Swim class

Hi girls:
Ok, had swim class last night. Only 2 boys and me were there.
Coach decided to do this pyramid drill.....start doing a couple 50's with
a 10 second break, then a couple 100's, 10 second break, then a couple of
150's. then a couple of 200's then work your way back down the pyramid.
I was POOPED!!. It was 45 mins. of swimming, with the most a 30 second
break. I was feeling quite inadequate until I asked her if that was close
to what I would be swimming at the tri...."Oh Kathy, you just swam pretty
close to a mile." Oh nice, thanks for that. (the tri is about a 1/4 mile)

Still pretty pooped this morning so will do yoga from the TV and the gym after
my noon meeting today.

A guy in class did ask her if we could work on technique again soon and she
said we would so hopefully that will be next week. I start out with a nice
stroke but when I get tired I get sloppy.

Did you see the aticle in the paper from Playmakers this week? They have
workshops every Thursday night at 6:00 (I think that was the time but it will
be on their web site) about a different way to run...injury free. If we don't
get all the snow Tim and I might check it out tonight.

Kathy

I put this on as a comment and changed it to a blog.
Poor Jess...you have your hands full with the two
of us being in our 40's!!!


Hi Girls:I am truly amazed and how my body is responding to the swimming. I did the open swim Saturday at the DeWitt pool and it felt pretty good, I have come a long way from being pooped after the first 200 warm up!! We did pedicures after, by the way, my toes are pretty.I don't know how you run for 30 mins. on a treadmill Jess, I have a hard time with 10 mins. with a workout partner. I get bored. Do you have an ipod?Train on!Kathy

A little bit of everything!

Since I had to miss yesterday's swimming lesson, I had intended to tack some swimming onto my gym trip this morning. Not surprisingly, I didn't quite manage to get my rear in gear quite early enough and didn't have enough time to swim (though I did get bike and treadmill time in) before I had to get out to my parents' house. I decided to leave my gym bag in the car with the intent of swinging by the Parkwood Y on my way home tonight and, lo and behold, I actually did it! I'm still having a hard time with the breathing and with my middle sinking, but I made myself finish the whole 20 minutes I had set out to do. I guess you could say I did a pseudo-brick-session today! ;-)

I'm also well on my way to a ten-minute treadmill mile, though I'm not sure what that'll translate to outside. I did 3.1 miles in 33 minutes this morning.

I'm still worried about learning the whole real bike balance thing, but I'm going to try not to think about it and focus on swimming until the weather makes trying it even a remote possibility.

Keep rocking, gals!

Jess :)

PS--The last swimming post was mine, but I forgot to sign off.

Book

Hi Girls:
I orderded a couple books from Amazon and apperently I hit the wrong button, well, bottem
line, I have an extra copy of "Your First Triatholon." If you don't have it you can have my
extra copy, just let me know and I can get it to you.

Have fun with your swim lesson tomorrow! I am hoping I can zip over to the High school
pool for a quick dip tomorrow.
Kathy

bored

I find having a workout partner in the gym works great with getting bored.
We talk about some pretty stupid things but it is great having someone to
talk to while on the machines.

I am hoping to run over to the HS pool this weekend sometime between the
kids being home for a visit. I think training for a mini-tri is a full-time job!

Train on girls!
Kathy

A few more swimming insights...

My regular swim instructor was sick last night, so a very nice (and very funny!) lifeguard named Tom filled in for her. When he introduced himself, he said that he also teaches the triathlon class at the Westside Y, and I mentioned that I was taking lessons to prep for the Hawk Island event. It turns out that he's lifeguarded the event for the last couple of years, and he said that it's a lot of fun. (Linda, he remembered us from Sunday--hahaha.)

I picked up a couple more tips last night as well. I need to look down more and not lift my head so far out of the water when I breathe. Tom also had me work on rolling to the side more by running my hand up the side of my body when I'm lifting it out of the water. After about a lap and a half, I realized that I could use the side seam of my suit as a guide for my thumb.

I think I'm making (slow) progress!

Buddy System Works

All right, if it weren't for a pre-arranged meeting with one of my Tri buddies, I certainly wouldn't have been on my way to swim "practice" this morning, in the dark at 7am, with an outside temp. of 3 degrees! Something about the accountability of a "pal"! Thanks Jess!
Linda

Easier Swimming

Okay, so I've been practicing for two days in the pool, on my own. I have enjoyed the freedom, without the pressure from being observed and trying to keep up with the triathlon group. I have been able to practice basic things like breathing, my hands cupping and pushing the water, kicking, etc. By watching others swimming, I have learned to slow down just a bit...I was trying too hard. Trying hard and fast to keep up, was making breathing tough. I have swam my first lengths of the pool without stopping...yay! I'll practice again tomorrow and Wed. before my next group lesson. I'm feeling a bit better about the whole swim thing. I have also met a few swimmers and lifeguards who are happy to offer small advice/tips - works for me! I also purchased a new swimming cap (lycra) which has proved to be very beneficial - as opposed to the head squeezing experience of using a silicone cap!

Linda

I think my plan is starting to take shape.

Linda, thanks for the book title info. I ordered what appeared to be the last copy Amazon had in stock yesterday because I think it'll work for me based on what you told me about it the other day.

I think I'm going to alternate trips to the gym with aerobics (or outdoor cardio when the weather breaks) and weights at home because I don't want to lose any of the muscle tone I've been working my behind off (literally! :-p) for since September. (The machines at the gym are totally foreign to me, and I think trying to master swimming and biking will present enough new challenges of their own.)

For right now, I'm going to focus on making sure I'm ready for the Superbowl 5k, so I'm going to do 3.5 miles on the treadmill and then 2o minutes of either stationary biking or swimming when I'm done. I'm currently rocking an 11-minute mile, but I'm hoping to be able to get my speed up a little by February 3.

--Jess

PS--Does anyone have any suggestions for combating cardio machine boredom? I don't have the boredom issues when I'm outside.

swim

I am sooo glad this is January and not April!!

I did feel much stronger in the water tonight, what a difference
a week makes.

Don't sell yourself short Linda, you are doing great!!

I am off to Florida tomorrow AM so I will check back on Tuesday.
Kathy

who is rainman?

I claim the Rainman Story...forgot to sign off!
Linda

Rainman mentality

Okay, so I am a very good biker, did I say that I am a great biker on my bike? ...I can go fast in the driveway! Ha, Ha!

...not so much a swimmer. But, I am learning and will accomplish this athletic endeavor! Better this week than last, but I need to continue to work at this element...a lot! About that private swim lesson...should have that under my belt by next week sometime. I sure have a new respect for this sport - on tv it looks so easy!

Tonight, I wore a swimming cap for the first time...a silicone one. I had read in my Triathlon Training Book about the different materials of caps the author recommended "nylon skullcaps because they are simply more comfortable and you don't feel as if your head is in a giant vice after 20 minutes of swimming...silicone...squeeze your head so tightly...you get a headache...only when...being slippery (faster) is more important than comfort". So I went to Dick's Sporting Goods, made my own decision (based on my "vast swimming expertise...yeah right) and decided to be "slippery" - (like at this point my speed is an issue)! Therefore, I consequently had the continual "vice grip effect" going on - which didn't help my swimming efforts this evening. Ouch! Back to Dick's...before my next swim!

Kathy did a great job tonight! Go Kath! We decided collectively that the thought of going out for a 9pm swim class, in the dark and evening chill, was only made easier because we buddied up for the class!

For the record, in looking at last year's results 2 10 yr. olds completed this event, and so did 7 people over the age of 60 - one in fact was 71-GO William S.! In fact the 71 yr old finished with a faster time than the above mentioned youths! Kind of cool!

Audrey (my daughter) keeps teasing me by telling me I'll probably be kickboxing when I'm 70 yrs. old...I tell her...she should pray that I am:)

We can do this! It's all good!

training

Hi girls:
I talked to the trainer at the gym today and asked her to put together a 30 min.
leg building weight training session for me. I can't work upper body due to my
shoulder situation. I will share this with you when I get it, probably next week.

I would like to do that class you are doing on Monday's Linda but not until the swim class
is over. Please keep me posted if Dan is doing another one after this one is over.

Jess, LOVE the story about the gal you met that could not swim much at all last year,
we can sooooo do this!

I do 50-60 mins of cardio at the gym or outside everyday but Tuesday. At the gym now I start out on the eaiser machines and work my way up to the harder ones and end with a 10 min. run on the treadmill. I want my body to get used to starting the run allready tired.

I will pick you up at 8:30 tonight Linda.

I am off to Floriday Thursday-Monday this week. I will bring my goggles and swim cap and speedo and maybe do some laps in the ocean??? My Mother-In-Law and I are doing one night in a hotel so maybe some laps there. For sure I will be running outside and maybe even on the beach one day, yea!

Kathy

my tri class

Well my triathlon training class at Parkwood YMCA was fine, led by Dan. Yesterday was a running session - pyramid style. Warm up Run 5, then Run 2 min, work core, Run 4 min, work core, Run 8 min, work core, Run 12 min, work core, Decrease running in same increments with core in between, with some pick up laps and some mild speedwork. Not too bad. Next session biking - yeah for me, my fav! - after a 15 min run then 75 min cycling! He did do a fair amount of talking about various elements, such as bike styles, tri-suits (he recommends, as opposed to wet-suit - unnecessary). He talked about running style being different for a tri, with shorter running strides are better, loose shoulders - more relaxed. Eventually, we'll be doing all three elements - the class is 1 hr. and 45 mi. so ample time.

Headed to swimming Wed. night with no real chances to work on swimming - good intentions to, but no reality for me this week...sorry Kathy!

Dan will work with me based on my current workout schedule and give me some recommendations. I do want training time to be purposeful, and effective, without over doing certain things. He recommended more weights, as mosts folks training get enough cardio, but little weights. Can do...much eassier than hunting down a pool for pratice.

Here is my informal plan, before recommendations from Dan - then after awhile - Beth's recommendations... if it works out. I am going to try to keep my 3 spinning sessions and 2 cardio kickboxing in the mix, because those are my fav things to do. I will be adding two swim sessions, along with the 2 tri-training classes, and add 2 weight sessions. I will try to do active stretching sessions twice a week at home. The book I'm reading is Triathlon Training by Michael Finch, and will likely follow the 11 week Zero to Hero Program 1. I am going to be setting up a private swim lesson, too. Sounds ambitious when I look at it this way, but looking at my old workout plan this one takes just about 2-3 hours more weekly.

I'll be paying particular attention to nutrition, body fatigue, and hydration.

I have an upcoming physical scheduled as well, to make sure all levels are good - which I believe they are.

All for now - happy and healthy training to all! BTW my book says "Triathlon is sexy...it embodies the classic male and female form." What do you think about that? :)

Linda

I think I'm getting it...

Swimming lesson #2 was tonight. The class is now up to three people (including me), so it was a little less swimming and a bit more standing around, but I'm feeling confident enough to practice on my own now. For now, I'm thinking I'll just tack a 20-minute pool session on to my workouts twice a week. I need to do a little more research to get my real "remedial training" plan in place, but that's going to be my project for either Thursday evening or Friday afternoon, I think.

On a related note, I actually met a gal who participated in our event last year while I was waiting for my class to start. She said that at this time last year, she couldn't swim more than two consecutive laps, couldn't run a mile at a time, and was a "mediocre" cycler. She finished last year and is planning on entering again this year, which I thought was awesome (and reassuring)!

--Jess

PS--It turns out that 6:00 on a Monday evening is a horrible time to try to work out. The only cardio machine I could get was a recumbant bike. (I was planning to bike, but I hate the recumbant ones.)

This is cool

Jess,

This is cool and I will be excited to share this with friends and family - let me know when!

I'm going to a Triathlon Class tonight at the YMCA Parkwood - I'll let you guys know what I learn!

Linda

cool

This is VERY cool Jess, I think you are amazing!!
Thanks for doing this. I like the WW plug, why not,
it is what we are.
Kathy

hmm.

This is a test post. Is this thing on?

--Jess