Swimming with the tide

Inspired by my brother's increasing swim activity and his entry in to a masters program, I felt it was my turn. The trouble with always being the fastest swimmer out of your training group is that you fall under a grossly misrepresented impression that you are a great swimmer. Don't worry, a quick trip to a masters swim session will cure that quickly.

The past two weeks have been spent having a couple of morning swim sessions with a masters group in my local area. As we become increasingly winter like, as the snow is meant to begin to fall and the frigid wind sending you hurrying back inside for another layer, swimming becomes an appealing endeavor. Biking limited appeal on the inside of the house. Running continues strong, even with those chilly temps. However, it is swimming that can achieve the greatest leaps forward. Traditionally, we would gather at the local pool, chat long enough to put off getting in the frigid water, jump in and swim back and forth for an hour, often interrupting each length for a good catchup on what has happened to Justin Bieber this week! However, this year I was steered in the direction a local swim group. The immediate upgrade came when I entered their water for the first time and discovered music under the water. Winner! However, reality came crashing down when the coach pulled me aside to point out that I was indeed, wait for it, crossing over! Perhaps, the worst words a "swimmer" wants to hear. Once I had composed my fragile demeanor, I proceeded to attempt my new instructed technique. Who knew, it worked! I wasn't exactly flying down the pool at new speeds, but fatigue was longer to set in and my neck did was not as sore the next day. Break through!

The next session proved even more impacting. If you ever have a misbehaving child, this training method in the pool should do the trick in correcting any behavioral problems. Step 1, tether swimmer to one end of pool. Step 2, tell swimmer to attempt to swim to the other end of the pool. Step 3, swimmer will discover that the elastic cord is not in fact fully long enough and requires stretching. Step 4, induce stretching by swimming as hard as you can without adding vomit to the pool. Step 5, reach other end of pool and don't let go! Step 6, swim the other way, without the initial expectation that it will feel like you are superhuman, or being dragged by a speed boat. Entirely a new experience.

Next up, some more winter training.

Good luck to us all!

Glutes, Hamstrings and Posture

As I sit in yet another of the world's airports, preparing to sit in a posture destroying seat, I reflect on the last week's work. Since the cold end to the racing season, I have wondered what has caused all the aches and pains and lopsided form.

More time, without pressure to complete a specific workout, has permitted my time to be spent on cross training and working out for the sake of it. During these workouts, I have taken notice of the subtle lopsided-ness of my form, whether biking, running or in the gym. Research began. Not the rigid type of research you might find in a university library, but the modern type. The online type.

I Googled around and found a reference to those of us who sit for the majority of the day and the way this contributes to a gradual weakening of the hammstrings and glutes, further leading to poorer and poorer posture. This peaked my attention, as I too have found this developing in my body. A gradual hunching over, as if you are shrugging your shoulders at a question. I decided this needed to be worked on over the off season. More strength training was needed. I was to focus on the adbuctors, hamstrings and glutes. Two strength training sessions a week, combined with a focus on running and working with a Virtual Power meter to expose my imperfect and distinctly one sided biking technique, provided a much needed focus on improving my form and subsequent efficiency over the winter. This will continue throughout the off season (aka The Dreaming Season) in order to arrive in February very much ready for my third and hopefully last (at least for a little while) Ironman training season.

The side effects? Sore, worked out glutes and lower back, followed by 10 hours of sitting on an aircraft. Yet, my form and posture will benefit exponentially. What a combo!

Good luck to us all!