
10km in 3:14. I'm tired this time.
Mom, Dad, Christine, Trin and Michaela were all there cheering me and Anita on. 10km is considered a marathon in swimming, so there you have it, I just swam a marathon.
Something weird happened about half way through. I had this deep pain in my elbow. I told Christine about it, and she thought I putting my hand in on a slight angle. I tried to correct it and the pain mostly went away. Crazy how a tiny technique error can be a crippling issue when you do it thousands of times.
I have no plans of getting into the pool tomorrow.
Mom, Dad, Christine, Trin and Michaela were all there cheering me and Anita on. 10km is considered a marathon in swimming, so there you have it, I just swam a marathon.
Something weird happened about half way through. I had this deep pain in my elbow. I told Christine about it, and she thought I putting my hand in on a slight angle. I tried to correct it and the pain mostly went away. Crazy how a tiny technique error can be a crippling issue when you do it thousands of times.
I have no plans of getting into the pool tomorrow.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Training Journal #15
The impossible has happened. I ran 5km this week! I think I may be more excited and proud of myself over this than over any swimming milestones to-date. To top it off, on the same day I ran 5km I also completed a 400m in 6:03! SO pumped!
I am swimming with the big boys now. Its crazy to watch myself progress over such a short period of time. Its so rewarding to see my training pay off. I'm now faster than 2/3 of the Brock masters team and probably the fastest at Kiwanis, whaaaat?!
I'm off to Hot Yoga tonight which is the only thing I'm allowed to do on the off days before a big swim. 10km in 2 days. I'm not worried about my ability to complete it, its just the next step, the next thing I have to check off to move forward.
Mileage: 14.6km - child's play ;)
I am swimming with the big boys now. Its crazy to watch myself progress over such a short period of time. Its so rewarding to see my training pay off. I'm now faster than 2/3 of the Brock masters team and probably the fastest at Kiwanis, whaaaat?!
I'm off to Hot Yoga tonight which is the only thing I'm allowed to do on the off days before a big swim. 10km in 2 days. I'm not worried about my ability to complete it, its just the next step, the next thing I have to check off to move forward.
Mileage: 14.6km - child's play ;)
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