Sparrows Experiment

I'm sad.

More fires and a wind shift from the south means the smoke from So. Cal fires is getting pushed back into the area. It is expected to stay stagnant for the next week under 105+ temps! I guess this calls for a revision on my plans :( This is really messing with things. I feel extra sorry for the Half Vineman participants who have their race (same as mine) in 2 weeks. Although I guess they're embarking upon their taper, thats easily done in the gym.

Today I'm swimming-before this nastiness gets in the air. If I get lung cancer later in life can I sue the state of California? :D I guess as long as they put these warnings out their covering their butts.

I'm supposed to bike today too, but if i do that it will be minimal, my legs are still tender

Here is my workout plan:

500 warm up
12x100 odd regular breathing pattern/even bilateral breathing (not natural for me)@1:45
100 backstroke easy
6x200 faster each one in groups of 3 @3:30
100 breaststroke easy
6x50 IM rollovers @1:00
cool
3500 total
 
Are you in harm's way?
 
oh no. I'm just in the valley that gets all the biproduct of the harm...the smoke from the fires all over california is getting pushed into the central valley and just collecting there like a blanket. Two weeks ago it literally looked like it was foggy out because of it. its just so gross and smells nasty. We had to cancel and entire week of swim practice AND a swim meet for the little kiddos because of it
 
sparrow said:
Here is my workout plan:

500 warm up
12x100 odd regular breathing pattern/even bilateral breathing (not natural for me)@1:45
100 backstroke easy
6x200 faster each one in groups of 3 @3:30
100 breaststroke easy
6x50 IM rollovers @1:00
cool
3500 total
Click to expand...

Wow, these numbers mean a lot more to me now that I am out there working on swimming. I'm going to be needing some pointers from you! :) First question, do you have a brand of goggles you recommend? I have some old speedo goggles, but they tend to fill up with water.

How long does it take you to get through a 3500 meter workout like that?
 
You may want to consider a swim mask (not a dive mask) instead of goggles. See this thread on Slowtwitch triathlon forum:


But be forewarned, Flyinfree said I look like Howdy Doody with mine!
 
Drex said:
Wow, these numbers mean a lot more to me now that I am out there working on swimming. I'm going to be needing some pointers from you! :) First question, do you have a brand of goggles you recommend? I have some old speedo goggles, but they tend to fill up with water.

How long does it take you to get through a 3500 meter workout like that?
Click to expand...

I use speedo Vanquisher goggles

I love them and they have never given me grief. There are a group of people in my class who swear by those masks though and really like them. Its like looking out of a windshield :)

The 3500 took me an hour. As long as I keep moving thats about all I can do in the hour. If I swim straight no stopping I can do 4000 but thats really boring
 
Swim

300 warm up
3x600
300 kick with fins butterfly kick on back
8x50 backstroke
cool down
 
sparrow said:
I use speedo Vanquisher goggles

I love them and they have never given me grief. There are a group of people in my class who swear by those masks though and really like them. Its like looking out of a windshield :)

The 3500 took me an hour. As long as I keep moving thats about all I can do in the hour. If I swim straight no stopping I can do 4000 but thats really boring
Click to expand...

That is pretty amazing on the swimming. Looks like lots of versions of the Vanquisher. I will check those out, thanks!
 
I just got done reading FF's last post. I however am NOT where he is. I feel beat up, sore everywhere, skinny and I know darn well the universe is not revolving around me! lol.

When is this blatty race anyway?! Stick a fork in me, I'm done. :(

Today I did 3000 swim. All of it was long repeats of 500's with or without a buoy, depending on how my ankle felt. Kicking and pushing off walls aggravates it.

I timed the workout to end as a spin class started, and did a transition into the bike. I felt dizzy and very fatigued on the bike but I popped a NUUN into my water and that helped. We did the sonoma to sacramento ride which is hilly and my hills were weak but I pushed the best I could. I went through 3 water bottles in class. I was sweating like a little piggy. it was super gross. I sweat way more on the bike after I swim.

After that I forced myself to the weight room and did the tri circuit (found some friends thankfully) which wasn't too bad. My strength was up today, just not my endurance.

I feel pretty wiped and my ankle has me bummed out. My dr has said the bump on the side of my ankle ( I have a pea-sized hard mass poking out right above where I injured it) is scar tissue but she wants me to watch it to be sure it doesn't get bigger. The fact that its still as painful as it is isn't too good so I have a referal to my podiatrist (who I'll probably finally end up getting in to see AFTER my race! ha) Of course she told me "no impact exercise" and I obediently nodded my head at her as I laughed inside and thought "she has no clue what I'm about".

My plan for this week at least is to aquajog. I will do my entire run workouts aquajogging.
I have 3.5 weeks left.

I'm also back up against the air quality. We have "severe air" here today and all residents are urged to stay inside (and then theres me who went swimming. haha). It looks foggy again (with smoke) and smells like a campfire. It just stinks that all these variables are getting stacked but if I can just make do 2 more weeks I'll be home free.
 
sparrow said:
Of course she told me "no impact exercise" and I obediently nodded my head at her as I laughed inside and thought "she has no clue what I'm about".
Click to expand...

You are crazy. I dig that about you. Anyway, stop your whining. ;) Just because the forces of heaven, nature and fate conspire against you doesn't mean you're excused. Hahahahaha. :SaiyanSmilie_anim:

Yesterday I was walking home from the gym and out of a clear blue sky comes this absolutely brutal hail storm (literally as soon as I got out the door of the building haha). It felt like getting slapped in the face by an ogre 5 times a second. And I could barely move forward because the wind was trying to murder me. Of course, right as I got to the door to the lobby of my apartment building, it slowed down to a trickle. So I stop and I yell, "IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT!?"

Multiply that by infinity and raise it to the depths of forever and you'll still barely have a glimpse of the strength of your spirit. <3
 
Hi Sparrow,

I'm not sure what level of swimming you coach, if it includes beginner level swimmers. I was wondering if it is fairly common for new swimmers to get legs cramps when starting out. My first swim class my legs were cramping up like crazy on the leg drills. This was a little discouraging, but there was another first timer there and she ended up with leg cramps as well. From your experience, is this common and something that should just pass as I get acclimated?

I have a whole new respect for the swimming you can do. :)
 
PM'd ya Drex :)

Well I'm a bit discouraged today but I've had a little pep talk from a friend, and I'm sucking it up. Nothing can be gained by creating a pity party. My ankle has flared up again and it took me to the dr again yesterday since I got to the point that weight on it hurt. My dr was a little concerned about part of it which is a hard mass sicking right out of my ankle so I got another xray which I don't think will show much. I was refered to the podiatrist as well, who I doubt I'll be able to see even before my race.

For now I have an aquajogger to run with, and truthfully, its lame

Workout today:

60 min spin class
30 min aquajog

I can tell how it would be helpful (the aquajogger) but its boring and my heartrate didn't get above 110 the whole time. It does mimic the running stride and it makes you keep form, or you'll tip. I guess its better than nothing but without getting the heartrate up how can it keep endurance?

I feel overtrained and I'm not sure what to do about it. I took Sunday off and yesterday off and after the days off I never feel any different. I still feel totally drained and my muscles are fatigued. I've increased carbs a bit and I'm drinking more water, taking vitamins etc. I really just need a WEEK of low key, but I feel like I can't do that with 3 weeks to go.

I have a question posted to the cyclists in the cycling thread if anyone would care to answer
 
Sorry to hear your ankle is still bothering you. As for the back issues, I posted my thoughts on that. I read YOUR journal...
 
I had very little time today. Youth group at our house to swim today/tonight.

2000 yd swim: 28:32
20 min aquajog HR 125
balance ball video: lower body and core
 
sparrow said:
I had very little time today. Youth group at our house to swim today/tonight.

2000 yd swim: 28:32
20 min aquajog HR 125
balance ball video: lower body and core
Click to expand...

what did you do different to get the aqua jogh haeart rate up? try harder? ehehheheh ducking. that's what I was gunna say last time but didn't.

:eek:
 
flyinfree said:
what did you do different to get the aqua jogh haeart rate up? try harder? ehehheheh ducking. that's what I was gunna say last time but didn't.

:eek:
Click to expand...

yeah tried harder to keep up with the old lady in the lane next to me. hahaaha :D Shes a fighter. lol

Actually it was 125 5 minutes into my "run" and then by the end it was back into the low 100's again despite going the same cadence (I'm tracking my cadence too. I do 140/minute)
 
yeah :rolleyes: something like that

another day off. painful day with the stupid %&*% ankle. Swim meet and I had to be on my feet a lot. I'm screwed.
 
take a few deep breaths. Realize the SIZE of this event. Accept the mentals. pray for the ankle. have a pint of chunkey monkey, watch a good movie, take your magnesium Chloride, sleep, go to church, tell your Jesus you will be good, and BEG FOR VICTORY of this damn sniveling!

:eek2:yes, I said it!:eek2:

FF
 
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