Masters Swim – more like Legends Swim

I woke up prior to the 4:30AM alarm. I manually clicked the coffee pot into existence. I felt strong and excited about the upcoming swim workout. I actually took my time getting ready – I did not have to rush at all.

When I arrived at the natatorium I was surprised to a few new faces. Last semester I think we started with the bare minimum number of participates. By the time we got started for this session the pool was full – there were over 20 people.

 

It was a proverbial who’s who of the Hattiesburg Triathlon Scene:

Sam (our local Pro)
Chris (right on Sam’s heels)
Raland (lost to the dark side – probably more of a roadie now)
John P (the Legend – 5 IM’s on 5 different continents)
Steve the Postman (he always delivers)
Butch (the roadie that pulled Raland to the dark side)

This would be the first time that I have been in a lap pool since Sydney back in November. I knew that my swim fitness had fallen off but by how much? We would find out today. Coach Steve took the brand new people to one side while the /veterans were left with a workout:

5 x the following:
50 under switch
50 stop at the top
50 wrist drag
100 swim

Then the swimming at pace came:

2 x the following
4 x 50 on 1:10
4 x 50 on 50 (this wouldn’t last – not that fast right now)

And then the 200 yard time trial. Now being in the water for 10+ weeks was showing. I copied the following from my blog three weeks into last semesters Masters Swim –

At lunch I did jump in the pool. I did a warm up and cool down but in between I did 5 x 200 yards at a hard effort. I was trying to see if I was indeed faster than before. I thought back to my first 200 yard time trial – damn I smoked that thing. I remember that Raland was in the next lane and I was trying as hard as I could. Well, I was not able to beat that 2:44 from the very first time trial. I had a couple in the high 2:40’s and all were under 3:00 but I did not beat the initial swim time trial. Fitness wise I would say that I have progressed – I mean I was able to complete 5 efforts at close to my maximum but I did not edge the time lower.

At the first 200 time trial Raland and I were head to head. I finished about 6 seconds in front of him – me 2:44 (I don’t know how I pulled that off) and Raland at 2:50.

Today was another story. Raland has not missed any Masters Swim and has picked up his game – he came in at 2:38 – wow – what an improvement. Me, well, I have some work to do – I finished in 2:58 – 20 seconds behind my new swimming nemesis. It is going to be a fun year.