Waterblogged

7,500 x 2

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:45:00 +0000

A few of us decided to do the 75x100's twice, today and way back when on xmas eve. It was good the second time too. Especially the breakfast after part. Go Lane 2! :)

Balance

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:59:00 +0000

I took the kids (5 and 7) ice skating for the first time ever yesterday afternoon. No prep, no watching first...I just threw them out on the ice (mostly because I'm too cheap to pay for lessons and too lazy to go through a process). The first ten minutes were dicey - lots of falls and leg-grabbing, but then, within 45 minutes they...were...skating. I was so proud, especially when they fell hard and got up and kept trying. I saw my whole life philosophy play out during that hour, wrapped up in strained muscles, questionable balance, concentration and pure desire to conquer new things. It is the very philosophy I hope to pass on to my boys, and it was the best holiday gift I could ask for to see them display it.

And then this morning, into the icy cold water. I am looking forward to the big swim tomorrow!

*warmup: 2 x 350's free then free to drill

*15 x 100's done as 5 sets of 3 x 100's using one length of each 100 as kick, drill, breast, back, fly

*20 x 50's done as 5 sets of 4 x 50's like so: 2 x 50's fast free, 2 x 50's kick, drill, breast, back, fly to free (in order)

I have a cookie problem

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:48:00 +0000

One of these is not the issue. But when you over-frost thick, fresh sugar cookies and eat six of them, you are not in prime shape for the long pulling workout the next morning. I am honestly not sure how people who don't swim get through the holidays. If I didn't swim this off this morning I'd still be feeling like I might explode.

Today begins the official school holiday (read: full time mom duty) and last night, as you can see, began the official sugar indulgence period. If I keep going like this I'm going to need to attend BOTH 75x100's sessions.

*warmup: 125 free, 50 stroke, 25 kick
repeat 3x

add pull gear for:

*400 as 6 free, 2 stroke
repeat 2x
*100 fast
*500 as 8 free, 2 stroke
repeat 2x
*100 fast
*600 as 8 free, 2 stroke
repeat 2x
*100 fast

*1,000 straight done as: 250 moderate, 50 fast, 200 moderate, 50 fast, 150 moderate, 50 fast, 100 moderate, 50 fast, 50 moderate, 50 fast

Ice Ice Baby

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:40:00 +0000

I was able to defrost my windshield this morning (dashboard read 31 degrees) by the time I arrived at the pool. I was shocked to return to my car an hour and fifteen minutes later and find the windshield completely re-frozen. Helloooooo, God? This is CALIFORNIA. I know that seasons are pretty and all, but really when I'm prancing around outside an outdoor pool at 5:45 in the morning, in the dark, in nothing but a shiny bathing suit, I'd like a little balminess, okay?

*warmup: 400 free, 2x50's stroke, 200 free, 2x25's stroke
add pull gear for:
*300 build, 3x100's fast, 300 steady
*200 build, 2x100's fast, 200 steady
*100 build, 1x100's fast, 100 steady

*100 fast, 3x50's stroke/drill/steady
*2x100 fast, 3x50's stroke/drill/steady
*3x100 fast, 3x50's stroke/drill/steady

Arms

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Just a fun picture of my boys showing off their armpits in glee while watching football and eating pizza last night. Kid-joy is so easy. Speaking of easy joy, Danna kindly gave me the better shower stall this morning when she could have taken it, and said she was reminded by a note she put in her daughter's lunch yesterday. The note said "Today, treat someone else the way you'd like to be treated." Danna said, "I really want that shower, so I'm giving it to you." Love it!

*warmup: 3 x 250's free with last 50 stroke
add fins for:
*2 x 50's one leg kick, 100 IM with one length underwater, 150 drill, 200 free strong
repeat 3x
*2 x 25's one arm swim, 50 free with one length underwater, 100 drill, 200 IM strong
repeat 2x

Not Bob's Tea Party

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:03:00 +0000

Yesterday we bobbed and had tea parties under water. It was fun. I like Bob. And today we did something I like even more: repeat 100's.

*warmup: 700 straight with every 4th length stroke

*3 x 100's on 1:30; 2 x 100's on 1:25; 1 x 100 on 1:20

*4 x 100's on 1:30; 3 x 100's on 1:25; 2 x 100 on 1:20

*5 x 100's on 1:30; 4 x 100's on 1:25; 3 x 100 on 1:20

*warmdown: 200 other than free with every 4th length free

Post-Turkey

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:17:00 +0000

I ate a lot of it, and all the accoutrements that come with it, so today was good.

*warmup: 5 x 150 free with last length stroke

add pull gear for:

*2 x 200, 3 x 100 descending
repeat 3x

remove or keep pull gear on for:

*100, 2 x 50's fast, easy 50
repeat 2x

For this I am thankful

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:57:00 +0000

I'm posting this before workout today since we ALL know what it will be. 50 x 100's baby!!!!!!! I can't wait. It's also Thanksgiving, and my birthday. And, as you can see on our "thankful wall" from my kitchen, one of the things I am super thankful for is...swimming pools. I think my entries on the wall (not all of which you can see) go like this (not specifically in this order except for #1 of course):

my family
swimming pools
lifelong friends
soccer
awesome parent-teacher conferences (yes, it was conference week this month)
amazing grandparents and mommies
apple fritters
birthday celebrations
good neighbors
laughter

I could have gone on and on about what I'm thankful for, and for THAT I am thankful.

Breast Impaired

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:16:00 +0000

I wish I had bigger boobs. But that's not really relevant. What is relevant is that I can't do breast stroke. Related? Probably not, but still worth mentioning the connection since I'm twice breast impaired, making today's workout painful and also not that sexy.

*warmup: 200, 150, 100, 50 free all followed by some little spurts of breast stroke.

*3 x 50's free
*4 x 25's free kick on your side
repeat 3x

*3 x 50's breast
*4 x 25's breast kick
repeat 3x

*3 x 50's free
*3 x 50's breast

Pre-Turkey Pull

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:56:00 +0000

I am just, very, excited, about, Thursday. Can't wait to eat turkey and drink wine after a long swim! Today was a nice pull to warm up the shoulders for the 50x100's coming up!

*warmup: 5 x 150's all free then gradually adding backstroke by 25
add pull gear for:
*12 x 100's free
remove pull gear for:
*3 x 100's back
add pull gear for:
*6 x 200's free
remove pull gear for:
*3 x 100's back

BFFSwim

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:39:00 +0000

I know I've talked about this before but there is just nothing better for me than having my two bestest friends here for a night out and then a swim in the early morning. Thanks Judy for a great Sunday AM swim!

*warmup: 300 "vanilla", 300 every 4th length kick, 300 ever 4th length dps
*600 free with every 4th length
*2 x 300's
*500: 100 moderate, 100 fast, 75 moderate, 75 fast, 50/50 and 25/25
*3 x 200's free
*4 x 150's free

Swim for your Life

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:54:00 +0000

SO. My husband works with this guy's sister - the one who saved his life with a stem cell transplant. Amazing story. AND his latest song is called "Swim". LISTEN TO IT. You can hear it on the site, and see a synopsis of the film here: http://www.dearjackmovie.com/

The site also shows his appearance on the Daily Show from last night. Crazy inspirational stuff.

SO, today's workout was too complicated to remember (even while we were doing it). Here is yesterday's nice, long, SWIM.

*warmup: 500 straight
*1650 straight
*700
*500

YES, swim indeed.

Victory!

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:41:00 +0000

We had a victorious and exciting weekend in Manteca, where W's team won all four of their games (including one in PK's which is sending us back to Manteca next weekend - argh!) and enjoyed a hugely happy dog pile after the semi-final. You can see here that, while a step down from Cabo, I still enjoyed some hot tubbing and beer. Upon returning from the weekend, many of us are ill and I missed swim practice yesterday due to an early morning wakeup by the kids. Today, I made it to the pool only to find breaststroke awaited me. Ah, it was still a workout nonetheless.

*warmup: 4 x 200's all free, 50 breast, 100 breast, 150 breast

*10 x 50's free with funky breathing patterns
*10 x 50's breast with every even 50 done as arms only

*5 x 100's free with long streamline
*5 x 100's free with funky breathing patterns

Soccer soccer soccer

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:32:00 +0000

I will be in lovely Manteca California this weekend for the State Cup soccer tourney. From Mex to Manteca within a week's span. Wow. So I shoved four swim days in a row in this week. I will be wishing for a pool tomorrow morning.

NOTE: I will also be wishing I was here to watch the Stanford women's soccer team play on Sunday. Went last night (NCAA first round) and they won again. They are undefeated and amazing. Watching them just makes my jaw drop. I wish I had ever been half as good as they are!

*warmup: 200 free, 100 stroke, 50 kick
repeat 2x

*8 x 150's with 5th length kick

*8 x 100's with stroke limits

and yesterday...

*warmup: 1000 straight
and for variety...
*1000 straight
and for more variety...
*750
and finally...
*500

Why are fins so HARD?

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:19:00 +0000

I love when people who don't swim say "Oh, you are cheating, using fins?" For me, fins are nearly impossible. They rob me of my oxygen and make me feel like I'm doing water Pilates (not a bad idea perhaps?) while doing a full-out sprint. Unfortunately, I swim with Lanshin who is undeniably the world champion finner. If they would only add a fin event in the Olympics, she would win. Feet down. And I get to chase her during fin workouts. PHEW!

*warmup: 3 x 250's with first 50 easy, last 50 strong

add fins for:

*5 x 300's first and fifth slower than the rest
*200 easy kick
*3 x 300's done as 100 fast, 150 relaxed, last 50 fast

The Suit is Taking Over

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:19:00 +0000

Okay I think we are up to around 6 other brave dorks that are sporting the Killer Quad suit with me. It's CUTE so get on it! If you aren't sure how to order, leave a comment here. In other news, I just returned from Cabo, where I did not do any swimming except paddling over to the bar you see in the photo above. I had one goal during this vacation: do not break a sweat. I did some yoga and pilates after rolling out of bed at around 9AM, followed by the paddle to the swim-up bar at around noon. It was heaven.

Back to reality this morning:

*warmup: 300 free, 3 x 100's kick, stroke, strong free

*800, 600, 400, 200
800 and 400 free straight alternating strong and easy by 100's
600 and 200 repeat pattern of kick, stroke, strong free

*175, 150, 125, 100, 75, 50, 25
odd done as free to stroke, even done as strong free

Mex Prep

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:09:00 +0000

Okay, so I'm going to Mexico soon and I cannot wait. Logging a lot of swimming before then, and also logging a lot of candy eating and World Series watching. Here are some recent workouts, and the obligatory Halloween photo of the kids.

Saturday (Halloween)
The suit made its debut and yards were swum: 4300, if my counting was right.

Sunday
Brutal post-Halloween soccer game

Monday
One of those workouts where sets sound easy but are hard because of the mixing of IM and freestyle. Too hard to remember the actual sets. But if you haven't gotten the point yet, hard.

Today
*warmup: 125 free, 25 back, 125 free, 50 back, 125 free, 75 back, 125 free, 100 back
add fins for:
*2 x 700's done as 200, 50, 150, 50, 100, 50, 50, 50
first 700 50's are kick with two arms out of the water
second 700 50's are kick with one bottom of the pool touch per length
*2 x 500's done with 2 lengths fly, 2 lengths kick with board, 2 lengths underwater, and 4 lengths in 2 other lanes besides your own (chaos)
*3 x 100's free without fins to finish

The Suit is HERE

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:04:00 +0000

Okay, so my Killer Quad suit arrived in the mail yesterday and I'm ready to go for Saturday. It is ridiculously cute, and also...ridiculous. I expect to get quite a good bit of teasing for wearing it (especially from my husband), and especially if I don't finish the darn Killer Quad, but I'm going for it. I personally think that everyone in Lane 2 (if not everyone in the pool) should be wearing this suit. And hey, here's the link to order this bad boy if you feel you would like to join me. Come on people!

Today's workout:

*warmup - basic free but I missed the instructions :)

*9 x 100's free descending by 3

add fins for:

*9 x 100's free alternating on 1:15, 1:20

*9 x 100's free alternating on 1:10, 1:30

*250 back warmdown

Timed Swims

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Prepping for the big Halloween swim...I love this time of year. I also love that Tim gives us these patterns to work through during timed swims. Need to remember to use the patterns on Saturday for the hour-long!

*warmup: 8 x 100's odd with last lap kick, even with last lap stroke

*12 minute swim with pattern 25 2 count, 25 moderate, 25 push

*12 minute swim with pattern extended to 50's

*12 minute swim with pattern extended to 100's

*4 x 50's easy/hard

Underwater

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:04:00 +0000

As I swam this morning I thought about the phenomenon going on at Gunn High School right now. The fact that four kids in four months have killed themselves by stepping in front of the train (and eight to ten other attempts have been prevented by police!!!) is just mind-blowing. Teen suicide in general is awful and tragic. Teen suicide in clusters - in a trend that seems unstoppable - is scary as Hell. Suicide in clusters where the method is standing in front of a train...I just cannot imagine the level of self-hate and despair and anger? these kids must have been feeling. As a kid who experienced depression but couldn't even play chicken with another bicyclist without getting freaked, I just cannot imagine what it takes to stay on those tracks and let the train roll through. I feel for those kids, and the ones who are left behind.

This morning's pull set was indeed therapeutic for me.

*warmup: 800 free

add pull gear for:

*300, 400, 500, 500, 400, 300, 200
second half of "ramp" faster

remove pull gear for:

3 x 100's descending

I've done it.

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:16:00 +0000

I've threatened to buy a Killer Quad suit for a while now and, well, I ordered one yesterday. I am a complete tool, I know, but these silly suits make me laugh and actually look forward to getting up early and doing crazy amounts of yards during the Killer Quad. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is a preview of the suit. I expect double extra credit for getting super into the spirit of the Quad.

And today's workout was...

*warmup: 300 free, 50 other, 200 free, 50 other, 100 free, 50 other

*kick sets - so painful for me I can't remember, but tomorrow is long free, so we're good.

Prep for Halloween Hour Swim!

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:32:00 +0000

*warmup: 400 free, 200 3 count, 100 IM

*10 minute swim with every 6th length up tempo

*4 x 75's alternating IM and 3 count free

*10 minute swim with every 5th and 6th length up tempo

*2 x 75's alternating IM and 3 count free

*10 minute swim with every 4th, 5th, and 6th length up tempo

Another Dynamic Duo

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Well, Gary and I made it into the melons again, but we only finished in fourth place. More disappointing than our placing was the fact that no inappropriate comments about my chest size and melon earnings were made during the award ceremony this year. No fun. Anyway, it was another year of thinking the workout would be so low in yards that I'd need to supplement later in the day...until the workout was over and my arms hung so limply at my sides that I could barely carry my melon. Thanks Tim!

Rain Rain Stay Until Tomorrow

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:01:00 +0000

I'm a fan of swimming in the rain, but this morning somehow I slept right through my alarm and didn't get to swim during the storm. I plan to tomorrow morning, so I'm hoping it keeps thrumming down, but in the meantime, we had two great workouts yesterday and the day before that I want to make sure to get down (at least as much as I can remember of them):

Sunday
*warmup: 150 free, 50 quick
repeat 4x

add pull gear for (odd swims fast, even moderate):
*400, 300, 200, 100
300, 200, 100
200, 100
100

remove pull gear for:
2 x 500's done as 25, 25, 50, 50, 75, 75, 100, 100 with first one easy second one fast

Monday
*warmup: 250 free, 200 IM, 150 free, 100 kick, 50 free

*4 x 100's IM with floating 25 kick and a descend 1-4
*4 x 100's free with floating 25 kick and a descend 1-4

*4 x 25's kick in IM order, 100 IM, 4 x 25's kick free, 100 free
repeat twice

*I know there was more but it escapes me

Dynamic Duo Practice

sarah.eisner@gmail.com (sarah) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:19:00 +0000

I can't shake the suspicion that if more people had shown up for practice this morning we would not have had to pair up in perfect 2's per lane and practice the dynamic duo, which is always harder than it sounds. But, that's what happened. And so...

*warmup: 400 free, 300 IM, 200 kick, 100 stroke

*100, 75, 50, 25
*75, 50, 25
descend

*alternating with your partner, 20 x 50's sprint!