Workout Tracker-Gibraltar

Everyday post swim, I religiously enter my workout in my USMS fitness log (see blogpost dated 1/31/16). For the last eight weeks I have also been recording my workouts in my Gibraltar Workout Tracker. 

My friend, Grant and Strait of Gibraltar swimming partner created the tracker to keep us and our former team mate accountable to our training. At eight weeks out from the swim he shaded the spreadsheet to signify our "key training" period. 

To mark this occasion I decided to kick the training up a notch this week. The objective was to swim for six days straight and at least my age times a thousand yards a day (that would be 5,300 yards). 

I did it and a bit more! Monday, Tuesday, Thursday thru Saturday I did 5,300 a day and for good measure on Wednesday I swam 10,000 yards. I got in early everyday, did the team workout and stayed in a bit later for some extra credit with my friend Dustin. Wednesday was a bit of a slog as I swam quite awhile by myself. The weeks total was 36,500 yards or nearly 21 miles in close to 10 hours.

With the swim now less than eight weeks away I am sure there will be more big weeks ahead. 

A little motivation this week came from my mom with an aerial shot of the The Strait. A friend of hers was flying to Tenerife an took the pic. 

It's beginning to feel a little more "real" with the clock ticking and seeing this pic.

 

Below is how my USMS Flog recorded the week and has tracked my progress for the year. I'm at 308,000 yards or 175 miles to date and 35 miles ahead of schedule. I guess as Nemo says, "just keep swimming!"

#76 Getting My Kicks...Rose Bowl Aquatics

It was a very long and straight road that led me to pool #76 Rose Bowl Aquatics in Pasadena, California.  By long road, I mean I drove 3,077 miles from Boston to Los Angeles in 46 hours just to get to this Southern California oasis.  After 3.5 days of driving, truck stops, road food and no exercise I was relieved that this beautiful outdoor aquatic facility nestled in the Arroyo Seco next to the Rose Bowl was not a mirage.

This whole journey was inspired by Ryan's need for a car in Los Angeles over the summer so he could get to and from his internship.  With a fair amount of rationalization I decided to get myself a new car and pass my Jeep on to Ryan.  The question was how to get it to him. I could have it shipped out there on a truck or I could, well...just drive it to Los Angeles myself.  The answer was easy--drive it myself! Why not? It was something I always wanted to do. Yolo!

Pulling out of the driveway on a Thursday night after dinner was a bit daunting knowing what lay ahead of me. I wanted to get a couple hours under my belt so I drove to Danbury, Connecticut. Friday morning I hit the road at 5:45am and began the trek in earnest. I drove through New York and the hills of western Pennsylvania before having lunch in Ohio and powering through to Terre Haute, Indiana. Logging 887 miles on day one I fell asleep when my head hit the pillow.

Day two started just before 7:00am hoping for a quick dip in the new $10 million aquatic center in the middle of nowhere Terre Haute.  To no avail, as the pool was closed so I began driving. My drive took me through downstate Illinois to St. Louis where I stopped for a photo op in front of the arch. It was then a long drive through Missouri into and practically the width of Oklahoma to Elk City. Stopping at the Blue Whale of Castoosa I experience my first piece of Route 66 kitsch. It was a big day as I drove 779 miles and because it was the first time I had ever been to Oklahoma.

(Blue Whale of Catoosa)

Sunday morning was mentally a bit tough. It was hard to face another 11 plus hour day of driving. My morning ritual of listening to various covers of the song Route 66 for fifteen minutes got me in the right frame of mind for another long day of driving. I am glad it did because it was likely my best day on the road. I drove through Amarillo, Texas and saw Cadillac Ranch basically ten graffiti'ed Cadillacs standing on their ends in the desert. It was another "first state" as I drove through New Mexico and stopped on Route 66 in Tucumcari to see the wall murals on the sides of buildings. The final destination was Flagstaff, Arizona but not before stopping to "stand on the corner" in Winslow and to have dinner at La Posada. I had been there a couple years before with my dad and had a great meal and it was just as good this time. Perhaps it was even better as the food up until that point had been pretty marginal. Post dinner I drove the hour to Flagstaff at night in the desert listening to the Eagles. A perfect way to end a 754 mile day on the road!

(Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, TX)

(Tucumcari, New Mexico)

(Winslow, AZ)

Monday was the home stretch and a short-ish drive of 465 miles from Flagstaff to Los Angeles. I started the morning with another failed swimming attempt at Northern Arizona University at their new aquatic center.  With plans scuttled, I hit the road driving through the beautiful high desert pines and landscape surrounding Flagstaff. The beauty was short lived as I dropped in the barren Mohave from Kingman, Arizona to Bartsow, California.  By early afternoon, I was on the busy LA freeways and a heart beat away from my final destination of University of Southern California and South Central. I did it! Mission accomplished!

(Tommy Trojan, USC)

Ryan and his friends were blown away when they saw the car and realized that I had driven cross country. Loved seeing the surprise on his face.

(Car safe in South Central Los Angeles)

It was long and at times a tedious and boring trip but I am so happy I did it. It was an awesome journey! I am actually a bit proud I did it solo. I hit thirteen different states (two of them new to me). I traveled highways and byways, that perhaps I may never see again and got to experience what big beautiful diverse country America is. We are fortunate to live in America!

So as the popular rhythms and blues song Route 66 released in 1946 says:

When you make that California trip

Get your kicks on Route 66!

It's not anyone of us...it's all of us!

This past weekend was the New England Masters Short Course Championships at Harvard's Blodgett Pool. It is a huge annual meet and draws swimmers from all over New England.

Despite the dedication of showing up at practice on a regular basis a majority of the morning MIT Masters rarely swim in meets-much to Coach Bill's chagrin. Why do we torture ourselves by getting up when most people are asleep, jump in cold water and swim up and down a monotnous black line if we aren't going to see the fruits of our training by swimming in a meet? This weekend I think I figured part of the answer out.

Thanks (I think) to what started as gentle prodding by Jeff and Josh that morphed into some type of positive peer pressure we decided to enter the meet. We would only do one day (except for Josh) and swim a couple of events. 

We all swam the 200 free, 100IM and the 400 medley relay and 200 free relay. I threw in the 500 free for good measure.  Between the four of us we had some darn good individual swims. 

(Hubbard staring down the pool)

(Jeff 100 IM)

(Josh 100 IM)

I must say I think I had the most fun in the 400 medley relay. The combined age of our relay was 192 years. We led off with a solid backstroke by Hubbard, I followed with a painful breastroke and we hammered it home with strong fly and free performances by Josh and Jeff.  In fact, this motley band of mature swimmers (except Josh-not saying he is immature though) got third in our age group. Not too shabby.

We were in and out of the water multiple times from a warm up before each race, the race and then a post race warm down. By the end I was sick and tired of jumping in cold water.

It was a very long day however I must say it was a fun day too! A couple things came to mind as we sat in the bleachers for nearly 12 hours!!!!!

First, I think what makes masters swimming so inspiring was to see the variety of swimmers at the meet from young to old and people of all different shapes and sizes. Seeing a 75 year old man swim a 500 free and then to back it up with a 200 fly that is pretty damn inspiring. I guess I better start swimming more fly.

And second, speaks to why I get up early in the mornings to jump in a cold pool to stare a dumb black line...it is the people!  I am not sure what it is like at other masters teams but what I do know is the reason I show up at MIT nearly everyday is the people. It sets the tone for and makes my entire day. To steal Coach Bill's phrase-It's not any one of us...it's all of us.

Thank you Jeff, Hubbard and Josh for making it a great Saturday.

500 free 6:00.26-felt good about the swim in particularly the way I paced it.

100 IM 1:08-fun swim. Short and sweet.

200 free 2:12-end of the day felt ok about it. Room for improvement

400 medley relay-100 breast 1:14

200 free relay-50 free sucked

Somewhere over the rainbow...

...dreams do come true! So says Bruddah Iz.

This weeks dream came true...spending my birthday in Maui!  A very short (3 night) business trip also provided for early season open water swimming in some of my favorite spots.

By the time I got to Maui it was late afternoon. I jetted to Kaanapali for a short refreshing swim before sunset. A quick change in the car and I was at the beach within minutes. While the waters around Kaanapali are generally flat today they were anything but due to strong winds. In fact, I was the only one in the water. It was a short choppy swim from Whaler's Village to Black Rock and back. Timed perfectly I was sitting at the Hula Grill Bar having pupus and a mai tai at sunset. When my head hit the pillow at The Ritz Kapalua I was already asleep.

The next morning I was up early as I had to jam a lot of fun in before a work reception that night. First up was a 6:45am raft whale watch in Lahaina. I had never been to Hawaii during whale season. What a treat to see these huge mammals in their natural habitat!

Post whale watch it was off for a solid open water swim. I headed up to North Kanaapali/Airport Beach and went for a long-ish swim down to Black Rock (the other side) and back. The water was calm and felt great.  

Hunger set in so I went back to Lahaina for my birthday lunch of mai tai's and a cheeseburger at Cheeseburger in Paradise on Front Street. En route back to the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua I made a quick stop to Kapalua Bay beach for a short swim and nap on the beach. 

Birthday greetings from family and friends along with a surprise room service gift of champagne and cookies from Shannon and the kids made it a great birthday! They are very good to me.

The next day I was able to get in two swims. The first, was a solid masters workout in pool #56 at the Lahaina Athletic Center. It was good to see Coach Mike again. He is also long time beach lifeguard on the island.

Post a very short business meeting and a very windy and cloudy client lunch I was back in search of open water and some sun. I headed to North Kaanapali next to the Honu Kai where we stayed a few years back for a moderately short refreshing swim.  A short nap a small pupu platter and a mai tai it was the perfect meal to tide me over until a romantic solo sunset dinner at Malo.

Knowing Saturday was my last day in Paradise with a red-eye home I had no time to waste. The goal was to hit three beaches.

First up was back to Kaanapali Beach and Whalers Village with a long swim from Black Rock to the Hyatt and back. Roughly a 2.2 mile swim in calm, clear and warm ocean. Love it!

After that I was off to  Napili Bay for ahi and mai tai lunch and a swim. Napili with its beautiful views is fast becoming one of my most favorite beaches on Maui. Oh yeah-I also had a quick nap!

With one beach left to go I dashed back up to the Ritz and D.T. Fleming Beach.  It was windy and wavy which was fun.  It wasn't a serious swim but a swim nonetheless. After again another short nap I went for walk out to the rocky point looking back at Flemings. That is when I spotted the beautiful rainbow.  It was so fun to see and made for a special memory as I ended my time in Maui.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole song Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World is one of my favorites and ends with the following verse~

"Oh, somewhere over the rainbow way up high

And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can't I?"

What a wonderful world! Aloha hui ho!

#75 Aspen Recreation Center...the real workout took place out of the pool

Well, this was my first pool in Colorado and it surely it didn't disappoint. How could it? I was in Aspen.  

Sean and I came to ski for a few days. More on skiing in a bit. The second morning as Sean was sleeping I discovered the Aspen Recreation Center. It's a fabulous rec center with two ice rinks, rock climbing wall, fitness center and a nice 25 yard pool with a lazy river and a two story water slide.

The pool was fairly empty as I was there early. I was struck when I walked in with the beautiful mountain range mural on the wall. The only other place I've seen a mural like this was at pool #15 in Whistler B.C. It must be a mountain thing. It ended up being a leisurely 2300 yard swim as I was going so slow. I wanted to blame it on sore ski legs from the day before but I don't think that was necessarily the case. It was the altitude! I was sucking for air. I now get altitude training.

The entire swim I was eyeballing the two story water slide. It looked so fun! I really wanted to go down it. With slight hesitation I went up to the lifeguard and asked her if I could go down it. Why not? It was closed as it was only 7:30am but they opened it up just for me.  It was so fast and a blast! I went down it twice. I am sure they haven't ever opened the slide that early for a 50 year old speedo clad man. Great way to end a workout!

The real workout was about begin on the slopes a couple hours later.

The true focus of this trip was skiing not swimming. Our friend Lara (of pool #33 fame), that always has great recommendations and knows Aspen well gave us one that was the true highlight of the trip. When we were at Aspen Highlands to make sure to take the time to hike up to the summit of Highland Peak and ski down Highland Bowl.

Looking across the valley from Ajax to Highland Peak the day before I knew I was going to be pushing the ski comfort zone. After a couple of warm up runs it was time to hit Highland Bowl.  The chair lift lets you off at 11,675 feet and the you have to hike about 45+ minutes to the summit at 12,392 feet. 

(Looking across from Ajax. Highland Bowl is the bowl center left)

After a short cat ride that took us up about a quarter of the way up we strapped our skis on our back and began the ascent. The hike was fairly steep and quite narrow in some spots with steep drop offs on either side. Frankly, the narrow bits made me quite nervous. The roughly 4,000 feet in elevation change from the pool in the morning to the top and the steep terrain made it a uhhh-solid workout!

The reward for our efforts were absolutely breathtaking views from the summit. The Maroon Bells, Pyramid Peak and the Rockies laid out before us-you could see for miles. 

We rested for a bit, took some pics, savored the moment and then got down to business. The run we decided upon was Ozone it was recommended by a ski patrol. Ozone was steep and right down the middle of the face. It was certainly steeper than anything I've ever skied. It wasn't necessarily pretty but I made it down. It wasn't really too bad. Sean skied it fast and confidently and looked like a pro.

(Ozone just to the left of the bigger rock outcropping at top)

We had worked up quite an appetite during our little adventure so we quickly headed to the mid-mountain lodge for lunch and a bit of champagne to celebrate.

It was the highlight of the trip (thanks Lara) and fun making memories with Sean and seeing him in his element. He will be a great CU Buff! It was also good to push your non-swimming comfort zone and to find a new pool to boot.

5 in a row!

Last night the Weston Red Tide Swimming AND Diving team captured their fifth title in a row in a close victory that came down to the final race the 4x100 free relay.

At the beginning of the season I don't think anyone really thought it was possible.  The boys worked hard all season with the usual ups and downs along the way and came together as a team when it counted.  It was a total team effort showing the strength in the depth of the team the and importance of diving. The Tide wouldn't have won if it wasn't for the three divers! At the beginning of the meet they also won the MIAA Sportsmanship Award. Big night!

It was also a bittersweet night as it was end of the road for our senior diver and reluctant swimmer Sean. He started off his high school career only diving with the added pressure of having an older swimming brother on the team. Year after year his diving got better and better, with the help of slope style skiing on the side.  Eventually, a little secret became public that Sean is also a very fast freestyle sprinter. In fact, in his junior year he was the first person in the teams history to score points in the state meeting in both diving and swimming! Ever the team player the last two years he likely swam more in meets than dove. His training consisted primarily of diving with a handful of 50's at some point during practice. Not necessarily ideal for either sport but he willing did it for the team with his own fun loving style and personality. Three state titles in four years was a heck of a way to capped off his diving and swimming career!

Not sure when or if we will ever see Sean swimming along a black line or twisting and flipping in the air above the pool. What I do know is that we will find Sean on a mountain twisting and flipping in the air above the snow!!! After a long day at Boston University's pool and a night of celebration he left at the crack of dawn this morning for the slopes.

Sean we are all very proud of you and all you accomplished in and out of the pool! Go Buffs!

One more to go with Weston swimming-Go GLOWS*!

*(Glorious Ladies of Weston Swimming)

#74 The Swim & Raquet Center-Florida Living

Typically, a quick business trip from Boston to south Florida in February is a great idea. Not necessarily the case on this trip. 

It was cold. I got off the plane mid afternoon and it was overcast and chilly. Not too bad for somebody from Boston but not what I was expecting. Dining al fresco solo I had to sit under a heat lamp to keep warm. When the alarm went off the next morning at 5:00am it was dark, likely cold and I hit the snooze, and I missed the masters workout. I finally got up at 7:00am and found another pool. The closest pool was the Swim & Raquet Center in Boca Raton. It's a nice eight lane outdoor pool at the local community center. It was so chilly the lifeguards wore stadium coats. I did a very lazy 2,100 yards in honor of Ryan's 21st birthday. I then went to the jacuzzi to warm down for 15 minutes. 

 

From Boca Raton I was off to hip South Beach Miami for an evening reception. There was really no time to check out the beach but that was ok as it was still so chilly they brought out the heat lamps for the pool side reception. Went to bed early so I could go the half block to the beach to watch the sunrise. After few minutes of standing in 50 degree temps in my swimsuit I took the plunge. I didn't swim too far out maybe 15 feet from shore because it was dawn I was in Florida and well...you know what could  be lurking! I only swam about 50 yards . I wish I would have swum more as the water was cool and felt great. Just happy to be in the water and to watch a beautiful sunrise. 

 

While not a typical short winter escape to Florida it was successful; lunch with an old colleague, my first new pool of the year (#74), a beautiful sunrise and staying at the W Hotel in South Beach with trendy art. 

Back to Boston for historic record cold temps between 0-minus10 degrees this weekend--oh well!