Been Caught Stealing

Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012
Time: 2:45 p.m.
Location: Mansfield, TX
Short Course Yards
100 days to Olympic Trials

300 warmup

3x200, :20 rest
25 scull/50 kick/50 drill/25 swim/25 scull/25 swim

8x100 IM on 1:35

4x50 from mid-pool on about 1:20
25 fast/12.5 easy/12.5 fast

200 easy

Three rounds:
25 fast/50 easy, then about :30 rest
50 fast/75 easy, then about :30 rest
75 fast/100 easy, then about 1:00 rest
Rounds 1 and 3 breast, round 2 back

8x25 on :30
odd: breast double pullouts
even: free 1 breath

Three breaststroke starts

25 easy

Total: 3,300 yards (80 minutes)

I stole this workout from a postgrad swimmer who was doing a workout at the same as me on Wednesday. I took note of the set, thinking it was a good sprint set for me to do. I needed to do some sprinting that is longer than a 50, to work on my sprinting endurance.

I did not ask for permission to use his workout, or to post it here, and though I'm not sure if he knows this blog exists, I hope he won't mind. I wish I had gotten his name, so I could personally thank him here for the inspiration.

In the main set, my body didn't have the kind of sprinting snap that I hoped to have, and without a pace clock as a gauge, I do not know what my times were. But I felt aggressive and held that aggressiveness through the 75s, which were tough!

I was glad to have the opportunity to work on my breaststroke start today on superior starting blocks. Though they didn't have the fin that will be used at Trials, I was able to put some focus on my leg position during the entry. I wanted to focus on keeping my legs together, and while I might not have been perfect, it was better. I think I got a little more distance on the start, but I think my entry was too deep.

Luckily, I have 100 days to keep working on it! I can't believe Trials is 100 days away. When I talked to people at the meet in Federal Way last weekend, I was told I will blink, and suddenly I'll be walking onto the deck in Omaha, getting ready to race. That was the case for me in 1992 and 1996, and I don't want that to be the case in 2012. I don't want to look back and wonder where all the time went. I've been enjoying the entire process and the journey so far -- even that slight roadblock that was the Austin Grand Prix. I'm looking forward to all that life has to offer me on the way to Trials.