Flashback to the "Team of the 80s"

OMG!!! What a game. I was at Four Peaks with members of my swim club for a happy hour social and the game between the 49ers and the Saints was on. To repeat my previous comment "WHAT A GAME!" Watching this game was like a surreal flashback to the 80s. When I lived in the Bay area, the Niners were the team to watch. It was so great to see them win this exciting game.

Davis, with the touchdown catch that clinched the game

Brees, gettin' sacked in the 3rd quater

It's official!!! 36-32 -- 49ers!!

(Photos from the Chicago Tribune)

Union Pacific Engine 844

I was sitting in my living room on November 12, 2011 and almost jumped out of my chair from surprise -- did I just hear an old steam locomotive whistle?? I ran outside to listen (my house is within 1/2 mile of a rail crossing), and sure enough, I could hear it loud and clear. I didn't get to see it, but it was Union Pacific's Engine 844 on a trip through Arizona and New Mexico for our states' upcoming Centennials. I found a great video when it made a similar trip through Northern California, and it was almost as good as being there. When they blow the whistle, I tear up every time. I absolutely love trains, especially old, historic ones. Here a link to facebook photos of it's pass through Arizona and New Mexico. Be warned, the first minute or so of the video as it leaves the train yard is loud, but the best sound of the whistle can be heard as it travels through Jack London Square in Oakland.

Teaser and the Calico Cat

My cat Cali and her hummingbird friend.

Move Natural

Until about the age of 12 (I was riding horses almost exclusively by then), this is pretty much how I interacted with nature on a regular basis. The MovNat concept has a lot of appeal to me, but now that I'm older, it's not as practical. But, I can apply a lot of it to my swimming. On occasion, during our regular workouts, my swim coach incorporates some natural elements, if you can call them that, where we use our bodies in other ways than traditional swimming.

I read the article in Experience Life in Life Time Fitness' monthly magazine and found this video today on the Daily News of Open Water website. I think the video pretty much sums up what the movement is all about.

Underwater Dolphin Practice at Nova!!

I can easily do 25m underwaters, but have yet to try a full 50. My fins are quite a bit shorter than the ones these guys are wearing. Cool nonetheless. Ryan Lochte can do 50m underwater in 25 seconds, on his back, without fins!

"Thumbs Up"

When I swim with my Masters club at ASU, we usually workout in the 50m pool, but at the start of the new year, things change a bit and we typically find ourselves in the 25y warm-up pool. Last night, being a Tuesday, included a kick set, with our coach choosing a round of vertical kicking. This posed a problem since the warm-up pool is only 6' at its deepest, which means several of our tall swimmers can touch bottom. :-) So, we utilized the diving well, which is 17' deep, not to mention about 5 degrees warmer -- yay!

As we jumped in, I went into a vertical streamline and allowed myself to sink towards the bottom, taking in the view. Directly in front of me was Wiley (one of our fastest and taller swimmers), who was doing basically the same thing). As our eyes met, he gave me two "thumbs up" as we stayed suspended in the water. There's something magical about swimming and some people get it. Wiley is one of those people and it makes swimming with my club much more enjoyable. I wish I had a picture of the moment, but here's one of a little girl that conveys the feeling.

Polar Bear Swim at Life Time Fitness

Well, as it happens every year, the gym was overrun with people wanting to make good on their New Year's resolutions. The indoor pool was absolutely overflowing with several people on deck waiting for a lane. I ran into my Russian friend, Val, who was a bit dismayed by the fact that he might have to wait. I noticed the outdoor pool was open and two guys were swimming, so I nodded in that direction and said we had another option. So, we ventured outside to check it out. Having swum in that pool during two previous winters, I know how cold it can get. I stuck my toe in and figured it might be somewhere in the mid-60s, and since the two guys who were already in weren't having any trouble, I decided to give it a go. Val, on the other hand, politely declined. He shook my hand and said "you're my hero" and went back inside to wait for a lane.

I have found that it really helps to wet yourself before getting in, so I scooped up some water and wet down my arms, legs, chest, and face. I made sure to get my cap and goggles set before jumping in so I could start swimming right away. WOW!! Talk about cold -- it took at least 200 yards of swimming before I was comfortable and for the first 50, the temperature took my breath away. I'm guessing the water was about 60 degrees. Not cold by some in the open water community, but for an Arizona pool swimmer, 60 degrees is downright frigid.

I persevered and knocked out a nice 3000 yard aerobic workout (no fins, and only 400 w/paddles and a pull buoy). What a great start to the New Year. :)

The funny thing is, several people (mostly men) came out to ask me how the water was, and my reply was always the same "cold" (said with a smile). They all had a similar response when they tested the temperature with their toes -- I think they thought I was crazy (but in a good way).

This is how imagined myself swimming today:

Eagles Hangin' with the Kittehs

A gal in Alaska (YouTube link) has been taking some amazing video of two bald eagles that have been visiting her cats.

Time-lapse of 2012 Olympic Trial Pool Build

Pretty cool time-lapse video. I always wondered how this was done. This would be a good topic for the show "How It's Made."

Happy New Year!! Did you Go The Distance?

Another year has come to a close. For the most part, it was pretty uneventful for me, which I am very thankful for. Of course, there were many great events that I was fortunate to experience, but all-in-all, a pretty good year. Most people like to set resolutions for the new year, but for me, I'd rather set goals -- primarily swimming and fitness goals.

2012 marks the beginning of my third year back in swimming. Since returning to the pool, I've participated in the "Go The Distance" swim challenge put on by United States Masters Swimming. As part of my membership, I am able to keep a Fitness Log, or FLOG (Aaargh --- we be pirate swimmers, matey!) as we like to refer to it, where I can keep track of my swimming and other fitness endeavors.

The first year that I participated was in 2009, but since I started late, I didn't log many miles. 2010 was my first full year and I set and met a goal of 250 miles. My goal for 2011 was 200 miles, which I came very close to meeting (I logged 192 miles). I'm okay with not making the goal as I was more concerned with quality over quantity last year.

For 2012, I've set a goal of 444,444 yards (269.32 miles). As in past years, participants receive special items upon reaching certain goals (swim caps, water bottles, swimsuits, and more). Nike has been sponsoring the event for the past few years and I suspect they will continue for 2012.

Happy New Year! I hope you meet your goals this coming year!