12th Day of Christmas

On the 12th day of Christmas... I look forward to a day off.

Drill: 12 x 25 (3 sec. rest) Modified Catch-up
6 x 700 (10:30)
Drill: 12 x 25
6 x 700
12 x 25 Drill

9500 yards/ 81000 Christmas yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

11th Day of Christmas

On the 11th Day of Christmas.... I wish I had brought my grease. Some chaffing from 11 days straight, much managed through.

<11...750>

Drill 250
Swim: 6 x 750 (11:15)
Drill 250
Swim: 5 x 750 (11:00)
Drill 250

9000 yards/ 71500 Christmas yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

10th Day of Christmas

On the 10th day of Christmas...
<10...800>
2 x 800 (12:00)
Drill 4 x 50 (:50)
2 x 800
Drill: 3 x 50
2 x 800
Drill: 2 x 50
2 x 800
Drill 1 x 50
2 x 800

8500 yards/ 62500 Christmas yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

9th Day of Christmas

On the 9th day of Christmas.... I seem to be getting into shape.

<9...850>

3 x 850 (12:30)
Drill: 200 (Modified Catch) (3:15)
3 x 850 (12:35)
Drill: 150  (2:45) with chat group
3 x 850 (12:40)

8000 yards/ 54K Christmas yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed 

8th Day of Christmas

On the 8th day of Christmas... a good night sleep I had, and a much happier swim.
<8... 900>

2 x 900 (13:15)
Drill: 150 (2:30) modified Catch-up (my fav)
4 x 900 (13:20)
Drill: 150
2 x 900 (13;30)

7500 yards/ 46K C. yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

7th Day of Christmas

On the 7th day of Christmas...
it was a bit different than yesterday, muscles were a bit more tight and tired, could have been the poor sleep I had, (but easy math).
<7...1000>
7 x 1000 (15:00)
7000 yards/ 38,500 C. yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

6th Day of Christmas

On the 6th day of Christmas..... I really felt great.
<6...1050>
2 x 1050 (15:00)
Drill: 100 (1:45) Modified Catch-up
2 x 1050
Drill: 100
2 x 1050

6500 yards/ 31,500 C. yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

5th Day of Christmas

On the 6th Day of Christmas... some simple math.
<5...1200>
5 x 1200 (17:30)
6000 yards or 3 Nautical miles/ 25K C. yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

4th Day of Christmas

On the 4th Day of Christmas.... (TGIF)
<4...1300>
Swim: 1300 (19:30)
Drill: 100 (2:00) (my favorite, Modified Catch up)
Swim :1300
Drill: 100
Swim: 1300
Drill: 100
Swim: 1300

5500 yards (19K C. Yards)

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

3rd Day of Christmas

On the 3rd Day of Christmas.... I actually slept through it....

But I made it up. Focus is on <3....1600>
50 Drill (I prefer Modified catch-up drill....and start on the next 60 or 30.)
1600 (24:00)
50 Drill
1600
50 Drill
1600
50 Drill
5000/ 13,500 C. yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

1st day of Christmas and FlyBirthday

On the 1st day of Christmas.... I swam some Fly today.

1 x 4000 (continuous)
(4000 Christmas yards)

It also happened to be my dear FlyBoy friend from Seattle, Washington 59th birthday. So, for Scott Lautman's birthday I mixed into the 4000, 59 lengths (25's) of the pool, Butterfly. Scott is an exceptional swimmer (even at his age), always fun to watch his smooth, effortless fly.

I had a blast, maybe I'll keep sneaking some fly in for ha, ha's.
Dream, Prepare, Succeed

2nd Day of Christmas

On the 2nd Day of Christmas... a boring swim for me.
<2...2250>
2 x 2250 (33:45)
4500 yards/ 8500 (total C. yards)

Mix it up if you like.
I had to get out and off to an early start at the Communuty Health Center.
As we go on, the the yardage will increase, just hoping the health with sustain without any cold viruses, you know, it's that time year also.
Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Birthday Week

Today is a very special Birthday swim day,
3 very special people in my life are celebrating.
Young Thomas Collins (nephew) turns 20 (20 x 100)
Swim Buddy Jim Bayles is 60 today (60 x 50)
and I think my Hostess/mum-away from home Audrey Hamblin is lucky # 77. (7 x 700)

Today's workout geared around them.

1 x 700 (Fulcrum: Modified Catch-up Drill)

30 x 50 (:45 swim)

2 x 700 (#1=Buoy, #2:RevPad)

10 x 100 (1:30 swim)

1 x 700 (BigPaddle)

10 x 100

2 x 700 (#1: Paddle, #2: Tube)

30 x 50 (4 on :45, 3 on :50)

1 x 700 (Red Paddle)

Easy 100 Backstroke for Jim

10,000 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Consistency is the key

I've realized through my years of long distance (OW) swimming, that my body and mind have responded best during steady, consistent training. Now, this week happens to be lighter in yardage than last week, but it is a recovery week and now I look at the clock to judge some speed (not much but some). I have found my upper torso 'achiness' has healed from the 12th EChannel crossing and I have no more aches and pains, other than the normal stretching in the 1st 2000 yards of the workout; I do have those days that my body askes "Why are you doing this to me?"

So, this week was 6 practices of 5,000 yards, quickly they added up to a GOOD, healthy 30K for the week. Here they are: remember these are my intervals, is you need add or subtract some time to make your workout more comfortable or challenging, just DO IT!.

Monday, Nov28
Swim: 26 x 50 (4 on :45/ 3 on :50)
   Buoy: 500
Swim: 28 x 50
   Buoy: 500
Swim: 26 x 50
5000 = 2.5 Nautical miles

Tuesday, Nov29
Swim: 5 x 100
             1 x 50
                4 x 100
                   2 x 50
                      3 x 100
                         3 x 50
                            2 x 100
                               4 x 50
                                  1 x 100
Tube: 1000

Swim:                         1 x 100
                               4 x 50
                            2 x 100
                         3 x 50
                      3 x 100
                   2 x 50
                4 x 100
             1 x 50
          5 x 100
5000/ 10K

Wednesday, Nov30
RevPad: 250 (every 5th length= catch-up drill)

Swim***: 4 x 150
                   3 x 100
                      4 x 50
                   3 x 100
                4 x 150
RevPad: 500

Swim: ***

RevPad: 250
5000/ 15K

Thursday, Dec1
Swim: 5 x 200
             4 x 150
                3 x 100
                   2 x 50
Pad: 1000
Swim:          2 x 50
                3 x 100
             4 x 150
          5 x 200
5,000/ 20K

Friday, Dec2
Swim: 50/ 100/ 150/ 200/ 250

BigPad: 4 x 150 (modified catchup drill every 3rd length)

Swim:       100/ 150/ 200/ 2 x 250

BigPad: 3 x 100

Swim:               150/ 200/ 3 x 250

BigPad: 2 x 50

Swim:                       200/ 4 x 250
5,000/ 25K

Saturday, December3

Easy to remember
5 x 1000 (14:30, 14:25, 14:20, 14:15...)
5000/ 30K




A very good week.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

Birthday Challenge Week

Today my sister, Beth and I, are turning 48. I always try to do a challenge set on the day but because today is Thanksgiving, the pool is closed today.

So, this week I am getting back into shape with 48,000 (I hope), by Saturday.
There is a pattern I have been following, each day there are 4...800's and the sets between add to 48. I'm using my Red Paddles because red is my favorite color.  When ever I'm using the paddles, I do some modified catch-up drill, usually a 50 to every 200.

The build up was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I thought about good mechanics in the water and te days just flew by. As always, find an interval that gives 5-8 seconds (comforatable seconds) for the #16 sets. I was getting 15 seconds for my 800's. Have FUN!
















Saturday, November 26

Red Paddle: 800 ( 50 Modified Catch-up/150 free) (13:00)

Swim: 50/ 100/ 150/ 4 x 200/ 150/ 100/ 50 (:45 interval)

Red Pad: 800

Swim: 50/ 100/ 150/ 3 x 200/ 150/ 100/50

Red Pad: 800

Swim: 50/ 100/ 150/ 2 x 200/ 150/ 100/ 50

Red Pad: 800

6,800 yards/ 48,000 yards

Friday, November 25
800 (11:45)

16 x 200 (2:55/ 3:00) 1-4: Red Paddles

800

16 x 200 (1 on 2:55/ 2 on 3:00) 1-8: Red Paddles

800

16 x 200 (1 on 2:55/ 3 on 3:00) 1-12: Red Paddles

800

12,800 / 41,200 yards

Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving Day)
Walked the Manchester Road Race (5 miles) with my youngest sister, Teresa, before a wonderful Thanksgiving feast and birthday celebration.
I am blessed to have my family and friends.

Wednesday, November 23

Swim: 800 (12:00

16 x 150 (2:15) 1-7:Red Paddles/ 8-16:Swim

Swim:800

16 x 150 (same  as above)

800

16 x 150 (same)

Swim: 800

10,400 yards / 28,400 yards

Tuesday, November 22

Swim: 800 (12:00)

16 x 100 (1:30) 1-12: Red Pad/ 13-16: swim

Swim: 800

16 x 100 1-8: Red Pad/ 9-16: swim

Swim: 800

16 x 100 1-4: Red Pad: 5-16: swim

Swim: 800

8,000 yards / 18,000 yards

Monday, November 21

Swim: 800

16 x 50 (:45) Red Pad

Swim 800

16 x 50 (same as above)

Swim: 800

16 x 50 Red Pad

Swim: 800

5,600 yards/ 10,000 yards

Sunday, November 20

Swim: 800 (12:00)

16 x 25 Red Pad (:03 rest)

Swim: 800

16 x 25 RedPad

Swim: 800

16 x 25 RedPad

Swim: 800

4,400 yards

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Video: 12 and 11

#12... finished in a cold way

The past 48 hours has been a whirlwind to say the least.

Never have I arrived and with in 24 hours gotten the call to go, but that is exactly what happened yesterday....

more to come after a good night's sleep.

We are going TODAY!!!!!

Just got the call,
the channel is perfect, we are going in 3 hours or so.
I'm being escorted by Lance Oram (Mike's son and good friend), he will get us across safely.

... and the disco will be PLAYING, yippee!!!!!!!!!!

Talk to you later

Here are 2 sites to track my swim tomorrow, we we be starting between 6:30-7am GMT (that's 1:30-2 am EST).

http://www.ais-doverstraits.co.uk/   click on Satelite Tracker 2- Sea Satin

this tracks the swimmer directly

http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?map=folkestone
when you get to the site, click : Thames / Dover,  then click on: Folkestone

This will show the shipping traffic of the channel, look closely and you can find Sea Satin (small vessel)     Have fun.

Remember:
Dream, Prepare, Succeed

We leave today

Sorry to have been away for some time, but the departure day for Stage 3 of the summer adventure is here.

All the loose ends at the office, work for the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame, breakfast with Mom, Katrine and little 'Cella', Chiropractor apppointment, final patient call and banking are finished.

We're looking forward to checking the luggage and letting the vacation begin. 

Janet and I will be taking off from Logan Airport tonight, arriving bright and early Saturday, Oct.1 and heading down to Dover.

Talk to you later and....

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Swim Across the Sound

Sorry for the delay, Life has been so busy at the office, fitting our passion for open water swimming into the few free hours on the weekends.

Peggy Gaskill and I had a fantastic, challenging swim last weekend.
Just under 8 hours, just getting touched out for 2nd place in the 2-person relay division ...

not bad for a couple of girls, and our ages add up to 100.

The most important goal we accomplished was raising over $5,000 for the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation.

If you're interesting in joining us to help patients and families dealing with the trials of battling cancer,
visit our page on the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation's website at:

https://give.stvincents.org/netcommunity/CuttingWaterX2
 
While you are visiting my page, check out some photos and you can view the fine work the Foundation does for the community.

...or if you prefer to mail your donation in the post to:
 
Please make checks payable to: Swim Across the Sound and write our team name in the memo area on your check: CuttingWater X 2

Send to: St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, 2800 Main Street, Bridgeport CT 06606


.