2400m

700s
200brst
100bk
100fly drill
200k brst
200k fr
~400 lunges in the walking lane
200p
100s

Total: 2400m (including the walking) 1hr.

San Tache and I headed to the pool today. Originally, I was hoping to bike and go for a little mini-jog/run, but the weather is nasty and I woke up with a sore throat. So we just did the pool. I was feeling a bit tingly in my limbs and short of breath. We tried the walking lane today. I've never done it before. Not sure it is very effective, but let's see if I can feel the lunges tomorrow. I hope so!!

I have the next week OFF!!! My goal is to get to the pool a lot and hopefully by bike!! The next meet is just over a month away. And I signed up for a relay marathon in two weeks...i'm nutz!!

Congratulations Mad Ducks & Dogs

This is a little late, but a huge congrats to my college swim team for it's 9th & 6th straight Mid-West Conference Championship! When I joined the team in 1996, it has been a few years since the team had won and with a new coach, the team was still re-building and growing. I was there when the winning streak started and it was so exciting to watch and be apart of...even if I wasn't part of the scoring swimmers! I honestly believe that one of the reasons we were so successful was because our team-spirit was was contagious! It was a full-time job cheering for swimmers and divers. If you weren't warming-up or cooling down, you were at the end of the lane or at the side yelling for someone! And before every home meet, the team stands around the pool and leads everyone in pool hokey-pokey. The lyrics are almost the same, but adjusted a little: right foot, left foot, right hand, left hand, head, butt, and mad dog/duck (use your imagination).

I miss the team-spirit. I hope someday I'll be able to join a more competitive and team-spirited masters team. Hmm...I wonder if there are Masters teams in the Middle East?

(I found these pics on the internet...thanks someone)

1500m

500s
200k
300p
4x4x25 IM
200s

I've been so so tired all week! Struggled to get to the pool tonight...the only reason I did was to sign up for the Masters Meet in June. I'll be swimming the 100Brst and 100Medley. I gotta start really swimming!

~1200m

I can't remember everything I did, but it was nice and relaxing after the long pull on Thursday! After the swim, a friend and I went to a hot spring and sat for about an hour! It was wonderful!

2500m

500s
1000p
400k IM
4x100 IM
200s

Total 2500m 1hr.

Overall a good swim. The kids team was in the pool and took up4 lanes, leaving 2 lanes to ALL the lap swimmers. This looked to be a problem, but another Masters swimmer and I bullied most everyone out of the 'fast' lane. That was part of the reason I decided mid-swim to do a 1000p..."I'm not stopping for ANYTHING-MOVE OVER OR GET OUT!" Motivated to keep people out of my lane, I tried to keep a hearty pace tonight.

Have I mentioned that the entire kids swim team has matching practice suits?? And the their coaches/swim teachers who are all on the Masters team also wear matching suits (albeit different suits than their team suits or their team practice suits). Sometimes I think..."Wow, what a good idea, promote team spirit and also a sense of equality among everyone." And then my mind shifts to a scene: standing in front of a group of parents in North America and suggesting all their kids wear the same suit...and I bust up laughing! I can't imagine trying to get North American parents to go for something like that! And that's exactly the reason why I wear 4 suits instead of going out and buying a new suit that matches all the other Masters swimmers!

Biking & Yoga

Hurray, the bike has been out on the road everyday this week (minus today)! Not far and not long, but it has been out and about. It feels great to be back on it. I really really missed it! It's been a bit chilly, but feels great to ride in the fresh air. And traveling by bike inspires a different kind of life...I had a few extra minutes before I had to be somewhere...so I just rode to the beach! It was great! My goal: bike everyday from here till I find a new home for it unless the weather prevents it! Example: I tried to ride it Saturday but it was so windy I thought I might get flipped over, so I came home and did yoga. That felt great too...it's been awhile. I love the stretching. What's my problem sometimes? I just get down and out during the winter and forget that these things exist and stop doing things that make me feel good! Frick...I need to live in a warmer climate where I'm inspired to be out and about all the time.

Total Week km: 30km

KMSC 1600m

500s/300p
12x50 back drills/brst drills/free
200s

Total 1600m 70min

Another new sub coach tonight. I was just glad they didn't ask me...I wasn't in the mood. But she had me demo several of the drills. Glad I could help out! The big topic of tonight...my four suits!! I've upgraded. When I first started last year I was wearing two, then a few months back I upgraded to three, and since last week--I'm wearing 4 suits! One has knots in the straps because it was getting so baggy! Ha ha ha...lots of comments tonight!! When I first started swimming I didn't see ANYONE doubling up. They are all about high fashion swim wear! The practice in $150+ suits!! And almost all the women wear the half-leg suits! But recently I have noticed a few swimmers doubling! The little girl who trains alone every Monday night has started wearing two. And the woman who calls me 'sexy' and 'beauitful' in the locker room started wearing two. And I caught another Masters swimmer wearing two!! Hmmm?? I don't want to take responsibility for starting a trend, but one might wonder why they are starting to double up all of a sudden! The question is...will they follow the triple or quad suit trend????

I'm too cheap to buy new suits! I'm still wearing my racing suit from college. It would be about 7 years old now! Now, that's quality! I bought a few in Korea last year. I've worn one down to the threads, the other two I'm saving until these four really can't be worn any longer!!

1700m

500m
300k
400p
3x100IM
200s

Total 1700m 45min

San Tache and I headed to the pool together tonight! It was great! Just a nice slow swim! Thanks for getting me to the pool!

KMSC ~1500m

500s
200k
300p
200s
200s
3x30sec cord swim (on video)

Total: ~1500m 90min.

Small group tonight, apparently they are all scared of the video camera. It was set up differently than the last time. We wore a cord and there were two cameras, one recording from above, and one underwater. We did free, breast and fly for 30 sec. each. Free and breast were fine. But by the time I got to fly I was exhausted I ended up swimming backwards and then just gave up! Everyone was laughing...good times! No idea if I'll ever see the video...I never saw the last one! Hmm?

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!