A Mad Duck

A Super-sized Country (1000m+)

2008-05-15T00:37:00.002+09:00

The parents convinced me to go to their water aerobics class tonight. While they were jogging, I swam laps in the deep end, width way across 6 lanes--better than the length of the NYC pool, but still no lap pool. And I was dodging people with those floating belts on who were just hanging out. I sculled faster than they moved. Anyway....the water is 87F, so even if I had wanted to swim at a good pace, it was impossibly warm in there! But I think the most shocking 'reverse culture shock' moment was being in the changing room after the water aerobics class! OMG! Americans are HUGE! And it's disgusting! I don't think I have EVER showered with women that large before and I've never had to see what I saw. And I never want to. I was shocked! I NEVER saw anything like it in my three years of swimming and visiting public baths in Japan. And even in the UK I didn't notice that level of obesity. This country is out of control.

Total: 45min maybe 1000+m

NYC Swim

2008-05-05T20:43:00.002+09:00

Total: 30 min

I'm in NYC this week visiting family and being totally spoiled! I love this city, I wanna live in this city but how anyone affords it is beyond me! Anyway, my cousin took me to her gym in the Upper East side yesterday. The gym is amazing--6 floors of equipment, gyms, a climbing wall, fitness rooms, pool, sauna, spa, etc. Luckily it was member appreciation week and yesterday happened to be 'bring a guest for free day'. Otherwise it would have cost $40 to get in! My cousin didn't tell me that until AFTER the swim! Can you imagine, $40 for a one time visit to a gym? Ridiculous! And it wasn't an olympic size pool. It was about 10-15m in length and only the width of about 3 lap lanes. But we swam (with lots of flip turns) for about 30 minutes. The best part...my cousin has a waterproff case for her iPod and let me try it out. So very very cool!! If I had the smaller iPod, it would be a fun investment. And it works really well. I recommend it for all you swimmers out there!!

Ok, time to take the dog for a walk, pack the bags and fly home!!

600m

2008-04-30T00:58:00.003+09:00

600m

Total: 600m
Price per person: $5.16

Today has been a crazy day finishing my packing, printing, returning things, shipping things, donating things, meeting people, saying good-bye, etc. But I managed to find 20 minutes to jump in and jump out and shower! So...there it is. I made it to the pool 31 times in 4 months. And now it is time to say good-bye to the Birmingham pool and to B

1300m

2008-04-29T01:59:00.004+09:00

500s
500p
200k
100s

Total: 1300m 30min
Price per swim: $5.33

I submitted my last modular assessment today! Hurray! That means I just have the dissertation and I'm done--easier said then done! After handing it in I jumped in the pool before heading to the pub with my classmates. So whatever good I did to my body by swimming for 30min was totally negated after eating a plate of greasy fish n' chips! But I won't get the good stuff at home so I have to live it up my last days in the UK! Tomorrow will be my last day at the pool for who knows how long! Sad!

1100m

2008-04-24T20:06:00.003+09:00

500s
400p
100k
100s

Total: 1100 20+min
Price per swim: $5.51

It was a bit quieter today! Thank goodness. I had to share a lane with a recreation backstroker for a few minutes and then I had the lane to myself. When I got in, she was swimming in the normal circular pattern, not the reverse of the fast lane that really threw me off when I first got here. It felt so good to be swimming in the right direction again. My turns felt great and had so much more power. I was flying through them. Except for one...I hesitated a bit coming into the wall, lost my momentum and didn't tuck into the turn like I normally do...wacked my right foot on the wall. Ouch! Hurts the ego more than anything. Hope the lifeguard didn't see it. Kept on swimming but there seems to be a little bruise forming! Oh well!

Hope to get in another swim Saturday or Sunday! And then Monday and Tuesday as well. Flying back to the states on Wednesday. Bye bye Birmingham!

1500m

2008-04-24T20:03:00.002+09:00

500s
600p
200k
200s

Total: 1500m 25 min
Price per swim: $5.71

The crowds are back! Blah! I was passing another swim every 50m, which meant I had to keep up a pretty quick pace...except of course when I got behind someone and had to wait until the turn to pass them. But no one ever stops at the wall and lets you pass them...oh no! You just gotta swim hard and fast!

1400m

2008-04-20T02:29:00.004+09:00

700s
400p
100k
200s

Total: 1400m 25min
Price per swim: $5.92

Saturday mornings at the pool are great! I had the lane to myself almost the entire time. But I didn't have much time so I made it quick. It is also hard to feel very motivated to swim in such a crappy pool with swimmers who don't inspire you. If everyone else is doing hard sets, swimming on intervals, etc. it is much easier to feel motivated and inspired to do it yourself. But this is a total leisure pool and the fact that I do flip turns and swim for more than a 50 is a shock to most people. Only about 10 days left in Birmingham before I go home. I'll need to check out the membership rates of the pool across the street from my parent's house. If I remember correctly it is much too hot for lap swimming! But I'll have to try it at least once. I need to do something physical when I get back to the great U S of A!

1300m

2008-04-18T22:29:00.003+09:00

500s
500p
200k
100s

Total: 1300m 25min
Price per swim: $6.40

Pretty faced paced today. There was another moderately speedy swimmer in the lane but I had to pass him during my 500 swim and pull after about 150m. He didn't seem to like that, but he also wasn't stopping at the wall to let me pass. So I had to kick it up a few notches to get by him in 25m. So the 4th 25 of each 500 was a sprint. And I had to maintain a pretty quick pace for the next 50m to gain enough on him to make sure he wasn't dragging off me. Lots to do, so made today a quick one. But it felt great to get in and stretch out my arms--feeling a bit tight! Back to the paper!

2400m

2008-04-15T21:24:00.001+09:00

500s
500p
200k fr
200k brst
6x100 IM (fly drill)
200p
100k
100s

Total: 2400m 55min

I got up and went directly to the pool this morning. With the bus and stopping to get groceries, it still turns into an entire morning out, but it was well worth it. There was almost nobody in the pool and the sun was shining! And I got my first compliment from an older man who I was sharing the lane with. He said he was trying to get tips from me everytime I lapped him and asked if I swam competitively because I swim so well. Cute! But after spending so long in the pool today, my chlorine allergies are in full swing...can't stop the sneezing!

1800m

2008-04-11T22:34:00.004+09:00

1000s
500p
200k
100s

Total: 1800m 45min

I ate not long before I got in the pool, so I didn't want to do anything too fast. I swam long and strong for my warm-up 1000m. Felt good to stretch out and enjoy the laps! I'm loving going to the pool during the 'easter holidays' because it is MUCH less crowded! Hopefully I'll get to the pool a few more times next week inbetween the reading and writing!

As of today, I've been to the pool 23 times since coming to Birmingham. That means I've paid about $7/swim. Not great considering the pool sucks, but it has been a great stress-reliever! And if it wasn't for the shingles, I would have been in the pool a lot more! I missed an entire month! Bummer!

2200m

2008-04-06T02:33:00.003+09:00

500s
500p
300k
7x100 IM (fly-drill) 15 sec. rest
100k
100s

Total: 2200m 50min

I turned in my 5th assessment (out of 6) and headed straight for the pool. It felt GREAT! It wasn't overcrowded and I could stretch out! And I actually got in a semi-real set! Felt so so good to keep going! Hopefully I can get a few more of these kinds of swims in soon! After the swim....enjoyed a HUGE Chinese meal!

1300m

2008-04-02T01:35:00.002+09:00

500s
500p
200k
100s

Total: 1300m 30 min.

In and out! The pool was almost empty today! Fabulous! Wanted to catch the bus and get back to get work done. Haven't gotten any 'work' done but have managed to get some errands and chores done. Can't sit still in front of the computer...probably should have swam longer, especially after all the tasty bratwurst and beer that was consumed this weekend in Hamburg!

Oh...and last Wednesday I jumped in for 15minutes, about 700m. Barely worth mentioning, but really needed to feel the heart moving!

1200

2008-03-26T20:41:00.001+09:00

500s
500p
200k

Total: 1200 30min

In and out really quick! Too much to do before I leave for Germany on Thursday. And there won't be any swimming in Germany...just beer and brats!! :)

1600m

2008-03-20T03:50:00.001+09:00

500s
100brst
500p
300k
200s (25fr, 100brst, 25fr)

Total: 1600m 45min.

A crowded evening at the pool. My arms are a a little sore from Monday, but not much else to say.

1200m

2008-03-18T00:06:00.002+09:00

500s
400p
200k
100s

Total: 1200m 30min

Nothing wild and crazy but after a forced 1 month respite I'm back in the water. Same old same old in terms of crappy lane etiquette. The big challenge now will be forcing myself to take the bus to get to campus to use the pool because now I have NO classes and NO reason to go to the main campus!

Coming soon

2008-03-06T01:33:00.003+09:00

I'm feeling it. A swim will be coming soon. I am feeling much much better. I'm not nearly as exhausted as I was and have been. But the rash is STILL visible so technically it might still be contagious. The only downside is the next week is SUPER busy with academic stuff and might prohibit a pool visit. But I'll be back in soon! I NEED to be back in soon!

A Case of Shingles--blah!

2008-02-19T22:45:00.002+09:00

Gross! It's been confirmed by a doctor. I have shingles. I had my suspicions and had checked the internet for symptoms--looked like it might be shingles, but I was hopeful I was mis-diagnosing it. All the doctor did was quickly glance at the rash and confirm it is SHINGLES. Yuck!!

So far it seems to be a mild case and hopefully it will stay that way. I've started taking anti-virals to reduce the growth of the virus, but it doesn't stop it. I just hope and pray I don't get those nasty boils that seem inevitable! I guess this rules out the pool for at least a week or two...until the rash has almost entirely disappeared. I'm so totally bummed about that!

Just when I was looking forward to getting back in the pool after last week's study hiatus...I get a highly contagious skin disease! Just my luck!

Something Nasty

2008-02-18T23:25:00.002+09:00

Over the weekend I contracted some nasty red bumpy itchy but painful rash on my right side under my breast and armpit wrapping around to my back. Not sure what it is or how to care for it but I think it's best to avoid dirty locker rooms and chlorinated bath water for awhile. Hope to be back in the pool in a few days.

1400m

2008-02-15T00:33:00.002+09:00

500s
300p
200k
200s
100brst
100s

Total: 1400m 35min

This is my first visit to the pool this week. I have a good excuse. It is reading week and I've been studying at the library close to my house to avoid the bus commute. But today I took a midday break and went to the main campus and jumped in the water. This week I decided to shave my winter coat...first time in always feels great with a fresh shave! I'm going to London tomorrow for a weekend of drinking and debauchery! Be back in the pool on Monday or Tuesday!

2200m

2008-02-09T02:50:00.000+09:00

1000s
500p
300k 25fr/25brst
100brst
100bk
4x25fly drill
100s

Total: 2200m 48min

Week Total: 7200m

I made it--Day 5! Yahoo! I don't think that has happened since I was in college. And it's the most meterage since Japan! I'm moving up in life! The pool was pretty quiet this afternoon so it was easy to stay longer and do more. The guys I was swimming with were all pretty polite too! A nice change of pace!

I don't think I've showered at home all week--I've got that chlorine perfume going on. I should bottle it and market it to swimmers. Too bad it makes me sneeze!

1100m

2008-02-08T05:50:00.000+09:00

500s
500p
50k
50s

Total: 1100 23min

I KNOW!!! Lame!! But I was rushing to get to the bus. Not sure if I did the math correct, but I think I worked out that 1100m in 23min is the equivalent of doing 22x50s on the 1:02. Not exactly race pace! But that includes pulling, stopping at the wall for slow swimmers, doing a little breast stroke in a traffic jam and short breaks in-between. Hmm? I'll have to start paying more attention to that. See if I can't pick up the pace. Although I don't feel like I'm taking it easy. In fact, I feel like I'm pushing myself a lot. My heart is usually racing and I often feel very short of breath--lapsing into breathing every 1-2 at the walls instead of maintaining my every 3 pattern. And this is day 4 this week. I'm going tomorrow...make it 5!! Yahoo!!

1500m

2008-02-07T04:45:00.000+09:00

500s
500p
200k
200s (25brst/25bk)
100s

Total: 1500 40min

Long day today and I went swimming at the end--not much energy or motivation, but got in anyway. Nothing much to report minus a run-in a the wall in my last 100m. The swimmer in front of me pulled into the wall on the left side, she didn't attempt to even move to the middle as if she was turning and continuing. So I moved to the middle to pass her and as she turned to push off she ran into me. I apologized and said I thought she was stopping. Not sure if she was pissed or not. I kept going after my quick apology. Awareness of what's happening around you is central in lap swimming. People need to be on constant look-out for other people. It doesn't seem to be an innate skill.

1500m

2008-02-05T22:28:00.000+09:00

500s
5x100p
200k w/brd
100k no brd
100brst
100s

Total: 1500 35min

Another busy lunch hour. My arms were a bit tired from yesterday. The water felt thick and a bit like swimming in honey! I don't know if people are getting to know me or if today was an unusual day, but everyone was very polite. People were pulling over, letting others pass, moving at the wall so others could do flip-turns, and even turning back to see how close the next person is in line. It was a huge improvement over some days!!

2000m

2008-02-05T00:30:00.000+09:00

800s
600p
300k
100brst
200s

Total: 2000m 50min

Yowzers! I made it to 2000m after 7 months--about time! Feels good to be back 'in it'. The pool was pretty quiet this afternoon, perfect for swimming long. I needed to stretch out and do some aerobic swimming after the quiet weekend! Plus it is monday...so there is potential to swim 5 days this week. Now, that would amazing--haven't done that since college! Hmm...let's see, it's still early in the week!

1600m

2008-02-02T01:52:00.000+09:00

500s
500p
200k
3x100IM
100s

Total: 1600m 40min

Even though I had just eaten lunch (thai curry with rice) I was still hungry and felt the hunger pains throughout my swim. There were a few flailing swimmers in the one lane, so I was constantly trying to swim around them, or trying to be polite and swim behind them until the wall. It is a constant battle between swimming at speed and being polite. The forecast predicts snow this weekend, I don't buy it. But either way, probably will avoid campus if at all possible. So it'll be Monday before I get back to the pool.