Thursday, September 10, 2009

Pictures, lyrics and gettin' back in the saddle

Mom's pictures from IMKY.
Waiting for the start. At the end of the swim line.
As the line bagan moving... and I'm holding Clubby for warmth.
Post-race. Me and my little Irondog!
And me and the greatest dad ever!
Talking with Coach after the race. He'd already been done for about three hours. Me and my wonderful mama.

I was driving into work this morning and heard this song on the radio. I couldn't help but laugh. But I really liked it! I like the idea of getting out of hell before the devil knows you're there.



If your going through hell
Keep on going,
don't slow down
If you're scared don't show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you're there

Yeah, If you're going through hell
Keep on moving,
face that fire
Walk right through it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you're there

I know vacation is fun for me, but I guess you guys want training stuff, right? So, I'm getting back to it, prepping for Worlds. Coach gave me one more easy week. And he told me to go back to Masters. All summer I've been going against his wishes...and now he tells me to go. And wouldn't you know that Tuesday morning, I go to practice (which was, um, interesting because I fatigued toward the end, but i'll talk about that more later) and Aaron gave us his two week notice that he won't be doing Masters anymore due to other obligations. He'll still write us workouts and we can lead our own practice, OR he invited me and one other guy to join his age groupers. from the club team. Right. I can see it now. A bunch of kids less than half my age lapping me in the water! Awesome. I have yet to decide what to do.
So, after a nice long Holiday weekend full of food and fun, Tuesday morning came quick. And practice was challenging. Started with 4x200 where the first 100 of each set was kick. I am the WORLD'S SLOWEST KICKER!! I still made the sets, but I went last in our lane. And I got lapped because the second 100 was swim and lane leader would always catch me as I was finishing up my kick. Arg.
And then to 12x50 where the first 25 was non-free. What joy. Then 100s. Nine of them. The first four were on 1:30. The last five were on 1:25. Right. I think I made two of those 1:25s. Maybe three? And I was the only one in our lane who made any. Then, the arms fell off. But we weren't done. A 200 for time. I basically just got through it. There was no sprinting. It was just about toughing it out and getting it done. 2:52. That sucks.
But it was a beautiful evening for my easy 30 min run. 80 degrees and not at all humid. I was told "NO PUSHING" this week. And each time I felt myself begin to push, I backed off. The legs still don't have that zing but they feel ok.
Wednesday was my first real ride outside. I got on the trainer last week, but nothing major. It was great to be out on the road! It was only an hour and i was given instruction to keep it in the small ring, which forced me to spin. And I'm glad I got that instrcution because I'd have pushed it if not. no doubt.
Got Team USA uniform options. I can go with a Speedo FastSkin II unitard, a TYR Tracer tri suit or a De Soto tri suit. The FSII looks sweet, but I fear ordering a specific size and it not fitting after it's been customized. I don't want it to be so tight that it's uncomfortable. Anyone have experience with any of these???

6 comments:

Big Daddy Diesel said...

ohhhhh I bet you anything my kick is slower then yours, I cant stand it and cant seem ever to get better at it.

Kim said...

i might be able to kick faster than you, but i cant get a 100 under 1:30 - or even 1:35 for that matter!!!

glad to hear vacation and training has been going well!

are you SURE that is a post-IM picture of you and your coach? you guys look WAY too good for just having raced for a bajillion hours.

Unknown said...

Man a custom USA uniform - that's AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Order like 20 of them because its about the coolest thing ever.

As far as little kids passing you, there was a kid in a USA swim cap at the UVA pool last week. I'm doing a zone 4b 400, and this 12 year old was about 50 times faster than me! Everyone at the pool was starring at him he was so fast - the future Michael Phelps, humbling but in a good way - go for it!

zencycle said...

You still have to set the course record at your local TT, young lady....

Missy said...

Swim with the kids - we have some creepy old people that do that here too. No worries, just don't cuss too much.

GetBackJoJo said...

So cool you get a uniform!! and customized! very fun.
Clubber is way cute.