Here Comes the Sun

Date: Tuesday, December 6. 2011
Time: 5:45 a.m.
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Short Course Meters
202 days to Olympic Trials

900 warmup

4x(3x75 on 1:30)
1. 25 left/25 right/25 swim fly
2. 25 breast head up/50 free swim
3. 25 fly kick/50 back swim

8x15 breakouts

Four rounds:
3x50 on 1:00
100 easy on 2:30

200 easy

Total: 3,200 meters (80 minutes)

Today was one of those days when all I wanted to do was swim easy for about 3,000 meters. I suppose I did that just fine. The main set (which was the last set) was supposed to be descending 50s on the odd rounds, and strong 50s on the even rounds. I didn't descend to a very fast time for those rounds, around 33 for 50 backstroke, which is what I hope to split on my backstroke leg of the 200 IM. It didn't feel too difficult, though with the warmer water, it wasn't as easy as I hoped it would be.

My legs are still feeling tired, but I expect them to feel better tomorrow. Things should generally be better tomorrow physically. I am concerned about the weather on Saturday and Sunday in Phoenix. It's going to be quite chilly, with a high of about 60 degrees. That's a little too cold, but I will take every measure to keep warm through the meet. Most people, I am certain, will be walking around the deck in bare feet and clothing more suitable for a late spring day than a late fall morning. The key to swimming fast does not only lie in how you prepare in the warmup, but how you stay comfortable between warmup and the race. It's always a gamble swimming in meets in Arizona between October and March, but I keep reminding myself that I set my current world record for the 100 SCM breast in the 35-39 age group one week before Christmas in Phoenix! It was a little chilly that day, too. Please help me in praying for warm sunshine this weekend!

Today I found out that my chief "rival" in my age group in Masters, Steve West, swam a 1:01.94 in the 100 breast (short course meters), which is quite fast! Additionally, he broke his own world record in the 200 breast, the event which he'll be swimming next year at the Olympic Trials. I won't be swimming the 200 breast this weekend -- or any other weekend -- but I'll be pushed by Steve's fast 100. He also went 28.63 in the 50 breast, another fast time. Looks like Steve and I will have a virtual race this weekend!