The Ball is Rolling

It feels great now that things are moving. The fundraising site is starting to collect donations. But, there is a long way to go.

First, if you haven't been here before, or didn't get my email today, I'm a father of a child with Autism and I'm competing in the 2012 US Masters Swimming Summer Nationals, and raising money for the Ozark Center For Autism. Go here for more intro blog.

Today I sent out a fundraising email, and revealed a new twist. Here it is:

I am usually very private with my swimming goals, but I’m going to share some with you. Why? I’ll use it as incentive to work harder for the cause. I’ll tell you a goal, and you can contact me to pledge that you’ll donate a certain amount if I reach it. I’ll keep track of the pledges and post where they are periodically on my blog. It will be informal, and on the honor system, it will be up to you to honor your pledge if I reach my goal. Here is the first goal for you to pledge for. If you don’t like it, there will be more. They will all be good though.

Goal to Pledge for:

FINA (the international governing body of swimming) each year produces World Top 10 lists for each age group in masters swimming. They also keep an all-time top 10 list. I used to have a couple of swims on the all-time list, but over the years, I moved farther down the list, and in 2009, I got bumped off. I want to get back on that list. Right now that means faster than 30.52 in the 50 meter breast, 1:08.21 in the 100 breast, or 2:31.76 in the 200 breast. This could be a moving target, as others could go faster between now & then. I will keep an eye out for faster swims, and if those times change, I’ll post them on my blog before my race. If you want to motivate me, make a pledge to donate if I reach this goal. Just contact me with your pledge, I’ll put you on the list. You can donate after I reach my goal!

I'm very excited about this! I'm hoping it will generate some interest, and motivate people to follow along in my journey!

Training update: This morning I set out to get back on track after a slow finish to last week. A gym workout was on the schedule, and I picked 2 of the toughest workouts I've done recently, both from Workout Trainer by Skimble. First was called Weight Circuit Program, followed by Fat Burner Deluxe. I walked away with burning muscles and drenched in sweat. I've been feeling the effects all day, my legs are particularly angry with me. They'll get over it, sometime in late June!

Update 04-29-12

Last week was insanely busy with work. Training started very solid, but fizzled, in large part due to work. Workouts since my last post:

Wednesday, Workout Trainer workouts: Wicked Weights, and Washboard Abs Blast. Both were great workouts, had my muscles burning and sweat dripping. Two thumbs up on both.
Thursday, I ended up skipping. I took Evan to 'Take Your Child To Work Day', and couldn't see dragging him out of bed at 5 to wait around while I worked out. Plus, I needed to get to the office a bit earlier to get a jump on the day.
Friday, just a quick 1,000 meters in the pool. I needed to cut it short so I could get in the office, had a big project due.

After a weekend of not the best diet, and no serious workouts, I'm determined make up for a slow finish to last week with full and solid week of training.

On a personal note, I did have a great weekend with lots of family time. Autism continues to throw us curve balls. Quin has displayed more and more 'stemming' behaviors lately. They are usually quite harmless, at the most a little annoying. But the latest has us a bit worried. He's started licking his hands, and we're having trouble getting him to stop. This can be a bit concerning, as a parent, you never want to think about where your kids hands have been. Guess we'll have to stock up on hand sanitizer until this behavior passes.

Training; 04-23-12

This morning was with my friends in the KC Blazers Masters team at Roeland Park Aquatic Center.

	4/24/2012
	Qty	Yards	Interval	Total Yrds
	5	200	0:15 rest	1000	Odds; Free,Swim,Dcnd
				0	Evens; Not Free, 25K25D
4	5	50	1:00	1000	1;Easy,2;Drill,3;Build,4;90%,5;100%
				0	I.M. order by sets
	1	200		200	Easy
2	4	25	0:30	200	Choice	Swim	Open,Close,Easy,Fast
	3	50	1:00	300	Choice	Drill
	2	100	2:15	400	Choice	Kick
	1	200	3:30	400	I.M.	Swim
	1	200		200	Cool Down
				0
				3700	Yards
				2.102273	Miles

I was really suffering at first with the sprints I did yesterday, somewhat expected. After about 3,000 yards, I started feeling better, ans swimming a bit faster.
Only thing special about this swim was having someone in my lane that I've never swam with before. Always nice to see new people in the water.

Training; 04-23-12

First, I got a 'bonus' workout in Saturday morning. It's always a pleasure to exercise with my lovely wife. She wanted to try out this app I've been using for workouts (Workout Trainer by Skimble). So I picked a workout I thought would be challenging for her, a good workout for me, and fun for both. Boy did I miss the mark. I picked Fat Burner Deluxe thinking it shouldn't be a problem, and would target what she would want to do in a workout. It turned out pretty well, except it was brutally difficult. It was tough, and not nearly as fun as it could have been. But, she likes the way the workouts are structured, and put the app on her phone so she can do them on her own.

Next, this morning I hit the pool again. I like to get in some speed in the water at least once a week, and its nice to get it done on Monday. I did variation of a set that I've done several times in the last year, the goal is to get some really fast 50 times. Here's the workout (Note, this was at Health Ridge Fitness, so it's a 25 meter pool)

	4/23/2012
	Qty	Meters	Interval	Total Mtrs
	1	200		200	Free	Swim	Easy
	1	200		200	Brst	Kick	Easy
	1	200		200	Free/Brst	Pull	Moderate
	1	200		200	Brst	Kick	Easy
	1	200		200	I.M.	Drill
	4	25	:20 Rest	100	Brst	Swim	Dcnd
7	1	50	2:00	350	Free	Swim	Easy
	1	50	1:00	350	Stroke	Swim	All Out
	1	50	1:00	350	Recovery
				0	Odd sets, stroke is breast
				0	Even sets, Fly,Back,Free
	1	100		100	Cool Down
				0
				2250	Meters
				1.398085	Miles

I was really pleased with this one. All 4 of my 50s breast were sub 35. I'm really pleased with that kind of speed with as hard as I've been working and how tired I am right now. Expecting big things when I taper!!

Training; 04-20-12

Plan a gym workout with my lovely wife for tomorrow, so I threw in an extra pool workout this morning. I felt pretty fatigued, except my legs felt fresh. So I set out to punish my legs a bit. Note: This workout was on my own at Health Ridge Fitness in Olathe, KS, which has a 25 meter pool.

4/20/2012
Qty	Meters	Interval	Total Mtrs
1	200		200	Free	Swim	Easy
1	200		200	Brst	Kick	Easy
1	200		200	Free/Brst	Pull	Moderate
1	200		200	I.M.	Drill
			0
2	100	2:00	200	Brst	Kick	Dcnd as intervals increase
2	100	2:05	200	Brst	Kick	Dcnd as intervals increase
2	100	2:10	200	Brst	Kick	Dcnd as intervals increase
2	100	2:15	200	Brst	Kick	Dcnd as intervals increase
2	100	2:20	200	Brst	Kick	Dcnd as intervals increase
2	100	2:25	200	Brst	Kick	Dcnd as intervals increase
2	100	2:30	200	Brst	Kick	Dcnd as intervals increase
2	100	2:35	200	Brst	Kick	Dcnd as intervals increase
			0
1	100		100	Cool Down
			0
			2500	Meters
			1.553428	Miles

I stole this set from Coach Glenn Mills and his web site http://www.goswim.tv/ Actually, this was a modification of his 'set of the week'. The set went pretty well. I started at 1:48, and by #12 got down to 1:37. Legs really tightened up, and couldn't get any faster, last one was 1:39. Mission accomplished. Legs are no longer fresh. Should have done more cool down, but was running late.

Want to be a better swimmer? I encourage you to check out Coach Mills' web-site, download his GoSwim app, and/or follow him on Twitter @goswim. The guy knows his stuff, and is very well respected among the best swimmers in the country!  Thanks for the set coach!!