Archive for December, 2008
Dec 2008
My Training Schedule
I'm often asked what my training schedule is...well here you go. Monday: Swim; 6:30-8:00am, 3-5pm. Weights; 1:30-3pm Tuesday: Dry-land; 1:45-3:00pm. Swim; 3-5pm Wednesday: Swim; 6:30-8:00am, 3-5pm. Weights; 1:30-3pm Thursday: Dry-land; 1:45-3:00pm. Swim; 3-5pm Friday: Swim; 6:30-8:00am, 3-5pm. Weights; 1:30-3:00pm Saturday: Swim; 9:00-11:00am My weight workouts consist of many different exercises that includes but is not limited to; biceps, triceps, lat pull, bench, squat, leg extension, calf raises, rows, and core work... Dry-land varies depending upon what part of the season we're in. Some of the exercises we do may include; pull-ups, push-ups, dips, running the stadium, medicine ball work, box jumps, and of course more core work... In addition to what I do in the pool and in the weight room I do extra work at home. I generally do about 300 extra push-ups at home as well as modified dips using my coffee table... I am always trying to get stronger and like pushing myself to be better. My goal is to be able to do 100 push-ups in a row. Right now I can do in the 60's. Most of my sets are between 30 and 50 push-ups at a time. I know getting stronger is what I need to do in order to get faster...Needless to say, I will get stronger!
Crazy Volleyball Game–Good Friend vs. Horns
I currently have some friends in town from the good old state of Wisconsin. Their daughter is on the Iowa State volleyball team that played in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA tournament last night...here in Austin.
I finished practice and immediately booked it over to the gym where the game was already underway. When I got there Iowa State had just lost the first set to Oregon. I sat down and they lost the second set. I looked to the parents of the player and said, "Let's keep our fingers crossed!" I honestly wasn't thinking anything miraculous was going to happen. I don't mean to sound down but to come back and win the next three sets would be a huge task.
BAM!! Iowa State started to get on a roll. Blockers started to stuff Oregon's front line and the Cyclones front line was heating up and drilling the ball into the ground!
About an hour later I was jumping in the air and yelling at the top of my lungs. The Cyclones pulled it off. This was one of the best and most exciting sporting events I've ever been to.
However, there's a problem...now Texas and Iowa State are playing against each other in the Elite Eight. Who do I cheer for? I'm pretty sure I know the right answer, but I'm now emotionally invested in Iowa State. My friend's daughter, a girl I've known since I was seven, is playing against my school. This is kinda tough. Haha not really, TEXAS baby:)
Even though I will be sitting with the Cyclone troop my burnt orange and love for Texas will show strong!
Hook'em
T-Shirt Are Moving and Thanks for Your Ideas
Thanks to everyone who ordered a T-shirt on day one. If you haven't had a chance, be sure to check out G-commerce. And thanks for the new ideas on merchandise--apron, beach towel... what else?
Blurred Win Avenged
The stage was the NCAA Championships in 2006 at Georgia Tech. It was the the third and final day of the meet and this was my favorite day, the 100 free. As I stood behind the block before my race I watched a teammate get disqualified for a false start. It was difficult to see and I think it made me subconsciously think about false starting myself. I got up on the block. As the starter said, "take your mark," I prepared myself to explode. However, the gun went off and I did everything but explode. I stood there on the block and when I realized everyone was already in the air, I jumped. I distinctly remember seeing the guy on my right going into the water when I was still in the air...I barely made the final, I was eighth. I was simply thankful to have made it into the final and was bound and determined to do well at night. Up to this point in the meet I was pretty dissapointed in my performances. I got 9th in the 100 back and 8th in the 50 free. I was not about to finish NCAA's like this. As they marched us out for the final of the 100 free I was more determined and focused than I could remember ever being. I got up on the block and literally exploded. I had the fastest reaction time in the field. As I always do, I took it out fast. I was first to the 50 at 19.9. The third 25 I remember telling myself to keep my stroke long. As I turned for home I closed my eyes so that I wouldn't loose focus and take a peak at my competitors. My legs were burning and my arms felt like sandbags. This pain had better be worth it... I touched the wall and as I took my goggles off to my surprise I saw nothing. Somehow my contacts had come out in the last five meters. Desperately I looked around for someone to tell me what had just taken place. I looked up at the timers and yelled to ask them what just happened. They looked at me like I was speaking some form of underground language they had never heard before. I looked to the stands and there was nothing but blurred color. Finally I saw Ben Wildman-Tobriner, my friend from Stanford who had competed with me on the World Championship team the previous summer. He had raced a few lanes over and had come over with huge excitement on his face. Finally someone was close enough for me to actually see and talk with...I asked him what happened. He said, "Dude you won and I got second." I barely believed him. Was this a joke? Did I really win? Was he telling me the truth? I proceeded to smile and get super excited. This was my first individual NCAA title! This past Saturday I swam the 100 free at the US Nationals at Georgia Tech. I made the consolation final. I was happy with this because at this point in my season I really don't care how I place. However, I needed to see that 1 on the board for a 100 freestyle at the Georgia Tech pool. Going into this race I was determined to have that one placed on the board next to my name. I felt like I missed out on something last time I raced the 100 free there. My prelim swim was 43.5. I wanted to go at least 43.3. Earlier in the day I talked to Randy Reese, an old coach of mine, and asked him what to do differently for the final. He said work the 3rd 25 harder. He said, "the 3rd 25 is where most people ease up a bit." I did exactly what he said and went 42.67. I was thrilled. Not only was this my best ever in-season time...it was faster than I thought I could go...and the 1 was finally visible to ME on the board! My peace had been made:)
Chiropractor
I've been having some problems on and off with my groin since April. It initially started after doing a ton of box jumps in the weight-room. It has been really bad at times. Thankfully it is doing really well right now with the help of a chiropractor I've been seeing in Austin. I have to say I was a bit reluctant to go to a chiropractor for my groin but it has been great. In the past I have always gone to the same massage guy named Marc, and he has always fixed my issues. I call him "magic hands" because he is so good. However, after the Olympics I wanted to try something new. I decided to test this alternative out. Much to my surprise, most of the work I've had done a the chiropractor is not cracking this and cracking that. Actually it is very little of that. A good deal of it has been unbelievably painful massage. Although I was basically biting my fist off this morning on the table...it seems to be helping my groin a ton. So far I would definitely recommend this type of therapy to others. I will post again tonight about the final day of nationals. Sorry but I have been super busy since I've been back...
Back to Basics
I was trolling around on the internet and came across this concise article from Colorado State University on nutrition for athletes. It's a pretty good summary of how different kinds of foods fuel our bodies. Funny how you can sort of forget this stuff over time.
A Double Dose of Zipper Problems
As I was putting my suit on last night before the 200 free a guy came up to me and started to talk to me. I had no idea who he was but he was friendly so I chatted with him for a couple minutes. He told me how it was too bad that my zipper broke in the morning. I agreed and then proceeded to ask him to zipper my suit up. Once the zipper got about half-way up, it broke. He was like, "uh-oh, I think I just broke your suit..." I was stunned. I asked one of my teammates Dale to come over and take a look at it. They both tried to move the zipper and it was not going anywhere. I have to say I was pissed. Breaking once was a pain...this time I was simply mad. Not to mention, this was a brand new suit. The guy felt really bad, I told him not too worry, it wasn't his fault. All the while the kids who were volunteering at the meet were taking pictures of me putting my suit on with their camera phones. They think they're being sneaky but they're not at all cause they kept looking at me and laughing as they took my picture hahaha kids. I went up to the blocks and people told me my suit was broken. I just thought to myself, "Uummmm yeah of course it is". As I was waiting for the starter to call us up to the block, my heart was definitely moving faster than it normally would. I just told myself I was going to win the heat and go faster than I did in the morning. This was like a man challenge...I could either be a little wimp and let this stupid zipper get the best of me...or I could pound this race and prove to myself that I can beat the tests put in front of me. In addition...the majority of my heat was younger than me so I really had to man up and pop something good off. The gun fired and I dove into the water. In reality, there was actually less drag with the zipper half-way up than completely open. I wasn't sure how this would feel but it wasn't quite as bad as in the morning. I was out pretty fast at the 50. I went into the race wanting to build every 50 and make a consistent increase in my effort through every 50. I have difficulty holding back on the first 50 of 200's, partly because I get pretty excited. I was first to the 50 and the 100. The guy in the lane next to me beat me to the 150. At this point I flipped the switch on my legs and motored home. I won the heat and went 1:36.89, this is faster than I went in the morning. Once again I went at least in the range I had set out to do so I was satisfied. Without a broken zipper I think I could have gone 1:35...oh well. I'm still happy with the time. Although this time isn't anything spectacular in comparison to what other swimmers are going in the country, it's good for me and that's all that matters. I can't impress enough upon all of you that it doesn't matter what everyone else is going. Compare yourself to what you've done in the past. As long as YOU are getting better than YOU were before...everything is all good. As Eric, Dale and I walked out of the pool last night a guy named Bart came up to me and started talking to me about the relay this summer. I met him the day before when he gave me a swim suit...yes I forgot to bring a Speedo to the swim meet:( Bart owns a swim shop. He told me the first day of the meet as well as last night that he literally watches that 400 free relay from Beijing everyday. The first time he told me this I couldn't help but laugh and not believe him. Last night he told me again and I could tell he was totally serious. Bart described how his business has been dramatically increased by the summer Olympics and people come in talking about that relay. It's really an honor to have people say this type of thing to me. I'm glad so many people enjoyed watching that race as well as the Olympics in general. I jokingly told him he needs to cut me a check for all the help I've given his business. Bart replied by saying, "are you kidding me, where do I send it!" hahaha it was really funny and we all laughed. This is really one of the best things about competing and traveling, meeting new and interesting people! I got a voice message from Josh Davis last night...he said, "dude, great swim tonight...I think I need to let you borrow my suit after you let me borrow your cap haha...I just got your message from this-morning and I'm gunna save it for motivation...you ain't gunna spank me no more boy hahhahaha!" it was a hilarious message. I'm trying to figure out how I can get the sound byte up on the blog. Give me some time and I will hopefully figure it out.
I want to swim longer…
Well the 50 free last night was not perfect, but it was in the range I wanted to go for this meet. I went 19.87. I wanted to go between 19.4 and 19.8. I can leave satisfied with that performance. I still feel pretty awkward in the water because I simply haven't worked on any speed thus far this season. When I finished the race all I wanted to do was swim a longer race. I half-way wished I had swum the 500 free instead of the 50. The 200 free was this morning and I was really looking forward to it. Sitting on the deck before warm-up I was reading the heat sheet and noticed I was next to Josh Davis. I was pumped. Josh is a total legend in the sport of swimming, having won several Olympic medals at two Olympic games. Not to mention, Josh is a Texas boy...gotta love the Texas boys! I immediately got on my phone and called Josh to find out if he was really at the meet??? I got his answering machine and left him a message that included,"I see you're entered in the 200 free at Nationals...I hope this is true cause I can't wait to spank you like a little baby hahahaha!" I've been great friends with Josh for about six years so he knows I'm joking:) As I was warming up I saw Josh underneath the water coming up towards me. We both laughed and I told him we were next to each other in the 200 free. He was pumped to race with me too. I made sure to do more in warm-up than I figured I needed to. Especially at this point of the season, you cannot warm-up too much. I've found through many years of swimming, weight-training and competing that generally our bodies are much tougher and resilient than our minds. As long as we're confident in what we're doing our bodies will support our decisions and perform. As I was putting my suit on Josh came over and asked if I had an extra cap. I told him I did but it was a 'Weber-Gale' Texas cap. He said, "all the better." Josh and I were behind the blocks and one of the timers got a picture of us both wearing the same cap. I've never seen my name on someone else's cap before, but I must say, it looked pretty cool. I was super proud to have Josh wear my cap...seriously he is a legend that will always be respected and remembered! As I dove off the block in the 200 free the zipper on the back of my suit popped open. It's amazing how much drag this adds. To say the least I wasn't thrilled but I was very careful to stay focused on what I was doing. I wasn't about to let this stupid problem get in the way of me swimming a good race. I was out in 47.0 and as I turned at the 100 I saw Josh a good bit ahead of me. In all honesty, I said to myself, "uh-0h I better pick it up...I'm not about to get beat by Josh, especially after I left that message on his phone haha..." Don't get me wrong, I respect Josh a ton but he no longer trains and I should be able to beat him. At about the 125 I started to really throw my kick in the mix. I consistently built every 50 and finished with pretty good force. I went 1:37.7. This was a great morning swim for me. I will look to go faster tonight, especially since in all likely-hood my suit won't be broken.
First Race Since Beijing
This-morning I swam my first race since Beijing. I arrived in Atlanta yesterday afternoon. I warmed up in the pool and felt descent for having traveled. As I said before, I'm not quite sure what to expect from this meet. I know this is a good pool and I have had good luck in it. I won the 100 free here at the NCAA Championships my junior year, in 2006. Warm-up was good this morning. I generally warm-up really slow in order to help my mind and body ease into the meet. As warm-up went on I started to do some build 25's and fast 25's. I felt ok but nothing to write home about. However, it doesn't matter how you feel...it matters how you look. Randy Reese always told me it doesn't matter what we feel like. He is right. There have been times when I have felt terrible and have swum awesome. The 50 started and I had a pretty good start. What happened next was not as good...I was on the surface of the water before I even knew what was going on...I soon realized I needed to start swimming. Usually I will have a powerful breakout and transition very well into the rest of the race. Needless to say, this was not the case. I approached the turn and I found myself looking up to see where the wall was. My turn was ok and I could tell I was ahead of the people in my line of sight. I whipped off some fly kicks and broke out for home. The second 25 I just focused on blasting my legs. I got to the wall and went 19.91. I'm moderately happy with that as a morning swim. I made it back for the semi-finals, which is all that really matters to me right now. I don't care how I place. This meet is simply a way for me to gauge my progress and get an opportunity to race. After the race I talked to Kris, our assistant coach at Texas. I was laughing when he walked up to me because it is funny to race when you haven't done it in so long. He said I looked like a guy who hasn't raced in a long time. I would have to agree with him. Kris described my swimming by saying, "your body was like Woooowwww I haven't gone this fast in a really long time." Very true. I know the meet will continue to get better with every session. I will keep ya'll updated...
Mental Toughness
I thought ya'll might get something out of this article. My Q&A is down the page on the left...check it out! http://www.utexas.edu/features/2008/11/24/athletes_minds/
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