Jan. 1, 2023
The neighborhood was quiet this morning. The pre-dawn was a steely gray. I woke up at seven and headed to the kitchen to make myself a large coffee. Organic Columbian, roasted yesterday. Medium roast. I also smeared some peanut butter on two slices of hearty "super" bread for the protein and carbs. Swallowed a .81mg aspirin then grabbed my swim suit and towel from the towel rack in my bathroom and headed out to the car. The sun was rising as I left the driveway. I got to the parking lot at the pool at 7:50 and changed into my swim suit. Blue swim cap. Goggles resting across my forehead.
The crowd around the pool was energized and boisterous. The coach was writing the special, New Years Day workout on the whiteboard with a marker. When he finished he turned to the crowd of swimmers and explained the workout.
We would hit the water at 8 sharp. No warm-up. No screwing around. Our only set was 100 x 100 yards with each 100 yard swim completed and ready to go on the next one in one minute and thirty seconds. Total. 100 x 100s on 1:30. A daunting pace for a lot of us in the pool. Not too dramatic for the former Olympians and All Americans. They swam faster. They got more rest between 100s.
We got moving at 8. We swam without a break, making our intervals, until 10:30. If you needed to get out you got out. The pool was warm. The coach walked up and down the deck passing out bottles of water and encouraging us to stay hydrated. Most of the elite swimmers had their fill by 9 am and started leaving; a few at a time. More people came at 9 am to join those already in progress.
If you completed the whole cycle you got in 10,000 yards. It's not a bad way to start out the new year. I don't recommend this kind of workout for new or first time swimmers. ( wry humor implied ) This kind of event really does require some pre-training in order to sustain and finish a set like this.
Our reward, besides getting in 10,000 fast, hard yards, was breakfast tacos paid for by the club and delivered just in time to coincide with the final few hundreds.
I might need a nap later today...
It's a new year. Let's get moving.
8 comments:
Well, that's crazy. One question: why yards, instead of meters?
All short course pools in the U.S. have traditionally been 25 yards. EU = 25 meters. Just a hold over from the days when we never considered meters. Interestingly, most long course pools even in the U.S. are 50 meters. In the really old days, (pre-1960s) many competitive pools were built in the U.S. as 33 yard pools. Now a relic of the past.
When I swam at UT back in the 1970's our main pool was 33 yards but converted to 25 yards with a large, removable bulkhead.
All NCAA short course races in the U.S. are done in 25 yard pools or 50 meter pools. Can't think of exceptions...
Not my fault.
Sorry, the next to the last sentence should indicated 25 yards for short course and 50 meters for long course.
In 50 meter pools / long course races / there are half as many turns. Some people are better with short course, some long course.
You are an inspiration Kirk.
I have fanaticized about being able to do that workout, but at this point I would have to somehow start my next repeat while at the same time swimming the third length of the previous repeat.
One summer in high school I was able to work out in a 50 meter pool. It was a shock until you got used to the extra length in each lap. On the other hand there were still a few 20 yard pools with murky water making turns interesting and pools with only five lanes. Pools are generally much better now.
With me, it was some 35 Kilometers cycling. Not a bad way to start a new year.
One of my favourite coffee shops, the one nearest home, was closed over the holidays but re-opened this morning (Jan 2) and I had a cappuccino and croissant. It is located about 1/2 km from a public pool.
All the best for 2023.
Robert. That sounds great. I'm off to find a great cappuccino and something flaky and delicious. The heck with the pool.
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