Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
To the waters and the wild
Options
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
Fri/Sat National LC Masters Champs
What a weekend, absolutely buzzing from all the highs and lows. Brilliantly organised gala by Limerick Masters, and a really good attendance. I'll run through each of my events:
1500
After the long drive down I settled in the hotel, did some yoga, then went out for a 15min run . The last 5mins were to be fast... they were, but in the opposite direction to where I though the hotel was. Oh dear, another couple of km added on, but no hassle. I got to the pool in good time and well prepared, and watched a couple of the other heats with some clubmates swimming. Had a chat with Griffin (glad you made the trip!). I had determined not to go out too fast, control the pace and keep a good stroke. Looking at the heat sheets, there were 2 other M45's beside me, and likely at least a couple of medals coming from our heat. On the blocks, go. I felt good, in control, breathing well. I'd made a decision not to tumble turn, in order to keep breathing manageable- this is something I now regret. Going well to 500m, one lad has built a 10m lead, another guy 2m behind me. I put in distance each length, but he makes it back at each turn (he tumbles). But I'm still swimming well. At 800m a muscle in my back twangs... never had this happen before. Breathing on the other side seems to help for a bit, and in the end I just ignore it. Into the last 400m, I'm still holding 2m on the guy behind (so 2nd place in our M45 trio). Anything I make on the distance, he makes back on the turn. We're down to 200, 150, 100, and its obvious its going to come down to the wire. I deliberate if I should tumble the last turn, wait too long, don't do so and turn like a tanker. The other lad steals a couple of meters here, now I'm chasing him for the final 50, and sure enough he pips me into 3rd. I look up to see the time, 24:40 and I'm disgusted. Goal was sub 24, not only did I not get that but I lost a place over bad turns.
I check the results before going back to the hotel and I got 3rd place in AG. A medal is nice, but it should have been silver (in fact I should have went out harder and gone for gold). That night I woke up at 4am-
"where am I?"
"oh yeah, hotel in Limerick"
"what happened today?"
"you drove down for the 1500 and awwww fuuuuuccccchhhhh....."
Until the day we can wipe memories, we can just use them to learn from. Roll on Day 2.
Woke, showered, yoga, 15min run with better direction. Drove to the UL pool which was hopping.
50 back
I'd never raced this before (rarely swim back), and a recent TT had me at 48sec. Good start, up for air, start throwing the arms (and throwing water underwater), and keep going through pain waiting for the flags... and waiting... until finally they appear and there are only 1,2,3,4,5 strokes before the salvation of the wall. I had no expectations going into this event, but am happy with a 45sec time. 4th in my AG and another second would have bought a medal. Next year.
400 Medley relay
Straight away I had to get back in the water, swimming first leg (100m backstroke) for our Asgard Masters relay team. The other lads on the team are actual swimmers (and bloody fast!), so there's an expectation you have to live up to. I swim this at slightly less intensity than the 50m, and just about manage to hit the turn ready for more. I had a decent enough stroke throughout and managed to hit the wall without completely disgracing myself, yielding only enough distance so the other lads could claw back, and in the end we won the overall relay by some distance. Shiny gold medals all round!
800 DNS
I was due to do the 800 straight after this relay, but a quick text to the coach convinced me to ditch it (I had entered too many events and always knew some would be scrapped). Looking at the results after I would have been fighting for 4th place at best, so right call.
200 back
A bit of a hiatus before this event, I went for a brief walk outside and chilled before heading back inside. Into the water, good start, and grinding away. I expected to drop places but was in fact holding my own alongside each lane I could see. Decent turns, coming to 150, and still level with the field, I massively overcomplicated my last turn and in a huge effort to remain on my back I NEVER KICKED THE F*^*ING WALL, cue a mild panic as I swam back to the wall and retouched it, before going on to the final 50. I had stupidly lost distance to the field, but I was still good enough for 3rd AG (4mins I think).
50 free
Last event proper, good dive, decent stroke, I gave it what I had but didn't have that extra electricity... 33.8, happy enough with that all things considered.
400m free Relay
Straight away we had to drag ourselves to the start of the last event. 4*100m relay. Everyone was working on very tired arms, same all round. Our team was loaded the first 3 legs, with me doing the final "don't f*&^ it up" leg. I was tagged in the lead, swam hard but controlled for the first 50m, decent turn and give whats left to the finish. We ended up in third (but won our AG), I swam 1:16 for the final leg but that was everything I had.
Overall a pretty happy experience, our fledgling club has gone from strength to strength, and it was great to be part of a group and of relays in particular. Lovely bunch of people down there, big smiley face driving home.0 -
-
griffin100 wrote: »The last time I seen you swimming properly was probably 5 years ago in Wicklow Harbour when you looked like a man wrestling a bullock - you're a hell of a lot smoother now.
I think this is the most eloquent way of paying someone a compliment that I've ever heard
Well done Kurt, great prep and racing.0 -
-
Advertisement
-
I think this is the most eloquent way of paying someone a compliment that I've ever heard
Eloquent and pinprick accurate! I used to fight the water, getting better at working with it these days. Swimming is a balance between power and calm.
Thought you were going well for the first half alright Griffin, looked like a bit more splashing later in your race. Still, 26mins is a decent time and a race is the best place to learn lessons. Yes I hope hope to do some OW swims over the summer, see you then.
Sun 1:40 turbo
10min EZ
4*(10s MAX, 2:20 EZ)
4*(15mins build 200-260W, 5min EZ)
I had a lot of family commitments after being away a couple of days, so only managed a turbo instead of the planned long spin. Arms a little stiff and that back muscle still a bit tender, but otherwise all good.0 -
RacoonQueen wrote: »Your mug popped up on my facebook feed so I figured I'd better come here to check out what you've been up to. Nice swimming!
Gorgeous, ain't I?. Would you ever post on FB, correct them it was 2 gold and 2 bronze?
Get thee to a Masters club and target next year M, great fun and I'd think you'd be good at it.0 -
Kurt.Godel wrote: »Gorgeous, ain't I?. Would you ever post on FB, correct them it was 2 gold and 2 bronze?
Get thee to a Masters club and target next year M, great fun and I'd think you'd be good at it.
Where is HoochieDD swooning all over this log and that last swim update?!
Loved that swim report Kurt and well done. Its inspiring to read as an adult learner. A swim gala is one of my bucket list things so next year may be it if I can get fit enough. Limerick Masters seem like a good bunch. If/when I'm fit and brave enough I might knock on the door.0 -
-
-
-
peter kern wrote: »what are the take aways for training ?
lol, straight to business, eh Peter?
1. Enjoy the moment. Winning medals happens to me rarely enough that I need to appreciate being successful.
2. Stop thinking I don't deserve to stand on blocks besides "proper" swimmers.
3. A race isn't just you against the black line. I've an appreciation of tactics now.
4. My stroke and position are good, and I've got breathing under control after 5 years of swimming. Time to work on underwater arm power and get more out my stroke.
5. Keep doing what I'm doing because I'm with a very good Masters team, have some very good people giving good advice, and I'm lucky to have the Fastlane facility. Keep enjoying the training and racing, and know I'll do better in OW swimming.
6. Buy more Brasso 0 -
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
nice
not the answers i was expecting but point 3 is a great one.Kurt.Godel wrote: »lol, straight to business, eh Peter?
1. Enjoy the moment. Winning medals happens to me rarely enough that I need to appreciate being successful.
2. Stop thinking I don't deserve to stand on blocks besides "proper" swimmers.
3. A race isn't just you against the black line. I've an appreciation of tactics now.
4. My stroke and position are good, and I've got breathing under control after 5 years of swimming. Time to work on underwater arm power and get more out my stroke.
5. Keep doing what I'm doing because I'm with a very good Masters team, have some very good people giving good advice, and I'm lucky to have the Fastlane facility. Keep enjoying the training and racing, and know I'll do better in OW swimming.
6. Buy more Brasso0 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
Advertisement