Showing posts with label 2000m. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2000m. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

2000m

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!

Monday, June 04, 2007

富山県マスターズ水泳短水路大会2007

Toyama Masters Short Course Swim Meet 2007

Before meeting the team behind the Kurobe City Hospital at 6:45AM, I ate rice and nattou, packed a few snacks and checked my bag again to make sure I had my goggles and cap. At the hospital we paid up, 2900Y to swim two events plus a relay and lunch. And then I climbed in a car and zoned out for 40 minutes as we drove to the pool. I got the required, "Where are you from in America?", "Where's that?", "My daughter went to American once." conversation and then everyone stopped talking. I was absolutely fine with that because I hate talking to people before 8AM.

As soon as we got to the pool, claimed our prime real estate in the bleachers right above the 25meter bulk head, I changed into 3 suits and got in for a warm up. Even with three pools, and 7-8 lanes for swimming, it is hard to do more than a 50 without having to stop and wait for someone to get out of the way. But I managed to get in a 950m warm-up.

900m
2x start + 25m

About 30minutes after opening ceremony and the start of the meet I headed back down for another 200 warm-up. Luckily or not, my races were almost back to back. So I didn't have to wait around a lot in-between. First up...the 100 breast! There was only two heats of women. I was in the second or younger heat. And yet again, I was seated next to a super fast woman from Uozu, the next town over. But I just realized who she is. She is at the pool on Monday nights privately coaching two sisters before the Masters team starts. I've chatted with her a few times, not realizing that she is my archenemy in breaststroke! Ha ha ha, well, it doesn't really matter cause she kicked my ass again!! I think she finished a full 6 seconds before me. And she holds the record in my age group and hers. I didn't swim a great race. My turns kinda sucked, I'm not sure I did a full underwater pull. And my last 50 I got super tight and slowed way down. Also after watching the video twice at the dinner party...I was told my pull is all off and I don't tuck my head enough (or at all). But even with those flaws I managed to get first in my age group. Although I'm not sure if there was anyone else swimming! :)

A teammate blow drying his hair in the stands.

Again, I jumped in the cool down/warm-up pool, swam another 2-300m and got out for the next event. The 100m IM is more of a fun event....or it's supposed to be! I have signed up for it the last few meets because it's something different I haven't done before. This time around, my goggles slipped. It wasn't horrible, but they started filling up with water during my fly, luckily it was only 25m. During back they were able to drain a little and I was able to turn my head enough to squeeze them back on with my arm during its rotation. Of course my back was the slowest and I was really far behind. But during the breast I was able to pick up speed and catch up to the woman next to me and we turned at the wall at the exact same time (video clip). This got us both going for the last 25, my competitive edge kicked in and my only goal was to out touch her. I did! But watching the video makes it look like I was just enjoying a lazy swim through the pool. My arms are barely moving. I really need to work on arm turnover. So, I survived the goggles and came in first in my age group again. I'm guessing the girl I out touched was also my age group, so maybe I really did get first in that one!

Lunch Time!! Well, I hate to eat too much, but I had almost two hours before the next race. So I scarfed a few white bread sandwhiches from a convienence store. So healthy, I know! But that's what they had for our lunch. Either that or a rice ball or a Japanese bento. And I just can't do Japanese food in that situation. The last thing I want to taste in my mouth is fish or soy sauce as I'm diving into the water! San Tache has arrived just at the end of my breast event, but caught the IM. We hung out in the bleachers and watched the meet for awhile until I went back down for a final warm-up.

My last Masters event in Japan with the Kurobe Masters Swim Club was a 200 Medley Relay. I swam 50 breast. I wasn't really paying attention to how far ahead our fly swimmer was of the pack, but I was the first one in the water, and I was the first breast swimmer to touch. We finished first in the only heat! But we didn't break the record which was set last year by a team with San Tache on it! Bummer!!

The 200 Medley Relay Team: Yoshiko (fly), Me (breast), Ueyama (back), Takamatsu (free)

So, all in all, I placed first in all my events! That's a lifetime personal best for me! I've never gotten first in anything! But, since I've started practicing with the Masters team my times have gotten worse!! I was much slower this year than I was last year! That's a bad sign.

At the dinner we had a mini-awards ceremony. Everyone was super excited that I got first in all my events (as was I) and the Club President asked if I got an PR's. I honestly didn't know. But looking back on my times...they are some of my worst!! Depressing! But I guess given the practices it's not super surprising. I might be better off to swim in my own lane on Monday nights and do a real workout. But I have less than 2 months left. I might as well keep swimming with them. And hope that the next team I join in the next country I live in pushes me more!

Hairdryer man and I pose with my 1st Place Awards.


Reiko-chan is so super cute!!


A photo of a photo that Reiko took at the dinner!

Overall Results:

Total: ~2000m, all freakin' day!

100m Breast 1:35.75
100m IM 1:31.21
200m IM relay 2:19.66 (I think my split was a 43 or 46?)

(I'll try to post a few pics and maybe some video soon)

Thursday, May 31, 2007

2000m

700s
400p
300k
3x100 IM
100scull
200s

Total: 2000m 1hr.

Made it to the pool between school and a private lesson. It's not much fun to swim with a stuffed up nose and a sore throat. I think the guy in the lane next to me was laughing cause I had snot hanging from my nose while swimming breaststroke. The pool's chemicals must be off with all the snot I keep blowing into the pool. It's gross, I know...but what can I do?? I'm hoping to get to the pool tomorrow and Saturday as well. At least to stretch our and keep my muscles moving before Sunday!!

Saturday, March 24, 2007

2000m

600s
400p
200k
200 brst k no brd
100s
200IM drill
100s
100scull
100s
Total: 50 min 2000m

Wow...two days in a row! That's almost a record! My arms were a bit stiff after yesterday's swim, but felt great to get in the water AGAIN! And the pool wasn't too crowded...although, as I was walking onto the deck and began the lane scan, a kind woman told me she was finished and I could have her lane. It was a trick! I jumped in and started my 600s. For 500m, she stayed at the one end and ducked under water to watch my turns! She recruited the lady in the next lane to do the same. I could see them practicing turns from the other end, but by the time I made it down to their end...they were positioned and ready to watch me again! Oh my! Seriously, people...who does that??

And there was a guy doing sets...on an interval in the lane next to me! He even had a workout on the deck that he was refering to! And he was fast! And he was cute...blue speedo shorts, blue swim cap. Haven't seen him before! But I hope I see him again! I gotta get to the pool more often!

And in other sports news...Hakuho and Asashoryu are tied for first place in the Spring Sumo Tournament in Osaka! Tomorrow is the last day and I think it will come to a play-off between the two. My two favorite Mongolians....wow! I can't wait! Read more about the tournament at Sumo Talk.
For a 2min sumo comedy routine, check out this video (taken by me) on Youtube.com

Asashoryu after his win! I touched his right bicep as he walked by! And almost fainted!


Me and Iwakiyama in October at an exhibition tournament!

~2000m

After a few weeks...I got back in the pool. Felt good to stretch out and move in the water. Nothing strenuous. I didn't even bother to really count. Just swam.

I think it looked something like this:

500s
200brst
200k
400p
200s
200brst
100scull
200s

Turns out I didn't have German Measels...duh! I got the MMR vaccine when I was little! In the end...no answers! But feeling better and as soon as the paper is in (1 wk) I have big plans for the pool!

Total: 1 hr. ~2000m