Working Out With Taylor

Today was enjoyable in that I was able to go on a nice easy run with my daughter Taylor. She's on the high school track team, so she's already familiar with running and is in pretty good running shape. We had a nice time running and talking together and best of all, I was more impressed with her running ability than previous. I new she was pretty good, but I didn't really know how good. Well, I can certainly tell that she genuinely loves running and the feeling it gives you.

We ran for about 40 minutes and later that afternoon she even went to her high school track practice and ran some more. After her practice, I picked her up and took her with me to the swim complex where I had tri swim practice. There, she decided to run some more! I was a bit taken aback to say the least. If she stays on a path like this, she'll be the world's most fit teenager! I've been proud of how she's taken to eating more healthy and trying to get in some daily exercise.

As for me, I went ahead and did the full swim practice with foot cramps and all! It's an area of frustration for me. I'm sure it has something to do with hydration or nutrition or something. Anyway, I press on.

Today I felt truly blessed to have gotten to spend some valuable time with my little girl and continue to teach her something that will stay with her for the rest of her life. Health is one of the true gifts that God bestows upon us to be good stewards of.

Good luck to all who are running in the Country Music Marathon this weekend. Hopefully, I'll be able to join you next year.

The Saturday Before Easter

Okay I'll admit, I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself. I'm having one of those weekends that I'm feeling depressed and quite stressed. The details aren't exactly that important but it's something that's somewhat of a life hurdle in a few ways. Yes, I know the Lord has a greater plan in all of this and I DO trust and have faith that He will make a way. I know that! However, in my infinite humanity, it's still something of a struggle today - and that's what I have to get through. Today, and today only. So because of my struggle for today and yesterday, and because I had a lot of alone time, I decided to do what I know levels me out the most - train. I decided to go to the pool and get in a short 45 minute but intense swim workout. It was good and I needed it. I ended up going about 2200 yards and felt invigorated afterward. The workout consisted of:

200 yd. light warm up
500 yd. swim @ 10:30
500 yd. kick/drill/swim with fins
500 yd. pull with pull bouy
6 - 50's on 1:00
200 yd. easy warm down

The Lord is a gracious and merciful God. In Him I choose to put my trust. He is risen and He is Lord! Happy Easter.

Swim Practice & A Busted Wheel!

Last night was my usual swim practice that, for this particular session, wasn't too hard for me. That's because Coach Ashley had all of us doing sprints and that's the particular area of swimming I seem to excel in. That's not much help when you're training for triathlons and supposedly doing long distance stuff. At any rate, I battled through some cramping in my feet and calves but managed to make it the whole practice without just dying as I normally do. I felt good. The practice consisted of:

20 Minute Warm Up
6 x 75- breathing pattern 3-5-7 by 25's 1:30
8 x 50--Slow/medium pace :50, 1:00,
8 x 50--Medium/fast :50, 1:00,
8 x 100--Freestyle (descend in sets of 2) 1:30, 1:45, 2:00,
8 x 100--75 build, rest 10 seconds, then 25 sprint 1:45, 2:00, 2:15,
8 x 50--25 medium, rest 10 seconds, 25 sprint (1:10 interval) 1:00, 1:10
Total Group 1- 3250 yards + Warm Up / Warm Down

Today after working on film and video stuff for the office, I decided to take a nice run in the great weather. I wanted to take advantage of it because, knowing my luck, it won't be very good tomorrow since we have the day off. Tomorrow would be a perfect day for training all day, but I believe we're expecting bad weather during the day. Go figure!

The run was nice and relaxing and I am starting to learn to keep it at a comfortable zone 2 pace. It's a slow learning process that I wish I could be faster at learning, but I'm getting there thanks to Triswami. And speaking of the "Coach," he's unfortunately suffering through a broken toe that he acquired during a training session (you can read about it here). I guess that means that I have some lag time to be able to catch up to his fitness and running level. I think I'm gonna go for it! :-)

Lastly, my devotion for today hit me pretty hard. It was, "Consider it not hard labor, but serve strangers and smile. Accommodate your neighbor, journey with him that extra mile."
Matthew 5:41

Wednesday Night's Swim

Last night was swim practice and after a nice moderate run that afternoon, the swim workout proved to be a tough one. That included some cramps and all! Oh well, I can take solace in knowing that I'm getting in better shape and the pain is leaving my body.

Here's what the workout consisted of:

20 Minute Warm Up

1 x 500 with fins
50 kick fly
50 swim free or back

8 x 25 Fast :45
200-400 25 drill/25 swim
No interval we will start when everyone is done

4 x 50 Fast 1:30
200-400 25 drill/25 swim
No interval we will start when everyone is done

2 x 100 Fast 3:00
200-400 25 drill/25 swim
No interval we will start when everyone is done

500- 1000 pull easy no paddles
Warm Down
Total:
Group 1- 2800 yards + Warm Up/Warm Down

Yesterday's Swim Workout

Yesterday was my dedicated Sunday swim flogging! For some reason, I was dragging more than usual and was feeling like the swim workout with the rest of the Tri team was a killer. Meaning, is was killing me - not killer in a good way! I was struggling to say the least! I guess it was just one of those days. At any rate, here's the workout for the few of you that are interested in seeing it and using it for later. Enjoy!

20 Minute Warm Up

4 x 125 Fins 2:30-3:30
50 kick on R side, making a fist
50 Kick on L side making a fist
25 swim

2 x 400 @ T30 Pace + 2sec /100
4 x 200 @ T30 pace
8x 100
Odd- DPS
Even- T30 Pace - 5 seconds
Intervals:
400, 200, 100
1. 6:40, 3:20, 1:40
2. 7:20, 3:40, 1:50
3. 8:00, 4:00, 2:00
4. 8:40, 4:20, 2:10
5. 9:20, 4:40, 2:20

Warm Down

Total 2900 meters + Warm Up/Warm Down

Opening Tourney Day

Today is the opening round of the NCAA basketball tournament. That means non-stop basketball all day long for the next four days. Then again next weekend! It's my favorite time of the sporting year!

The above video explains the last couple of days of workout which has been tough but good. The swim workout consisted of this:

20 Minute Warm Up

6 x 150 FINS 2:15, 2:30, 2:45, 3:00
odds- kick, drill, swim by 50's
evens- each 50 gets faster

40x50
- 16 @ :45, 50, :55, :60, 1:10 every 4th 50 FAST
Extra :60 rest
- 12 @ :50, :55, :60, :65, 1:15 every 3rd 50 FAST
Extra :60 rest
- 8 @ :55, :60, :65, :70, 1:20every other 50 FAST
Extra :60 rest
- 4 @ :60, :65, :70, :75, 1:25 ALL FAST!!!)

400 smooth (100 w/buoy, 100 swim, repeat)
Total 3300 yards + Warm up

That's all for now. Don't feel like typing too much because basketball is on! Gotta concentrate.