Swimming to a better triathlon

I

swimming.

If you had told me 10 years ago that I would enjoy swimming and the training that goes with countless laps in the pool.....I would have laughed and called you nuts. In fact three years ago I had to say this about swimming...Becoming a Shark. So here I am again writing about the part of triathlon that many people don't like, struggle through, tolerate, or survive so that they can get onto their bike and finish with a run.

When I started to get serious about triathlon I got with Coach Angela. She had workouts for me to do in the pool. Structured workouts for swimming was something new for me but it also made sure that the time in the pool was worthwhile and not boring.

At some point during our coach/athlete period together she was evaluating my swim stroke early in the season and she had the most awesome comment for me, "You are a swimmer." I thought I had posted about it before but I can't find the entry. Anyways, her comment really struck home for me. It was definitely a turning point in my triathlon career.

A couple of years later I find myself at the end of another successful season....and my swimming has never been better. In each race I was at the top of my age group in regards to swim times. Understandably a race is more often lost during the swim, it is rarely won during the swim. But my swim times kept me competitive despite what I felt were lackluster bike splits and finishing with a strong run.

Bare with me as I need to back track a little now. On August 13th I had the opportunity to attend a swim clinic made possible by friend and fellow triathlete Daniel Smith. Daniel had done the photography for a new book written by Four Time Olympian Sheila Taormina titled "Call the Suit".

It was awesome meeting and hearing Sheila talk about her thoughts on swimming. She broke down swimming to it's basic elements and two things clicked in my head.

First, I was already on track with some of her views about the basic swim stroke.

Second, she explained swim speed so simply that a light went on in my head.

And I'm not talking about the 25 Watt bulb like you see below.

I'm talking about a 8 million candle power military grade searchlight baby.

Years of miscellaneous information finally came all together like the pieces of a puzzle.

I left the swim clinic eager to read her book and apply what she was talking about. Of course I didn't want to jump into it right away because I still had two more races ahead of me, Vermilion Harbor two days later and the HalfRev on 9/12. We all know you don't start changing things mid-season.

I still started reading Sheila's book to get the basics in my head. I could immediately see what I would be focusing on in the off season. A lot of drills and technique would help me build a good base during winter swimming. A good technique base would then allow me to work on the speed and endurance portion for the second half of the winter.

Despite telling myself to be patient and wait for the post season I just...couldn't...resist......

During some of my swim workouts I tested out some of Sheila's swim techniques. I call them her's because she wrote the book, but in actuality the basic principles are used by all the top swimmers in the world....period.

I swam some 100's and 200's just to see what would happen. Nothing long that would damage me or change my swimming before the HalfRev.

If you happen to look back in my blog you will see that I've normally been a 1:30/100 yard swimmer. This season I was consistently in the 1:25 range for the short stuff and still around 1:30 for anything over 300 yards.

On two different occasions I tested my new found knowledge and was excited by my results.

I first did some really short stuff. A couple of 25's, then some 50's to warm-up. Each of those splits when multiplied made for some very fast 100's, interesting. I finished up with a couple of 100's to see if the estimates were correct.

I was pulling 1:15's out of my butt like nobody's business, and I wasn't winded after each one.

The second time I did my little test was during a work trip. I was in a local Y pool near Joliet, IL and decided to rip off three 200's. I'm usually happy to be at 3:00 or just under for a 200.

My first 200 was a 2:50.....cool. A 1:25 average which is about right for my fitness this year.

Second 200....2:42. REALLY?!? I felt pretty good after that one also. Gave myself some rest an hit it again.

Third 200....2:38. Holy Crap!! 1:19 average.

At this point I not only drank the punch that Sheila was serving but gulping it down by the gallon.

So what is the punch Sheila is serving? Honestly, I can't do her justice by trying to describe it on my blog unless I plagiarize her book.

And I'm not even going to try and go there. It may sound like a plug for her book.....okay yes it is....but for $18 how can you go wrong? "Call the Suit" is by far one of the best training books I have ever bought and is well worth the money, plus I got mine autographed by Sheila.

So go and order her book. After you have read it then we can talk about what you learn from it.

Hey Sheila.....for this hand I'm calling Hearts.

This winter I'm getting my Swim On.

Never Forget

I received an comment on one of my posts from a year ago. The comment made sense once I re-read my post. It was one of two posts about Hallie Nanda. It had been one year since she left us after battling cancer. I re-read the posts and the comments. I sat for a while remembering how Halle pushed me all summer during my training for Ironman Wisconsin. Silently giving me support from above during the harder parts of my of bike rides and runs.

I know she will be watching me push hard this year also and giving me strength to do my best.

I was forwarded the e-mail below from her husband....In case you are interested......Game On

FYI-- kid's book author Brian P. Cleary has dedicated his most recent book in memory of Hallie. He is the author of the best-selling Words Are CATegorical series and the Math is CATegorical, Adventures in Memory, and Sounds like Reading series. He has also written several other books. Mr. Cleary lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Last year, I spent portion of Hallie's memorial fund to purchase Brian Cleary books for Avon East. During Mr. Cleary's visit to Sanjay's school, every kid went home with a book which was signed by Mr. Cleary and purchased from the fund. Since Hallie spent most of her free time volunteering at the schools, I thought it was a fitting way to spend the money that so many of you donated in her memory.

It was very generous of Mr. Cleary to dedicate this book to her and I think it is his way of showing his appreciation for Hallie's commitment to the schools and the book contribution. I just wanted to let you know about the book in case you wanted to check it out.

If you are interested, here are the details:

Title: Straight and Curvy, Meek and Nervy

More about Antonyms

By Brian P. Cleary

Illustrated by Brian Gable

US$ 15.95

ISBN-13: 978-0-8225-7878-9

Again to Carthage

I've been wanting to post some book reviews. I've read some awesome books this past year and will try to share more information about what I have been reading.

My latest read is the new book by John L. Parker, Again To Carthage. This is the long anticipated sequel to the ultimate running book Once a Runner. I've read Once a Runner several times because Parker is a runner who is a talented author. The way he describes the training and racing involved with running is awesome. I was not let down by Again to Carthage.

At first I was confused with the slow nature of the book. Trying to understand where he was going in the beginning I almost gave up. But the second half of the book is built upon the first half. Parker ties everything together and make clear the meaningful connections.

I was drawn deeper and deeper into the book to the point where I had to force myself to close the book and turn out the light somewhere near 11PM on some weeknights, usually my limit is 10PM.

Never mentioning clear dates in the book, I was sometimes lost when things were happening. However the ending is classic and is hard to describe. Of course I don't want to say anything about the actual story.

I will say that Once a Runner AND Again to Carthage are two highly prized books in my small collection. I know I will re-read this one again and again.

I cannot recommend these books enough. If possible read Once a Runner first. I know it's hard to find the first book, very expensive on-line, but if you can borrow it or find it....GET IT. Get them both. Read them both. Become excited about running.