Archive for July, 2009

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7/30/09 Worlds continued…

The thoughts just keep coming during the 7/28-29 coverage….

–It was really odd to see Michael touch second during a major final. That 1.22-second difference between him and Beiderman is within the “was it the suit?” range for me. I’m not trying to take away Beiderman’s training and technique. But still… I do give Beiderman props for his gracious post-race comments. I too look forward to seeing the two swimmers go head-to-head in the near future while wearing suits cut from the same cloth. p.s. could Phelps suit get any lower?

–First Beijing, now Worlds. Great Britain is shaping up for a strong showing in their home town of London in the 2012 Games.

–The nightly coverage has been GREAT. But it took me a bit to get used to the “over head” shot. It’s like it’s being filmed through a bubble. I get that curvature of lens may include more lanes, but it also has the weird effect of making the swimmers look like they are veering unnaturally to one side or the other. Particularly during breaststroke. Competitors look like they have giraffe necks skewed at an angle. Very disconcerting.

–Is it me or do all national athems sort of sound alike?

–Tech suit comment of the day: can’t they get those things zipped up all the way? I have seen many swimmers warming up behind the blocks with zippers sliding open. It makes me anxious for them.

–Thank you, Rowdy Gaines, for your support of making the 1500 available to women in the Olympics. Speaking of which, could we run the 1500 for just once without a commercial break? I am tired of dashing back from the kitchen to find that the entire race order has changed while I was washing dishes.

–The whole “sit on lane rope and celebrate new WR” thing is getting on my nerves. Maybe it’s because I became jaded about WRs the first day of this meet.

–The officials must be melting on deck in their dark blue blazers. Especially the men, who have to wear ties in addition to that jacket.

–What is with the turban-wearing stuffed frog handed out on the podium? I must google and see if I can learn more. Or at least see a better image of one. Maybe it isn’t a turban…

–Schmitt keeps coming back in the 200 free — from last at the first turn to the finals to the podium. Excellent job, but perhaps she could pace that first 50 just a tad faster. Speaking of the 200 free, I am in awe of Pellegrini’s turn over. Simply amazing.

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

7/28/09 Worlds (aired 7/27/09)

This week features random comments on the continuing coverage of Worlds:

–Did Sjostrom have the worst start ever in the 100 fly? Makes her first place and new WR is even more impressive — what could she do if she got off the block first?

–My cat could snap Irie (Japanese swimmer in the 100 breast) like a twig. His tiny-ness does not detract from his beautiful stroke though.

–It was painful to watch Aaron Peirsol’s face run through a range of emotions once he realized he did not make finals in the 100 back. Certainly, his finish didn’t seem as aggressive as usual.

–The ready room looks like a support group meeting for Tourettes syndrome. All that twitching, shaking, ticking. The only thing missing is random outbursts of inappropriate words.

–Yes, I’ve been picking on the tech suits a lot lately. Here’s one positive comment: I like the hot pink accent swoops on Casey Carlson’s suit that she wore for the semis.

–Either Stephanie Rice is a good actress or she truly seems very pleasant, especially when conceding two losses in a row to Ariana Kukors in the 200 IM.

–I’ve really been enjoying watching the race order change per turn. It’s inspiring me to take my “improve my turns” goals more seriously. As in “actually work on them this year.”

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

7/27/09 Worlds

Would it be a meet without my random commentary? Here we go then, my report on yesterday’s Worlds 2009 events (aired on Sunday, 7/26/09):

–The behind the blocks pool-splash is a common sight at meets. I do this myself to help prepare my body for the water and as a “I’m ready to race!” ritual. It looks hot in Rome, so I’m not surprised to see more splashing than usual. But I was intrigued by a new twist — one of the female Japanese 100m fly semi-finalists squeezed a sponge over her head. Several questions came to mind: 1) is this really better/easier than just bending over the pool? 2) did she actually pack a sponge or was it part of her team equipment kit? 3) doesn’t this add another wrinkle to race preparation? If she’s not using pool water is she soaking it before she hits the ready room?

–Is it me or have there been more swim offs to snare that 8th spot in finals this past year?

–Today’s tech suit comment: I’m getting jaded about WRs. Especially when they occur in every heat, whether prelims, semis or finals.

–The mens 400 free was probably one of dullest finals I’ve seen in awhile except for those last 10 meters or so. I did not see that WR coming.

–I swear that Matt Grevers biceps are bigger than my quads.

–I like the double color lines for relays — red for WR relay pace, white for lead-off WR pace.

–What is “Yakult?” It’s on everything — caps, banners, some of the sweats, etc. I guess their “plaster marketing” approach is working since I feel compelled to Google them now.

–It’s just down right weird not to see USA on the podium for the women’s 400 free relay. On the other hand, can the USA men make that relay any more exciting on the international circuit?

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

7/26/09 Technical Suits Ruling

By now, most likely everyone in the swim community has read or heard the FINA ruling on tech suits. I for one, am kind of excited about limiting suits to textile material and the cut (neck to knee for the ladies, waist to knee for the gentlemen). I hope USMS will adopt the ruling as well; here’s why in a nutshell.

I like technical suits to some extent. I even own a fastskin, arguably the first type of “technical” suit. Yet I feel like the technical suit explosion over the past year has gotten out of control. For one, I am tired of seeing swimmers tricked out for dual/local meets. I guess I can sort of understand if you don a BlueSeventy or Jaked when shooting for a QT. But for just run of the mill meets? It just seems sort of silly to me.

Second, I don’t want to have any doubt concerning performances. Absolutely, upsets happen — that’s one of the reasons sports are entertaining to watch. But tech suits have left me wondering this past year if some results were based on a paradigm shift (training, diet, technique, etc.) or a new suit. I want swimming to remain as test of atheticism, not of suits. Yes, I get that a suit is unlikely to make the difference in finish between 1:30 and 1:00 paced swimmers. But in those close calls where competitors are separated by one-hundreths and one person is wearing a tech suit and the other isn’t — what to think?

Third, I don’t want suits to become another “keeping up the Jonses” element in life. Not everyone can afford the current batch technical suits (i.e. what about families that have several kids in the national swimming feeder system?) And it’s not like these suits are sturdy enough to last several seasons or become “hand me downs.” Personally, I’ve been steeling myself for the day when I am touched out at Nationals by a competitor wearing a BlueSeventies while I have my fastskin on. I just couldn’t justify spending that kind of money on a technical suit. Especially when it would looks like it would feel similar to a really uncomfortable wetsuit. And for the same price I could pay for oh, say my rent…

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

7/21/09 Drink Review Continued: Concoctions

Ok, I admit that by now I’m diving into the deep end of the swim-fuel pool with weird mixes made at home. Here’s what I decided to try during my Tuesday a.m. 75-minute swim:

one cup chocolate soy & one scoop Alive!em>
cals: 150 120
polyunsaturated fat: 2g 0
monosatured fat: 1g 0
sodium: 100mg 165mg
potassium: 350mg 90mg
total carb: 25g 13g
fiber: 2g 3g
sugars: 21g 9g
protein: 5g 16g
And a whole host of vitamins and minerals ranging from Vit A to Zinc

My thinking behind the blend was this: 1) chocolate milk has gotten so much good PR about being a super recovery drink, why not try chocolate soy while I swim? and 2) wouldn’t it be a good idea to start off my day with so many vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and more?

The results? Not the worst fuel ever, but not a keeper. For starters, I was semi-nauseous as I swam, which is never a good thing but especially not on IM day. I think there was just too much going on in my tummy — calories, sugar (the combo had a higher count than a lot of the pre-fab drinks), protein and more. I definitely need something a little easier to absorb because your mom is right: digestion and swimming shouldn’t be pursued at the same time.

Also, this blend didn’t provide enough anti-deyhydration kick. Thanks to my summer trial of drinks, I am starting to suspect that for me, hitting the wall has more to do with needing to replace electrolytes/potassium versus calories or water.

Hmmmm…what to try next….

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

7/20/09 It’s Too Early for Pool Closures!

Here’s a thought: perhaps the further we get from our childhood the easier that time seems to be. For example, summer pool closure dates.

While growing up as an AAU age grouper, the Town Park complex (50mx25y pool, diving well, L-shaped pool for kids/lessons and kiddie wading pools) closed each season right after Labor Day. Life was simple then. The Dolfins, my age group team, hosted the District meet in mid-August. After a week or so of vacation, it was back to practice in the outdoor pool with either the Dolfins or the scholastic team until school started and we were back in the high school pool until the following summer.

Call me crazy, but I think JULY is still summer, and thus way too early to close an outdoor pool. Except that it happens here and now in Colorado. Two of the pools I regularly swim in are closing at the end of July. I can switch to another 50m outdoor pool, but that one closes August 15. Even the indoor pool tnhat hosts my team closes for their annual three-week cleaning at the start of the second week of August.

I don’t get it. It’s hotter here August-September than upstate NY, which is where I grew up. Yet the outdoor pools always have such a short season here. Is it a weird Rocky Mountain tradition? It can’t be blamed on the economy because the pools were closing early when I first moved here years ago.

In any case, July is too early for me to be getting panick-y, but as pools close, I have fewer and fewer swim options. Even worse, this year I feel like I’m careening into fall without a plan. It’s been getting tougher to find adequate pool time and I fear I have hit the wall in terms of workable (i.e. at least 75 minutes per session at a semi-normal time with an actual team in a pool that doesn’t require a 30 minute+ one-way commute) options.

What to do, what to do…

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

7/17/09 New Land Activity

Kind of ironic that a few months ago I posted “maybe we should have been runners” in response to lack of pool time because today I’m posting about actually having started to run on a regular basis.

Having been happily water-logged for the majority of my life, I never really have “run” before. Oh sure, I would do a few miles here and there on a treadmill while still “grounded” by a respiratory illness, but I’ve never approached running with any consistency.

For the past few months though, I have been building up to 30-60 minutes 1-3x a week. Typical for me, I had several motivational factors lined up:

–First and foremost, it’s always all about swimming. As in “maybe if I start running my cardio/endurance level would be even better and my kick and push-offs would improve if my legs were stronger.”

–I need another activity since local pool time seems to be drying up at an alarming rate.

–Good timing: I’m taking a break from competition this summer, so why not try something new?

–Cross training is always a good idea (those shoulders need a break!), especially as I age.

–It fits into my “streamline life” goal. I don’t need a special facility, equipment or scheduled time to run. I can lace up my sneakers and walk to the park in five minutes.

–I really like being outdoors. The LCM season here is so short here that I’ve wanted another all-body cardio activity to do outside as much as possible.

–My inner glamazon would love to svelte out a little more!

After starting with one 20-30 minute run per week, I built to 2xs a week for 45 minutes. But I realize now that pressuring myself to “run more!” per outing was slowing my pace down — too tired, too new to running.

Luckily, today’s epiphany (occuring while running) was a good solution: approach running like swimming! I don’t swim 15,000m two times a week, do I? No, I swim anywhere from 3500-5000m per 4-6 practices in a week. My new plan? Switching to three, 30-minute runs per week (it still adds up to the same total time, after all) for the next few weeks. Then I’ll gradually add time to the three runs.

As always, I’ll keep you posted with the process…

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

Drink Review Continued: Gatorade

Several years ago while living in Atlanta I was plagued with calf cramps during one season. Before that summer, I had heard of this vicious affliction, but never had experienced it. I’m not sure what was so different for me that summer (i.e. was it particularly hot?), but I do recall stopping in the middle of the lane to clutch and massage a spasming calf numerous times.

Because of the calf cramps, I tried Gatorade for the first time that year. Sure, it eliminated calf-cramps, but then they cropped up in my stomach. So…it’s taken me awhile to give Gatorade another go. This summer however, I figured that since I’m not training for anything, I have nothing to lose if I end up with stomach cramps during a swim or two as I experiment with drinks.

First, the breakdown:
Calories: 50
Fat: 0g
Sodium: 100mg
Potassium: 30mg
Carbs: 14g
Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 14g
Protein: 0g

I tried the powder formula during three practices. Out of the three flavors (lemon-lime, fruit punch and orange) I am surprised that my flavor-ranking is 1) orange, 2) lemon-lime and 3) fruit punch, because I am not a citrus fan (I often wonder if I’ll develop scurvy some day because I avoid eating even an orange). Aesthetically speaking, only the lemon-lime gave me pause because despite the cheery image of a banana running on my preferred “Banana Man 5K Classic” clear plastic bottle, it still looked like a urine sample on deck.

For me, the major pro to Gatorade is that I don’t run out of stream during practice or even for hours after due to dehydration. The con, however is that it’s not quite up to snuff as a “fuel” during practice.

I still have a few more samples to review, but I sense that I am heading into “make my own blend” territory to get everything I want out of a practice drink…

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

I found that only if I drank close to the full serving (16 ounces) that the stomach cramping started to creep up on me.

7/11/09 Trials #2

My random thoughts about Trials continued….

–”…the only positive thing she said…” Summer Sanders during her recap of the her conversation with Katie Hoff. YIKES! Sounds like Katie Hoff is in a bad place right now. Speaking of which, could the network kick her any more when she’s down? Showing Hoff’s 200 free Beijing 4th place right before her dismal 200 free final was a little too “downward spiral” for me. She’s young, she’s going through a lot of transitions; she’ll be back and stronger than ever.

–Margaret Hoelzer and Mary Descenza are my “happiest swimmers behind the blocks, always” co-winners for the summer.

–Is anyone else besides me relieved that Haley Gregory finally finished first and earned a spot on a prestigious team? The more I watch her race the more I think her niche is really 50m back. If only they offered it…

–Elizabeth Pelton qualified in three events: let’s hope the media doesn’t over-hype another up-and-coming teen female swimmer and thus spook her between now and Worlds.

–Aaron Peirsol has the most amazing back turnover and finish. ‘Nuff said.

–I love Summer Sanders. She does an excellent color-commentary job at the meets. So I was disappointed not to see her during NBC’s coverage on Saturday. Particularly because she doesn’t ask every swimming the really annoying (and badly phrased) “what was the difference maker?” question. But, I have to admit, she could use a stylist — her “swimmer’s hair” days should be over by now.

–Where was Phelps’ new “straight arm recovery” stroke? Every other male swimmer (Lochte, Adrian, etc.) seemed to be doing it for the last 15 meters into the wall.

–David Walters has earned my “best post-swim comments” award for the meet. How refreshing, mellow and fun he is!

–Maybe I’m a little too into swimming, but I loved all of the sport-specific commercials! It’s good to see the sport getting some air time finally. That’s why I am reluctant to lodge a complaint about the coverage just when we are making some progress. But here goes: a little consistency, please! I get that we can’t see every final, nor all of the distance ones. But could we at least see the A final heat results posted after each race? Yes, we know that “only the top two” get to go to Worlds, the Olympics, whatever. But I would like to see how the entire field finished.

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

7/8/09 Trials Day One

I am disappointed that I missed the first 30+ minutes or so of yesterday’s progran, but here are some preliminary thoughts on what I did see:

–Ok, this just occured to me (and yes, I’m slow on this one!): after watching the men’s 400 IM Bejing clip again during the 2009 Trials show (combined with the thought of “hey, I’ve seen many swimmers decked out in full body technical suits per meet thius summer”) I realized that Phelps didn’t always choose a full body technical suit for many of his semis and even finals, yet still smashed records at the Olympics. My awe-level just jumped another huge notch.

–Was it just me or was there a Burckle in every final yesterday? Maybe they are taking over the Vanderkaays’ “swimming siblings” title.

–The staging was a bit OTT (Over The Top) for me. I can appreciate the goal of wanting to make swimming appealing and exciting to a broader audience, but having the A finalists enter the pool deck into a glaring spotlight, one by one, left-right to the blocks was a bit much. I for one would feel like a huge dork walking in like that; I just want to swim. And as much as I love Summer Sanders and her reporting ability, having her interview swimmers over the natatorium sound system was again a bit too much. You could tell that even some of the swimmers felt a bit put-on-the-spot, especially as they were trying to catch their breath post race. This glamming up of swimming reminds me of the big figure skating explosion post Nancy-Tonya. Hopefully the results won’t be the same (ice skating suddenly was everywhere, and not in a good way. Anyone recall “Ice Wars?”)

–What is up with Katie Hoff? Yes, she was young and experienced in Athens. Yes, perhaps she spread herself a bit to thin in Bejing. But what now? Is it mental? Physical? She was so low in the water during the 400 that she looked submerged. I just want to see her swim up to her potential!

–Event of the day for me? Mens 400 IM. It was thrilling to see such a close race between the top two finishers who both got sucked into PRs.

Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist

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