400s
400p
200k
100s
Total: 1100m
Ok...I know. It was a pathetic excuse for a swim. But I was exhausted (no explanation) and in the midst of cramps. So...it was a slow lazy day. But I got in and stretched out a bit. This might be a slow going week.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
1700m
1000s
300p
200k
100brst
100s
Total: 1700m 45+min
I'm breaking records left and right...4 days in a row! Have I ever? Wow, I should go tomorrow just to make it 5 days in a row. I ALMOST bailed on the swim today. I had a presentation this morning and went for my first fish 'n chips lunch on-campus with some women from my department. I was feeling tired and sluggish to say the least. And really looking forward to starting my quiet Friday night at home watching a free library DVD! But I pushed on. I wasn't hopeful because I went to the 'general' swim. But there was only 1 other man in the lane the entire time I was swimming. It was fabulous--my best day in the pool since I joined. So, I just kept swimming and swimming, hence the 1000m. Felt great to just keep going without anyone in my way, without having to pass people, and without having to 'eye' people at the end of the lane to move on over. It was lovely! And to top it all off...I walked home, several kilometers uphill in the windy cold. Walking was purely motivated by my desire to find the Asian Grocery store. Success--instant miso tofu soup, udon noodles and tofu! Fabulous!
A good day! And a successful 4 days at the pool!
300p
200k
100brst
100s
Total: 1700m 45+min
I'm breaking records left and right...4 days in a row! Have I ever? Wow, I should go tomorrow just to make it 5 days in a row. I ALMOST bailed on the swim today. I had a presentation this morning and went for my first fish 'n chips lunch on-campus with some women from my department. I was feeling tired and sluggish to say the least. And really looking forward to starting my quiet Friday night at home watching a free library DVD! But I pushed on. I wasn't hopeful because I went to the 'general' swim. But there was only 1 other man in the lane the entire time I was swimming. It was fabulous--my best day in the pool since I joined. So, I just kept swimming and swimming, hence the 1000m. Felt great to just keep going without anyone in my way, without having to pass people, and without having to 'eye' people at the end of the lane to move on over. It was lovely! And to top it all off...I walked home, several kilometers uphill in the windy cold. Walking was purely motivated by my desire to find the Asian Grocery store. Success--instant miso tofu soup, udon noodles and tofu! Fabulous!
A good day! And a successful 4 days at the pool!
Friday, January 25, 2008
1600m
500s
400p
200k fr/brst alt
200brst
100k fly
100k brst
100s
Total: 1600m 45min
Three days in a row--I'm on a roll! Yahoo! I'm on campus late tonight and tried the evening swim. Much better than the lunch swim. There are a few more serious swimmers, one guy was lapping us all and even did a few 25m sprints. But I think he was swimming in boxer shorts! Ha ha ha! With so many people in the lane, I find I swim faster and harder. I rest a lot less because there are so many people waiting around at the wall....no need for akwardness and I don't feel like being social. I still can barely understand what anyone says around these parts! English-English feels more foreign than Japanese or Tamil! It does feel good to be back in the water again. Although I doubt I'm going to be doing any sets like I was doing in Japan. The lap lane set-up just isn't conducive to swimming on the clock. This is going to be about endurance swimming--long and fast!
400p
200k fr/brst alt
200brst
100k fly
100k brst
100s
Total: 1600m 45min
Three days in a row--I'm on a roll! Yahoo! I'm on campus late tonight and tried the evening swim. Much better than the lunch swim. There are a few more serious swimmers, one guy was lapping us all and even did a few 25m sprints. But I think he was swimming in boxer shorts! Ha ha ha! With so many people in the lane, I find I swim faster and harder. I rest a lot less because there are so many people waiting around at the wall....no need for akwardness and I don't feel like being social. I still can barely understand what anyone says around these parts! English-English feels more foreign than Japanese or Tamil! It does feel good to be back in the water again. Although I doubt I'm going to be doing any sets like I was doing in Japan. The lap lane set-up just isn't conducive to swimming on the clock. This is going to be about endurance swimming--long and fast!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
1400m
500s
500p
200k
200s
Total: 1400m 40min
Jumped in quickly. Things do seem to be getting busier and busier. That's always a good thing. I hate sitting around. I tried a new technique today. When other swimmers were blocking the entire two lanes just standing at the wall, I would lift my head and stare at them as I came into the wall. They usually noticed and moved so I could do a flip-turn. One swimmer even aplogized. Not sure they 'got it'. But maybe I can leave my mark in the UK.
500p
200k
200s
Total: 1400m 40min
Jumped in quickly. Things do seem to be getting busier and busier. That's always a good thing. I hate sitting around. I tried a new technique today. When other swimmers were blocking the entire two lanes just standing at the wall, I would lift my head and stare at them as I came into the wall. They usually noticed and moved so I could do a flip-turn. One swimmer even aplogized. Not sure they 'got it'. But maybe I can leave my mark in the UK.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
1200m
700s
300p
100k
100s
Total: 1200m 25min
Short and sweet. In and out. I had a study group I had to get to. Swam hard and fast, lapped the girl in a bikini doing leisurely breaststroke several times! Yes, she was in the fast lane! Patience....I must learn patience!
300p
100k
100s
Total: 1200m 25min
Short and sweet. In and out. I had a study group I had to get to. Swam hard and fast, lapped the girl in a bikini doing leisurely breaststroke several times! Yes, she was in the fast lane! Patience....I must learn patience!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
1200m
500s
300k
200brst
200s
Total: 1200m 30min
Frustration again today! I hadn't experienced 'general' swim before, but it was the most convenient time slot today. Essentially, it is the same as lap swim except they only keep one of the lap lanes in the pool! This creates an open water like atmosphere that makes it virtually impossible to kick without choking on waves of water! And those of us who opted to swim in the 'lap lane' were mostly swimming laps. But there was lots of resting at the wall, no flip-turns, and very little speed. The most irritating thing (today)...people who don't move to the sides of the lanes so others can do flip-turns, or at least do a touch turn. They were all lined up there (two lanes worth) without an inch of wall space. So I just kept swimming into the wall, did a touch turn between two people and pushed off....but someone else pushed off at the same time! Agh...who are these people?? Seriously, there should be a class in lap swimming etiquette. I think San Tache and I need to teach it! Maybe even write a book on it!
300k
200brst
200s
Total: 1200m 30min
Frustration again today! I hadn't experienced 'general' swim before, but it was the most convenient time slot today. Essentially, it is the same as lap swim except they only keep one of the lap lanes in the pool! This creates an open water like atmosphere that makes it virtually impossible to kick without choking on waves of water! And those of us who opted to swim in the 'lap lane' were mostly swimming laps. But there was lots of resting at the wall, no flip-turns, and very little speed. The most irritating thing (today)...people who don't move to the sides of the lanes so others can do flip-turns, or at least do a touch turn. They were all lined up there (two lanes worth) without an inch of wall space. So I just kept swimming into the wall, did a touch turn between two people and pushed off....but someone else pushed off at the same time! Agh...who are these people?? Seriously, there should be a class in lap swimming etiquette. I think San Tache and I need to teach it! Maybe even write a book on it!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
August 2007-December 2007 Interim
After leaving Japan and the Kurobe Masters team I wasn't totally lazy for 5 months. I tried to stay active while I was traveling, although I had days of just sitting on trains, buses or in jeeps. When I wasn't sitting around I did some pretty cool things, (I must admit):
Great Baikal Trail: camping and trail building in Siberia near Lake Baikal for two weeks, hiked 3-5km into camp with LOTS of gear: tents, sleeping bag, tools and food! Built a bridge and 67m of NEW trail.
Leo Hostel "Secret" Great Wall Tour: hiked 2-3 hours up to and around the great wall in an area that has NOT been rebuilt. It was a tough trail and you really had to watch your step! But beautiful views!
Annapurna Circuit: trekked 18 days around the Annapurna Mtn. range in Nepal. It was about 300km and took us from about 800m to 5416m over the Thoroung La pass.
Annapurna Base Camp: trekked 7 days up to Annapurna and Machupuchre Base Camp and back.
Rafting & Canyoning at The Last Resort: 2 fabulous days of white water on the Bhote Kosi in Nepal. The second day was much more intense and unfortunately my mom fell out! We also tried canyoning which was lots of fun!!
Triund Trek: while staying in Dharamsala, India I did a lot of walking EVERYDAY. But one Saturday a student and I walked up to Triund, about 18km in 6 hours.
Lazy Swimming: and I did a few laps of luxury at Ideal Beach Resort in Mahabalipuram! Oh, I love that place!!
And now I'm walking all over campus in the UK! An exciting life continues in another country!
Great Baikal Trail: camping and trail building in Siberia near Lake Baikal for two weeks, hiked 3-5km into camp with LOTS of gear: tents, sleeping bag, tools and food! Built a bridge and 67m of NEW trail.
Leo Hostel "Secret" Great Wall Tour: hiked 2-3 hours up to and around the great wall in an area that has NOT been rebuilt. It was a tough trail and you really had to watch your step! But beautiful views!
Annapurna Circuit: trekked 18 days around the Annapurna Mtn. range in Nepal. It was about 300km and took us from about 800m to 5416m over the Thoroung La pass.
Annapurna Base Camp: trekked 7 days up to Annapurna and Machupuchre Base Camp and back.
Rafting & Canyoning at The Last Resort: 2 fabulous days of white water on the Bhote Kosi in Nepal. The second day was much more intense and unfortunately my mom fell out! We also tried canyoning which was lots of fun!!
Triund Trek: while staying in Dharamsala, India I did a lot of walking EVERYDAY. But one Saturday a student and I walked up to Triund, about 18km in 6 hours.
Lazy Swimming: and I did a few laps of luxury at Ideal Beach Resort in Mahabalipuram! Oh, I love that place!!
And now I'm walking all over campus in the UK! An exciting life continues in another country!
1500m
Two days in a row--I surprise even myself! My motivation is three-fold: 1) stay in shape 2) get back into swimming shape and 3) make the most of my year-long membership in 4 months! I paid about $160US for a year. So right now, I've spent $40 per swim! I hope to get that down to $3 per swim! That would mean getting to the pool at least 3x a week! So, that's my minimum goal...purely financial! Ha ha ha...gotta make the most of it!
Today felt good. I was swimming faster than the last few days. I'm sure my lane-mates didn't appreciate me passing them, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I don't have much sympathy for people who can't do continuous laps and swim in the fast lane! I wish there was a sign stating requirements for swimming in the fast lane. Some pools have that, but not this one!
3x400 s/p/p
200IM drill
100s
Total: 1500m 40 min
Today felt good. I was swimming faster than the last few days. I'm sure my lane-mates didn't appreciate me passing them, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I don't have much sympathy for people who can't do continuous laps and swim in the fast lane! I wish there was a sign stating requirements for swimming in the fast lane. Some pools have that, but not this one!
3x400 s/p/p
200IM drill
100s
Total: 1500m 40 min
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
1300m
On Tuesday's I don't have any lectures, which is great cause it gives me lots of time to read and get to the pool (in theory). But it's hard to stay motivated to get up and get to campus when there is nothing that I HAVE TO DO. I managed to make it to campus by about 10 this morning. I read for two hours and then went to the pool. Even though the lap swim hours are limited, it wasn't too crowded today. Agh, but I forgot my flip-flops and that always really grosses me out.
400s
300p
300k
200s
100s
Total: 1300m 30min
Slowly, slowly I'm trying to develop a routine and get back into swimming!
400s
300p
300k
200s
100s
Total: 1300m 30min
Slowly, slowly I'm trying to develop a routine and get back into swimming!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
1150m
Thursday and Friday's schedule prevented me from getting to the pool for lap swim between 12-2. But I got up dragged myself out of bed and walked 30 min in the cold and light drizzle to get in a few laps this morning. I was sore for about 2-3 days after my 500m on Wednesday--eeps! So, I'm taking it slow and stretching it out, warming up the muscles and not doing any too strenuous.
I bumped myself up to the fast lane again after 50m in the medium lane. Exciting news--there were three beefy ladies actually swimming in the fast lane! And they were considerate and knew passing rules! It was refreshing after the Japanese model--push off the lane just as a swimmer is coming into the wall! I think there are some serious swimmers, triatheletes, and club swimmers here despite the delapitaded looking facilities.
3x300 s/k/p
100brst
100s
50scull
Total: 1150m 30 min.
I bumped myself up to the fast lane again after 50m in the medium lane. Exciting news--there were three beefy ladies actually swimming in the fast lane! And they were considerate and knew passing rules! It was refreshing after the Japanese model--push off the lane just as a swimmer is coming into the wall! I think there are some serious swimmers, triatheletes, and club swimmers here despite the delapitaded looking facilities.
3x300 s/k/p
100brst
100s
50scull
Total: 1150m 30 min.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Back in the pool
I'm back in the water! Yahoo! I'm settling into my new home for the next four months--Birmingham, England. I've bought my 1-year membership to the University of Birmingham pool ($160US) because it was the best option. And now I have no excuse other than my very demanding studies (ha ha ha). So, I hope to be in the pool at least 3x a week! Today I went to check it out. I just did a quick 500m to stretch out after 6 months!! Luckily they do have a fast lane at this pool. And most of the swimmers in the fast lane belong there. However, even though they could have 6 lanes, they only have 3--annoying, but I guess it accommodates more people. I'm not sure why, but they swim clockwise, not counter-clockwise in the fast lane. It was messing up my flip turns! Not to mention the fact that you have to push off the wall diagonally anyway to get to the other side of the lane cause it's so frickin' big. And the pool smelled like men's cologne. What's up with that? I hope it's not a new type of chlorine. I'm so judgemental! I should just be happy with having access to a pool after such a long time. And I am! But it isn't the big 8-lane pool with super huge bright windows and heated floors that I was used to in Japan! Oh well...it's a pool with water! I'm in again! Hurray!
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