Meet Report

So we had a little swim meet this morning. My schedule this week has been nothing short of disasterous due to factors well beyond my control, so I went in tired and not expecting very much. But ... I surprised myself.

The game plan Duane and I worked out was based on a few factors. We had to use this opportunity to figure out what I will be swimming at Provincials (which is now eight weeks away). My "standard" events are pretty much cast in stone (50 & 100 free, 50 & 100 breast, 50 fly) but then it got interesting. There is a six individual event limit at provincials, so as we saw it the options were 100 fly or a distance freestyle event. Duane is also interested in having me as a potential flyer in a 4 x 100 medley relay. But as we know I had not, until today, completed a 100 butterfly as a grown-up. This meet was an opportunity to do a Provincials meet simulation, because on Day 3 the 100 fly is the event preceeding the 4 x 100 free relay. So part of the question became, if I can swim the 100 fly, can I then swim a sprint 100 free afterwards?

I knew the last 25 of today's 100 metre fly would be difficult (and ugly), and it was. But I finished it! Legally. And in a respectable (but not brilliant) 1:31.low. So, yay for me!! I did not hold out great hope for my 100 free, but I had every intent of going all out like I would in a relay, and letting the chips fall where there might. Lo! And behold even! I qualified for US Masters Nationals with a 1:16.6. That would be a 1:08.6 short course yards. And a PB.

I guess the Evil Cross-Training is good for something! ;-) And I guess the mystery event is the 100 fly ...

Bobs & Bits!

I love that my friends and family save boxes for me to put jewellery I've made into. But today, unlike The Boarder, I am overwhelmed by boxes!

For those who have been following the transit strike misery along with me, the buses will be back ... however, not until February 9.

There's been some Evil Cross-Training today. Really, that's just wrong, but there you have it. I've tried to do as little as possible, because we have a little meet tomorrow morning.

Swim Bit!

Day 51 and tonight the transit strike will be debated on Parliament Hill. Whether that means things are looking up remains to be seen. Things have, however, been busy on the ECT front! Three rounds in 18 hours, totalling three hours (but broken down as :45, 1:25, :50), the last round at 08:00 this morning. So, while technically I don't need to exercise today, it was be good for me to head to the pool and work out some kinks!

Speaking of swimming, Tuesday night's practice featured a little conversation with Duane after warm-up.

DJ: Wendy, you have to move up a lane.
I pulled a face!
DJ: (correcting himself with excitement): No, you GET to move up a lane!!

Alright, maybe it was kind of a one-sided conversation. But it does lead me to a point of discussion. Lane assignments are and should be plastic, for a variety of reasons. The coach sees who is at that particular practice, knows what the sets are and what individuals are capable of doing on those sets. Most of the time it is not a promotion or a demotion to be assigned a different lane. The coach may need someone who can count, go on more complicated rest assignments, be stronger in a certain stroke or provide motivation to other swimmers, or just need to balance the numbers.

Because of Andra Sue!

25 Random Stream of Consciousness Things About Me:

♦ I might grouse about winter, but I find extreme heat and humidity highly deplorable
♦ I might be as much of a pool rat now as I was in my youth
♦ It is the revenge of the swim gods that I swim mostly freestyle now
♦ I’m kinda jazzed to be swimming in 50-54 age group this year
♦ I still like coaching as much as swimming
♦ I’m not a “girly girl”, but I do like the sparkly things
♦ And handbags
♦ And shoes
♦ And am interested in real world fashion
♦ I’ve been to a World Science Fiction Convention
♦ I live with a curious and handsome black (previously feral) cat, but am not exclusively a cat person
♦ In fact, I like and am interested in most critters
♦ I am almost a horticulturalist (but I’ve not been interested enough in grass to take the turf classes)
♦ I read less than I’d like to
♦ Blogging a part of my routine that I truly enjoy
♦ I blame a fellow blogger for my facebook Scrabble addiction!
♦ I buy myself birthday/Christmas and Valentine’s gifts – and I reward myself for getting through difficult situations
♦ I usually get along as well with kids as with grown-ups
♦ Most of my coats are black
♦ I am past fed up with our 50 day long transit strike (and counting!)
♦ I had my best travel year ever last year!
♦ I think I still have a sense of wonder
♦ I am organized in a disorganized kind of a way
♦ I don’t make sentences without coffee, but generally stop drinking it by 10:00 a.m.
♦ I love homemade cocoa made this way – 2 heaping teaspoons of cocoa, a little sugar, a drop of vanilla and a cup of skim milk – but I’m not above the occasional marshmallow or two

I Confess ...

I am totally enamoured of the frog ring (yes, the frog on the right is a ring!) by Mathon (Paris). Hat tip: Fashiontribes. And in my fantasy world I'd have fingers long enough to carry it off ...

Linking Up

Lest you think we here in Nottalot are not a hearty bunch — here's the skivvy on some winter marathoning, ski marathoning, and a skate-ski-run triathlon. So if you'd like to try something a little different, come on down! No guarantee there will be public transit — although the news report today says the two sides will actually meet in the same room (with a mediator).

Yesterday I wandered over to the NNS (Nasty Noon Swim). One of the lifeguards was on break and talking to the staff behind the front desk. "What??!??" she said, looking me square in the eye, "Are you ditching the evening swim now??" Of course the answer was that it was only a temporary aberration, influenced by a lovely Chinese New Year celebration with friends last evening. Shockingly, I took my camera but didn't take it out of my purse.

The NNS wasn't oversubscribed yesterday, which was nice. Could the Resolutionists have dwindled off already? The swimmers do not swim at the pace of the evening bunch, though. Hence you'll note my workout was a tad on the unusual side (which is not necessarily a bad thing). And it put me over 150,000 metres since the beginning of September! 151,522 to be exact.

Congratulations to Jenny who did an excellent job pacing her one hour swim yesterday. Coincidentally, Masters Swimming Canada has a blog post up with some links about pacing. I note that our internet friend Tony and the folks at SCAQ get the link love there!

Crossed Fingers!

After a brief period of hibernation yesterday, I am feeling more myself. But I am sad to report we are now down to a lone yellow foam ball, having misplaced two just this morning (the blue in the basement, the pink on the main floor). Despite the fact that I have told The Boarder it is now his responsibility to find them he seems to be clinging to the belief that it is actually mine. But sometimes he finds things overnight while I am indisposed, so I will remain optimistic he will come to see things my way while suffering from middle of the night boredom. I'll be heading over to the Nasty Noon Swim today, as my schedule is in a complete uproar. The NNS tends to be tremendously busy, so let's hope today it is at least a civilized busy. And apparently the city has revised its bargaining position, so there's another reason for crossed fingers. Oh, and the symbol is available here.

Cocoa or ECT?

And we're back to the -30°C to -35°C with windchill nonsense this morning. Rumour has it there will be no January thaw in 2009. Really there's a wee bit of Evil-Cross Training to be done, but I am lacking in the willpower department this morning. Also, I might just be a leeetle bit under the weather. The Boarder, of course, has found a sunspot and is enjoying it no end.

But rather than harp on the fact that we're now at day 46, and even informal transit talks have broken off, I bring you this very nice bit on Howard Firby from Swimming World.

So ... now a nice cup of hot chocolate, or snow pushing? Can I interest anyone in a game of Facebook Scrabble?

Bits & Bobs ...

Ottawa U and Plant are definitely the cold and the hot of it, respectively! Apparently there is no middle ground in pool temperatures these days — and I'm a cool water swimmer. After the furnace fellow left yesterday, I squished in a short swim and almost expired from heat stroke. Alright, slight exaggeration, but it was far too hot to swim hard. The main pool was actually warmer than the kiddy pool! I'm hoping to head over again this afternoon, but will definitely plan for longish intervals. Tomorrow morning is an hour and a half long course practice (50 metre pool), so it's not a bad thing if today's session is a little light. At least in my book! Plus opportunities for Evil Cross-Training seem to be presenting themselves. Although they are only calling for 4 centimetres, it seems from the size of the tiny granules coming down, it will be dense!

In other news, not much! Although of late my brother has been sending Bandwidth Consuming Videos for Staying In (the plight of the transit user in this city), so I will leave you with the Log Driver's Waltz, with a hat tip to Boing, Boing. That the whole NFB catalogue is up rates highly with me this morning, as the gas is about to be turned off while the meter is replaced. Yay for that little electric fireplace! But I really feel for the gas company fellow working outside today.

Change of Plans!

Transit Strike. Day 44. But who's counting??

I was going to head over for a swim this morning, but I'm sitting on my hands at the moment. Well, not while I'm typing. I have a furnace service call sometime between 11:00 and 3:00. On the up side, it is warmer outside, so the lack of hot air is not the kind of problem it would have been just a few days ago, and the little electric fireplace has raised the main floor temperature a degree! Of course, that warmer weather also means some light (but still evil) cross-training activities are on my schedule. Really it is in my plans to get a new furnace in the warmer months. The big ticket items requiring replacement around here the past couple of years has been fairly impressive: roof (check), windows (more replaced than not), back steps (check), furnace and I'm thinking soon enough the front steps and a chunk of the deck, too. On the up side, we'll hope those will last for a good long time!

So we'll see if there is a swim bit in the cards or if this furnace issue puts another hitch in my get-along!

Update: Like Danielle in Iowa (who blogs here), it seems I was suffering from pilot light problems likely induced by a faulty gas meter. So now the furnace is operational and the meter folks will come out to fix things tomorrow.

Boot It!

Many of you who know me in person hear tales of how difficult it is to find shoes/boots that can be lifted in a camouflaged way. Generally one is looking for black or white soles without fancy air technology or the like so that the sole can be sliced, the lift glued in, and the shoe resoled. (I have a substantial leg length difference, with the right being the shorter leg — walking or standing too long in unlifted shoes plays havoc with my back and pelvic girdle, but I can get away with pretty shoes for fancy occasions!) You may also have heard me lament the further difficulty in finding boots in a 5½.

I mentioned yesterday there was no telling what Lise and I might get up to — one of those things was finding a pair of ankle boots I believe can be lifted. They are awfully similar to this — except that the boot is black crinkle patent, the criss-cross, toe plate and tongue end are flat chocolate patent. So they're much cuter. And they were on markdown in size 36 at less than $100.

After I went looking for them online so I could show folks, I noticed these, also available in a 36. They would be more suited to colder days and waiting for the bus (if we ever see a bus again in this city!). So I was thinking of ordering them when something else caught my eye! Now, we know I positively ADORE the same shoe in leopard patent (I blogged about them here). Although the black ones are not marked down, they are (a) the most comfortable style of shoes I've ever had on my feet (b) kinda dressy (c) shiny and (d) liftable!

My credit card may be very busy today!

Scooter Obsessed!

You know I found a $4,000 scooter that can go 30 miles on a charge. And really, it's only a couple of miles from my house to practice or the grocery store. I'm just sayin'!!!

I would say I get a break from Evil Cross-Training activities today, but there is a light dusting out there that should be dealt with.

On the up side with some help from Lise my hair will be shorter today, The Boarder will likely have a fresh supply of litter, and who knows what else we'll get into once outside the two block radius of 123. Sigh. Day 42.

Hip Sink!

Transit Strike Day 41:
♦ Scooter looks even more appealing
♦ Roy's suggestion of a plow adaptation is positively exciting

Yes, it's my world and welcome to it! On the up side the weather has moderated and the dishwasher no longer one of the world's most expensive drying racks.

Over at the pool yesterday, a couple of noteworthy items. A friend said to me, "I swim faster with the pull buoy than I do when I kick." I know he is not alone in that regard, and it is often why the lure of training with the pull buoy is so strong! Cautionary note: While a pull buoy increases buoyancy, it is not a true facsimile of swimming with a wetsuit, as the buoyancy is only in one place!

So we did 4 x 50 pull, without the pull buoy, the objective being to keep the buttocks up at the top of the water.

Isn't the sinking of hips just body type? Well, surprisingly, no. Is it easier for some body types to prevent? Sure. But swimming is a game of technique. Starting off in a good streamline off the wall (stretching out, hand over hand, head in neutral, biceps squeezing ears, core tight, toes pointed) will set you up for good body position in your stroke. Some things you can focus on if your hips are still heading downward are toe point and keeping the muscles of the core and buttocks tight. If your toes point towards the bottom of the pool your feet become little catch-basins of drag, and down they go. A nice toe point towards the end of the pool you've just left is what you're shooting for. Squeezing the butt cheeks together (we use the visualization of holding a coin between them) will lift the hips up as well, and tightening the core means you won't be bending in the middle. Although these suggestions often meet with some initial scepticism, at the end of yesterday's fifties there was music to my ears. "I'm a believer!"

Watching the lifeguards do in-service training once lane swim was done, I was reminded that your core muscles will do the same thing for you in backstroke. When the hips sink, I liken it to swimming like a bathtub, carrying water along with you. Tighten the core, getting hips up to the top of the water and beginning the kick at the hips not the knees will go a long way to making it a more pleasant stroke to swim.

Item of discussion in the hot tub: Winter Bonks. And we all know better! Go ahead. Follow that link. It'll take you to a charming Runner's World article.

Apparently Not Enough Change!

Aaaarrrggghhh! And another for good measure!

Why even fantasy purse shopping is not improving my state of mind this morning! Maybe this is more my fantasy today?! Or maybe even this?



One can get that particular scooter here. Now I will suit up for some Evil Cross-Training!

The Same Only Different?

Suddenly there is more talk on the transit strike front. Not the two parties in the same room kind of talk, but at this point we'll take any light at the end of the tunnel. And it's a balmy -12°C this afternoon (a whopping 10°F). Maybe change is in the wind?

Yesterday I had a light mileage swim — a little meet simulation. Those of you who have followed this blog for awhile know it is my practice to do this leading up to a competition. We have little three hour club meets several times a year, leading up to our major meets. I missed the first one in November, so January 31 will be my first of the season, with a little extra on the line as it will determine what my sixth event at Provincials will be. Events run quickly so I'll try to get at least one kick at each event I'll swim in major competitions, but no more than two or three swims at each mini-meet.

Speaking of meets, this morning's practice was cancelled due to an age group swim meet, so I was at liberty to spend some quality one on one time first with Miss Emma and then with Miss Margaret! We wrapped up a little late for me to make a noon swim at Plant, so I guess I will be doing stretching this evening. And that's probably a good thing anyway!

And, in the you've got to be kidding me file ... I bring you this.

Same Ole, Same Ole ...

"The cold that was supposed to end after three days has settled in like a dinner guest who doesn't know it's time to go home." Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, January 16, 2009.

It's all cold, ice fog, black ice, and some magnificent sun dogs (sadly the sun dogs aren't in the story). -30°C again this morning. The new wrinkle here at 123 would be the frozen dishwasher. While I'm thankful that I'm not caught in that downtown Toronto power outage, it's really no picnic in Ottawa. After two days of closed door council meetings the city has revised its approach to negotiations, the union is tremendously unhappy, and apparently we can expect at least another two weeks of bus free living. Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Visions of tropical holidays and extravagant coats continue to dance in many heads! And although it is not on markdown, this Etsy piece at Birks may have the earmarks of a reward for getting through a winter nobody here will soon forget. It reminds me very much of sea swimming in November. Or perhaps it could be an Valentine's gift to myself ...

Still Brisk ...

Per Jenny's comment yesterday, I may just see if that coat is still on sale! -28°C, -37°C with windchill at the moment. The Boarder has already installed himself in a window awaiting an appropriate sunspot!

It was an NAC evening with AD last night ... it is remotely possible that Buried Child is not the uplifting spectacle one hopes to see on a bone chilling Day 36 of the transit strike. The production, however, is very well done — and features an absolutely outstanding interpretation of Dodge by David Fox. His work in the role will be a high point of the theatre season for me, without a doubt.

For those of you searching for a little post-holiday sparkle, Birks Winter Sale is now on, in store or online. And for those of us expecting to spend a couple of hours at the mall time wasting in order to get to practice ... maybe a chance to see some ice of a different kind!

Dressing in Layers ...

Nope, it's not a fashion post — it is more than a little brisk outside today. In fact -26°C, but with windchill -39°C. For our American friends, the scales meet at -40°! There is a risk of frostbite to exposed skin in 10 minutes, and ... wait for it ... Evil Cross-Training to be done! Thankfully not an excessive amount! And us with a transit strike (that incidentally appears to have cost the local economy $280 million, and thousands of jobs). There are no talks scheduled in the immediate future.

But lest we get mired down with the weight of the world on our collective shoulders, I bring you some Lego inspired goodness thanks to the nice folks at Shiny, Shiny!!



I go now to add layers ...

Tuesday Tidbits!

There is little prettier than fat flakes drifting down gently on a winter's day. We will just have to hope they keep doing just that and don't make traffic more miserable than it already is! Transit strike = Day 35. Enough said. Or I'll just get depressed.

In other news ... not so much, really. Transit strike = Day 35. Really puts the kibosh on blogworthy activities. While Jenny was out spotting herps, The Boarder and I were spotting squirrels, starlings and one of George's crows. Kinda pales by comparison, doesn't it?

On the swim meet front, Provincials is a titch over two months away and I should decide on that sixth and last individual event pretty darned soon ... I had a moment of weakness in which I briefly considered the 200 breaststroke, but it passed after I reviewed the event order that day!

Shiner!

A little light in my world. A night light, really. I lifted the photo from here. I have very cool friends. And now, back to my regularly scheduled laundry.

Stupid Bonking Injury!

If I were a napper, I'd be napping. Instead I'm blogging. Probably slightly incoherently. On two hours sleep. Read at your own risk!

I had an "Aha!" moment in the pool yesterday. Actually, it arose from my bonk the other day. Maybe I'll start at the beginning ...

When I came in Wednesday from Snow Pushing Round 2, I was wobbly. I thought I'd make toast. I did, but it was underdone. So I put a bit more time on the toaster oven. And wandered off. Then it was definitely burnt. And I wasn't too happy with myself. I threw it out and tried again. Reaching into the toaster oven to get the second batch of toast I touched my left hand on the inner wall. It blistered. Kinda fast. Then I was really unhappy with myself!

The blister broke Thursday on my way to practice. When I asked one of the guards if I could have a bandaid she looked at it and said, "Sure. You know that's really going to sting when you get in." So before getting into the pool I've been applying a light coat of petroleum jelly. I'm still wearing a bandaid the rest of the time, because it's still a teensy bit sensitive. Don't worry, I am finally getting to the point ...

Here's the up side. I've been struggling a bit lately off my flip turns — in particular when I start to stroke. I've felt awkward. Nothing horrid, just Not Quite Right. Well, yesterday on my first push-off I realized pretty darned quickly I can't hit streamline right hand over left just now, because the Stupid Bonking Injury hurts if I give that a go. So my thought process pushing off the wall changed from "hit streamline" to "left over right, hit streamline". Lo! And Behold! I felt infinitely better starting my stroke. Now, because my back is Not In Favour of Twisting, I do Old School Flip Turns not Newfangled Ones. So coming off the wall, technically I can start the stroke cycle with either hand. But apparently it works significantly better if I start with my right!

TGIF?

The union has rejected the City's offer, so the transit strike continues. The mood that hangs over the city is palpable.

Yesterday I called a cab shortly after 3:00 to head downtown for 6:00 practice. It was out front in less than 15 minutes. The first thing the cab driver did was complain about the snowbanks and the narrowness of the street.

"Where am I gonna turn around!?!"

I told him he could pull into my driveway, as it was completely cleared.

"Yeah, your driveway's cleared — then I'm gonna lose a bumper!! I almost lost a bumper once." Note that Fiona pulled into my drive dropping me off, and had no difficulty. I told him I didn't really understand why he thought he was going to lose a bumper. I live on a quiet dead end street, and you could see both directions from before the end of the drive. I know this because I spent a lot of Evil Cross-Training time in it!! So he backed down the street, pulled into Preston facing the wrong direction and crossed traffic to head north.

"Look, I'm gonna tell you something — you're in stand 15, this is downtown. You don't wanna call a cab between 3:00 and 5:30. It's very busy, you're gonna wait for hours."

When I explained that really I don't have that big a choice when I call a cab, it's based on my need to go somewhere, he vehemently told me he was just trying to help me. Not fooled. I know he didn't want to drive downtown. Incidentally, I did plan properly, the traffic had not yet backed up. Then he shut up and didn't say a word the rest of the trip. Really, I didn't have a problem with that.

At the mall, with hours of time wasting in front of me, I rewarded myself with a package of dry erase markers of my very own! Swimmers could read the board at practice! Also two Mexx camis (one white, one teal) marked down from $25 to $9.99 then a further 25% off (!), a pair of darkwash limited edition GAP jeans on markdown from $79.99 to $29.99. And I spent most of a birthday gift card on 3 pairs of bamboo socks.

No Bonk Policy!

The Boarder maintains I go in and out all the time and still manage to play with him. And he's quite right. So he seems to see my half-hearted attempts to amuse him while my butt is still firmly ensconced in my chair as some sort of moral failing. And really, the thing is, if he had pushed and carefully lifted snow for 3½ hours (distributed over about 26 hours) he would have about as much energy as I do right now. Really, just point me to the sunspot ... One of his friends did email me this link for him — but he's still got that opposable thumb excuse! And while I could certainly swim if it were absolutely necessary, I'm thinking it isn't. I have to stand on the deck tonight at Ottawa U, and that's probably enough.

Yesterday was supposed to be my off (or recovery) day. Not so much! In fact, I'm a little embarrassed to say that my Evil Cross-Training activities were somewhat bonk inducing! I started the day a little underfueled. Well, okay, I cross-trained for an hour after my muffin and coffee, and then cleaned up, and more or less just postponed my omlette & toast to lunch. Round Two, another hour after lunch, I finished and felt decidedly peaked. That was a surprise I could have done without! So today we have enacted a No Bonk Policy. Possibly with a little sugar induced haze reward to come. I am thinking perhaps one of those highly decadent cinnamon buns while I am time wasting at the mall. Even though I ate properly before and after Round Three, which stretched into 1½ hours this morning, apparently my stomach feels I still have not done enough to maintain its general well being. I have really, I think. But it doesn't!

P.S. When and if I find out how much snow actually fell from the sky and the blew around like there was no tomorrow, I'll let you know. Thank heavens for the new snow scoop, though!



P.S. According to the noon weather our total was 22.4 centimetres (almost 9 inches).

Wednesday Miscellany ...

Those of you familiar with practices I write will have noted that at noon hour yesterday I swam the practice I was tasked with assigning my teammates last night. With some exceptions. I substituted drill for kick, and the quick lanes went on :40 with an the assignment of 9 x 25 stroke + 1 free, but they liked my suggestion of doing IM order stroke. The sudden dearth of pull buoys meant that many folks at Ottawa U pulled like Wendy — dragging their feet behind them!

Today is my day off the pool — well-timed as Evil Cross-Training Opportunities await. The skiiers, at least, ought to be pleased. However, I will be able to move snow over hidden icy bits safely now, thanks to Jenny & wee Yak Trax that fit onto my lifted boots!

But, as is the way with many of us in northern climes, my mind is wandering to warmer seasons ahead, and a fun new handbag to usher them in with. Or to make a more summery off-the-plane entrance to GCM than head-to-toe black next November. Because if at first Hurricane Paloma intercedes, have another go at that Pirates Week 5K Sea Swim!! This one's pretty tropical, n'est-ce pas?



Kooba yellow side sling bag, available at Bluefly.

Groovin'?

I managed to get to the pool last night (although I was slightly tardy). The roast is in the crockpot. The Boarder is having his post-breakfast nap. The World Juniors have wrapped up with a spectacular result! This morning I bring you an edgy fashion bit that captured my fancy. Hey ... waitaminnit ... there is an outside possibility we at 123 are getting our groove back! Although we are mentally preparing for Evil Cross-Training opportunities of 15-20 centimetres tomorrow. At least one of us is ...

Oh, and here's a bonus link for the swimming inclined — a wonderful off the blocks & into streamline shot of Eamon Sullivan. Thanks Joel!

Swim Bit! (Mostly)

Here in Nottalot the kids are back to school today, most parents who took time off over the festive season are back at work, and STILL there are no buses! The union is set to administer the forced vote on the city's last contract offer Thursday. You can read more about that here. So it'll be another long and trying week ahead ...

Last night, as expected, the pool was busier than normal. At times there were 8-9 people in the quick lane, but as is often the case with resolutionists, many cycled in and out quickly. Really, I had a good and interesting swim — a bit different from my regular routine as I ponder/train my way to a conclusion regarding the additional event conundrum.

One of the events I will swim at provincials will be a 200 free as part of the 800 free relay. So I told Coach Duane I was going to put some work into that over the next mesocycle of training. Oh, I can swim a 200 free. But pacing it is definitely not my strong point, as evidenced by my 3:00 swim the year before last! The first set, which was a combination warm-up and main set began with easy swimming building by hundreds, and increased in intensity after 900 metres, still building by hundreds:

♦ 500-400-300-200-100 free

Things were going along tickety-boo until the 200, when something very odd happened. Split was 1:35, finish time was 3:15. I could accept 3:12, because I did a big open turn at the hundred to check the clock. So ... either I shortened up my stroke when I ramped up the effort, or I went out a bit too quickly. That first hundred felt great, though, and I didn't feel like I was tying up or tiring out. So it may well be the former. This will be something else to pay a bit more attention to over the next few months.

It is possible that I should develop a semi-regular feature of hot tub vignettes. Those who pop over to my workout blog on occasion will have noticed that there is rarely a "swim easy" portion at the end unless I am swimming with the club. This is because I often plunk myself in the hot tub and do some relaxed stretching. And, of course, conversations happen. I was discussing the extra event conundrum with Jason, a regular Sunday night lane swimmer, in the hot tub last night. His comment was, "Why don't you do an IM? You train it a lot!!" Just what I needed. More options ...

Off to see The Rotors!

Thanks to my mesomorphy post, I was busy showing off my guns last night!

The Rotors hosted a lovely get together. And some people had read that biceps bit! Many of us have known each other since high school, university, or shortly thereafter, but there were some new friends as well. I didn't manage to get a good shot of everyone — but AD and Deb had cameras too, so perhaps if we put all the pictures together everyone will be represented. Click here to see some of us (and some very nice Portugese water dogs) — then clicking on the pictures will make them larger, and scrolling your cursor over the people may/may not tell you who they are. And I was able to hand deliver some of the cards I've been working on these past few days, to boot!

And now the social whirlwind that is the festive season winds to a close, and we here at 123 will shoot for some kind of regularly scheduled programming!

The Fashion Perils of Mesomorphy ...

There was a relatively recent episode of What Not To Wear in which Tara Kirk complained about her upper arms. Fiona, Bruce and I were discussing it on our way to open water swim at Meech Lake this summer. Fiona and I were a bit puzzled, because we were in wholehearted agreement that Ms. Kirk has lovely arms. And suddenly, today, the light bulb went on! Not that I am in any way comparing myself to Tara Kirk, mind you. But my blazers are fitting funny. They are, well, tight. You are doubtless thinking to yourselves that the holiday eating extravaganza effects are being felt and I should just step away from the buffet! I think not. Well, yes, okay, but not because I've packed on too much extra poundage. Because my blazers are stretched to their limits across ... the biceps!! Aaaarrrgggghhhh!!!!

Bear in mind, I do not blame swimming. I blame the Evil Cross-Training*. And winter has only just begun, so it is likely that it will only continue ... so I go now to put my coat and boots on and recommence cross-training.

* For those of you new to this blog, Evil Cross-Training is synonomous with shovelling.

A Fresh Start!

Well, here we are in a fresh new year. Really fresh. -19°C, but -28°C with windchill. For my friends south of the 49th, that's feeling like -18°F! The time was when I would stay up to ring it in — no longer. A nice birthday dinner with Miss Margaret & family, I came home at 9:30 and basically fell into bed. A near meltdown as I lost my keys on the way over and had to retrace my steps led me to believe I might be a bit on the overtired side! Or maybe a bit more than a bit.

I'll be starting 2009 off in a bit of a social whirlwind, then buckling down. Next week Coach Duane is away, so I will be taking Tuesday & Thursday night practices. Sans buses. Still. I will just say, before moving along, that this situation is crushing. We have a mini-camp on Saturday the tenth, and then a bit more of a regular routine. I hope! But cleverly, I have already secured a ride to get there on that Saturday morning.

I officially age up today! In masters swimming you compete in the age group you will be on December 31 of that year. So I'm now 50-54. Woo hoo! Rule change of note: this year Masters Swimming Canada will enact a no false start rule. Internationally this rule was already in place. You go early, you will be disqualified. And you triathletes swimming masters — take off your watches when you get to the pool. Remember it is illegal to swim in a meet with a watch on. Train like you race!

Ahead in March, here in town, Ontario Provincial Championships is being hosted by Nepean Masters. In April, in Montreal, Quebec Provincials will be long course. In May, Nationals are in Etobicoke. So there's lots to train for! Still up in the air is my sixth event at provincials, my sixth and seventh at nationals. There are limits as to how many events you can swim. Pretty much given are: 50 free, 100 free, 50 breast, 100 breast, 50 fly. Then things get a bit murky. A distance freestyle? (Or two at nationals?) A longer fly event? I'm going to try to make that pending decision by the end of this month. Oh, and of course, the most fun part — a bunch of relays!

One goal for me this year is not swimming related. For my 50th birthday, I am hoping to have Breakfast Near Tiffany's. New York. I'd like to see the lights in Central Park as Christmas draws near. So many things to I'd enjoy doing — the museums, the Pierpont Morgan Library, and of course, hang with Jenny on her home turf! And naturally that includes meeting Blackie in person!

And I'd be fibbing if I said I didn't want to give that Pirates Week open water swim thing another go!!! Although The Boarder is fairly adamant in his preference that I don't, but we have agreed to disagree on this matter!

Here's hoping 2009 holds in store more wonderful things than any of us can imagine!