5k Down, and a Great Weekend

I had a great weekend with the family in the Catskills of New York. This was a great time to spend together as we celebrated Lena's birthday on Friday.

We were invited to join my good friend from college, Chris (who is also Preston's godfather), get married to his sweetheart Rachel.  The ceremony took place in a cozy Russian church, with a reception at a romantic, refurbished barn, where we danced the night away until the cows came home!  (their British friends last longer than yours truly)

We stayed both Friday and Saturday night at the Inn at Stone Ridge, a wonderful getaway that was convenient to the weekend's festivities. We enjoyed comfortable lodging and fantastic breakfasts to fuel our day.

Before leaving on Friday, I was able to hop in the pool for a workout. I focused on alternating distance sets (500 to 1000 yards each) with minimal rest, and was able to complete 5k in just over 1 hour and 24 minutes. This is half the distance I will be swimming next weekend, and given that I had some kicking sets the time was right where I hoped it would be. I will have another long swim tomorrow, then a lake swim on Wednesday, a regular swim Thursday, then off to the race this weekend.

New England 10k swim in just two weeks!

After a successful 2.4 mileswim at the Peaks to Portland (Maine) in July, in which I swam without a wetsuit in 62-64 degree Atlantic Ocean water in a time of 49:54, I am now looking towards my first 6.2 mile swim on Sunday, 9/25, in Rhode Island.

Ray, the race coordinator, gave me a call last night and mentioned that 40+ folks are registered for either the 5K or 10K swims. I am going to be able to have my buddy Bob join me as my kayaker for the event, which I am really happy about.

I have been reading the Open Water forums at usms.org for helpful hints for this distance. I have had limited training this month due to Hurricane Irene pummeling Vermont. Our town had no main water supply for 7 days, and the Rec center where I train was closed for 2 weeks (one for yearly maintenance, the other since we had no water). Finally the major road traversing the southern border of Vermont, from Bennington to Brattelboro, was reopened this past weekend.

Today Lena and I traveled it on my motorcycle - totally different landscape with roads washed out and buildings gone. We were blessed to only have rain and wind at my home, so I thank God for his protection.

Hit 100 miles today

My goal for this year is to swim 200 miles.  In 2010, I was able to accumulate just over 137 miles, based on the tool that US Master Swimming has on their website that lets you enter swim yardages and time in the water.  It also allows you to enter your workouts, so it is a really helpful record.

This year I set a goal a bit higher than my totals from last year in order to motivate myself to be more consistent about going to the pool.  I use swimming not only to help keep the pounds off, but it is a real stress reliever and I start to get a bit agitated when I am not able to get into the water for an extended period of time.

As of today, I am just over the half-way mark with my 1.5 mile swim before lunch.  101 miles is not too shabby!  I have been more diligent recently at working more intervals into my training as the Peaks to Portland event will take place in 3 weeks.  I am still not feeling as comfortable during the 30 minute swims I have been doing once weekly since the beginning of June, and the higher-intensity repetitions with a target time and short rest is really getting my lungs into shape.  At least I hope.

I am very thankful that I have a great pool to swim in just up the street from my home, and blessed with my wife and kids whom have been a great encouragement to my dive back into the swimming pool.