http://forums.usms.org/blog.php?8771-Celestial U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums en Wed, 22 May 2013 20:56:18 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.usms.org/images/misc/rss.jpg http://forums.usms.org/blog.php?8771-Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28716-5-21-13 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:51:16 GMT First day of "taper" - on the weights anyway. Made the mistake of doing weights on Sunday morning & not swimming to loosen up afterward - still feeling the lovely achy results of that this morning. It took me almost the entire 5000 yesterday to not feel achy, woke up this morning again feeling achy. Brother - you would think I would know better!

So, yesterday we had an actual FUN practice - I don't remember all of it, but the main set(s) were:
8 x 150 @ 2:30, Free/Stroke/Free IM order
12 x 50 @ :55 & 1:05, 3 Free & 3 Stroke

Today was "1/2" weights - meaning I went around the circuit only once, then off to the pool to loosen up. Pleasantly surprised to see Jenna & Ali there, but they were 85% of the way through their workout when I arrived, so I still swam solo:
7 x 300:
back/free;
pull no paddles,
kick,
drill,
pull w/paddles,
breast/free/breast, and
3 x 100 IM no free straight
2100 sorta easy, but just what I needed with achy shoulders.

Applied Traumeel to the arms & legs & will get a massage tonight & should be good to go tomorrow. Now if only they would get the LC pool temp as cool as the baby pool! Something's wrong there. . . . ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28716-5-21-13 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28690-5-18-13-Follow-up-on-my-RANT Sun, 19 May 2013 22:04:00 GMT Happy to say that whomever it was that complained about the "older" ATAC swimmers staying in the pool longer than an hour have been shut up. Coach reminded management that ATAC pays for the pool until 7am (90 min) - not to mention of course, the annual pass that gives Jenna & I a "free" ride for however long we want to stay in the pool. Interestingly enough, the complainer turned out to be a noodler who was breaking the rules herself! They apparently pay a fee for the water aerobics class & are permitted to get in the pool 15 min early & stay 15 after at no extra charge. BUT she and another were getting in 30 min early & telling the lap swimmers in the lane next to them that they had to move, because the first two lanes were reserved for their class. Hahahaha - they were informed of reality, that the pool was NOT theirs at 6:30, and in fact, they were not supposed to get in any earlier than 6:45 unless THEY paid an extra $4!!! Talk about justice!!
Anyway, I've been workin' hard in the pool, getting in about 4500 4-5 x a week & getting ready to start my taper for Pan Am's.

Friday we did:
500 back/free warm-up
500 locomotive style Pull
5 x 100 breast/free on 1:45
3 x 100 K on 2:15
12 x 100 @ 1:40, desc 1-3 progressive w/a minute rest before #12 (went a 1:16)
200 choice (kids got out here)
5 x 300 Drill, Pull, Kick, Drill, Breast/Free cool down (4500 LCM)

Saturday I swam solo - had a great need for sunshine & had the 2 year old grandbaby meeting me at lunch to play in the waterpark. Did a paltry 4000 SCY
600 back/free warm-up
2 x 300 P
3 x 200 breast/free
12 x 50 K on 1:00
12 x 50 alt fly & free
2 x 100 IM
2 x 200 IM
2 x 100 IM
200 easy

Getting so psyched for the Pan Am meet! Totally loving weights too, so although I'm excited to start my taper - I'll miss going to the gym!! On the bright side, however, I might actually catch up on my sleep!
:blush: ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28690-5-18-13-Follow-up-on-my-RANT http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28383-4-29-13-RANT Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:59:38 GMT Today started off really well. Had a nice workout, just kinda getting back in the swing of things after taking two days off. One of our teammates,... Today started off really well. Had a nice workout, just kinda getting back in the swing of things after taking two days off. One of our teammates, Cecilia Williams, was FIRST in the Miromar Lakes OW swim that JRTotten was in this past weekend - way to go Cici!! She's a rising star & we all expect to see her on the Olympic team in four years - at least on a relay.
:worms:After practice , the three masters who pay to swim with the kids (me & two others) were told that if we want to swim more than the measly hour that ATAC gets in before the kids go to school, we will need to pay an extra $4 (the usual entry fee). WHICH IS RIDICULOUS!! Apparently someone complained that we were taking up too much lane space. Some people think they need to have an entire 50m lane for themselves & don't want to share, so they complained about the three of us swimming past 6:30am. I am so ticked off in so many ways, I could hardly think straight this morning. For starters, two of the three of us already pay for an annual pass (an additional fee on top of the ATAC fee) For seconders, there are empty lanes in the pool not occupied by ANYONE. And finally, the three of us stay in the same lane, so it's not like any of "them" are going to want to get in our lane anyway! They can't kick me or Jenna out - we already pay the stupid extra fee because sometimes we come at times when ATAC isnt practicing. But the idea of them complaining about us taking up lane space is just so irritating. Today, in my lane during ATAC practice, we had 9 people. The other 4 ATAC lanes had a minimum of 7 people. The other 5 lanes in the pool had 2 a piece. If you base the amount we pay for swimming, our $75 fee, plus the annual pass, multiply that x 9 people, and our lane is worth about $900/month. Compare that to say, 2 people/lane at $4 each, the "adult swim" lanes are worth $160/month. How is it then, that THEY get to kick US out of the pool? They already get to determine the pool temperature, sit on our lane lines and break them, and force us to park farther from the pool (yes, it's true - if you are a member of the swim team, no matter how old, you must park in outer darkness, and leave the closer (non-handicapped) parking for every one else. The Bitch & Moan Club is getting on my last nerve. I wish I could win the Power Ball & come up with 100 million semoleons so I could build a pool specifically for the swim team & keep those complainers out of "my" pool. :worms:
Anyway, workout today, which was nice until ruined by the above.

800 back/free
2 x 400 P
200 over under
9 x 100 breast/free on 1:40
100 easy
500 drill w/snorkel & fins
10 x 50 K on 1:00
500 various
Total:4500 LCM

Feel like finding a tennis ball & slamming it into the wall a few times right now.
]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28383-4-29-13-RANT http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28347-Friday-04-26-13 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:20:26 GMT I am so bloomin' tired from weights! OMGoodness, almost every part of my body hurts - even my chest just below my boobs - trying to stretch out my stroke & work on putting in a 6 beat kick, PLUS I bumped up the weights last week, and it's starting to kick in. Feeling better than yesterday for sure, but I am glad I have two days off to recover.

Swam BESIDE ATAC today

600 back/free
5 x 100 breast/free on 1:45
400 K
3 x 400 P on 6:15 - I did get in around the 5:40, but decided I needed extra rest
200 easy
500 drill free w/fins & snorkel
500 breast/free
600 various ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28347-Friday-04-26-13 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28275-Monday-April-22-2013 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:00:38 GMT The weather this year is going to drive me crazy. Super cold (for me) on Saturday, and really on the cool side again this morning - add in the wind... The weather this year is going to drive me crazy. Super cold (for me) on Saturday, and really on the cool side again this morning - add in the wind chill factor & it made for a very brisk run to the locker room!

This weekend I was determined to do myself in as far as my fingers go. Cut my fingers in three places chopping veggies, sliced two fingers up when I found a razor I didn't expect to find in an older gym bag, cut another finger this morning on lap 3 thanks to the lane line, then got majorly whacked by someone's hand paddle (seriously, I had to double check that the end of my finger was still there), and finally, in the locker room, I managed to burn the side of my hand with my flat iron.

Well.

Could not really get going this morning. Warm water & bumping up the weights last week is my excuse. Did manage to hold up for the entire workout, just wasn't motivated to go for another 2000 like I usually do after the kids get out at 6:30.

600 back/free
600 P
300 K
100 easy
3 x 200 stroke/free on 3:30
6 x 100 on 1:30, descending by pairs
4 x 4 cycle speedplay
200 easy
600 various stroke/free
Total: 3700 LCM

Got to get to the pool M-F this week, as they will be frying my face again on Friday afternoon, which puts me out of the pool on Sat & Sun both. Ah well, what we do to avoid cancer. . . ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28275-Monday-April-22-2013 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28160-Waiting-for-my-Refund!! Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:08:09 GMT Lovely morning with none of the expected rain! Rained so hard yesterday the guards couldn't put the mats on the pool, so the water was cooler as well. Had a fun set today w/ATAC - so fun I sort of repeated it after the kids got out & went to school.

500 back/free
500 Pull
300 Kick
3 x 200 @ 3:20
3 x 150 @ 2:30
3 x 100 @ 1:40
3 x 50 @ :50
200 easy (kids out here - which meant the digital clock left as well)

3 x 200 IM
4 x 150 P
3 x 100 IM
4 x 50 free
200 cool down
Total: 4900 LCM

Hoping to have a good week swimming w/my new program of the Genie Rub after weights & Shot Blox about 1000-1500 into the workout. It's working well so far & I'm feeling so much stronger & less achy! Thank goodness, I was kind of getting depressed for a week there. . . ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28160-Waiting-for-my-Refund!! http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28126-Saturday-April-13-2013 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:09:01 GMT Did weights for 45 min before going to practice like I usually do on Tues & Thurs - however, unlike Tues & Thurs, I was swimming with ATAC and not basically solo - usually not a good idea when my arms are achy from weights. But I lasted for 2800 before my arms went into failure, so I consider that a success. Might not have lasted that long if coach hadn't been fussing at the kids & giving us such totally delightful intervals!

600 back/free
200 - 200 - 100 pull (missed the 2nd 100 bcs my suit was so loose around the shoulders I couldn't focus on my swimming & had to go put on another suit!!)
4 x 100 K on 2:30
100 easy
4 x 100 stroke free on 2:00
100 easy
4 x 400 @ 7:00 (used the last one to cool down)
Total: 3200 LCM

I'm thinking it might not be such a good idea to do weights right before a "real" practice. Perhaps I should either a) skip weights on Saturday, b) not swim with ATAC on Saturday & just swim leisurely on my own (booring!) or c) swim twice - once a quality workout with ATAC, then go to the gym - mess around & get shopping and gardening & housework done & then go back later in the afternoon for a leisurely 2000. Leaning towards "C" at the moment - might need to hire a gardener, pool boy, maid and housekeeper though, lol. Getting old may be better than the alternative, but it still sucks. :cane: ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28126-Saturday-April-13-2013 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28121-Friday-April-12-2013 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 01:47:17 GMT This morning was awesome! Woke up 2 minutes before the alarm went off - pool water was pleasantly cool, and I wasn't achy - in fact, I actually did workout the way I remember doing it.
500 back/free
500 locomotive pull
300 locomotive kick
5 x 100 something - don't remember
200 stroke/free, drill/swim by 25's
12 x 100 @ 1:40, one minute rest after #11, sprint #12
200 easy
500 P w/snorkel
500 P
6 x 50 kick no fins
2 x 100 easy
Total: 4900


Beautiful morning swims!

I Think I've figured out how to do weights & swim. Swam after weights yesterday - slow & crappy, but I swam. Today just as we started the first kick, I ate 3 shock blox, after the kick, I ate the rest. I was not achy at all today, and although I was slightly slower than usual, I did much closer to my usual pace in workout. Big success in my book! ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28121-Friday-April-12-2013 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28100-Thursday-April-11-2013 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 23:36:55 GMT Had a pleasant surprise this morning - was thinking that I would be doing my post-weights swim stretch by myself - but just as I got to the pool, I... Had a pleasant surprise this morning - was thinking that I would be doing my post-weights swim stretch by myself - but just as I got to the pool, I noticed I had left my phone in the car overnight, and I had three texts from Jenna asking if I would join her at the pool after this morning! So after my 45 mins of weights (she met me at the gym) we went to the pool. Then when we got there, there were two other people I seldom get to see any more because they swim at lunch. Nice little reunion & swim together.
300 wam-up
3 x 100 @ 1:30
50 easy
3 x 100 @ 1:25
50 easy
3 x 100 @ 1:20 (Pull)
50 easy
3 x 100 @ 1:20 (fins)
50 easy
10 x 50 K @ 1:05
50 easy
8 x 25 fly
150 easy
Ate 3 shock blox before swimming, but didn't notice any energy surge. DID notice how tired my shoulders & trapezius were, so I'm gonna ask my hubbie to "lawn mower" my back tonight, in hopes that it will loosen me up a bit. ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28100-Thursday-April-11-2013 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28084-Wed-04-10-13 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:37:22 GMT Not as good at keeping up with this as I once was. Must say something about my job. Or my fatigue level. Been having trouble actually having the... Not as good at keeping up with this as I once was. Must say something about my job. Or my fatigue level. Been having trouble actually having the energy to do workouts the way I used to just back in January. What's different? Started weights. You'd think that after 8 weeks I would be used to it by now, but you would be wrong. I just have this pervasive fatigue level. Back in December & January, keeping 12 x 100 @ 1:30 LCM was hard, but do-able, and I did it about every day. Once I remember we even went 24 x 100 @ 1:30! Today I could make three. Rested & went half-way down & back (50 m) then started up again. Had to rest again after three more. Pathetic. All these young bucks tell me that I should be acclimated to weights by now, but I'm wondering if perhaps since I am an old lady in my 50's maybe it takes a bit longer? Hopefully, because otherwise I am spiraling the drain.
Here's workout today:
500 back/free
500 Pull locomotive
5 x 100 stroke/free on 1:40
300 kick
100 over/under
12 x 100 @ 1:30 (tried & died)
6 x 4-cycle speedplay
200 easy
8 x 50 @ 1:00
400 P using breath control
Total: 3950 LCM

And Monday:
500 back/free
500 P
400 K
100 over/under
5 x 300 @ 5:00
8 x 4-cycle speedplay
200 easy
2 x 500 P, second one w/out paddles
Total: 4200 LCM ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?28084-Wed-04-10-13 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27950-Wednesday-04-03-13 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:43:29 GMT Tired from weights. Telling myself it will pay off in the long run. Meanwhile. . . . 500 back/free 500 P 400 K 100 easy 12 x 100 @ 1:30 (OMG... Tired from weights. Telling myself it will pay off in the long run. Meanwhile. . . .

500 back/free
500 P
400 K
100 easy
12 x 100 @ 1:30 (OMG my arms were pushed to "failure" on these, literally)
8 x 4 cycle speed play
200 easy
500 P no paddles
100 easy
Total: 3500 LCM

So all of you out there who read this blog, if you have any great ideas on what I'm supposed to be telling myself when my arms are so tired I can barely lift them. Someone told me to focus on my lats - stretching it out, someone else told me to just rest a 50 or 100 - I'm afraid if I focus on my lats that I will slow down and certainly not make the interval. But if I rest, and skip a 100 (or 50 in SC) I can go a little bit longer. I'm sure in 2 weeks I'll feel better. . . . ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27950-Wednesday-04-03-13 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27932-Tuesday-April-2-2013 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:54:46 GMT Yesterday was my in-laws 58th anniversary. Wow. Dad Lind is getting really old, and its sad to see a former astronaut, who was so virile and... Yesterday was my in-laws 58th anniversary. Wow. Dad Lind is getting really old, and its sad to see a former astronaut, who was so virile and active, go into a decline. Mom Lind is old too, but doing better than Dad. Hoping they make it to their 60th. It's very interesting to compare them to my own parents, who are about 5 years younger - my parents are so very very active - they embraced the triathlete lifestyle about 20-25 years ago, and until 2 years ago were actually finishing Iron Man's (even in Hawaii). They are both lean, mean, fighting machines! Dad only takes one prescribed medication, and that is Lipitor. Mom takes two - but they are tiny doses. Sure hope I inherit all that good stuff!

Yesterday we did quite a bit more than he had us doing last week. Anya is becoming quite the regular - and she is definitely leading the lane.

500 back/free
5 x 100 stroke/free on 1:40
500 Pull
100 "over & under"
400 K, 25 hard/25 moderate
100 "over & under" again
9 x 100 on 1:30, desc 1-3 progressive
200 easy
3 x 500, first one pull w/snorkel but no paddles,
second one pull w/paddles but no snorkel,
third one w/zoomers "steady state" & working the turns
300 breast/free cooldown
Total: 5000 LCM :blush:

Today I went to the gym for 45 minutes - discovered a new way to use the Pec Fly - if you sit on it backwards & adjust the bars, you can seriously work your rear deltoids, which kinda feels like something we might use on the butterfly. So fun! (I love weights!!) Then over to the pool - got there seriously late, at 6:20, & got in a little 2300 as follows:

800 warmup - mixing in breast & backstroke
8 x 75 on 1:15; 25 kick, 50 free
6 x 100 pull on 1:20
300 breast/free cooldown
Total: 2300 SCY

Now to troll the web & see if there are any decent meets coming up (and I'm not talking championships, I already entered those). ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27932-Tuesday-April-2-2013 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27883-Friday-March-29-2013 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:37:09 GMT OMG my triceps are sore!! Water was hot hot hot, and I got a lovely chemical burn from my dermatologist yesterday (PTD - blue light therapy for... OMG my triceps are sore!! Water was hot hot hot, and I got a lovely chemical burn from my dermatologist yesterday (PTD - blue light therapy for actinic keratosis) so my face is on FIRE! Won't swim this weekend because now I have to avoid the sun for 72 hours, and the pool won't open until 7:30 on Saturday. Oh well, guess I'll go do extra weights & spinning class.

400-400-200
100 easy
3 x 400 steady state
4 x 100 K @ 2:30
100 easy
8 x 4-cycle speed play @ :30
100 easy
700 various stroke/free
Total: 3500 LCM ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27883-Friday-March-29-2013 http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27876-March-28-2013-amp-Meet-Report Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:24:59 GMT Had a great time at the St. Pete meet - so fun being part of a team!! Was on 4 relays with Team Blu Frog & had so much fun meeting new people! Had a girl on my team with my name, too! How fun is that?! There were 3 Celeste's at the meet - another oddity! I did fairly well on my IM's and had super fun doing the 50 free & 50 breast - definitely gonna enter those again - maybe even a 50 back and/or fly!!

This week I've been getting back into it - started back at weights after a week off - starting to bump up the amt I lift as well. Skipped practice on Wed - so flippin tired of waking up and finding out it's 29 outside. Fortunately, the kids had spring break last week while I was tapering, so while I get back into it, the kids yardage & intensity is being gently increased as well. Next week we'll probably be back in full swing.

Seriously thinking about doing whatever it takes to get to a meet a month - relays and racing every month makes racing so much easier - you just seem to automatically GO! Anyways, today's workout: went to Kinetix - about 40 mins, then to the pool for a solo workout:
500 back/free
2 x 250 P w/snorkel
300 breast/free
10 x 50 kick @ 1:05 no zoomers
5 x 100 P @ 1:30 held under 1:15's
300 breast/free ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27876-March-28-2013-amp-Meet-Report http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27748-Wed-03-20-13 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:11:14 GMT Still in Taper Mode 600 back/free 2 x 300 P w/snorkel 400 K 50 easy Still in Taper Mode

600 back/free

2 x 300 P w/snorkel

400 K

50 easy

4 x 150 free/stroke/free

6 x 100 free descend 1-3 progressive ~ 1:40 interval (hard to tell since the clock was so far away)

8 x 50 @ ~ 1:00 IM order x 2

50 easy

500 Pull long & strong

300 breast/free by 50's

Total: 4000 LCM

** why oh why do you have to feel so crummy during taper week? I want to feel speedy! ]]> Celestial http://forums.usms.org/entry.php?27748-Wed-03-20-13