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It was a beautiful day, and the lake was just awesome to swim in. In the 2012 version of this 5K OW swim there were about 50 masters swimmers, and for the 2013 USMS National 5K OW Championhips the participation list was over 120. While not a large OW event compared to major metro areas, it was a very good interstate draw for this area. My family and I took a trip to see my uncle in the Keys afterwards, so I was not able to make the event report until now.

I placed 2nd in masters men 55-59 and 20/65 overall of masters men. While the head wind on the longest length of the course was a factor for all of us, I somehow just did not have the same kind of energetic swim I had last year, as my arms ached during the most of the first two laps. Several spectators said I made a strong effort on the third lap passing 8 swimmers in the last half of the final lap. One of my occasional training partners who is in the 40-44 age group that I tend to be slightly faster in LCM 100/200 repeats in our workouts together at FGCU, swam this 5K about 6-7 minutes faster.


(left-right) Jim Stewart was the winner, followed by myself, Wayne Hannum, Carlos Lloreda, R Walker

Honestly, I was slightly disappointed, but I am in participating in Masters Swimming for the long term and it is just one swim. It will all balance out by participating in more kinds of swimming events, enjoying what Masters Swimming has to offer in terms of training, friendships, and competitive opportunities. On reflection, there are some variables to consider that may have some minor significance between last year and this year's performance, but I am really not going to over analyze, rather just keep going forward from this point.

I really want to thank all you USMS forumites for such great encouragement and support, and who have helped me to become a better swimmer in the short time I have started training, blogging and participating in the USMS forums.

72 days until Day 1 of the FINA World Masters Championships

Thursday, March 29
Kinsmen Aquatic Centre
WWU Pool (25m)

I'm particularly happy with my performance in this workout, so thought I'd post it!

warmup
6 x 50 swim, 25 kick, 25 drill
4 x 100 pull @ 1:50
2 x 100 swim @ 1:40

main set
400 Free (negative split) @ 6:00 (time = 5:00)
3 x 100 Free @ 1:20 (held 1:11)
6 x 50 Free @ :50
200 EZ
400 Free (negative split) @ 6:00 (time = 4:57)
3 x 100 Free @ 1:20 (held 1:11)
6 x 50 Free @ :45
200 EZ
400 Free (negative split) @ 6:00 (time = 5:03)
3 x 100 Free @ 1:20 (held 1:14)
4 x 50 Free @ :40 (held :36)
200 EZ

cool down
8 x 25 drill @ :40

Total Distance = 5000 meters (SCM)

Comments: On the 3rd time through, I backed off on the 400 and the 100s because I was worried that I wouldn't make the 50s. My strategy worked, because the 50s felt the easiest of all as I was able to immediately get into a rhythm with the pace.

Tuesday, March 27
Kinsmen Aquatic Centre
WWU Pool (25m)

main set
12 x 150 as
3 x 150 smooth @ 2:30 , 1 x 150 strong @ 2:00
2 x 150 smooth @ 2:30, 2 x 150 strong @ 2:00
1 x 150 smooth @ 2:30, 3 x 150 strong @ 2:00

I held 1:45s for most of the strong 150s, slipping to 1:47 and 1:49 for the last 2

Total Distance = 4600 meters (SCM)

Meet Report

I swam in 4 swim meets between Saturday, March 14 and Sunday March 25!

OSC Double-Double Meet
March 17 - 18
Edmonton
Kinsmen Aquatic Centre Comp Pool (50m)

This was a SNC (Swimming Canada) meet rather than a MSC (Masters Swimming Canada) meet. This was my first long course meet of the season.

100 Free 59.92
200 Free 2:13.88
100 Fly 1:06.45

That afternoon, I also swam in the

Making Waves Invitational
March 17
Edmonton
NAIT Pool (25m)

200 Fly 2:35.89 (no DQ!)
100 IM 1:09.31

I swam the first 175 meters of the 200 fly very relaxed and easy, then sprinted the last 25. Next time, I'll try 150 easy / 50 hard, etc. until I find the right balance.

The following weekend, I swam in the

Red Deer Silver Sharks Invitational
March 24
Red Deer
Michener Aquatic Centre Pool (25m)

200 Breast 2:54.22
200 Back 2:43.70 (immediately after a 25m freestyle race)
100 Breast 1:19.42

The next day, I swam in my 2nd long course meet of the season:

Calgary Masters Invitational
March 25
Calgary
Talisman Centre (50m)

50 Free 27.76
200 Back 2:51.59 (almost immediately after 50 Free)
100 Free 1:01.08
400 Free 4:53.42

The only good swim was the 400 free - and it's not good because of the final time, but because of how I split the race. I was so tired before the race that I almost scratched it, but I decided to swim a controlled pace race instead. Here were my splits:

1:10.90
1:16.26 (2:27.16)
1:14.64
1:11.62 (2:26.26)

= a negative split and a nice descend of the last 3 100s.

117 days until Day 1 of the FINA World Masters Championships

Been awhile since I blogged. Did you miss me?

To fill in the gap between December 23 and now, I'll just highlight the significant events.

December 31: swam 60 x 100 LCM @ 1:30. Alternated 10 swim with 10 pull. Didn't find this to be too uncomfortable. Total meters for December was 61,700 over 15 workouts, averaging 4100 meters / workout.

January 13-15: swam in the Edmonton Keyano Blue Bear Meet (SCM). This was a SNC (Swimming Canada) meet rather than a MSC (Masters Swimming Canada) meet. I suppose it's the same difference as USA-S vs. USMS. Swam in the '15 & over' age group.

Friday Evening

1500 Free - 18:39.83. Not blazingly fast, but better than my last two tries. At least I didn't quit, even though I wanted to! I want to take this down to 18:00 by mid-April (next time I race it).

Saturday

100 Free - 57.94. Happy with this result. Made the finals, but scratched.

400 Free - 4:43.42. Not impressed. But not surprised. In years past, I have had 15-20 seconds drop between in-season and championship performances in this event. I want to take this down to 4:28 by mid-May.

After this session of racing was over, I joined my club for a 1.5 hour workout. Total distance today was 6000 meters (warmup + racing + workout)

Sunday

200 Free - 2:11.01. Not impressed. But, again, not surprised. I want to take this down to 2:04 by mid-May.

100 Fly - 1:08.45. Just cruised it easy, since I had 50 Free coming up in about 10 minutes. I want to take this down to 1:02 by mid-May.

50 Free - 27.35. Oops! Cruising the fly didn't help! I want to take this down to 25.9 by mid-May.

After this session of racing was over, I joined my club for another 1.5 hour workout. Total distance today was 4800 meters (warmup + racing + workout).

January 26: last workout of the month for me. Total meters for January was 58,500 over 15 workouts, averaging 3900 meters / workout.

January 27 - 31: Las Vegas! Went down to celebrate my 50th birthday (on January 30). Went with my wife, her sister, and my brother-in-law (who had his 46th birthday on the 27th). This was my first time there and I had a great time!

February 7: Entered the 14th FINA World Masters Championships in Riccione, Italy (June 10 - 16 for pool events). Here's my event list:

Sunday - 800 Free
Monday - 100 Free
Tuesday - 200 Free
Wednesday - 100 Fly
Thursday - Relays
Friday - nothing!
Saturday - 400 Free

I'm hopeful that my travel arrangements won't leave me too tired for the first event on Sunday. On Thursday, June 7, I fly overnight to London, England. On Friday, I fly to Bologna, Italy, via Frankfurt. On Saturday morning, I'll take a train, bus, or car to Riccione (only 75 miles). On Saturday afternoon, I'll jump in the pool for a shakeout swim!

February 8: Planned my meet schedule between now and mid-June (see the schedule at the end of this blog). One of my goals is to complete the MSC Check-Off Challenge (i.e., complete all 18 SCM swimming events in a single season). Another is to get significant race experience in each of my FINA events.

February 11-12: swam in the Silver Tide Winter Invitational Meet (SCM). This was a SNC (Swimming Canada) meet.

Saturday

50 Back - 32.30. Not one of my typical events - I swam it for the Check-Off Challenge!

50 Breast - 35.08. Not one of my typical events - I swam it for the Check-Off Challenge!

400 Free - 4:44.13. Poor! Even slower than at the Blue Bear meet in January!

Sunday

100 Back - 1:12.58. Not one of my typical events - I swam it for the Check-Off Challenge! I was disappointed because this is significantly slower than my 1:09 last March.

400 IM - 5:32.65. Not one of my typical events - I swam it for the Check-Off Challenge! Best thing about this swim - except for the 100 Fly, I negative-split the other 100s. I've been told this is a good strategy.

2012 Meet Schedule

March 3: Rocky Mountain Masters Invitational (SCM), Calgary, Alberta. Entered 200 Fly, 100 Free, 200 IM.

March 17: Making Waves Masters 11th Annual Sprint Meet (SCM), Edmonton, Alberta. Plan to enter the 200 Back. Note that I am in another meet on the same day...

March 17 - 18: Olympian Swim Club Double Double Meet (LCM) (SNC Meet), Edmonton, Alberta. Plan to enter 100 Free, 200 Free, and 100 Fly.

March 24: Red Deer Silver Sharks Masters Invitational (SCM), Red Deer, Alberta. Plan to enter 100 IM, 100 Breast, 200 Breast.

March 25: Calgary Masters Invitational 2012 (LCM), Calgary, Alberta. Plan to enter 1500 Free, 50 Free, 100 Free, 400 Free.

April 14-15: Alberta Provincial Championships (SCM), Edmonton, Alberta. Plan to enter 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 1500 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly.

May 3-6: Edmonton Keyano International (LCM) (SNC Meet), Edmonton, Alberta. Plan to enter 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free.

May 18-21: Canadian Masters Swimming Championships (SCM), Kelowna, British Columbia. Entered 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 100 Fly.

June 10-16: FINA World Masters Championships (LCM), Riccione, Italy. Entered 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 100 Fly, Relays.

Sat Jul 31st, 2010

I wasn't happy with my 100 fly at zones, I choked right off the turn so I've decided to deck enter the

2010 LONG COURSE SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
A LONG COURSE METER PRELIM FINALS MEET
Open to USAS registered clubs and swimmers in Texas and Louisiana
THE WOODLANDS SWIM TEAM
July 28 - July 31, 2010

RESULTS

did Thu work out

arrived on Thu
I was hoping to enter the 400 IM time trial and see if could could improve my 400 but it didn't work out

FRI

100 bk 1:04.54
78th place
30.76 33.78

100 fl 1:01.81
89th place
28.95 32.86

Sat

200 im
74th place
2:19.78
29.95
1:07.35 (37.40)
1:48.00 (40.65)
2:19.78 (31.78)

50 fr
25.67
tied for 54th which was my best placing


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Aquasol 5:45 - 7:20pm

Cooler, about 88 today.

Warm(750)
150FR, 200IM Drill, 50FR K, 50BK, 50BR K, 50FR, 50Fly K,
50BR, 50BK K, 50 fly
75's 5 off 1:10 early set (750/1500)
10x75FR on 1:05 (:54 - 1:00) This set got painful.
transitions set (650/2150)
12x50 Fly/BK, BK/BR, BR/FR on 1:00
50 ez
Drills (1050/3200)
20x50 Odds single arm rt/25, lt/25. Evens swim on 1:00
50ez

50 cool

Tried the Pure Sport Recovery for a pre-workout and got the lead/heavy feeling through the first 2 sets, then I felt much better going into the drill set. As soon as I'm able Im going back on G2 workout or Cytomax for my pre-load.
Pure Sport may be OK for Mr Phelps (like he really uses it) but for this ol' fish, I'll use whatever works, as long as its drug-free.
The Sonora USA meet is in about 2-3 weeks, coach wants me to max out on the events which I think is 6 or 8, she said don't worry about times or messing up, but I would like to better my 50, 100 FR and 100Im times. This meet will be the first time I will do 200IM and 100BK SCY.

Sun Jul 11th 2010

DAY 3 of Austin Sr Cir
RESULTS
entered in 200 IM, 50 br, 50 fl

Wore B70 NeroTX

PRELIMS

200 IM
29.42
36.17 1:05.59
40.54 1:46.13
32.32 2:18.45
this was my best time in the 45 - 49 age group
I went almost 3 seconds faster than I did last year when I wore a FULL BODY SUIT
my 2009 time was 2:21.24
In 2004 I went 2:18.08 wearing a Speedo FS 1 full body

50 BR
went 34.16

50 FL
went 27.50


FINALS

50 FL
went 27.48


2010 MEETS:

07/23/10 - 07/25/10
2010 South Central Long Course
Southlake, Texas
Days till LCM ZONES
Entered Zones yesterday & got my hotel

The full name is "Sierra Nevada Swimming Long Course Last Chance Qualifier July 9 - 11, 2010" That is, Last chance for J.O.'s.
It was my first ever LCM meet and although I had misgivings and doubts, I had a lot of support and adoration from the parents, even the kids were cool, especially when standing on the blocks, they turn to each other and nod or acknowledge. I was surprised when my competitors to my left and right after the 100m Back, each offered a handshake...So the experience was great, excellent sportsmanship and never felt so part of event before.
Masters meets in contrast tend to be cold and indifferent. But then, that's not to fair to the teams that work hard to put the Masters events on, I am usually alone with no team-mates to engage with.
The reason I joined USA swimming, besides getting my arm twisted by the coaches, is that the meets are very close to home, the average distant to a Masters meet in Northern California is about 120 miles, one way. Also my coach can now analysis my race and provide feedback. (Even the parents were giving feedback!)
So all this for just 2 events on the second day of a typical 3 day meet.
I don't have official times,
LCM
50M Free 31
100m Back 1:33
My goggles slipped off in the 50m FR, after the dive... they were about halfway off my face and making it hard to breath...All I could see was a blurry black line and only knew to touch when the black line stopped!
Coach said my first 50 of the 100m was "beautiful" but the wall on the start was really slippery and I ended up just letting go of the bar and pushing off, I also missed the turn, feet just touched the wall and I had to build up speed from nothing, which burned me out before I could finish. Got a lot of experience out of this race.
Being the only Master at this event was great, as Im sure most of the other Masters from other teams were at Santa Cruz for the Pacific LCM Championship...Wish I could have gone, but Santa Cruz is 3.5 hours away and its too expensive for this poor-boy !
Aquasol kids did great, but this was more of a normal meet, where it wasn't too important for them as they start taper next week for Junior Olympics

Fri Jul 9th 2010

Shaved

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scy
chris Coached
6:30 TO 8:30
Austin UT Swim Center diving well
swam with tyler jon & doug
beside mike, todd & Marcio plus james fike
Guest SAM PERRY was in DA house
dove in around 7:00


MAIN SET

swam easy
the guys were doing
4 rounds of 3 x 300 followed by 4 x 25
I did half the 300's & all the 25's
felt fine

did between 1500 & 200
mostly easy some fast

WENT to BREAKFAST at at Kerby Lane on the Drag with Sam Perry, Tyler, Todd & Doug Dude

warmed up again for the 50 fr

haven't really been training for 50's

wore a B70 Nero TX

thought I was in Heat 19
then realized it was heat 10
hopped up

Went 25.96
Hoped to go faster

It's my fastest time this season in a jammer


2010 MEETS:

July 8 - 11, 2010
Senior Circuit #4 Meet Info
Austin, TX
entered:

Fri
50 Freestyle

Sat
100 Butterfly
50 backstroke

Sun
200 Individual Medley
50 breastroke, &
50 butterfly


07/23/10 - 07/25/10
2010 South Central Long Course
Southlake, Texas
Days till LCM ZONES
Entered Zones yesterday & got my hotel

Saturday Mar 6th 2010 Austin Grand Prix Day 3

not feeling real snappy
I am returning to what works for me
speed training and racing
cut out aerobic work and distance
get stronger
lose weight
improve my SDK, flutter kick and breastroke kick

Austin Grand Prix Day 3
swam 100 fr (info below)
rested a bit for it & shaved chest arms & legs
huge meet, 1200 swimmers, some national team and olympians
I'm going to photograph tonights session

RESULTS
Psych Sheet


100 fr 50.38
r:+0.79
23.80 26.58
went out too hard



TODAYS SWIM PRACTICE

dick nichols
scy, main pool,
Whitney coached
7:00 - 8:30
tyler, jon, brad, & guest Graham Ginn
dove in on time
wore B70 legs
arrived 15ish minutes late

warm up:
missed it

6 x 150 on 2:00
started at 1:45

100 easy

6 x 100 k on 2:00
started at 1:45
did 1:09 - 1:14

100 easy

6 x ??? on 1:55
did 100's

100 easy

assigned 10 x 50 on 1:15
odds 1, 2 or 3 breaths
even strong
did skipped the odds
went medium strong on the evens

went 22.9 on last one from a dive

100 easy


2010 MEETS:


April 9 -11 The Woodlands, TX Countdown
2010 South Central Zone Short Course Championships
INFO


May 20 - 23, 2010 Atlanta, GA Georgia Tech Aquatic Center COUNTDOWN
2010 USMS Short Course National Championships
Order of Events

Friday Mar 5th 2010

Austin Grand Prix Day 2
swam 400 IM & 100 breastroke (info below)
rested a bit for it & shaved chest arms & legs
huge meet, 1200 swimmers, some national team and olympians
I'm going to photograph tonights session

RESULTS
Psych Sheet

[B]400 IM
went 4:24.48
got 114th out of 138
r:+0.84 (slow)
27.54
1:00.00 (32.46)
1:34.74 (34.74)
2:08.68 (33.94) 1:08.68
2:46.39 (37.71)
3:25.81 (39.42) 1:17.13
3:56.46 (30.65)
4:24.48 (28.02) 58.67
This is my best 400 SCY IM as a master
real sure I can go faster

Need to work on my RT seems I'm right in the mid 8/10ths of a sec
sluggish

just swam it easy speed breathed
a lot
worked the last 50

100 breast
went 1:05.53
r:+0.83
30.58
34.95


TODAYS SWIM PRACTICE

Swim Center
scy, main pool,
Whitney coached
5:30 - 6:30
swam with max, larry, nate, tyler, mike, ned, chris carter (a guest who's daughter is in the meet) james
wore brief
dove in on time
wore B70 full

warm up:
15 minutes choice

50 drop down set 30 x 50
start at 60 drop interval by 1 sec
till failure
made it to 30

100 easy

9 x 100 on 1:15
dove
swam easy speed
held 25 & 6

rest 100

50 fast
went 22

100 easy

25 SDK
roll
Tyler timed
went 9.9




2010 MEETS:


April 9 -11 The Woodlands, TX Countdown
2010 South Central Zone Short Course Championships
INFO


May 20 - 23, 2010 Atlanta, GA Georgia Tech Aquatic Center COUNTDOWN
2010 USMS Short Course National Championships
Order of Events

swam finals, here's how it went,
improved my time from prelims

Event 34 Boys 15 & Over 100 Yard Backstroke

6 Rasmussen, Ande 46 TXLA-ST
54.92 26.30 28.62
SDKs 10 10 8 6

took it out a half second faster
SDKs 10 10 8 6 (really hurting that last length)
jammed right middle finger on finish

Mon Jan 18th, 2010


PRACTICE & Meet

whitney coached
scy main pool
6 - 7:30
swam with tyler, todd, amy, paul, max larry, Marcio, Nate, mary & Meghan
dove in 6:10ish

wore leg skins to take it easy

warm up
250

main set

50 fast SDK
went 24

100 easy

100 fr fast
went 52

200 easy

200 fr fast
went 1:56

400 easy

assigned 800
did 8 x 50 with 5 or more SDKs

assigned 600
did 6 x 50 with 6 SDKs

assigned 400
did 4 x 50 with 6 sdks

assigned 200
did 2 x 50 with 6 sdks

100 easy


MEET

2010 ST TXLA New Years Classic


Meet Results


entered in the 200 fr & 100 bk
skipped the 200 fr to focus on the 100 bk

100 bk
went 55.35
26.81 28.54
made finals, didn't scratch, plan to it again tonight

Sun Jan 17th, 2010

[ame="http://www.usms.org/forums/showpost.php?p=203729&postcount=1334"]FINA BANNED full body tech suits for masters [/ame]

my son dane just competed in the cheer nationals in Orlando

PRACTICE & Meet

MEET

2010 ST TXLA New Years Classic

wore JAMMERS

Meet Results

RACED Men's 15 & Over 50 Free
went 22.48
got 9th, scratched finals
I'm pretty pleased

Tomorrow is:

200 Free 1:50.70Y (tempted to go for a 100 time)
100 Back 53.32Y

Survived the 100 fly LC today at Jr. Champs! Whew!

I used the recommended 2 up, 1 down breathing pattern for almost the entire race. Out of force of habit, I had a couple of every others. I think this helped a ton; I felt stronger throughout the race with no disruption of rhythm! I still crashed and burned with 10 yards to go and almost couldn't recover the arms the last couple strokes, but it wasn't nearly as bad as last year. I went 2 seconds faster today unrested than I did last year when I was fully tapered (same suit, same pool). The time board showed 1:12.2, but the time was reported as 1:12.5. Splits were 33.6 and 38.8. Not great, but still vastly better than last year when I split 33/41.

http://www.pvswim2.org/realtime/2009LC_JuniorChamps/

Race highlights:

Had to swim in the final heat in lane 1 due to a couple scratches, which I hate. But I didn't catch any wake.
Took 11 dophin kicks on the start out to exactly the 14.9 meter mark. Freaked out the poor kid.
Took a coffee break on the the turn for big air intentionally.
Floated at least a foot very slowly into the final wall. But I just couldn't bring myself to take another stroke.
Mini's coaches said I looked very "strong." Mini said my stroke looked "good." (This is more feedback than usual. lol)
Definitely going to use this breathing pattern again, and will likely try it in SCY. This may actually enable me to kick further in SCY ...

I'm hoping I can make it out to swim my 100 back tomorrow. I spent about 2 and 1/2 hours in the car today going back and forth to the meet. Out A meet tomorrow AM is in Mt. Vernon, so it will be a bit of a rush unless I go straight to U of Md.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prelim TT:

I saw the prelim TT came out. Unfortunately, I also see that both of the 100 backs I swam during the SCY season -- at the September Shootout in Cary NC and at the Auburn Invitational in Alabama were NOT on the list. I'm ticked about this. Both meet entry forms said the times would be submitted, I had received written confirmation from the meet director that my split request form & time were sent to the TT recorder, and the then DZ TT recorder sent me an email (which I believe I reported on my blog) confirming that she would submit the time. Yet both times are AWOL. I have sent emails to Ed Saltzman (DZ TT Recorder) and Mary Beth Windrath), but I doubt there is much that can be done. If not, I won't be attending meets in the Dixie Zone again. I know Cream Puff has had difficulty getting her USA times submitted as well. I'm just not a fan of incompetence. So while I'm very happy with my 100 fly time from today, this was kind of a downer. But I guess I know what I swam.

just found this

I'm in lane 2
FAR lane at the top of the screen

Men 50 Meters Butterfly (final A)
Texas Circuit #3, Austin
Lee and Joe Jamail Swim Center
Austin, TX, US
Jun 14 2009

Hill Taylor's 23.10 50 LCM SDK

Did almost the same workout I did the Monday before Zones:

Swim/SCY/Solo:

Warm up:

750 variety swim, kick, drill

Main sets:

8 x 25 back shooters, no fins

50 EZ

2 x (25 build + 25 EZ)

50 EZ

2 x (50 AFAP back w/fins + 100 EZ)
(went 25ish)

2 x (25 AFAP free w/fins + 25 EZ)

50 EZ

2 x (25 AFAP kick w/fins + 25 EZ)

200 C/D

Total: 2100

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Need to get my entries in for Nats ...

Nothing good to report otherwise. The plague of contagion from my daughter's middle school has infected her and my house. (Why do kids get strep and flu in June?!) Really busy week ... and I think I'm slightly b*tchy from resting more than usual. I'd like to crawl under a rock for a couple days!! lol

Edit: Mini Fort has mono. I'm a little paranoid that I'm showing symptoms, and that may account for why I've been fairly fatigued lately. Hope not, as that would really mess up my summer swim plans. I know it's unlikely for adults to get it, but I've never had it before. Fingers crossed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

200 back splits:

Splits are up. It was my 3rd 50 that really stunk. I guess 1:21 + 1:26 isn't all that bad, considering the start always makes my first 50 fast.

38.46
1:21.12 (42.66)
2:05.27 (44.15)
2:47.34 (42.07)

(Still hoping to sneak into TT. I would have been 6th last year. But I bet Indy will be more popular than LCM Nats last summer.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Food:

Fell off the wagon again some this weekend, but I was barely home. Clean eating requires a lot of time, ability to get to the grocery store regularly and eating at home. Not bad, I just had to have a couple sandwiches on the run, a muffin, etc.

Sunday Jun 14th, 2009

partial practice and meet

Senior Circuit #3
Fri June 12 - 14, 2009
Austin, TX

warmed up around 1200


SUN

PRELIMS

28 200 Individual Medley
wore rocket science
went 2:21.24
30.13 cruised the fly
37.91 1:08.04 cruised the back
42.16 1:50.20 worked the breast
31.04 2:21.24 worked the free
scratched finals

swam right next to todd bartee almost caught him, here's his splits
30.03
1:08.71 (38.68)
1:48.53 (39.82)
2:20.96 (32.43)


38 050 Butterfly
went 26.95
swimming it again tonight
had a long glide touch


FINALS

50 fly
wore rocket science
went 26.74
last year I went 26.03 at this meet
last year I kept resting after nationals
focused on strength and speed
but not this year


NEXT MEETS

talking with wife about going to zones or nationals

USMS South Central Zone Long Course Championship Meet
Fri July 18 - 19 2009
Woodlands, TX
Meet Entry Form

Friday July 17th Aerosmith is playing with ZZ Top at the
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion in the Woodlands
Tickets

200 Back LC, 2:47

Well, I survived my first ever 200 LC. And it was a no float 200 back, as B70s are barred at USA-S meets. I guess I'm glad I did it, but I don't care to repeat the experience! It's just waaaay too far unless I start training 5Ks like Ande. I was sort of testing out the event to see if I could/should swim it at Nats. No, I'll opt to get a 50 back split on my 200 at Indy during the first day's events. I will happily embrace my weenie sprinter nature.

Anyway, went a 2:47, which was about half a second slower than my converted time from yards. (I don't always believe converted times are accurate for us geezers anyway.) No idea on my splits, as they only post final times. Think they will probably be pretty dodgy. I tried to swim long and easy speed for about 150, but I still had nothing left the last length -- especially judging by the USA swimmer in the adjacent lane who made up almost a body length on the last length to touch with me. But, frankly, I'll still take the time, as I had a hard exhausting day on Saturday (officiating in the heat at a summer league meet, dance recitals, etc.) and had contemplating not swimming at all today.

And BTW, can these kids learn to do backstroke starts?! I hate being a body length ahead at 15 meters and have them slowly creep up! I also played it safe on the start and took 12 or 13 SDKs, as there was an official sitting in a chair right at the 15 meter mark.

Probably did about 2000+ meters with the warm up and warm down. I didn't even attempt to warm up in the competition pool, as it's such a mosh pit of kids. I got there early and warmed up in the rec pool.

Now, off to the summer pool to vegetate!

Fri Jun 12th, 2009

SR Cir Meet & Practice
2009 Texas Senior Circuit Long Course # 3
wore a new Speedo FS PRO

FRI

swimming this meet with Tyler, Todd, & David Guthrie, Jon Smiley hung out with us too. Saw Josh Davis today he was at the swim center working with the swim camp kids
David and Jon asked me if I'm going to Nats, said Ande and tyler you ought to go Nats so we can do relays. So I brought it up with Beth.

woke up at 4:15 to take my aunts to the airport
did part of the team work out at 6:30
went to whole foods
came back, hung out, changed into PRO
did a little warmup in a lane next to Dara Torres


Tyler swam the 200 FL, told him I'd pay him 10 bucks if he kept his last 3 50's with in 025 of each other, then I changed it to half a second
he went 31.21, 36.22, 36.87, 36.31 2:20.61
so I didn't have to pay but he was close

David G was pissed that USS rules don't allow swimmers to wear blue seventy or aqua zone suits


04 400 Freestyle
Starter had us take our marks then stand up twice before he let us start

dove in SDKed
swam smooth, 2 beat kicked, breathed every stroke, attempted to keep an even pace, should have gone out even easier, needed to finish stronger, I hoped to go faster
needed to be tougher

Wonder what I could have gone with better splitting and a rocket science suit?

but it's a starting point and maybe an ending point
47 Rasmussen, Ande 46 TXLA-ST
4:36.77
r:+0.93
30.41
33.48 1:03.89
34.53 1:38.42
35.36 2:13.78 1:09.89
35.22 2:49.00
36.03 3:25.03 1:11.25
36.35 4:01.38
35.39 4:36.77 1:11.74 2:22.99


10 050 Freestyle
36 Rasmussen, Ande 46 TXLA-ST
25.76
breathed 3 or 4 times,
wasn't super psyched
last year in this same meet I went 24.50

so the questions are

Why didn't I swim the 50 as fast as I did last year?

What can I do to swim faster in the next few months?

Last year I:
kept resting after nationals
focused on strength and speed,
did very little aerobic training
was more psyched
swam the race fresh and
wore a blue seventy

This year I:
did longer harder training after nationals with little strength and speed work,
swam the race after a 400,
wore a speedo PRO
rested 2 days

think I'm going to scratch the 200 free
so I can swim the 200 bk fresh

SAT
14 200 Freestyle
18 200 Backstroke
20 100 Butterfly

SUN
28 200 Individual Medley
38 050 Butterfly

Whitney told me to take the 200 back out in 1:05 high to 1:06 low

here's the link to my blog about last years Sr Cir Meet



TODAYS SWIM PRACTICE

scy
6:30 - 8:00
Whitney Coached
TSC diving well
swam with chris, todd, doug, marcio, ned, & larry

Warm Up LCM
assigned 1000
did around 600

she split the diving well in half
6 lanes to race in heats
5 lanes to warm down in


4 x 50 fast for time in heats, 150 easy
kept em smooth
went 27, 25, 25, 23.9


assigned: 4 x 100 fast from a dive in heats 100 easy
skipped it

assigned: 200 fast in heats 100 easy
skipped it

NEXT MEETS

Senior Circuit #3
Fri June 12 - 14, 2009
1 Day away
Austin, TX

Events Entered:
FRI
04 400 Freestyle
10 050 Freestyle
SAT
14 200 Freestyle
18 200 Backstroke
20 100 Butterfly
SUN
28 200 Individual Medley
38 050 Butterfly


USMS South Central Zone Long Course Championship Meet
Fri July 18 - 19 2009
Woodlands, TX
Meet Entry Form

Friday July 17th Aerosmith is playing with ZZ Top at the
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion in the Woodlands
Tickets

Thu Mar 5th, 2009

DAY 1 Austin Grand Prix Psych Sheet

RESULTS
believe the meet was dual sanctioned

THU PRELIMS

#05 100 Butterfly
went 51.80
23.83
27.97
Took it out hard and tried to hold on

#08 200 IM
went 1:58.39
25.80
30.38
34.55
27.66
I was hoping to beat 1:58.9

Event 12 Men 400 Yard Medley Relay
1 Longhorn Aquatic-ST 'B' 3:28.46
1) 25.83 53.32 Rasmussen, Ande 45
2) 27.37 58.45 Bartee, Todd 39
3) 23.21 49.93 Blessing, Tyler 36
4) 22.38 46.76 Varozza, Michael 41


THU FINALS

Event 5 Men 100 LC Meter Butterfly
35 Rasmussen, Ande 45 Longhorn Aquatic WENT 59.40
27.88 31.52


NEXT MEET:
2009 South Central Zone USMS Championships
Friday March 27 - Sun March 29, 2009
21 days away


NEXT MEET
USMS MASTERS NATIONALS
May 8 - 10
http://www.usms.org/comp/scnats09/
63 days away