January Swims

[HillSlugger]

I've been sick with a cold & wisdom teeth issues all week so today was my first day out of the house since Saturday. Of course the first place I went was the gym, then the grocery store.

The Bike/Run/Swim brick went better than I could have hoped! Since I've been congested I was a little worried that breathing during the swim would have been difficult, but it wasn't. After the first 750yds I decided it felt too good and I had to take advantage so I went another 750. Woohoo!! Definitely felt like I was back to my old routine today.

Of course I'm a little more worn out right now that normal after that kind of brick. The cold/teeth are still not 100%. So glad I train for triathlon though, loved it today!

GLC My swim-cap doesn't keep the water out of my ears at all, but you get used to having water in them. Even though I had chronic ear infections growing up I decided to forgo earplugs for tri training. It's just another element you have to worry about on race day that could be avoided so I skip them and thankfully haven't had any infections yet.

I have some inner ear issues and water in my ears drives me crazy I have custom ear plugs I use in the pool; I use drug store plugs for OWS and races.

[martinkap]

Susan,

What do you use to measure your times like that?

I definitely like the pyramid swims - but never was able to work out my pace.

Thanks,

Martina

[Susan Otcenas]

Susan,

What do you use to measure your times like that?

I definitely like the pyramid swims - but never was able to work out my pace.

Thanks,

Martina

My HRM watch has a lap timer on it. Once I start it, I hit the button every time I start a swim or rest interval. It keeps all the lap times plus a total elapsed. Really convenient. It also downloads to trainingpeaks.com

Funny enough, we also carry it at TE!

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodTM_T5K264.html

I've been really happy with it.

Susan

[Selkie]

Got to the pool bright & early, before the snow started. It was deserted, so I had a lane to myself for nearly my entire swim. I swam 3,500 yards plus 200 yards kicking.

January total - 34.06 miles!!

[roadie gal]

I met with my new coach for the first time yesterday. I was very impressed. Unlike the last time I tried coaching, this guy didn't just give me drills while he sat on the end of the pool. He actually got in the water with me and swam alongside me. I got feedback at the end of each lap. We did a few drills: finger drag, one arm swim and side swim. He even explained what he wanted me to work on with the drills. I think I'll be sticking with this guy for a while, even though it's an hour and a half drive to get to him.

[GLC1968]

I am so annoyed. We got up and drove to the pool reasonable early today only to discover some crazy huge swim meet and no open pool time at all. We had to make due with getting the oil changed in the car instead! I just checked and tomorrow is more of the same meet...so in theory, no swimming for us.

BUT...get this... we just got an email from BCBS and with this new program they are offering, we can pay $29/mo and get full access to a bunch of area athletic clubs for everyone covered under the policy (so, DH and me). We checked the list of included clubs and not only is our current club on the list, so are all the local 24-hour fitness clubs AND all the Bally clubs! So we signed up and will print out a temporary pass tonight. Tomorrow, we will head to the 24-hour fitness and try out their lap pool (which I've heard is salt, not chlorine - yay!). Keep your fingers crossed for me that we get to swim tomorrow!

(and seriously, $29/mo for both of us? That's way cheaper than what we are paying now and we only have access to one club...not all of them...across the country, too! Plus, for every club visit we make, we earn points that we can use to get fitness related stuff. How cool is that?)

[kacie tri-ing]

Susan--does that watch work with a mac?

Roadie--that coach sounds great! Are you doing lessons or a training plan together?

I got two more 45 minute (slow) sets in this week. My students seem to be passing a bug around, so I spent some time fighting it this week, and I HATE swimming congested. So my goal was to just get in the pool, and get it over with

I will be out of town on a field trip next week, but I guess we will have a february swimming thread going then! Checking off the month in the pool! It will be worth it in the spring/summer of events!

[roadie gal]

Roadie--that coach sounds great! Are you doing lessons or a training plan together?

Right now we're just doing swim lessons. My main exercise focus is cross country skiing this time of year. In a few months we'll probably get a tri plan together.

Good luck with that cold. Swimming congested is a drag!

[Shiraz]

Hi Ladies,
Just wanted to post a link to a finger lap counter that I have really enjoyed. It tracks laps, time and lots of other cool things depending on what you are looking for. I like it because I can concentrate on my swim instead of counting.


https://www.sportcount.com/index.php

[Susan Otcenas]

Susan--does that watch work with a mac?

I'm at home at the moment, but I'm 98% certain the answer is yes. One of the gals in my office uses the same HRM and I know she has a Mac at home. I'll double check with her.

Susan

[GLC1968]

So for my last swim of January - I did it at 24-hour fitness in their lap pool. What a difference!! It was quiet and I was really able to concentrate and get in a good workout. Plus, the most recent things my instructor showed me were nicely falling into place.

I did 17 laps total for 850 yards. I believe this pool is in yards based on my lap times - they were just a little too good compared to what I do at our regular swim club (which is meters).

The best part about this new club (besides a much nicer locker room) is the fact that the pool is open for lap swim pretty much 24x7. There is one water aerobics class for an hour each day, but that's easy to avoid. And if I want to swim at 11 pm, I can! I love it!!

Oh, I also wore a swim cap for the first time. It was really nice to not have to worry about my hair getting stuck in my goggles all the time. I wore it because I just had my hair colored and I didn't want to leave a red streak in the water behind me as I swam. As you all warned me, it pretty much did nothing for keeping the water out of my ears though.

[Susan Otcenas]

I'm at home at the moment, but I'm 98% certain the answer is yes. One of the gals in my office uses the same HRM and I know she has a Mac at home. I'll double check with her.

Susan

According to our Timex rep, the software for this HRM became Mac-compatible in June 2009!

HTH,

Susan