Fitness by water and by land

Look up from the stump at the white spot high in the Madrona tree: bald eagle!

I write this as I hum from endorphins, fresh from weight training. At no time do my neurological deficits show more than when I fatigue! Today was:

  • Rowing warmup 1k meters
  • Plank shoulder touches (20), trx for traps (10), and then trx shoulders (10) - 3 sets of all
  • Bench press builds of increased weight swapped with less reps 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and a 2 encore for better form - did to 77.5 pounds. 
  • Next was core. And then things really fell apart on my right side! 
  • 3 sets of 10 Ab rollouts, side plank each side :30 - left side, no problem; right side....DISASTER
I was like a little kid trying to climb a tree like a big kid and FAILING. Like, I failed so so so badly only on my right side. This is when I really recognize the neurological struggle between what my brain is asking and what my body can deliver under fatigue. UGH. It gives me some direction on needed tune-ups, although there isn't a ton to be done, other than get stronger. The lesions in my spinal cord are stubborn and there's no safe removal of them.

This constant, right side weakness *and diminished sensation* follows me into the water with my right sided stroke strength, reach, propulsion phase and entry cadence--and I'm ALWAYS working on refinement. Myopia from left eye blindness hasn't helped the left side gallop in my stroke either. WHATEVER. Humbled from today but I still made gains in my bench press, and all else went just great. So grateful for what I get out of Vashon Strong!

Yesterday our adventurous assembly of open water swimmers descended onto Gold Beach like a pack of neoprene ninjas, and set out on a one-way excurstion of the 4200-yard variety to Pt Robinson. I was so cold that as soon as we neared the point, I decided that 4k was a fine enough swim and I need to circulate some blood back into my frozen foot nubs! Mary S shot ahead so poor thing was shivering in the wind waiting onshore for me, Mary R and Jenna! Note to other swimmers: Give the fastest swimmer your car key if your vehicle is the one with everyone's dry-off gear in it! Oopsies. 

Have a great week!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Portage to Gold Beach Community Clubhouse: A 7-mile winter swim!

Image
In mid-December I had one of those days. We all have ‘em. Initially I held big goals for a big swim, which is kind of counterintuitive for winter time. There are winds that hit from either the north or south, you have to time your route with the currents (unless you just love extra punishment), and you need to feel rested and nourished. The goal of the day was a 10k, but I ended my journey at 6k yards after numerous gear failures and missteps; it was actually kind of funny—I had unwittingly popped my swim buoy by sliding in a thermos of hot cider, my nourishment for the feed breaks. It deflated early on and for more than three miles I’d been dragging this dead weight in a deflated sac, twisting and bobbing behind me. I also had a neoprene glove that was not on properly so it filled with water and performed like a lead weight with each stroke. In some ways, for THAT swim, I did pretty damn good. Joe Yarkin and Mary Singer, my island swim buddies and new members of the BlueSeventy Ra
Read more

A glimpse at now (and where did 2022 go)?

Image
  Jersey UK, Summer 2022 MV Lionheart, our pilot boat It has begun: Another year of training this middle-aged bod to be athletic for a long San Diego swim.   I say that in relative terms. “Long” isn’t doing the entire English Channel, but it’s not a 5k goal either. In 2013, I had yet to swim a straight 5k! In 2021 I finally edged up to 18.6 to swim around Coronado. I thought I was sated on marathon swimming until I signed up for another route in San Diego that intrigued me: Pt Loma to Ocean Beach, aka The 15k PLOB. October will bring this adventure, with swim pal Becky tandem-ing the entire route alongside. I’m thrilled (awed!) to swim this very cliff-lined coastal route and see a part of San Diego from an angle I’ve yet to see. Since mid-December I’ve been grunting it out at weekly CrossFit p/t, sprinkling in swims and additional gym workouts, and focusing in on nutrition. The ravages of perimenopause are sucky! It takes all the interventions to feel normal, let alone athletic . Two
Read more

About Last Week in La Jolla...

Image
La Jolla Shores from the water, 3.23.23. Not the nicest conditions, but great training!  This winter I'd blocked time to zip down to San Diego and complete an English Channel relay qualifier with Dan Simonelli (Open Water Swim Academy). Initially I was on a 2023 relay but excused myself after this qualifier had been arranged, but I decided to keep the CA date. I figured if nothing else this is always a nice way to set the tone for early-season training ahead. Then, swim buddy Mary S. checked in on 2024 dates and secured an early-season relay on SUVA--16 months out from now. She is swimming a solo in 2025, and a relay is always a nice appetizer to the main course. For EC, I'm only interested as an appetizer! The hope is now we can build a Vashon team, but it's a tough sell. Mary R. was intrigued at the notion and decided she and Mary S. would come down with me and knock out a qualifier this year (They are good for 18 months, so why not?). Initially, Becky my fall tandem b
Read more