Pants...

Well, the 2014 Winter Olympic Games are almost over. I was completely CRUSHED yesterday when the U.S. lost to Canada in women's hockey again. I didn't even have all my adult teeth the last time they won gold! The game was so close! But hey, silver is amazing and I think much more pretty.

I recently saw an article on skiers that caught my eye as a swimmer. Sarah Lyall of the New York Times wrote about how skiers have a difficult time finding pants that fit.  A link to the story is at the bottom of the post. 

Watching the skiers come off the slopes after their runs here at the Winter Games is to see a parade of superconditioned lower bodies whose every powerful contour ripples graphically underneath what are essentially very expensive tights.“Yes, we have derrières,” said Chemmy Alcott, a British skier. “We’ve got booties. I’ve spent 28 years squatting in that squat position, and I’m really proud of it. It would be a lot easier for me to be a skinny normal person. I have to work really hard to get this muscle.”Skiers say that they need big legs and rears to get them down the slopes as quickly and forcefully as possible.

Well, I immediately wanted to jump up and yell "YES!" Open water swimming is a sport that allows people of very diverse body types to compete. Come to a swim, and you will see people of all shapes and sizes competing in the same field. A very common complaint, especially from female swimmers, is the thunder thighs. Trying on a pair of pants at the Gap is excruciating! they will be completely cutting off the circulation in my thighs, and then be 2 sizes too big in the waist. It is a never ending quest to find pants that are flattering, yet fit the muscles that have only been growing these past few months.  My biggest takeaway when reading this article was a wish that some fashion designer could make pants specifically for people with athletic legs. There has to be enough demand between swimmers, skiers, and gymnasts! Body image issues run rampant in sports. It caused me to quit swimming once before, and to this day it can be a struggle. I even let the thought "I want to quit swimming so I can wear smaller jeans" enter my head this week. Thankfully, I was talked off the ledge by three awesome people. If just one clothing company could help design pants that we all felt comfortable and confident in, I honestly thing that it would help combat all of those negative thoughts! 

Well, another way to combat negativity is a 3,000 meter work out like today's. That will make anyone feel amazing no matter what the jean situation is!

Hold Fast,

Laura

Link to New York Times article- http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/sports/olympics/chasing-gold-and-jeans-that-fit.html?_r=0

Link to my story on the BMW bobsled (you know, for self promotion)- http://nbclearn.com/2014olympics/cuecard/68317

5,500 Meter Swim

I kicked off my President's Day Monday with a challenging 5,500 meter work out from Coach Bonnie. This is a workout that will establish some base times so that I can start interval training. 

Francis and I dragged ourselves out of bed at 5:15, and headed to the West Side YMCA. I wanted to have the most accurate times that I could, so Francis graciously agreed to sit on the side of the pool and time the sets that needed timing. He looked like quite the coach with his stopwatch, TYR jammers, and clipboard! I was so glad that he was there, and felt really guilty since he did not have Monday off. It helped to see his face on the turns and have someone there in case something went wrong. I have a great swim caddy :)

I swim in a 25 meter pool, so a 100 is 4 laps. Multiply all sets by 4 for the number of laps:

800m Warm Up. Include at least 200 yards of kicking and mix in some stroke (breaststroke, back, and fly).

10 x 100m Free with 10 seconds rest to see what time you can hold.  Get times. 
-Basically 10 100m Freestyles with a 10 second rest between each set.

2 x Broken 1500m (1500 is a mile) Get times.

1) Build up
100m (Rest 10 seconds)
200m (Rest 15 seconds)
300m (Rest 20 seconds)
400m (Rest 25 seconds)
500m (Rest 30 seconds)

2) Try descending these
500m ( Rest 25 seconds)
400m (Rest 20 seconds)
300m ( Rest 15 seconds)
200m ( Rest 10 seconds)
100m

10 x 25m (These make me feel like a dolphin!)
Odd under water
Even sprint

200m Cool Down

There were a few moments of "and why am I doing this again?", but for the most part it felt awesome! The worst part of winter training is not getting those long swims in quite as easily. Pools are really boring when you have swam by the sights of Coney Island and NYC. Plus, no waves, current, or salt water. 

One funny mishap! One the first 300 of the Build Up set, I miscounted and still had 4 to go, which Francis very kindly reminded me of. Then, on the same set, my goggles came off and I finished the last 25 meters with my eyes closed. 

The best part of the day thought was getting to replenish those calories at Eataly with my roommates and some friends. Nothing like food well earned and well prepared! 

Hold Fast,
Laura

A Long Expected Journey

For as long as I can remember, I have been more comfortable in the water than on land. I am like a penguin: awkward and strange on land, but the minute I am under the water, I am graceful and feel instantly at home.

I fell into open water swimming a few years ago. I had been a pool swimmer for a little while, but quit due to diving starts, mean girls, and the fact that the pool was taking me away from my beloved ocean.

I am currently training for the Ederle Swim, a 17.5 mile swim from Battery Park in Manhattan to Sandy Hook, New Jersey. I grew up only a few minutes from Sandy Hook, so this my shot to say that I can swim home. It is a long journey, but one that will be worth it. I plan to complete the swim in August of 2015.

But first! Stage 6 of the 8 Bridges Swim, a 15 mile swim from the Tappan Zee Bridge to the George Washington Bridge. It will be my first marathon swim, and my chance to establish some time goals and get my body ready.

Supporting me on this journey will be Coach Bonnie and my marathon running\future triathlete boyfriend Francis. I hope that this blog will help me document this exciting time in my life, and serve as a log. Some of you have expressed genuine interest and curiosity which makes me feel so good! This will be my way of keeping you informed. Expect lots of history, bad jokes, and hopefully success!

Hold Fast,
Laura