OCY masters swim meet 2/14/2016

This is the 2nd year I have gone to the OCY masters meet in February.  Last year, I swam the 1000 in the morning and was too burnt out to stay for the 200 free at the end of the meet.  This year, I opted out of the 1000, and considered the 500 enough for a distance event, and threw in some 50's for fun.  Since there were usually 1-2 people in my age group, I got 1st or 2nd in each event.  Here are my results:

Seed times in () are either my best time or estimates.  

Event 3 Women 30-34 100 Yard IM 

1 Kenny, Laura 32             (1:20.00) 1:18.50

Event 8 Women 30-34 500 Yard Freestyle

1 Kenny, Laura 32    (6:24.00)  6:29.76

Event 11 Women 30-34 50 Yard Freestyle

1 Kenny, Laura 32    (31.70) 31.29

Event 15 Women 30-34 50 Yard Breaststroke

1 Kenny, Laura 32    (40.00 ) 39.69

Event 17 Women 30-34 200 Yard Freestyle

2 Kenny, Laura 32    (2:27.00)  2:29.48

I always tend to focus on the distance events, but I was actually happier with my results in the sprints this time.  In both the 500 and 200, I was in an outside lane in a faster heat, and since I don't have the speed to go out as fast as most people, I got left behind in the first 50.  I didn't get all my splits, but I know I was pretty steady.  Next time, I am putting in a slower seed time, not my actual PR that I am trying to beat.  Also, I know my eating and hydration were a little off in the days prior to the meet, and the air temperature at the pool was cold, so it was difficult to stay warm.  I did lots of warm-up and warm-down laps.   Sometimes I just stayed in the warm-up lanes and kept swimming easy until about 2 heats prior to my next race.  

Since I have issues with my right shoulder, hip, and knee these days, I have been doing a lot of technique work:  lots of sculling (my standard front, mid, and finish scull) and drills (I've found lots of new ones at The Race Club).  I still do some distance, but if things start to hurt, I switch to something else.  I was surprised that my 100 IM improved so much, since last year, I did 1:20 point something every time I raced it.  I haven't worked that much on fly and back (my weaker strokes), but my breast and free technique has been steadily improving.  

I think it really helped for me to visualize the 100 IM in the days leading up to it.  Because it is such a technical event with quick transitions, I wanted to make sure I didn't forget anything.  Here is my pre-race mental checklist that I rehearsed:

• on the blocks:  head down, hit the water in streamline, keep it tight, dolphin kick underwater
• Fly:  no breath on the first stroke, big kick/big kick (NOT big kick/little kick the way I learned as a kid), snap arms all way forward, two hand touch
• Back:  tight streamline and dolphin kick off wall, strong kick, rotate shoulders, head back, flags then 5 strokes
• Breast:  feet wide on the push off the wall, tight streamline, dolphin kick, pull down with hands close to the body, accelerate through the part of the pull when the hands are near the chest, glide at the end of the stroke, two hand touch
• Quick transition to free, fast kick and quick turnover right away, high elbows, strong catch, accelerate through the back end of the stroke, it's only a 25.  

I'm sure there is more that I could work on, but this is what I have been focusing on in practice, and it's a lot to remember in just over a minute.  I messed up my technique at two points in the race.  My dive went a little too deep, and I tried to start swimming before I had completely surfaced, so my first stroke of fly felt weak (my arms just didn't get all the way out of the water).  My back to breast turn was also weak.  I had too much of a glide into the wall, and not a strong enough push off the wall.  Fortunately, there were some people in the heat a little bit ahead of me, so I had people to chase the whole way through, so I still beat my best time despite some technical mistakes.  

So much about my meet.  It is always fun watching teammates at these meets too.  As usual, Ansie looked amazing in the 50 fly and 50 back.   Mike Caputo did a solid 5:13 in the 500, taking 2nd as the winner went 5:00 (compare that to John Kenny's 5:14 at Ursinus in December!)  Bill did an awesome 51 in the 100 free and 25 in the 50 fly.  The most anticipated race to watch was the 200 free with Bill, Mike, and Kris all in the same heat.  Kris came out on top with a 1:51, then Bill in 1:55, and Mike was just a bit burnt out after the 500 and a tough 100 fly.  It's always inspiring to watch such fast swimming.  

For full results:  https://www.teamunify.com/njocy/__eventform__/671505_results%202016.pdf

SwimRun, here we come!

It's official:  Rebecca and I have signed up for the Casco Bay SwimRun.  This is advertised as the first race of its kind in the US, modeled after the Swedish Otillo race.  However, the concept does remind me of the SOS triathlon, in that it repeatedly alternates between swimming and running, so that you have to carry gear for both.  However, SOS starts with a bike leg, whereas Casco Bay has a ferry ride to get to the first island where you start.

I am still in search of the right gear, so if anyone has input, please let me know.  The main things I need are a lightweight trail shoe that is also good for swimming in, and a wetsuit that is good for running in.  The shoes should have enough traction to navigate the rocky shoreline, but be light enough that it doesn't get too heavy in the water, and flexible enough to point the toes.  While I have a full arm, full leg xterra wetsuit for triathlons, it would be so uncomfortable to run in for over 10 miles.  The swim-run style wetsuits should cover just the thigh and torso.  I would prefer sleeveless, but it looks like most have short sleeves.  They zip in the front so you can store gear under your wetsuit.  So far the only ones I can find online are from European companies:  swimrun shop and Huub.  The race does allow a lot of other gear like paddles and fins, but I hope to go minimalist as much as possible.  I would even prefer to go sans wetsuit, especially since the longest swim is only 1300 yards, but unfortunately, they are required.

My swimming has come along nicely, so I could be ready for that part of the race anytime.  I have been limiting my running due to knee pain related to IT band tightness for the last few months, but I think I have a good treatment plan and strengthening exercises going now, so I am gradually coming back, with 15 minute runs a few times a week at this point, and lots of stretching.  So, the real goal is to stay healthy enough to race this year.

Most of all, I am excited about the team aspect of this race.  It's not a relay; you actually race together with your teammate, connected by a rope on the swim.  It takes a special kind of crazy to want to do a race like this, and I am thrilled to have Rebecca as a teammate.  We trained together in Austin last year, and I am excited to train and race with such a passionate competitor and gentle spirit.  I think we will make a great team!