Break My Stride

Date: Friday, May 25, 2012
Time: 5:45 a.m.
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Short Course Meters
31 days to Olympic Trials

1300 warmup

15x50 kick with short fins and snorkel on 1:00 (avg :45)

12x25 on :30 (half underwater kick/half swim)

400 free breathe every 3 aerobic

6x100 on 2:00
Fast 100 IM on 3 and 6 (1:03.1, 1:02.7)

200 easy

Total: 3,550 meters (80 minutes)

At the gym (5 p.m.)

Eight minutes elliptical machine

Five minutes shoulder warmup

Sitting bench press (15@110, 12@130, 10@155)

Standing lat pull (15@50, 12@60, 10@75)

Leg extensions (15@100, 12@125, 10@155)

Circuit:
Three rounds of:
15 reps ball throwdowns (12 lb. ball)
15 reps horizontal crunches with feet on therapy ball
15 reps lie on back with ball throws and kicks

I didn't want to go to the gym today. I almost talked myself out of it. But once I put on my gym clothes, I figured I might as well go. Once I got there, I reduced my workout to only 40 minutes instead of the usual 50. It was the end of a physically stressful week, probably one of the most stressful my body has felt in a few weeks. All I wanted to do was crash on the couch ... at least until I had to get in my car and drive 120 miles to Tucson. I have to keep up my motivation for at least 15 more days. After that, it'll be time to start backing off dryland and focus on the meet.


As far as the pool workout goes, I was surprised with my fast 100 IMs today. Understandably, I haven't been doing much IM work in the past few weeks, and I know I need to not forget about that since I will be doing the 200 IM at Masters nationals a week after Olympic Trials. But considering I hadn't put all four strokes together in a long time (and add in that I was circle swimming) the times were pretty good. I usually gauge a good fast swim in workout if it is six to seven seconds slower than my time in a shave and taper meet. My goal is 57.0 in short course meters in the 100 IM, so I was right on target.

I'm so glad the week is over, and the holiday weekend is here! I won't be doing much out of the ordinary, except sleeping in on Monday!