500 Free Challenge

Many of you are probably wondering why on earth I'm racing the 500 free this weekend at the American Short Course in Austin. During my younger years i.e. high school and college, I always raced the 500 free once per year to see where my fitness level was. Since my senior year of college in 2007 I haven't raced a single one. Be it focusing on different events, the lack of desire, or maybe even poor planning, I just haven't thought about doing another 500, until recently. At the 2010 World Championships in Dubai the fire for the 500 was rekindled. In Dubai my personal coach working with me throughout the meet was Chris Davis, of Swim Atlanta. One afternoon a few coaches and I (Chris included) were sitting around talking about the 500 free. I brought up how I used to do it once per year and could actually throw down a pretty decent time for a sprinter (4:30). Chris turned to me and said, "what do you think you could go now?" I instantly replied by saying, "I bet I could go under 4:20!" Without hesitation Chris says, "not a chance." Challenge me? Are you kidding? I live for challenges. The bet was made. Fire began pumping in my veins. We decided the race would be the 500 free at American Short Course. If I go under 4:20 Chris buys me dinner at any restaurant I want in Austin. If I don't go under 4:20 I buy him dinner. I was super pumped up and couldn't wait to get back to training. Since Dubai I've had some of the most consistent and best training of my life. All roads lead to sub 4:20. This morning I went 4:25.8. The swim wasn't easy but I never really threw in the legs and my stroke was controlled the whole way. I'm both very confident and excited that tonight is going to be sub 4:20! I know two things for sure. One, I will give everything I have to this swim, as I always do. Two, this 500 is going to hurt like a mother! Let's go baby!!

World Championship Medal

On Friday, Decemeber 17, Garrett swam in the Men's 4x200 with Peter Vanderkaay, Richard Berens, and Ryan Lochte. The team received the Silver Medal. The above photo was taken during the medal ceremony for the Men's 4x200. Congrats to Garrett and the rest of the team!

Follow Garrett in Dubai at Short Course World Championships

Despite the fuzziness, these are cool photos from Garrett of the competition pool building in Dubai. Be sure to follow him on Twitter. You can find him as G_WeberGale (G_WeberGale). He also plans to keep writing athlete profiles at www.athleticfoodie.com.

AthleticFoodie nutrition videos on iSPORT

Be sure to see a new feature on iSPORT Swimming, Garrett's nutrition videos with easy recipes and great tips on healthy eating. The athlete and the foodie in you will like them.

Garrett headed to Dubai with Team USA for World Championships

Team USA and Garrett  are headed to Dubai this December for the World Short Course Championships from December 15-19. Since so many Texas swimmers made the team, University of Texas Coach Eddie Reese will serve as the U.S. Coach. It's always good news when your coach travels with the team. Read more on this ESPN release. [caption id="attachment_1673" align="aligncenter" width="465" caption="It's great to see "Garrett Weber-Gale" on the World Championship team"][/caption]

See Garrett’s latest at AthleticFoodie

New post today: http://athleticfoodie.com/

Ah, Paris…nutella crepes, hard concrete…Garrett on Huffington Post.

Read how a trip to Lyon turned into an unexpected night on the streets of Paris. Garrett's latest on Huffington Post. [caption id="attachment_1510" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="An Unexpected Night in Paris"][/caption]

Chompin some Watermelon on the lake

[caption id="attachment_821" align="alignleft" width="450" caption="Dale, Matt and me chompin some Watermelon on the lake"] [/caption]

Friday Food Fact: get the best of those tough beans with a pressure cooker.

< Here's the problem with starting a recipe that calls for dry beans--it takes too long. So people end up using the canned versions, which are okay but soggier and usually a little high in sodium. (I use them in a pinch.) What's the solution? A pressure cooker. I use mine often in the colder months for beans, soups and stews. Remember, though, that these great comfort foods are good all year long. Beans are a great source of the protein I need for my training. In a regular pot you would soak lentils or beans for a long time and some would require hours of cooking. With a Pressure Cooker, they can be ready in less than a half hour, plus rinsing time. By the way, the reason you want to soak and rinse them multiple times is so they release the gas instead of you!

Pressure cookers come in a variety of sizes and materials, anywhere from six to 10 quarts, in aluminum and stainless. I recommend the largest you can afford in stainless steel. Large, because these pots can only be filled 2/3 full including the liquid. You need the room. Stainless so you can "brown and saute" thus only needing one pot. The process is simple. When the liquid in the pot boils, steam is produced at a high temperature and cooks your food. Fast. (Follow manufacturer's directions.) This method of cooking is quick (approx. 70%) faster than traditional, energy efficient, keeps the kitchen cooler and is healthier because you cook with less liquid thus retaining more vitamins and minerals. Some of you might be raising your eye brows about now, thinking, "hey this isn't cooking. This is cheating. " Pressure cooking isn't meant to replace traditional cooking. It can, however, make your life easier and more likely that you will actually cook those beans, soups, stews and much more , when you might not always have the time to slow cook.

Corn and Shrimp Chowder

The Texas summers are hot. How about cooling off with a nice bowl of Corn and Shrimp Chowder! You'd better believe my taste buds and core temperature were loving me after eating this tasty bowl. Yum.