2500m

1000s
500p
300k
4x100 IM on 2:10
100s
200s

Total: 2500m 1hr

Pool was slightly busy today. I got in a lane with a 10-12 year old boy because he was doing flip-turns-always a good sign! I gained on him in my first 500m, but he held solid the last 500m. A 1000m swim and I didn't pass him once!! Impressive!!! His dad/coach was sitting on the side watching. Then they went over and worked on flip-turns!! Sweet! But where are the formal swim lessons in this country? I haven't seen anything like American Saturday AM swim lessons here! Oh, I forgot...they are probably at school during the summer. Most elementary schools have a pool and the homeroom teacher is responsible for teaching swimming. Wow!

Decided to try a set on the clock. Nothing crazy, but I managed to hold to it, even though I was getting really tired! Slowly but surely I'll work back up to a real workout!!

KMSC 2100m

Warm-up
500s/300k

Sets
2x200p
8x75s 4&8 fast
100s
2 flip turns

Cool Down
200s

Total: 2100m 1hr. 20min.

Whoa...I'm surprising myself here! Three times in one week-amazing! And I had an epiphany tonight. I got to practice and was warming-up...no coach...another 100m...no coach...shit, do I have a workout?...another 100m...still no coach! Damn...they're gonna ask me! And they did! Sure enough, everyone stopped and said, "please!" So, I decided against doing any drill sets and try to actually accumulate some meterage tonight! And then it hit me, coaching swimming is just like my role as an English teacher in Japan. The Japanese teacher/coach does the drills, gives the students the structure, the building blocks-over and over and over again! I come into class or jump in the pool, and I get to make them use it! My job is to create an environment where they can put their skills to use. Give them sets that are doable but a challenge! So tonight we did 1100m...we have been doing 500m tops!!

And just like with teaching English, at first I copied what the Japanese teacher/coach was doing. And now, I have seen the light and try to approach the classroom/pool with an entirely different methodology!

Note: I've just written a 20+pg. paper for my MA about syllabus and methodology...so it's on my mind! Maybe not such a huge epiphany, because I've heard it all before about the Japanese style of teaching and coaching. But today I actually realized it!!

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

Quarantine

Yikes, it has been almost 3 weeks since I last posted, but I've got good excuses! I swear!

I went snowboarding March 4th and got run over by San Tache on her board, so I skipped swim practice that following Monday because I was feeling bruised and it hurt to breathe. Luckily, I was just bruised, she actually cracked a rib!! Ouch! But the best part, I was filming it as it happened. You can view it on YouTube. It's rated PG-13 for inappropriate language, but make sure you have the volume turned up, it's pretty funny!!

Last week I skipped swim practice again because I'd spent the weekend in Tokyo and had felt kinda sick all weekend...mild fever, headache, backache, etc. But I just popped tylenol all weekend and I felt okay. So Monday I rested up and started in on my paper (DUE VERY SOON...I'm procrastinating). Tuesday I started feeling stiff all over...instant arthritis in my knees, feet, ankles, wrists?? Wow, it hurt!

And then Wednesday after school I headed to the doctor because my entire body was bright red, my joints really hurt and I had a fever...my teachers were concerned, and I was concerned. The doctor announced.....RUBELLA!! Or German Measles!

What?? Didn't I get a vaccination for that when I was little, and again before college? Could it really be rubella? Well, all the symptoms fit! So I stayed home Thursday and Friday. My joint pain is almost entirely gone as is the rash, but the mild fever still lingers. And my school called this morning to tell me I'm not allowed back at school until the blood test has been confirmed sometime Monday! Oh my!

But actually, it's a blessing in disguise! I'm stuck at home with nothing to do but finish this damn paper!

I'll be back in the pool in April!! I promise!

1500m KMSC

500s/200k/300p

Set
10x50 free k/p drills

Total: 1500m 90min.

A really frustrating practice. Our normal female coach went to the slow lane, and another guy jumped in our lane to teach us! Blah! We spent 50 minutes on 10 50's! Boring! I was cold the whole time. So I didn't bother with a cool down...I needed to get in the shower and warm-up.
I wasn't impressed! Why do we bother with drills EVERY week? Shouldn't we work on some strength and endurance training?

2006 In Review

I've been meaning to do this for awhile! I don't swim nearly as much as I'd like to or think I could. But 2006 was a big year for me...I joined a Masters team and competed! A first since college. Since I've been keeping the blog and recording all my swims, I thought I would do a meter count. How many meters did I swim in 2006? I had no idea what to expect, but I'm pretty happy with it. Although, I could do MUCH MUCH better!


If I did the math right, the grand total of meters for 2006 is:

159,000m OR 159km

2100m

1000s
200fr k
200brst k
300p
2x100 IM
50s scull
150s

Total: 2100m 50 min.

A sanity swim. I had to get out of my apartment and move. It felt great tonight. I totally could have kept going, but had to get back to things at the apartment. But I felt solid and strong tonight. I haven't felt like that in ages. I also weighed myself...I'm losing weight? What? That's impossible!

KMSC 1450m

Warm-up
500s
200k

Set
15x50 fr kick drills

No Cool Down

Total: 1hr. 15min. 1450m

Surprise surprise, it was crawl night! And all we did was kick drills. Good...because I need to strengthen my kick. Bad...because I hate kicking. But I managed to maintain my position in the lane. Nothing to unusual tonight. No cool down because a swimmer had photos from a dinner a few months back she wanted to give me. And once I'm outta the pool...there's no going back!

1600m

1000s
200p
200IM SLOW
200 random

Total: 1600m 45min

I've had this damn cold for weeks. So this weekend I decided I needed to take it easy...no going out, no parties, no snowboarding, no hanging out with friends...NOTHING. Except, Linea and I went for a swim tonight. We both needed out of our apartments and to stretch these muscles that haven't been used much lately!

It was a slow slow swim. But the water always feels good and hopefully it loosened up the gunk in my sinuses.

Blah

Last Monday was a national holiday so the pool was closed and there was no practice this week. It's for the best. Last weekend we went winter camping. We actually ended up in a cabin, but between the cold and the smoke from the fire, I woke up with a bad sore throat. That has turned into a mild cough, sinus infection, and a temperature that's been hovering at about 100F all week. I've had cold like symptoms off and on since early December. I'm sick of being sick! But I also haven't let msyelf slow down at all. So, I'm missing a BIG Vday party tonight to "rest." And I'm not going boarding this weekend, so I can "rest." But really "rest" just means study.

In an effort to rest and rejuvenate....I took a hot bath with grapefruit & ginger, boiled water with peppermint aromotheraphy, roasted a BULB of garlic and made a garlic sandwhich, and have been drinking lemon grass tea all night.

I really really want to get to the pool this weekend. But if the pressure in my right eye socket doesn't let up, wearing goggles will be a nightmare!

KMSC 1075m

Warm-up
75m

Sets
14x50 brst drill
4x25 start sprints

Cool Down
200m

Total: 1075m 1hr.10min.

I almost didn't go tonight. I'm tired and have a cold. So I left it up to the fairies (fortune cards). I randomly selected "body movement"--shit! I jumped in the car and got to the pool right before the workout started, about 30 minutes later than I normally get there. Hence the really short warm-up. But tonight was also breaststroke drill night--my fav!! Eek, tonight everyone was calling me "number 1." The coach realized I was going to fast on one of the drill sets so instead of using the board the real way, she had me hold it vertical in the water for resistence. It was a bit harder, but didn't really slow me down. Yeah for breaststroke!! I love it!

Anyway, no crazy comments from the older men tonight. BUT in the pool, I got "beautiful" in reference to my swim from one of my favorite ladies...no biggie until in the locker room she looked me up and down and said "steki" or great. I looked at her funny because there was nothing steki about what I was wearing--old cords and an old sweater. She responded with, "nice body." What?? Where did that come from?? She cracks me up. She's kinda cute too!! :)

KMSC 1550m

Warm-up
500s/300p/50k

Sets
10x50 back drills

Cool Down
200s

Total: 1550m 1hr.20min.

Eek, I hate back drill day. And I do it all wrong too...so the coach is always correcting me. Apparently my hand over reaches across my midline. And no matter how hard I try not to, I still do it. Oh well. I hate back!

No crazy comments from the men today. But an older lady in the locker room just started chatting me up, going on and on about how nervous she was to go to practice. Or at least that's what I was pretending she was saying. I actually couldn't understand a word of what she was saying. And then another women randomly stopped me in the pool and commented that she could be as old as my mother and indeed she's right. She's as old as my mom. Glad we cleared that up.

Well, with my current schedule I just can't get to the pool more than once a week...well, I might be able to. Anyway, I board on Saturdays and swim on Mondays. And until the next paper gets done, that's all I'm really gonna hope for. But starting in April....I'm gonna try to make an effort to really train for the last Masters meet of my Japan Masters career. It's in June! That gives me two solid months.

KMSC 2050m

Warm-up:
500s/500p/300k

Set:
10x50 butterfly drill (7 kick only, 3 alt. arm)
50s fly

Cool Down
200s

Total: 2050m 1hr. 35min.

It's my first KMSC workout in months!!! And luckily I didn't have to coach tonight. But it kicked my %*#. My lane pushed me to the front for the first 50 of fly drill. But when I reached the wall, the woman behind me said I needed to go faster....dozo!! So she was in the lead the rest of the night. I struggled and made it, but just barely!

It turns out the next All Japan Masters meet is the March meet and tomorrow is the deadline. Oh well! And apparently last night they had a big New Years enkai...thanks for the invite! Oh well, especially after the two old guys both made comments about wanting to go out with me! Ick!! The quote of the night, "How can I touch you?" He meant to say, or at least I want to think he meant to say, "How do I get in touch with you?" I'm tried not to be irritated!

1600m

It's been how long since I was in the pool?? I don't even want to think about it. I should have waited a few hours and gone to the Masters practice, but I was near the pool and I HATE making more trips than necessary. Just a quick 40 minute stretch out after a LONG LONG holiday and a day or boarding on Saturday! Man, my calves are sore!

500s
500k
500p
100s

Total: 1600 40 min.

The next Masters meet is in March, the weekend after my birthday. The one weekend I was thinking of going to Tokyo! Hmm? What to do? Stay and swim or go and enjoy Tokyo? That might be easier than I thought!!

Mt. Hood

January 1st, 2007

Angela, Evie, and Katherine drove up to Mt. Hood on New Year's Day to go snowboarding. We opted to go to Ski Bowl, a much cheaper option on the mountain. Unfortunately it is one of the lower elevation snow parks and it was pretty warm and we got some rain. But we heard rumors that Timberline was getting rain too....ha ha ha, fools!! They paid more and still got rained on!


Evie, Angela and I rented boards but Katherine opted for skis. After attempting to give a few lessons on the bunny hill, Katherine and I took off for the real lifts. But after our first run Angela and Evie were ready to try the ski lift too! They were awesome for first timers!! I was so impressed. We did two runs for their one run, but I consider that to be REALLY good for your first day up. I wasn't that good! Nice work ladies!!!

I felt the muscle ache the next few days! Felt great!

Holiday List

Well, this is it for a few weeks....I'm off to visit home for the holidays! I do hope to get a few swims in, but I doubt it will be anything significant. I'll probably mostly be eating. So in the spirit of the holidays and thanks to Joe, here is a holiday list.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? I prefer hot chocolate except at Christmas time too. I haven't actually had egg nog in two years. I do like buying a carton during the holidays. Yummmy....only 2 more days.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa's presents shouldn't be wrapped, he doesn't have time for wrapping!! And they are also on the fireplace, never under the tree. But anything I give is wrapped and under the tree.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? When I was a kid I loved the color, but now I prefer white. It looks so classy. And no more blinking lights!!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. And I've never been caught under any either. Too bad! I tried explaining mistletoe to my elementary school kids....totally didn't get it! It's so hard to explain. Why in the world do we do that?
5. When do you put your decorations up? When I was little I wanted to put them up as soon after Thanksgiving as possible. Now, I could care less. Maybe if I ever have kids then it will feel more exciting. But now it's just a lot of work for one day.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? It's all so good!!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Wow, not sure I can answer that. There are so many great memories. But one year we hosted a Spanish exchange student and her whole family came for Christmas. I've never seen so many presents under the tree because there were over 20 people for dinner that year from 3 countries. It was amazing. Plus, her one older brother was really cute!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? In 3rd grade Santa brought me a train set. But it was missing a piece so my mom pulled out the receipt and called the store. I caught her!
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? It's a fight in our house every year. My mom opened all her gifts on Christmas Eve, but my dad opened on Christmas Day. My sister and I vote for Christmas Day too. That way you have all day to enjoy your gifts. But as a compromise we open one on Christmas Eve, it's always new winter pajamas. Usually a matching set for the girls. The year the Spanish family was visiting, my mom made all the girls matching flanner teddy bear pajamas! They were and still are so cute. But they were a tad bit big for all of us. I think I could wear them if I was having twins.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? With lots of homemade decorations. The family gathers round and everyone puts one up and if there is special memory we talk about it.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I love it if I can snowboard. I hate it if it makes getting to work a chore.
12. Can you ice skate? My first boyfriend tried to teach me, but I haven't tried it since.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Eek, I don't remember gifts very well. I'm sure I could if I had too...but nothing springs to mind at the moment.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? This year being with my family because it's the first Christmas I'll be at home for since I came to Japan over two years ago.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? My dad's key lime pie.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Eating homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning while sitting in our new pajamas opening presents and listening to the new CD that someone got in a stocking.
17. What tops your tree? An angel.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving. I get embarrased to receive!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night. I have several versions of it, I love it!
20. Candy canes? Not a huge fan.
21. Favorite Christmas movie? Muppet Christmas Carol and all the other traditional ones are good too!
22. What do you leave for Santa? Carrot juice

2400m

500s
200k
500p
400 alt k/drill by 50's IM order
200k
4x100 IM
200s

Total: 2400m 1hr.

I've been sick off and on all week. And today my voice is really starting to go. But after baking cookies all day with my students I had to get to the pool and wash away the greasy goodness. I could feel it seeping into my skin! But because of the sickness, I was having problems breathing tonight. Pretty low energy swim....kinda felt like trying to swim through concrete. Regardless, it felt great to be in the water and moving a bit. It'll be nice to have some week nights back after this choir concert is over on Sunday. New Year's Resolution=pool at least 2x a week!!

A Little B-ball

Ha ha ha....this is how desperate I'm getting. I have NO time to get to the pool. It's too cold to bike, well, okay, probably not, but I HATE being cold! And I'm seriously craving movement!

So today, I headed to the school gym after classes ended. It was great. I got invited to join a basketball game. Damn, I haven't played baskeball like that since junior high school. But let me clarify...I was playing with 4th & 5th grade boys. And they were amazing! The star on the court had his arm in a cast and was still making every shot and dribbling, passing, blocking, guarding, etc. like he was playing in the final four. I fell once and bruised my knee, almost sprained my ankle and got hit in the head with a ball and my glasses went flying (no damage). Ha ha ha...I'm getting old! But I did make a few good shots. And hopefully gained a bit of respect with those boys. They're a tough crowd. I think I'll be back next week!

40 minutes of cardio!! Great!!

A Dry Run

I was up at 5:20am. In the car with my bagel and chai by 6:15. JP and I met at the designated IC at 7 and we were in Hakuba a few minutes before 8. And there was NO SNOW! Seriously...what?? All the reports said the ski parks were open and it was supposed to be snowing this morning. Okay...so we tried three parks and all three were open, but there wasn't snow within sight of the parking lot. Maybe somewhere near the top there was snow, but none from where we stood. Boarders and skiers were still going up, but when we asked what was open, they were packing a few hundred people into 1-2 short runs at the top. And they wanted us to pay 4500Y ($40US). I think not!

So we crawled back in our car, drove back down to sea level and enjoyed a lovely meal of mac & cheese while watching a few episodes of "The Wonder Years" under the kotatsu (heated table covered with a blanket).

At least I know where all my gear is, and did a run through. So when the real day actually comes, I'll be SOOOOO ready!!

SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW