CuttingWater

Monday, February 28, 2011

Better Monday than expected

After 7 days of swimming, I thought my arms would be sore, but I actually felt quite comfy today and the yards just floated away.
My right wrist was acting up, feeling weird and crampy but it did not get in the way. The swims just flowed and soon I was done with the 8K, ready to face the slippery, ice outside.

8K of 5's

Buoy: 600
Swim: 4 x 500 (7:20)
Rev. H. Pad: 2 x 300 (4:30)
Swim: 3 x 500 (7:15)
Big Pad: 3 x 200 (3:15)
Swim: 2 x 500 (7:10)
H. Pad: 4 x 150 (2:20)
Swim: 1 x 500 (7:10)
Tube: 6 x 100 (1:35)
= 8,000 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Regional Championships

2 swims, before a day of coaching with LEHY at Regional Championships this past weekend.

Saturday:
5 x 800 10 seconds rest
1- Tube, 2- Rev. Hans Paddles, 3- Big Paddles, 4- Hans Paddles, 5- Tube
 = 4,000 yards

Sunday: No toys
Swim: 1000 (***25 Catch-up/ 100 free)
           8 x 100 (1:30)
           600 ***
           8 x 50 (:45)
           200
           4 x 25 Fly/ Back/ Fly/ Back
           100 Drill
= 3,200 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Much better temperature

Short day, and the water temperature has stabilized.

Buoy: 400
**Swim Pyramid: 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 (:45 interval)
Reverse Paddles: 2 x 200
Big Paddles: 4 x 100
Paddles: 2 x 200
Swim **
Tube: 400
= 4, 500 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed
.

Note to self: don't eat Mexican before a swim

Thursday, Feb. 24th, the day after dinner with the coaches. Boy, do I have a horrible, belly ache...
But then again, Bertha wasn't feeling well yesterday.

I got through the workout, slowly and hardly put anything in my body during the day.
Hope tomorrow is better.

Fulcrum: 400 (Modified Catch-up)
Tube: 2 x 500
Swim: 4 x 400 (6:10)
Rev. Hans Paddle: 4 x 250 (4:00)
Hans Paddle:  4 x 250
Swim: 4 x 400
Buoy: 2 x 500 
Big Paddles: 400 Modified Catch-up
= 8.000 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

I'm not getting ready for Tampa, turn DOWN the heat

Tuesday and Wednesday were horrible, I HATE warm water. I hope they can get back down to something reasonable, 83 degrees is giving me a head ache. I won't start bitching until Friday.

All by myself

Tube: 1000
Rev. Hans Paddle: 1000
Swim: 2000
Big Paddle: 1000
Swim: 2000
Hans Paddle: 1000
Buoy: 1000
= 9,000 yards

Welcome home John

Buoy: 800
Swim: 5 x 250, 4 x 200, 3 x 150, 2 x 100, 1 x 50
Rev. Hans Paddle: 4 x 200 (3:15)
Big Paddle: 16 x 50 (:50)
Hans Paddle: 4 x 200
Swim: 5 x 50, 4 x 100, 3 x 150, 2 x 200, 1 x 250
Tube: 800
= 8,500 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed..

President's Day workout

After clearing an easy 3/4" of snow off the driveway, I was off to Mansfield CC, to start the week in the right way.

Water temperature was a perfect 80 degrees, easy to move in and just a touch of coolness when your jump in to wake your head.

Lots of 7's

Fulcrum: 250 (Modified Catch-up)
Swim: *** 100 (1:30)/ 50 (:45)/ 100/ 50/ 100/ 50/ 100/ 50/ 100/ 50/ 100/ 50/ 100
Tube: 700 (:10 sec. rest)
Swim: ***
Reversed Hans Paddle: 700
Swim: ***
Big Pad: 700
Swim: ***
Hans Paddle: 700
Swim: ***
Buoy 700
Fulcrum 250 
 = 10,000 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

8 and Under Championships

Day off from 'my' water time,
while coaching the 'next generation' of mer-people at the 8 and Under Championships at Hopkins School, in New Haven CT.

We really haven't changed much. I see the same type of children I grew up with 40 years ago, playing similar games, although we didn't have computers, we read books, played cards and did puzzles, just like my kids did today.

Life really hasn't changed much after all.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Pools OPEN... yippee!

After days of waiting, the pool finally decided to warm up.

Friday, February 19th, the water was the most refreshing and wonderful temperature of 73.5 degrees.
I only had a short swim because I had to travel to the McGee Middle School, in Berlin CT to discuss goal setting and destiny.

I had the pool to myself. All the lanes looked lonely, so I swam in all the lanes, weaving in and out of the lanes,

1200 snake
900 snake
then someone joined me, so I finished the swim with:
400, 300, 200, 100.
= 3,100 yards

The 7th graders at McGee Middle, were wonderful, attentive and they had some GREAT questions.

Saturday, February 19th

Looking forward to a decent, long swim. Timing was good, I felt pretty strong, considering the time out of the water.

Take one away (all on 1:30 interval pace)

500-450-400-350-300-250-200-150-100- [50 Modified Catch UP (MCU)]
450-400-350-300-250-200-150-100-[50 MCU]
400-350-300-250-200-150-100-[50 MCU]
350-300-250-200-150-100-[50 MCU]
300-250-200-150-100-[50 MCU]
250-200-150-100-[50 MCU]
200-150-100-[50 MCU]
150-100-[50 MCU]
100-[50 MCU]
50
= 11,000 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Frustrated Mermaid

One of the worse feelings is when you really WANT to workout (swim in my case) and the pool is CLOSED for 'repair'.

It all started last Wednesday, when the MCC staff showed up and the lap pool was empty, some one pulled the plug.
So, they had to truck in gallons and gallons of aqua, then of course you've got to play with the chemicals to keep it clean.
Apparently that was the easy part, the Center is having a hard time getting the temperature up to be comfy for most people. I could use a cool workout.
I'm getting very frustrated.
Closed again tomorrow, Monday, Valentine's Day.
It better be ready on Tuesday.
Me and my 8 and Unders at Y State Championships, so cute.


So, I've tried keep myself busy with abdominal work, weights, some aerobic stuff,


It felt so good to swim before coaching this morning at the East Hartford High School.

1000
1500 (***25 Modified Catch-up/ 100 free)
1000
1500 (***)
1000
easy 50
= 6,050 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Seven: Saturday Special

It's so hard to workout when you really want to be somewhere else, but I decided to throw some Butterfly in to the equation and it made me smile and appreciate the stroke. Fly really gets my heart racing, feels good.

Fulcrum: 700
Swim: 7 x 50 (:50) 2 strokes fly per 25
Hans Paddle: Reversed: 700 (**25 Catch up/ 100 free)
7 x 50 (3 strokes fly)
Tube: 700 (alternate breathing pattern per 50)
7 x 50 (4 strokes Fly)
Big Paddle: 700 **
7 x 50 (5 strokes fly)
Buoy: 700
7 x 50 (6 strokes fly)
Hans Paddle Regular: 700
50 fly drill
= 6,000 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Sunday: no stress

I'm very happy today is the final Sunday of January, I really enjoy taking Sunday off from the pool. We work so hard through out the week, and I really don't want to be here.

This was a nice easy day and some sprints.


1000.... 5 x 25 (sprint, breathe every 7th stoke, :07 rest)
900.......5 x 25
800.......5 x 25
700.......5 x 25
600.......5 x 25
500.......5 x 25
400.......5 x 25
300.......5 x 25
200.......5 x 25
100..... 1 x 25
= 6,650 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Katrine's Birthday: Felt like 2 months off

Although it was only 2 days away from water, it felt like 2 months.
We had an ice storm. messy winter storm on Wednesday and Thursday was just ICE, plus I had some family issues, Mom having a procedure after her fall, to drain the hematoma.

Today is my niece, Katrine Collins' 28th birthday. My nieces and nephews are so very special to me, I have seen them grew into adulthood, now watching them experience the trials we all go through. I love these birthday workouts, a reason to get out of the warm bed and into the deep freeze, today I think it was 4 degrees F.

 28 Years

28 x 50  (4 on :45, 3 on :50)
800 swim
28 x 50 (:45)
800 swim
28 x 50 (2 on :45, 3 on :50)
=5,800 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.
.

Happy Birthday, Franci and Chelsea

Today is my niece, Franci Davila's, 25th birthday and LEHY alumnus Chelsea Heneghan's bday. 25 is the number theme in honor of Franci and the IM  theme is honor of Chelsea, both beautiful young ladies of the world. I wish them both well and enjoy life.

Fulcrum: 5 x 50 (:50) Modified Catch-up

Swim: 5 x 100 (1:40) 
   25 fly/75 free, 25 back/75 free, 25 br/75 free, 25 ba/75 free, 25 fly/75 free

Hans Rev Pad: 5 x 50 (:50) 25 Catch up/ 25 free

Swim: 5 x 100 (1:40)
  25 back/75 free, 25 br/75 free, 25 fly/75 free, 25 br/75 free, 25 back/75 free

Tube: 5 x 50 (:50)

Swim: 5 x 100 (1:40)
  25 breast/75 free, 25fly/75free, 25back/75free, 25fly/75free, 25breast/75free

Hans Paddle regular: 5 x 50 25 free/ 25 Catch-up

Swim: 5 x 100 (1:40)
  IM / 25 fly/75free, 25 back/75free, 25breast/75 free, IM

Big Paddles: Modified Catch up (:50)

Swim: 5 x 100 (1:45)
  25fly/75free, IM, 25back/75free, IM, 25breast/75free

250Modified Catch up
= 4,000 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Yippee, January is OVER

I am soooo very happy this month is over.

I couldn't think of an original workout, so I took Day 1 of the month and Reversed the order,


Reversed New Year

12 x50 (:45)
11 x 100 (1:30)
10 x 50
9 x 150 (2:15)
8 x 50
7 x 200 (3:00)
6 x 50
5 x 250 (3:45)
4 x 50
3 x 300 (4:30)
2 x 50 
1 x 350
= 8,450 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Seven is my lucky number

One more Saturday for this month, the Jam is almost over.
The weather has been very frustrating, I'm doing less yardage than last year, but I feel much more accomplished because of the challenges we from CT have had to face, just to get to the pool.
As the morning worn on, the arms and hips loosen and the swimming was easy.

Final Saturday of January

2500 (37;30)
7 x 100 (1:30)
2000 (30:00)
7 x 100
1500 (22:30)
7x 100
1000 (15:00)
7 x 100
500 (7:30)
7 x 100
2500 
= 13,500 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

2015 ... Swimming for Homes for the Brave

After spending the past 20 years paddling from Dover to France, it is time to venture into new waters, while helping some special people.
Soon, I will be traveling with my A-team to Scotland to swim the length of the famous Loch Ness.
As always, I try to help a Foundation raise funds and awareness and I thank you for interest and support.
I am deeply troubled with the thought of homeless individuals, especially in our US Veteran population.

That is why I am teaming up with our Connecticut-based “Homes for the Brave”. Can you imagine not having a place to call home?

Here is more information about Homes for the Brave! -Facebook pages – https://www.facebook.com/pages/ABRIHomes-for-the-Brave/199613606735630?ref=hl

- Annual Appeal with more information about our financials and programs- http://www.homesforthebrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HFTB-2014-Annual-Report-FINAL.pdf

-Check donations can be mailed to the following address:
Homes for the Brave
655 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604

- Donations can be made online as well: https://homesforthebrave.isecuresites.com/products/index.php?type=1110

Please write “Loch Ness Swim/Marcy” to track your donation.


I will always be dedicating my swimming to all those battling cancer and in the memory of 4 special people in my life. Cancer first hit my family when I was young. My grand-aunt Eleanor Kersavage, passed away with uterine cancer and my Auntie Bea Halchak battled with brain cancer.

On January 1, 2002, our LEHY family lost Nikki Giampolo to bone cancer, just turning 16 years old. Her spirit still lives on in our East Hartford swim team.

In July of 2009, my brother-in-law, Gregory Allen Urban, who passed away, after a valient battle with lung cancer. I can see him now, talking about cars and projects around the house, music and his family.

I know Aunties, Eleanor and Bea, Nikki, Greg and all the angels will help me CUT through all this water this summer.

The St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, based in Bridgeport, CT provides financial support for the needs that Health insurance companies don't cover, in addition to providing affordable cancer screening, wigs, medication and other things to make life easier for those suffering with cancer and their families.

Please make a donation, and thank you.

Online donations can be made at: http://give.stvincents.org

or you can send a check through the post to:

Swim Across the Sound
St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation
2800 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(203)576-5451

Thank you so very much, peace and good health to all.