I already knew Tuesday was going to be a tough nut to crack. We were taking the grand kids to the Wizard of Oz play at BPAC at DSU. So it I were to get more than one workout in, I had to get up early. I did set the alarm and was up to use the bathroom a minute before it went off. But I stayed up too late Monday night so I turned to alarm off and went back to bed. I am smart like that.
Consequently, all I got done was a swim. With the babies in the pool, I decided against doing set but instead did a straight 3,350 yard swim with some pickups thrown in. The pickups were done before the kiddie lessons started. It was a decent swim and all I got that day.
Wednesday, however, I had more time. Trevor usually gets off early so we lifted together for the first time in over a week. I pulled, having done pushing Monday. I thought we were going to run afterwards, but Trevor "forgot" his shoes. I went out alone and did 2.25 miles. My plan for us together was to run a mile on Wade Road and then do some weighted runs up the bridge. I planned to carry a twenty-five pound plate and give Trevor and forty-five. After the strongman contest, I concluded that Trevor needed a little more conditioning. He has good strength, but could use more cardio at the high lactic acid level. The weighted repeats up the bridge would provide that, and they wouldn't hurt me either. So the solo shuffle was my second workout of the day.
I went inside and took some Whey protein and rested a bit before going to the pool. I planned to swim late so the babies wouldn't be there and I could do some fast swimming. What I swam was
2,500 46:11 (1:50)
250 for time 3:44 (just under 1:30 - this is the pace I am trying to work up all the way to 500)
250 easy with medium paddles
2 X 100 @ 1:35 (I had 75 @ 1:35 programmed already in my watch. I decided to try it with 100s. That meant I had to swim under 1:30 to have even five seconds of rest. I made two reps and had only two seconds left to I tapped)
250 easy with medium paddles
5 X 100 @ 1:55
300 medium paddles
total: 4,250 yards = 3,884 meters.
It was a good practice and my third workout of the day. Three-workout days do a body good. I woke this morning weighing 170.8, my lightest in two years. Tonight, however, we have one of those preacher eating meetings. I like these, but if I could go a few weeks without a big eating, my weight would get where it needs to be.
With the meeting, I have time for only one workout today. Swimming is my choice. With the meet only five weeks away, swimming has to take priority. Having goals and plans is fun. Thank you, Jesus.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Three-workout Day
I had another one, a day of real training. I started with getting up early and going for a shuffle. As usual of late, I felt like an old man. OK, maybe I am an old man. I shuffled along in the darkness and listened with joy as birds announced a coming new day. When it was over, I had gone for 2.19. I think now I can safely say that I am on the road back. Well, I'm on the slow road.
After work, I did everything possible to get to the pool as soon as I could. I started swimming around 2:30 and did
1,100 20:02 (1:49)
1,100 small paddles 19:15
8 X 25 @:40
200 medium paddles
400 easy
total: 3,000 yards = 2,742 meters.
It wasn't a bad swim, but I don't feel comfortable busting up and down the pool really hard with the babies in the water. Sigh. That's why I did 25s instead of 50s or 100s. I didn't have to flip and create more waves and splash.
After the swim, I waited for Trevor to text. When he didn't, I contacted him and he said he was out so I worked out alone. We have had a long run here where we haven't been able to lift together. Sigh.
With only one weight session last week, I was hoping I had not lost any strength. I lost strength. But life happens so I will get it back. On the bench, I pressed
20 X 45
13 X 95
10 X 115
7 X 140 (one less than last week)
3 X 145 (less weight and fewer reps than last week)
3 X 145
3 X 145
8 X 135
I also did some inclines bench presses, some squats, and some rotator cuff work.
It's getting pretty close to time to start ramping up the yardage and cutting back on the lifting. Not yet. I need to take the strength a little higher and keep as much of it as I can going into my meet.
It was a solid day in the classroom and in the training. Thank you, Lord. I need some more of those.
After work, I did everything possible to get to the pool as soon as I could. I started swimming around 2:30 and did
1,100 20:02 (1:49)
1,100 small paddles 19:15
8 X 25 @:40
200 medium paddles
400 easy
total: 3,000 yards = 2,742 meters.
It wasn't a bad swim, but I don't feel comfortable busting up and down the pool really hard with the babies in the water. Sigh. That's why I did 25s instead of 50s or 100s. I didn't have to flip and create more waves and splash.
After the swim, I waited for Trevor to text. When he didn't, I contacted him and he said he was out so I worked out alone. We have had a long run here where we haven't been able to lift together. Sigh.
With only one weight session last week, I was hoping I had not lost any strength. I lost strength. But life happens so I will get it back. On the bench, I pressed
20 X 45
13 X 95
10 X 115
7 X 140 (one less than last week)
3 X 145 (less weight and fewer reps than last week)
3 X 145
3 X 145
8 X 135
I also did some inclines bench presses, some squats, and some rotator cuff work.
It's getting pretty close to time to start ramping up the yardage and cutting back on the lifting. Not yet. I need to take the strength a little higher and keep as much of it as I can going into my meet.
It was a solid day in the classroom and in the training. Thank you, Lord. I need some more of those.
Monday, February 25, 2019
2/18 - 2/24
It was an interesting week although not a big training one. I only swam three times, Monday for 2,742 meters, Tuesday for 3,656, and Thursday for 5,209. I missed Wednesday due to some sort of physical attack I had. Friday we traveled to Little Rock for Trevor's strongman contest. I contemplated getting up a little early and either running or lifting or swimming. I did none of the above but drank coffee and took it easy instead.
I only ran twice, Monday morning before daylight for 2.01 miles and Wednesday afternoon for 2.12. The attack started as I was cooling down after the Wednesday run.
I only lifted one time due to the attack, the rain, and the trip. The rain was relentless and really messed up our lifting. But still I consider the week a mild success. The totals are
swimming - 11,607 meters
lifting - one time
running - 4.13 miles.
Now I have five weeks to get ready for my meet on the coast. I am in pretty good shape now, but I need to work on my speed. With the babies in the pool, I feel a little constrained about fast swimming. But, all I can do is all I can do.
Thank you, Jesus, for last week and the one stretching out before us. Help us all to make it count in all the ways that are important.
I only ran twice, Monday morning before daylight for 2.01 miles and Wednesday afternoon for 2.12. The attack started as I was cooling down after the Wednesday run.
I only lifted one time due to the attack, the rain, and the trip. The rain was relentless and really messed up our lifting. But still I consider the week a mild success. The totals are
swimming - 11,607 meters
lifting - one time
running - 4.13 miles.
Now I have five weeks to get ready for my meet on the coast. I am in pretty good shape now, but I need to work on my speed. With the babies in the pool, I feel a little constrained about fast swimming. But, all I can do is all I can do.
Thank you, Jesus, for last week and the one stretching out before us. Help us all to make it count in all the ways that are important.
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Valentine's Day Muscle Massacre
We felt as if we were fleeing the flood. It had rained for days and the river was rising when we drove out of Greenwood, Mississippi. On the way, Penny and Trevor were reading aloud from Facebook posts about the growing concern over the rain and the river and the water that was covering roads and in a few cases invading houses. It rained on us all the way to Little Rock, Arkansas and as far as I could tell, it fell all night long after we got there.
The competition began with an event called the country crush dead lift which is basically dead lifting weight on a single upright plate holder with a handle that rotates making the grip rather than pure pulling strength one of the difficulties of the lift. That event ran with the athletes being allowed to jump in whenever they wanted, meaning they did not have to make every weight and the could consequently save themselves until the weight got higher if they were confident in their strength. They had 60 seconds to complete the lift once they started an attempt.
Watching this was a lot of fun. The opening weight was 105 and the teen novice competitors jumped in first. Everybody who attempted made 105. The weight jumped 20 pounds each round. Trevor made his first attempt at 145 which he made easily. One of the teens failed at this weight.
T-man made 185, and 205. Will, a friendly guy we talked to from Oklahoma City, jumped in at 205 for his first lift. Like Trevor, this was his first strongman contest, and also like Trevor, he was a never-met-a-stranger kind of guy. Trevor pulled 225 and 245 but failed at 265. All the lightweights were out by 265 as were all the women.
Will stayed in until 305. By now, the competitors were thinning out and as a result, their rest between lifts was reduced. The new weights were coming up more and more quickly. At 325, six guys went out leaving only three strongmen. One was the man I had dubbed in my mind, "Tall Guy." When he entered the gym, I started trying to guess his height. My first guess was 6'7''. Then I thought, no he's 6'8'' if an inch. Trevor said 6'9'' but were were looking from a distance. When he later walked by, I thought he must be seven feet tall.
Eventually, I saw Tall Guy alone and went over and asked him outright how tall he was. "Seven feet," he answered. I wished I had asked how much he weighed. My guess is 350, and his shoes that looked like Ronald McDonald shoes. I have seen someone bigger, but only a time or two. I once had a student, Terrence Brown, who was 6'11" and 404 pounds. He played in the NFL after he left MDCC and then Ole Miss.
Tall Guy skipped 345 and that's when I knew he would win this event and maybe the whole contest. One of the other two athletes failed at 345, and the one who made it struggled to make the lift.
There was no rest for the guy who barely made 345. The weight was changed to 365 and he had to go right away. He failed, and tall guy made 365 with what looked to me like ease.
The next event was a 50 foot sled drag followed by a 50 foot keg carry for time. The sled, for the lightweights was loaded with two 100 pound plates and the keg was filled with 200 pounds of sand. Now the competitors were going in the order of their weight classes. There were two lanes so the lightweights and the teen novices went first. One lightweight dropped the keg which disqualified him. One did the the event in :50 and Trevor did his turn at 1:00. Someone I didn't know and had not even spoken to came up to me and said, "Trevor is tied for first place." Everybody there knew Trevor.
The third event was the circus dumbbell. I will forego trying to explain it and give you the picture instead. Bear in mind, we have none of this stuff at Plate City. We do have a sled, but no keg, no country crush dead lift, and no circus dumbbell. We will, however, be getting some of this stuff made over the next few months.
The dumbbell lift was an overhead press for reps and Trevor finished in the middle of the lightweights resulting in him being tied for first place, the man I didn't know informed me. I was so proud at this point that I was about to burst into tears. That would have been embarrassing to me and maybe even to T-man, but I could barely take it.
The penultimate event was sand bag over bar for reps. The lightweights had a 200 pound sandbag which they had to put over and 52 inch high bar as many times as they could in 60 seconds. This was a brutal event for all the contestants. A few, some big guys even, failed to record a single rep. Trevor made three barovers and almost passed out afterwards. This is where he lost the lead, with the other lightweights performing a little better. That, however, did not dampen my admiration of his gall, his efforts, his performance.
Finally, the contest moved to the last event, a natural stone carry for maximum distance in one minute. Here I was confused. They had several stones, one for each weight class, but as God is my witness, the stone the lightweights carried looked like the largest of them all and not by a little bit. Supposedly it weighed 200 pounds but who knows what those guys actually carried. Trevor did well but was not able to regain the lead. This one put a hurt on all the participants with everyone falling out on the floor in pain and exhaustion after their turn. Tall Guy even had an oxygen tank which he used after most events and he used an long time after this one.
And then it was over. Trevor placed third in the lightweight division. He looked good up there in his Chicot Challenge T-shirt representing Team Centerville and Plate City Gym. We were unbelievably happy for him. He had a blast and so did we. Will placed second in the novice division. We were happy for him. Tall Guy, whom I found out was named Matthew Roebuck, won the super heavy weights.
We made our destination, the Comfort Inn and Suites on Interstate 30, checked in, and rested before finding Alpha Athletics so Trevor could weigh in. Then we went to the Cajans' Wharf which was located in the same complex of buildings as the gym. There we dined on fine fish. I looked longingly out the huge windows that gave us a grand view of the Arkansas River.
"You could do some big-time swimming in that," I noted.
"You could do some big-time fishing in that," Trevor answered.
We were in town for Trevor's first strongman contest. He and I started working out together in August. Since then, Trevor has blown up in muscles and strength and here we were. I admired his spirit of adventure, his willingness, eagerness, to jump into an event as raw as he was, is.
The next morning, we did the continental breakfast thing and then made our way back to the gym. At 8:30 was a scheduled rules meeting and the contest was to begin at 9:00. Once inside the gym, Trevor did the Trevor thing and talked to everybody there. Before we left, everybody knew him by name.
 |
| Trevor 19.5 pounds under the lightweight limit of 180. |
The competition began with an event called the country crush dead lift which is basically dead lifting weight on a single upright plate holder with a handle that rotates making the grip rather than pure pulling strength one of the difficulties of the lift. That event ran with the athletes being allowed to jump in whenever they wanted, meaning they did not have to make every weight and the could consequently save themselves until the weight got higher if they were confident in their strength. They had 60 seconds to complete the lift once they started an attempt.
Watching this was a lot of fun. The opening weight was 105 and the teen novice competitors jumped in first. Everybody who attempted made 105. The weight jumped 20 pounds each round. Trevor made his first attempt at 145 which he made easily. One of the teens failed at this weight.
 |
| Trevor pulling 225. He made 245 before failing at the next weight. |
Will stayed in until 305. By now, the competitors were thinning out and as a result, their rest between lifts was reduced. The new weights were coming up more and more quickly. At 325, six guys went out leaving only three strongmen. One was the man I had dubbed in my mind, "Tall Guy." When he entered the gym, I started trying to guess his height. My first guess was 6'7''. Then I thought, no he's 6'8'' if an inch. Trevor said 6'9'' but were were looking from a distance. When he later walked by, I thought he must be seven feet tall.
 |
| Will pulling 245. |
Eventually, I saw Tall Guy alone and went over and asked him outright how tall he was. "Seven feet," he answered. I wished I had asked how much he weighed. My guess is 350, and his shoes that looked like Ronald McDonald shoes. I have seen someone bigger, but only a time or two. I once had a student, Terrence Brown, who was 6'11" and 404 pounds. He played in the NFL after he left MDCC and then Ole Miss.
Tall Guy skipped 345 and that's when I knew he would win this event and maybe the whole contest. One of the other two athletes failed at 345, and the one who made it struggled to make the lift.
There was no rest for the guy who barely made 345. The weight was changed to 365 and he had to go right away. He failed, and tall guy made 365 with what looked to me like ease.
The next event was a 50 foot sled drag followed by a 50 foot keg carry for time. The sled, for the lightweights was loaded with two 100 pound plates and the keg was filled with 200 pounds of sand. Now the competitors were going in the order of their weight classes. There were two lanes so the lightweights and the teen novices went first. One lightweight dropped the keg which disqualified him. One did the the event in :50 and Trevor did his turn at 1:00. Someone I didn't know and had not even spoken to came up to me and said, "Trevor is tied for first place." Everybody there knew Trevor.
The third event was the circus dumbbell. I will forego trying to explain it and give you the picture instead. Bear in mind, we have none of this stuff at Plate City. We do have a sled, but no keg, no country crush dead lift, and no circus dumbbell. We will, however, be getting some of this stuff made over the next few months.
 |
| The circus dumbbell. It's heavy and large making it awkward to lift. |
The dumbbell lift was an overhead press for reps and Trevor finished in the middle of the lightweights resulting in him being tied for first place, the man I didn't know informed me. I was so proud at this point that I was about to burst into tears. That would have been embarrassing to me and maybe even to T-man, but I could barely take it.
The penultimate event was sand bag over bar for reps. The lightweights had a 200 pound sandbag which they had to put over and 52 inch high bar as many times as they could in 60 seconds. This was a brutal event for all the contestants. A few, some big guys even, failed to record a single rep. Trevor made three barovers and almost passed out afterwards. This is where he lost the lead, with the other lightweights performing a little better. That, however, did not dampen my admiration of his gall, his efforts, his performance.
 |
| T-man about to make his run at the sandbag. |
Finally, the contest moved to the last event, a natural stone carry for maximum distance in one minute. Here I was confused. They had several stones, one for each weight class, but as God is my witness, the stone the lightweights carried looked like the largest of them all and not by a little bit. Supposedly it weighed 200 pounds but who knows what those guys actually carried. Trevor did well but was not able to regain the lead. This one put a hurt on all the participants with everyone falling out on the floor in pain and exhaustion after their turn. Tall Guy even had an oxygen tank which he used after most events and he used an long time after this one.
And then it was over. Trevor placed third in the lightweight division. He looked good up there in his Chicot Challenge T-shirt representing Team Centerville and Plate City Gym. We were unbelievably happy for him. He had a blast and so did we. Will placed second in the novice division. We were happy for him. Tall Guy, whom I found out was named Matthew Roebuck, won the super heavy weights.
 |
| The adult novice group with Will taking second place. |
 |
| The super heavyweights with Tall Guy the overall winner. The second place dude must be at least 6'8". The guy on the right is about 6'3". |
 |
| The lightweights with that guy on the right making the podium shine. |
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Real Scare
I was gunning for another three-workout day: run, swim, lift. I did one Monday and of course I slept well that night. Wednesday I got home, changed clothes, and hit the road with joy. Of course I tottered along like an old man about to fall on his face. But I did it, 2.12 miles, and when I started my cool-down walk I began to hurt in the solar plexus region, not bad at first but enough to get my attention. I thought maybe it was indigestion because I had broken my personal rule and drunk coffee after lunch. As I walked the pain increased like someone turning up the heat on a stove a little at a time.
By the time I made it into the house, I was hurting enough to pull my shoes off and go lie on the bathroom floor where I could be close enough to the toilet if I vomited. The pain was bad enough that I was a little nauseous.
Bear in mind, I am not a stranger to pain. I have probably passed 150 kidney stones, almost all of them without medication. That is a conservative estimate seeing that I have passed five to ten per year for the last forty years. Ask any woman who has had a baby and a kidney stone which is worse and they will tell you the kidney stone. This pain was kidney stone level pain.
Of course I wondered if I was having a heart attack. At one point, I was sure I was dying. So this is how it ends, I thought, curled up in the fetal position on the bathroom floor. I texted my wife and asked for prayer. I took my pulse and it was slow and steady. I'm not sure what my pulse would have been like if I was having a heart attack but that gave me a little bit of mental comfort that is was strong and slow. I was not dizzy, but sweat was pouring off me like water when I climb out of the swimming pool. I groaned and thought about calling 911. Then I asked my wife to come home. I was going to get her to take me to the hospital. About then the pain hit the vomit level, and I regurgitated three huge bursts.
And just like that, the pain was gone.
Now I am puzzled, thankful, but puzzled. Should I be worried? What was wrong? I went to bed after Penny came home and just like when you suffer with a kidney stone and finally get ease, someone turned the lights out. I would like to hear a medical explanation of what your body does when you suffer with severe pain. I always go to sleep afterwards, and that sleep is the best.
Of course I stayed in bed the rest of the day and night. This morning I awoke feeling like a million dollars and thanking God for life. I always thank God for life, but when you really think you about died, you mean it a little more, a lot more. The sky was prettier today and the prospects of working were pleasant. Than you, Jesus, for blessing me with life and health and things to do. Today I go for two, for two workouts, and I thank God I can do them.
By the time I made it into the house, I was hurting enough to pull my shoes off and go lie on the bathroom floor where I could be close enough to the toilet if I vomited. The pain was bad enough that I was a little nauseous.
Bear in mind, I am not a stranger to pain. I have probably passed 150 kidney stones, almost all of them without medication. That is a conservative estimate seeing that I have passed five to ten per year for the last forty years. Ask any woman who has had a baby and a kidney stone which is worse and they will tell you the kidney stone. This pain was kidney stone level pain.
Of course I wondered if I was having a heart attack. At one point, I was sure I was dying. So this is how it ends, I thought, curled up in the fetal position on the bathroom floor. I texted my wife and asked for prayer. I took my pulse and it was slow and steady. I'm not sure what my pulse would have been like if I was having a heart attack but that gave me a little bit of mental comfort that is was strong and slow. I was not dizzy, but sweat was pouring off me like water when I climb out of the swimming pool. I groaned and thought about calling 911. Then I asked my wife to come home. I was going to get her to take me to the hospital. About then the pain hit the vomit level, and I regurgitated three huge bursts.
And just like that, the pain was gone.
Now I am puzzled, thankful, but puzzled. Should I be worried? What was wrong? I went to bed after Penny came home and just like when you suffer with a kidney stone and finally get ease, someone turned the lights out. I would like to hear a medical explanation of what your body does when you suffer with severe pain. I always go to sleep afterwards, and that sleep is the best.
Of course I stayed in bed the rest of the day and night. This morning I awoke feeling like a million dollars and thanking God for life. I always thank God for life, but when you really think you about died, you mean it a little more, a lot more. The sky was prettier today and the prospects of working were pleasant. Than you, Jesus, for blessing me with life and health and things to do. Today I go for two, for two workouts, and I thank God I can do them.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Tuesday Swim
I arrived at the pool Tuesday afternoon and once more it was empty. For how long? There was no way for me to know. Since I had done 14 100s Monday (speed work), it was time to focus on endurance. So I went back to my extra long warm up and did
2,200 in 40:53 (1:51)
150 for time (2:10, 1:26)
300 small paddles
200 kick with fins
400 easy
19 X 50 medium paddles @1:09
total: 4,000 yards = 3,656 meters.
The day was rainy and cold so I texted Trevor and asked him what he thought. He never answered so guess what I did. Right, I got comfortable once I got inside and did nothing else for the day or night, or at least noting else physical. I just lounged around with CC and watched YouTube videos about home gyms. Plate City is still the best of them all.
Now, as I type this, it is still cold and rainy outside. What does the day hold? Possibilities. I plan to swim again and maybe lift. I need a made up mind to lift even if I don't hear from T-man. He may be tapering for the rest of the week because we are going to Little Rock Friday so he can compete in his first ever strongman contest Saturday. I look forward to cheering him on and witnessing a strongman contest in person. It should be interesting. I would like to compete myself, but I am an endurance athlete and far too week.
Thank you, Lord, for a good day.
2,200 in 40:53 (1:51)
150 for time (2:10, 1:26)
300 small paddles
200 kick with fins
400 easy
19 X 50 medium paddles @1:09
total: 4,000 yards = 3,656 meters.
The day was rainy and cold so I texted Trevor and asked him what he thought. He never answered so guess what I did. Right, I got comfortable once I got inside and did nothing else for the day or night, or at least noting else physical. I just lounged around with CC and watched YouTube videos about home gyms. Plate City is still the best of them all.
Now, as I type this, it is still cold and rainy outside. What does the day hold? Possibilities. I plan to swim again and maybe lift. I need a made up mind to lift even if I don't hear from T-man. He may be tapering for the rest of the week because we are going to Little Rock Friday so he can compete in his first ever strongman contest Saturday. I look forward to cheering him on and witnessing a strongman contest in person. It should be interesting. I would like to compete myself, but I am an endurance athlete and far too week.
Thank you, Lord, for a good day.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Magical Monday
I had that magical Monday, the three-workout day. It started with an early morning run. When I started, the temperature was 36. I shuffled east on Monroe Ave. and as I did, a street light gave just enough illumination to cast my shadow before me on the road's surface. I looked like a waddling old man. It was a disappointing and disgusting sight, but at least I am out there on my 3,019th comeback. I shuffled for two miles at a slower than 14 minute per mile pace. Pretty pitiful but I haven't given up.
An early morning run always makes me feel good. Then I had an enjoyable day at school, other than being a little frustrated at students who can't seem to think. After class I went home and saw CC, changed clothes, and went to the pool. When I got there the pool was empty, and I thought, I have it all to myself. But not for long. The mothers and babies started coming in. There was no lane line up so I felt like my wake was a problem. It affected me. It always does. I know it shouldn't but I got out much sooner than I would have. What I did swim was
1,200 21:44 (1:48)
14 X 100 @ 2:05
400 small paddles
total: 3,000 yards = 2,742 meters.
Workout number three was weights at Plate City. I had to get it done early because of Over 60s so for about the forth time in a row, I had to lift alone. On the bench I did
20 X 45
13 X 95
8 X 115
8 X 140
5 X 150
2 X 155
2 X 155
I also did some squats. Maybe one day mortification will take my pride down low enough that I can post those numbers. Not yet. Forgive me, Lord. Over 60s was good, enjoyable, edifying. Thank you, Jesus, for a wonderful day.
An early morning run always makes me feel good. Then I had an enjoyable day at school, other than being a little frustrated at students who can't seem to think. After class I went home and saw CC, changed clothes, and went to the pool. When I got there the pool was empty, and I thought, I have it all to myself. But not for long. The mothers and babies started coming in. There was no lane line up so I felt like my wake was a problem. It affected me. It always does. I know it shouldn't but I got out much sooner than I would have. What I did swim was
1,200 21:44 (1:48)
14 X 100 @ 2:05
400 small paddles
total: 3,000 yards = 2,742 meters.
Workout number three was weights at Plate City. I had to get it done early because of Over 60s so for about the forth time in a row, I had to lift alone. On the bench I did
20 X 45
13 X 95
8 X 115
8 X 140
5 X 150
2 X 155
2 X 155
I also did some squats. Maybe one day mortification will take my pride down low enough that I can post those numbers. Not yet. Forgive me, Lord. Over 60s was good, enjoyable, edifying. Thank you, Jesus, for a wonderful day.
Monday, February 18, 2019
2/11 - 2/17
It was another week of low numbers and that always means one number goes up: my weight. The pool was supposed to be ready Monday. It was not. I did get up early and shuffle, however, as well as have a nice lifting session at Plate City. On the road, I did 1.43 miles and at the gym, I benched up to 150. I think I already posted that workout.
Tuesday I was able to lift again and swim 2,422 meters.
Despite attending Aunt Dorris' funeral, I also managed to lift some weights when I got home as well as shuffle 1.55 miles.
Thursday I made it back to the pool for 2,559 meters and then did a big bench session at Plate City.
Friday I did my third swim. It was a good one, all quality and it totaled 4,100 yards (3,747 meters). I also lifted.
Saturday, Penny and I went to Jackson. Yes, I went by Play it Again Sports and Academy Sports where I purchased some ten pound Olympic Plates. We have fewer of those than any other denomination at the gym so I am making up the shortfall. While Penny was in one of her stores, I found again Friendship Park and ran 1.86 miles there. When we got home, I went out back and lifted in the dark. So despite the trip to Jackson, I did everything except swim.
For the week, I
lifted six times (good),
shuffled 4.82 miles (better)
pedaled 6:00 on the exercise bicycle, and
swam 8,728 meters (far too little).
Not a big week, but I am one closer to April and June and my swimming is still coming up. Thank you, Lord, for giving me enough health to do as much as I did.
Tuesday I was able to lift again and swim 2,422 meters.
Despite attending Aunt Dorris' funeral, I also managed to lift some weights when I got home as well as shuffle 1.55 miles.
Thursday I made it back to the pool for 2,559 meters and then did a big bench session at Plate City.
Friday I did my third swim. It was a good one, all quality and it totaled 4,100 yards (3,747 meters). I also lifted.
Saturday, Penny and I went to Jackson. Yes, I went by Play it Again Sports and Academy Sports where I purchased some ten pound Olympic Plates. We have fewer of those than any other denomination at the gym so I am making up the shortfall. While Penny was in one of her stores, I found again Friendship Park and ran 1.86 miles there. When we got home, I went out back and lifted in the dark. So despite the trip to Jackson, I did everything except swim.
For the week, I
lifted six times (good),
shuffled 4.82 miles (better)
pedaled 6:00 on the exercise bicycle, and
swam 8,728 meters (far too little).
Not a big week, but I am one closer to April and June and my swimming is still coming up. Thank you, Lord, for giving me enough health to do as much as I did.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Let Me Count the Ways
Oh Friday morning. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
One way I love thee is I remember well when I had no time for play. Years back, I was working a physical job, raising a family, pastoring a church, and going to school. I did that for years, for over a decade. I didn't hunt, didn't fish, didn't watch TV and didn't know what was going on in the popular culture, football, anything. All work and no play made Johnny a very dull boy, a very tired one, of one who yearned for rest and recreation.
Another way I love thee is I have choices. With my wife at work, I chose what I will do today. I chose this morning not to go to the pastors' breakfast. I wanted the extra rest and some time with CC. She is very sensitive to changes in my schedule. I went to an out of town funeral this week which took hang-out time from her. She notices those things and becomes needy. At this very moment she is curled up at my side and purring loud like a runaway engine. She wanted on my lap, but the lap top is there. Sorry, Sweetie.
I do have an itinerary, a list, written on a index card. It reads:
study
blog
cleaners
swim
recycle
Plate City
mow
lift
I know there is a lack of parallel structure in that list, but it is for my eyes only. Now that I have made it for yours also, don't judge me.
A third way I love thee is the feeling of freedom I get when I wake up on Friday morning. I love that. It reminds me of my boyhood, of the exhilaration of having time to play. I often think of the time Mom dropped me off at Rob White's house. I was in the first grade. She said, "I'll be back in an hour." An hour!! I was free. The later years of my adulthood have been spent chasing that all too elusive feeling of being free. I can only have it in short spots. And that feeling is one of the reasons I pursue endurance sports, journey runs, long bicycle rides, all-day swims. It is there that I recapture the feeling that I am totally free, even if for only a mere few hours.
A fourth way I love thee is the fact that nobody understands. I tried to tell my students the other day, Thursday in fact. From the look on their faces, they didn't get it. There is a lot they don't get. They don't understand loss, freedom, or struggle. I know I am generalizing, but I am generally correct. Being the only one who gets it makes it even more special.
There are more ways I love thee, but I just realized that I started blogging before studying. I know what you are thinking. If you are a slave to the list, the index card, you are not free. I chose to follow the list. I need to study. I need to do those other things. I want to swim, to lift. Maybe I will strike out on a mini road trip. I often do that on Fridays. Sometimes I will drive to Noxapater and visit my aunt Mary. She is my only surviving aunt now that Doris Hodge has left us.
The coffee is good. I will drink a lot. I will watch YouTube videos. I will scroll through social media. I will enjoy my day. Thank you, Jesus. You gave me these Fridays, and I have cherished every one of them.
One way I love thee is I remember well when I had no time for play. Years back, I was working a physical job, raising a family, pastoring a church, and going to school. I did that for years, for over a decade. I didn't hunt, didn't fish, didn't watch TV and didn't know what was going on in the popular culture, football, anything. All work and no play made Johnny a very dull boy, a very tired one, of one who yearned for rest and recreation.
Another way I love thee is I have choices. With my wife at work, I chose what I will do today. I chose this morning not to go to the pastors' breakfast. I wanted the extra rest and some time with CC. She is very sensitive to changes in my schedule. I went to an out of town funeral this week which took hang-out time from her. She notices those things and becomes needy. At this very moment she is curled up at my side and purring loud like a runaway engine. She wanted on my lap, but the lap top is there. Sorry, Sweetie.
I do have an itinerary, a list, written on a index card. It reads:
study
blog
cleaners
swim
recycle
Plate City
mow
lift
I know there is a lack of parallel structure in that list, but it is for my eyes only. Now that I have made it for yours also, don't judge me.
A third way I love thee is the feeling of freedom I get when I wake up on Friday morning. I love that. It reminds me of my boyhood, of the exhilaration of having time to play. I often think of the time Mom dropped me off at Rob White's house. I was in the first grade. She said, "I'll be back in an hour." An hour!! I was free. The later years of my adulthood have been spent chasing that all too elusive feeling of being free. I can only have it in short spots. And that feeling is one of the reasons I pursue endurance sports, journey runs, long bicycle rides, all-day swims. It is there that I recapture the feeling that I am totally free, even if for only a mere few hours.
A fourth way I love thee is the fact that nobody understands. I tried to tell my students the other day, Thursday in fact. From the look on their faces, they didn't get it. There is a lot they don't get. They don't understand loss, freedom, or struggle. I know I am generalizing, but I am generally correct. Being the only one who gets it makes it even more special.
There are more ways I love thee, but I just realized that I started blogging before studying. I know what you are thinking. If you are a slave to the list, the index card, you are not free. I chose to follow the list. I need to study. I need to do those other things. I want to swim, to lift. Maybe I will strike out on a mini road trip. I often do that on Fridays. Sometimes I will drive to Noxapater and visit my aunt Mary. She is my only surviving aunt now that Doris Hodge has left us.
The coffee is good. I will drink a lot. I will watch YouTube videos. I will scroll through social media. I will enjoy my day. Thank you, Jesus. You gave me these Fridays, and I have cherished every one of them.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Weeping Wednesday
I went to Aunt Doris' funeral. After finding the funeral home, I went in and located the visiting parlor. When I entered, I saw my cousin Mary Ann, Doris' daughter, sitting on the couch. In a chair nearby was Silvia, my cousin Danny's wife. I spoke and made my way to the coffin. I hate that part and sometimes refuse it, looking at people I love in a coffin. But feeling ill at ease that's just what I did.
Mary Ann didn't speak, didn't seem to recognize me. Then after I was at the coffin for a few seconds, she blurted out, "It's Zane."
Like all funerals, the whole affair was sad, but it was nice to see my cousins some of whom I did not even know. I got to see my only surviving aunt, Mary Darby. That was nice. They needed another pallbearer and plugged me in. It was my honor. After the funeral we went back to what used to be CD's and Doris' place on the lake. Now Mary Ann lives there. It was nice to be back. I had not been there since my Wesley Biblical Seminary days and would not have been able to find my way.
The lake looked good. I guessed a lap of swimming around it would equal 1.25 to 1.35 miles. I chatted a long time with Danny, ate some chicken, and left. It was 7:00 o'clock before I made it home. I changed clothes, went outside, and started lifting weights. Plate City Gym always looks good in the dark. Wednesday is shoulder day. I did lateral raises, cleans, and dead lifts.
The cleans are an exercise I keep forgetting about. I only recently realized that they work the exterior rotator cuff muscles, something I am constantly hitting with other moves. Not only that, but they work the rest of the shoulders, the biceps, the traps, and the top of the forearms. The top of the forearms are important because most of weightlifting and all of swimming hit the bottom muscles. Consequently, the forearms get out of balance and the top muscles start getting dominated but the lower ones. This used to cause severe pain in my hands when swimming long distances. After my first Chicot Challenge, I had knots in the tendons on the top of my forearms. I have learned the hard way about antagonistic muscles. The cleans hit two of them so I plan to make them a permanent part of my lifting from now on.
I am still being hyper safe on the dead lifts and only did
11 X 95
5 X 105
4 X 115
3 X 125
On the cleans, I did
20 X 45
15 X 50
12 X 55
8 X 60
I also shuffled 1.55 miles which is exactly one half of a 5K. Maybe I am really coming back now. I hope, wish, and pray that is the case. I miss running and enjoy the heck out of the tiny bit I am doing now. And I need it, bad. I need the overall cardio it gives me, and I need the fun I have doing it.
Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for good health. Thank you for putting Doris Hodge in my life. And thank you for my wife, the cats, the dogs, and Plate City Gym.
Mary Ann didn't speak, didn't seem to recognize me. Then after I was at the coffin for a few seconds, she blurted out, "It's Zane."
 |
| Even in a bad picture of a picture and at her advanced age, her beauty still shines through. |
Like all funerals, the whole affair was sad, but it was nice to see my cousins some of whom I did not even know. I got to see my only surviving aunt, Mary Darby. That was nice. They needed another pallbearer and plugged me in. It was my honor. After the funeral we went back to what used to be CD's and Doris' place on the lake. Now Mary Ann lives there. It was nice to be back. I had not been there since my Wesley Biblical Seminary days and would not have been able to find my way.
The lake looked good. I guessed a lap of swimming around it would equal 1.25 to 1.35 miles. I chatted a long time with Danny, ate some chicken, and left. It was 7:00 o'clock before I made it home. I changed clothes, went outside, and started lifting weights. Plate City Gym always looks good in the dark. Wednesday is shoulder day. I did lateral raises, cleans, and dead lifts.
The cleans are an exercise I keep forgetting about. I only recently realized that they work the exterior rotator cuff muscles, something I am constantly hitting with other moves. Not only that, but they work the rest of the shoulders, the biceps, the traps, and the top of the forearms. The top of the forearms are important because most of weightlifting and all of swimming hit the bottom muscles. Consequently, the forearms get out of balance and the top muscles start getting dominated but the lower ones. This used to cause severe pain in my hands when swimming long distances. After my first Chicot Challenge, I had knots in the tendons on the top of my forearms. I have learned the hard way about antagonistic muscles. The cleans hit two of them so I plan to make them a permanent part of my lifting from now on.
I am still being hyper safe on the dead lifts and only did
11 X 95
5 X 105
4 X 115
3 X 125
On the cleans, I did
20 X 45
15 X 50
12 X 55
8 X 60
I also shuffled 1.55 miles which is exactly one half of a 5K. Maybe I am really coming back now. I hope, wish, and pray that is the case. I miss running and enjoy the heck out of the tiny bit I am doing now. And I need it, bad. I need the overall cardio it gives me, and I need the fun I have doing it.
Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for good health. Thank you for putting Doris Hodge in my life. And thank you for my wife, the cats, the dogs, and Plate City Gym.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Almost Magical
Monday was one of those days I was anticipating. The pool was back up. Not only that, but I was planning on getting up a little early and doing a short run. So I had my sights on three workouts for the day: a run, a swim, and weights at Plate City.
I rolled out of bed like I always don't want to, put my clothes on, and made it out the door. The dark enveloped me like a glove. I started my Garmin and my old man shuffle at the same time. The Garmin worked flawlessly. My legs, not so much. I was slow and awkward, but I delighted in the darkness, the solitude, the early birds singing, announcing a new day given by God. I did a paltry 1.4 miles but felt like a champ as I went inside to get my bath, breakfast, and prepare for the work day.
After work, I changed clothes, got my swim bag, and went with eagerness to the pool. Once there, I waded in and began stretching until I saw Robert and Watson come in bearing big boxed of chemicals.
"Are y'all going to kill me?" I asked.
"We will if you don't get out."
"Really?"
"Really. You have to get out."
So three workouts for one day was now only a failed plan. But that gave me time to go home and hang out with CC. Then Trevor showed up for bench day. On the flat bench, I pushed
20 X 45
15 X 95
10 X 115
8 X 140
5 X 150
5 X 150
5 X 150
On the incline, I pushed
13 X 95
10 X 105
8 X 115
6 X 120
For the Swim Pull, I did
30 X 28
20 X 31.6
15 X 36.6
12 X 39.6
12 X 41.1
10 X 42.6
I also did some squats. Certainly I am too prideful to reveal the numbers on that. Suffice to say that I am getting stronger in the legs which are a physical deficiency of mine.
So it was still a good training day. Not the three-headed monster I yearned for, but there is still time for that in the future, Lord willing.
Thank you, Jesus, for the lovely morning on the road and the solid day of training.
I rolled out of bed like I always don't want to, put my clothes on, and made it out the door. The dark enveloped me like a glove. I started my Garmin and my old man shuffle at the same time. The Garmin worked flawlessly. My legs, not so much. I was slow and awkward, but I delighted in the darkness, the solitude, the early birds singing, announcing a new day given by God. I did a paltry 1.4 miles but felt like a champ as I went inside to get my bath, breakfast, and prepare for the work day.
After work, I changed clothes, got my swim bag, and went with eagerness to the pool. Once there, I waded in and began stretching until I saw Robert and Watson come in bearing big boxed of chemicals.
"Are y'all going to kill me?" I asked.
"We will if you don't get out."
"Really?"
"Really. You have to get out."
So three workouts for one day was now only a failed plan. But that gave me time to go home and hang out with CC. Then Trevor showed up for bench day. On the flat bench, I pushed
20 X 45
15 X 95
10 X 115
8 X 140
5 X 150
5 X 150
5 X 150
On the incline, I pushed
13 X 95
10 X 105
8 X 115
6 X 120
For the Swim Pull, I did
30 X 28
20 X 31.6
15 X 36.6
12 X 39.6
12 X 41.1
10 X 42.6
I also did some squats. Certainly I am too prideful to reveal the numbers on that. Suffice to say that I am getting stronger in the legs which are a physical deficiency of mine.
So it was still a good training day. Not the three-headed monster I yearned for, but there is still time for that in the future, Lord willing.
Thank you, Jesus, for the lovely morning on the road and the solid day of training.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Aunt Doris
"She was my favorite of your aunts for a long time. I always thought she was so pretty. And classy. She just had that air about her. But she was down to earth at the same time," said my wife this morning. I had just mentioned that I was planning on trying to attend Doris Hodge's funeral. I have missed far too many.
Many I missed because I was a PhD student, and it is not that easy to skip a doctoral seminar. Several more I missed on account of them being at 10:00 o'clock in the morning. For an out of town funeral, that means missing a whole day of work. This one is scheduled for 2:00 o'clock so if I work things just right, I can meet all my classes, leave the last one a little early and still make the service. I want to go. I need to go.
She was the last of two, now there is only Aunt Mary left. All my other aunts are gone. I preached the funerals of two of them. Doris was my favorite for many years, and like my wife, I thought she was pretty beyond belief. How Uncle CD landed her has always been a mystery to me. Aunt Mary once rightly observed that, "none of those Hodge men deserved the women they married. Not a one of them." How true. They were pretty and dependable and hard working. Strong, they were all strong women.
When I was a seminary student at Wesley Biblical in Jackson, I sometimes spent the night with them. They lived in Byram a few miles south of the big town. She always made me feel more than welcome. CD would cook fish, and I would eat like a starving man. Once I even invited a friend, Al McAlarny, to eat with us. When you can invite a friend to a place where you are a guest to eat fish, you feel at home.
CD liked to argue. He baited me one night and though I resisted for several minutes the temptation to go back and forth with him, he finally got me to snap. I raised my voice -- OK, I yelled -- and later after CD had gone to bed Aunt Dorris told me, "I'm glad you and your uncle can talk about politics, but when y'all do, it makes Toy nervous." Toy was their little rat terrier. It became a saying after that in our family that when someone was getting upset, "Toy is getting nervous."
CD also liked to run down people. I asked him once how their daughter, Mary Ann, and her husband were doing. He started telling me about the son-in-law's bad back. "He has a bad back," CD told me. "I recently bought a 1,000 gallon propane tank. I was worried about how I was going to move it. 'Oh Kenny can load it for you,' Mary Ann said. So he picked up one end while I backed the truck under it. He has a baaad back."
Those kinds of things used to infuriate Aunt Doris. She would seethe while he told me about Kenny's bad shoulder. "He has a bad shoulder. He works for a crabber and cranks a 90 horse Yamaha 50 times a day. He has a baaad shoulder."
By this time Doris had to step in and tell CD to stop running down his own family. She was like that: loyal, protective, motherish. Good women always are.
And now she is gone. I know it's not about me, but she is one more loss in a long of things and people, loved ones, who have left. Unfortunately I know it doesn't stop, the losses. They will keep coming until life takes everything. It's like that. People can tell you that when you are young, but you don't understand until you get old. Too bad we don't cherish those things and people more while we have the chance. Every funeral I attend or want to attend reminds me of that. But unfortunately, I still do it far too little. Help me, Jesus.
I could go on, but I am far too sad to continue. I hope I make the funeral and get to hug some cousins. They too will "go the way of all the earth" one day. So will I. So will you. God help us.
Many I missed because I was a PhD student, and it is not that easy to skip a doctoral seminar. Several more I missed on account of them being at 10:00 o'clock in the morning. For an out of town funeral, that means missing a whole day of work. This one is scheduled for 2:00 o'clock so if I work things just right, I can meet all my classes, leave the last one a little early and still make the service. I want to go. I need to go.
She was the last of two, now there is only Aunt Mary left. All my other aunts are gone. I preached the funerals of two of them. Doris was my favorite for many years, and like my wife, I thought she was pretty beyond belief. How Uncle CD landed her has always been a mystery to me. Aunt Mary once rightly observed that, "none of those Hodge men deserved the women they married. Not a one of them." How true. They were pretty and dependable and hard working. Strong, they were all strong women.
When I was a seminary student at Wesley Biblical in Jackson, I sometimes spent the night with them. They lived in Byram a few miles south of the big town. She always made me feel more than welcome. CD would cook fish, and I would eat like a starving man. Once I even invited a friend, Al McAlarny, to eat with us. When you can invite a friend to a place where you are a guest to eat fish, you feel at home.
CD liked to argue. He baited me one night and though I resisted for several minutes the temptation to go back and forth with him, he finally got me to snap. I raised my voice -- OK, I yelled -- and later after CD had gone to bed Aunt Dorris told me, "I'm glad you and your uncle can talk about politics, but when y'all do, it makes Toy nervous." Toy was their little rat terrier. It became a saying after that in our family that when someone was getting upset, "Toy is getting nervous."
CD also liked to run down people. I asked him once how their daughter, Mary Ann, and her husband were doing. He started telling me about the son-in-law's bad back. "He has a bad back," CD told me. "I recently bought a 1,000 gallon propane tank. I was worried about how I was going to move it. 'Oh Kenny can load it for you,' Mary Ann said. So he picked up one end while I backed the truck under it. He has a baaad back."
Those kinds of things used to infuriate Aunt Doris. She would seethe while he told me about Kenny's bad shoulder. "He has a bad shoulder. He works for a crabber and cranks a 90 horse Yamaha 50 times a day. He has a baaad shoulder."
By this time Doris had to step in and tell CD to stop running down his own family. She was like that: loyal, protective, motherish. Good women always are.
And now she is gone. I know it's not about me, but she is one more loss in a long of things and people, loved ones, who have left. Unfortunately I know it doesn't stop, the losses. They will keep coming until life takes everything. It's like that. People can tell you that when you are young, but you don't understand until you get old. Too bad we don't cherish those things and people more while we have the chance. Every funeral I attend or want to attend reminds me of that. But unfortunately, I still do it far too little. Help me, Jesus.
I could go on, but I am far too sad to continue. I hope I make the funeral and get to hug some cousins. They too will "go the way of all the earth" one day. So will I. So will you. God help us.
Monday, February 11, 2019
2/4 - 2/10
The week was much different with the pool at Twin Rivers being closed. Monday we, Trevor and I, hit the weights. Tuesday, I was able to go to Cleveland and see our grandchildren. While there I hit DSU, so the old gang, and swam 3,100 yards. I also did some shuffling. Wednesday was more weights, and Thursday it was back to DSU for more shuffling and more swimming.
Friday I lifted alone, but Saturday Trevor and I both hit the weights a long time. After the session, I shuffled for the third time of the cycle. In all, I
swam = 4,889 meters.
lifted weights four times,
and shuffled 3.72 miles.
That is quite a drop from last week, but I did a little more running, and still managed a fair amount of lifting. I gained some weight, but according to how my pants fit, it was not fat. Plate City was improved, and there are more upgrades in the works.
Now the pool has reopened, but the issue of the swimming lessons is a new challenge that will remain for the next six weeks. What will the next six days hold? Lots of training and some good study, I pray. Thank you, Lord, for as much as I got and the health and hope to get more.
Friday I lifted alone, but Saturday Trevor and I both hit the weights a long time. After the session, I shuffled for the third time of the cycle. In all, I
swam = 4,889 meters.
lifted weights four times,
and shuffled 3.72 miles.
That is quite a drop from last week, but I did a little more running, and still managed a fair amount of lifting. I gained some weight, but according to how my pants fit, it was not fat. Plate City was improved, and there are more upgrades in the works.
Now the pool has reopened, but the issue of the swimming lessons is a new challenge that will remain for the next six weeks. What will the next six days hold? Lots of training and some good study, I pray. Thank you, Lord, for as much as I got and the health and hope to get more.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Sunday Slumbering
It is Sunday afternoon, and I am in bed napping while CC is doing the same thing on my lap. She is such a sweet baby, and intuitive. When I want up to use the bathroom or whatever, she gets up on her own, jumps over onto the dresser, and waits for me to go to do my business, get something to drink, and anything else I need to do. I get back in the bed and she jumps off the dresser, onto the bed, and crawls back onto my lap.
She is the only cat I have ever had that would come back. Usually, if you get up, the cat is offended and then sulks off for the rest of the day. Not CC. She is an amazing animal, and she always wants to hang out with me. I love that.
On the way to church this morning, we saw a squirrel, some crows, and lots of trees. No deer, however. Isn't it amazing how we never get tired of seeing deer. I don't, and I assume other people are the same way.
I preached on Matthew 5: 13 - 20. It was a strong message. Then we retired to the fellowship hall for a meal and to enjoy one another's company. It was a really nice time as it always is when we get together. Junior won the eating contest. This was his first victory. He has been close a number of times, but he beat us all soundly, and I was happy for him. We had soup and sandwiches. I tried to be temperate but I didn't totally succeed. But never give up. Keep fighting the fight.
While I am lounging, having finished a long nap, I am contemplating getting up in the morning for a shuffle. I have been shuffling twice per week, three times last week because the pool was closed and everything changed. Since I am squatting four times per week, I think I need to shuffle a little more but not too much. Monday is about the only day I could reasonably expect to get up because I am not a morning person, but I'm more rested then than any other day of the week. Thus, I will try to take a shot at it and get up in the morning for a short shuffle. I'll let you know if I pull it off.
She is the only cat I have ever had that would come back. Usually, if you get up, the cat is offended and then sulks off for the rest of the day. Not CC. She is an amazing animal, and she always wants to hang out with me. I love that.
On the way to church this morning, we saw a squirrel, some crows, and lots of trees. No deer, however. Isn't it amazing how we never get tired of seeing deer. I don't, and I assume other people are the same way.
I preached on Matthew 5: 13 - 20. It was a strong message. Then we retired to the fellowship hall for a meal and to enjoy one another's company. It was a really nice time as it always is when we get together. Junior won the eating contest. This was his first victory. He has been close a number of times, but he beat us all soundly, and I was happy for him. We had soup and sandwiches. I tried to be temperate but I didn't totally succeed. But never give up. Keep fighting the fight.
While I am lounging, having finished a long nap, I am contemplating getting up in the morning for a shuffle. I have been shuffling twice per week, three times last week because the pool was closed and everything changed. Since I am squatting four times per week, I think I need to shuffle a little more but not too much. Monday is about the only day I could reasonably expect to get up because I am not a morning person, but I'm more rested then than any other day of the week. Thus, I will try to take a shot at it and get up in the morning for a short shuffle. I'll let you know if I pull it off.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Friday and Saturday
Friday was different this week. With no pool to go to, I went to the pastors' breakfast in Carrollton for the first time in several weeks. It was, as usual, an enjoyable morning of good food, good conversation, and good fellowship. Afterwards I went home and contacted someone on Facebook who had some weights for sale. We agreed to meet in Yazoo City.
At 2:30, I pulled into a parking lot and called the seller. Although we had not set up a specific meeting place, he was in the same parking lot, a mere few feet away when I called. One look at the weights in the back of his truck led me to say, "Let's load them." We transferred the weights to my truck, I handed him some cash, and the deal was done, over, and I was back on the road.
I had a strong temptation to contact Trevor, but I thought better of it, thought it would be nice to see the expression on his face when he came over to work out. This was 190 pounds of Rogue bumper plates, top of the line stuff.
Back home, I tossed the new plates over the fence with pride and excitement. He's going to like this, I thought. I like this. New weights always make me want to lift. I lifted alone, but I knew Trevor would be there Saturday. Friday I hit the bench hard for
25 X 45
13 X 95
10 X 115
8 X 125
6 X 130
I also did some inclines, some Swim Pulls, and some Lat Pulldowns.
Saturday, I hit a little bit of everything. When Trevor came up, he saw my truck with the blocks in the back for laying out more workout space. The look on his face when he saw the new plates was priceless. We laid the new blocks and set up a new deadlift station on the blocks and out of the grass. Plate City Gym is the bomb. In the picture below, you can see some of the new plates, the black ones. Trevor deadlifted and so did I. The weather was warmer, and our moods were high. Thank you, Jesus.
At 2:30, I pulled into a parking lot and called the seller. Although we had not set up a specific meeting place, he was in the same parking lot, a mere few feet away when I called. One look at the weights in the back of his truck led me to say, "Let's load them." We transferred the weights to my truck, I handed him some cash, and the deal was done, over, and I was back on the road.
I had a strong temptation to contact Trevor, but I thought better of it, thought it would be nice to see the expression on his face when he came over to work out. This was 190 pounds of Rogue bumper plates, top of the line stuff.
Back home, I tossed the new plates over the fence with pride and excitement. He's going to like this, I thought. I like this. New weights always make me want to lift. I lifted alone, but I knew Trevor would be there Saturday. Friday I hit the bench hard for
25 X 45
13 X 95
10 X 115
8 X 125
6 X 130
I also did some inclines, some Swim Pulls, and some Lat Pulldowns.
Saturday, I hit a little bit of everything. When Trevor came up, he saw my truck with the blocks in the back for laying out more workout space. The look on his face when he saw the new plates was priceless. We laid the new blocks and set up a new deadlift station on the blocks and out of the grass. Plate City Gym is the bomb. In the picture below, you can see some of the new plates, the black ones. Trevor deadlifted and so did I. The weather was warmer, and our moods were high. Thank you, Jesus.
 |
| The new deadlift station at the bottom of the photo. |
Friday, February 8, 2019
Chat with Cagri
Like Tuesday, I went to Bear Pen Park before going to the kids and did some shuffling. This time I went 1.25 straight. Although the pace was only a little faster than a good walker, I felt like I was running, and that is a good thing.
At the pool, I handled the cold about the same as last time. I did get 550 warming up before they all stopped on the wall. Then it was
8 X 50 kick with fins
450 with fins
8 X 50 @ 1:30 breathing 3,5,7,9 by 50s
450 with pull bouy
8 X 50 @ 1:30 decline 1-4 (I hit two at :38)
300 cool down
total: 2,550
After practice, I got to chat with Cagri some, and I asked him about warming up and cooling down at the swim meet I plan to do in April. He encouraged long warm ups with some 50s decline to be ready to swim hard and double the event distance for cool down. That's a lot of swimming if I do the four events I am signed up for. I know I can swim the distance, but the 500 is the last event of the day and the one that means the most to me. I am worried that all that swimming might impact my performance on it.
Anyway, he said he would send me a PDF of a book that would give me some ideas on training. He sent the book, and I stayed up late reading it. I should have my pool back next week and be able to put some of the ideas into practice. Thank you, Jesus.
At the pool, I handled the cold about the same as last time. I did get 550 warming up before they all stopped on the wall. Then it was
8 X 50 kick with fins
450 with fins
8 X 50 @ 1:30 breathing 3,5,7,9 by 50s
450 with pull bouy
8 X 50 @ 1:30 decline 1-4 (I hit two at :38)
300 cool down
total: 2,550
After practice, I got to chat with Cagri some, and I asked him about warming up and cooling down at the swim meet I plan to do in April. He encouraged long warm ups with some 50s decline to be ready to swim hard and double the event distance for cool down. That's a lot of swimming if I do the four events I am signed up for. I know I can swim the distance, but the 500 is the last event of the day and the one that means the most to me. I am worried that all that swimming might impact my performance on it.
Anyway, he said he would send me a PDF of a book that would give me some ideas on training. He sent the book, and I stayed up late reading it. I should have my pool back next week and be able to put some of the ideas into practice. Thank you, Jesus.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Wednesday
Kind of strange. Not rushing home to change clothes and get to the pool. If you noticed the sentence fragments, buy yourself a Snickers Bar.
No pool, no swim, no rush. It was kind of nice, but I really wanted to get into some water. If not for an appointment at Plate City Gym, I may have gone to the fish farm. The weather has been warm for over a week. I bet the water temps are mid to high 60s. I used to love that temperature in a wetsuit.
Instead, I payed to utility bill, and went to Walmart for some protein and creatine. It's nice to have that out of the way. Then I went home to rest some but I was there only minutes before Trevor texted and wanted a time. "I'm ready," I responded. "Be there in twenty," he immediately answered.
When he arrived the sun was still high in the sky. This meant that we could do our workout before the mosquitoes came out. I started on Lat Pull Downs for
20 X 55
18 X 60
15 X 65
12 X 70
10 X 75
I did some Swim Pulls also:
26 X 27.5
18 X 32.5
15 X 34
12 X 35.5
I haven't been doing many of these lately because I have been swimming so much. But with a highly reduced swim week, I am ramping this one back up and I probably should keep it high on account of the sports strength it builds.
In addition to my rotator cuff work, I did squats. The numbers on those are classified. I also did a few pull ups, two sets of T-bar rowing, and 5:00 on the exercise bicycle. Notice the work that involves biceps. I have had no strange feeling there since Saturday night and felt nothing odd while working out.
To add to all of that, I did lots of stretching, especially hanging from the pull up bar. I am attempting to regain full mobility in the right shoulder. Tonight at Masters practice, I intend to pay especial attention to my form, my right arm, and my hope is to swim better, to get back to where I was. The range of motion is better now than it was even two months ago. But is has been compromised for so long, that I have adjusted to swimming differently. Sigh. Thank you, Jesus, that I can swim at all.
No pool, no swim, no rush. It was kind of nice, but I really wanted to get into some water. If not for an appointment at Plate City Gym, I may have gone to the fish farm. The weather has been warm for over a week. I bet the water temps are mid to high 60s. I used to love that temperature in a wetsuit.
Instead, I payed to utility bill, and went to Walmart for some protein and creatine. It's nice to have that out of the way. Then I went home to rest some but I was there only minutes before Trevor texted and wanted a time. "I'm ready," I responded. "Be there in twenty," he immediately answered.
When he arrived the sun was still high in the sky. This meant that we could do our workout before the mosquitoes came out. I started on Lat Pull Downs for
20 X 55
18 X 60
15 X 65
12 X 70
10 X 75
I did some Swim Pulls also:
26 X 27.5
18 X 32.5
15 X 34
12 X 35.5
I haven't been doing many of these lately because I have been swimming so much. But with a highly reduced swim week, I am ramping this one back up and I probably should keep it high on account of the sports strength it builds.
In addition to my rotator cuff work, I did squats. The numbers on those are classified. I also did a few pull ups, two sets of T-bar rowing, and 5:00 on the exercise bicycle. Notice the work that involves biceps. I have had no strange feeling there since Saturday night and felt nothing odd while working out.
To add to all of that, I did lots of stretching, especially hanging from the pull up bar. I am attempting to regain full mobility in the right shoulder. Tonight at Masters practice, I intend to pay especial attention to my form, my right arm, and my hope is to swim better, to get back to where I was. The range of motion is better now than it was even two months ago. But is has been compromised for so long, that I have adjusted to swimming differently. Sigh. Thank you, Jesus, that I can swim at all.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Pondering
I just walked to the front door of the Greenwood Center. I stepped outside. It is warm. I like the warm, 71 degrees and overcast skies. The only problem with this weather is the mosquitoes. Monday, Trevor and I were swarmed with the pests at Plate City. Once, I looked down and there were eight of them in one little area of my leg.
This warmth has me thinking about the fish ponds. I bet the water is in the 60s. I used to love that temperature while wearing a wetsuit and swimming as long as I wanted. It's a little uncomfortable starting, but you adjust and feel ggod as the cool water filters in. With the hot indoor pool, however, I have become habituated to warm water. Last night at DSU, the 80 degrees of their pool felt icy. Really, I suffered and could not stay at the wall anytime without getting very cold very quickly.
Friday would be a day for the pond except the high is supposed to be 43 that day. So I guess this will remain a low number swim week. I probably need that, and I am trying to approach it that way.
Another temptation I am experiencing is to go out on foot for a long way. I have tried to keep the shuffling down to a couple of days per week because I am weary of my body, particularly my knee, breaking down and me having to start over and over with the running. Maybe I will go out today for a long walk while refraining from running. I am not good at that, at refraining. Or maybe I will get on one of my bicycles and ride. I need two workouts per day to lose weight and without the pool, I am down to one. With the tiny shuffle and a swim last night, the scale looked better this morning. Now that I have some momentum, I need to keep it going.
I certainly will hit the weights hard tonight and will continue to try to figure out how to re-balance my body and regain my stroke. Help me Lord. I need it.
This warmth has me thinking about the fish ponds. I bet the water is in the 60s. I used to love that temperature while wearing a wetsuit and swimming as long as I wanted. It's a little uncomfortable starting, but you adjust and feel ggod as the cool water filters in. With the hot indoor pool, however, I have become habituated to warm water. Last night at DSU, the 80 degrees of their pool felt icy. Really, I suffered and could not stay at the wall anytime without getting very cold very quickly.
Friday would be a day for the pond except the high is supposed to be 43 that day. So I guess this will remain a low number swim week. I probably need that, and I am trying to approach it that way.
Another temptation I am experiencing is to go out on foot for a long way. I have tried to keep the shuffling down to a couple of days per week because I am weary of my body, particularly my knee, breaking down and me having to start over and over with the running. Maybe I will go out today for a long walk while refraining from running. I am not good at that, at refraining. Or maybe I will get on one of my bicycles and ride. I need two workouts per day to lose weight and without the pool, I am down to one. With the tiny shuffle and a swim last night, the scale looked better this morning. Now that I have some momentum, I need to keep it going.
I certainly will hit the weights hard tonight and will continue to try to figure out how to re-balance my body and regain my stroke. Help me Lord. I need it.
"It Looks like Crap!"
"Your stroke looks like crap."
I hung to the wall, surprised, stunned.
"Compared to what it looked like two years ago, you look terrible."
Let me back this day up to the beginning and try to fill in some blanks.
Tuesday started with me loading the truck for school, lunch, a change of clothes, swimming stuff, and the several care packages my wife was sending to the kids. It was always that way when I went to Cleveland after work. I would be leaving from Moorhead and needed everything for the day and early night.
After classes and after my office hours, I was in no hurry to leave campus but stayed a while and watched some YouTube videos. The grand kids would not be home until 4:00. When I did leave, I made my way first to Lehrton Cemetery where my parents are buried. There I changed clothes since it was a place where no one alive was watching. Then I drove to Bear Pen Park in Cleveland.
At the park, I did some shuffling, not much, but I did 3:00, followed by a 2:00 walk, then a 1:30 shuffle, another 1:30 shuffle, and finally an 8:00 minute shuffle. A 2:00 walk separated each shuffle. The idea was to mimic with my heart rate and leg strain what I will do at the Senior Olympics. There I am signed up for the 200, 50, 100, and 500, in that order. Those shuffles replicate the time I will spend swimming those events. The walks represent the cool downs.
After my little bit of shuffling, I drove to my daughter's and waited for the kids to get home. The school bus stopped, and I got out of the truck and watched them walk up the drive. When they saw me, they cried out, "Poppy!" and came running. Of course that brought great joy to my heart.
When my daughter came home, she unleashed their new dog, Sadie upon me. She, a young boxer, went wild and swarmed over me like Smu did many years ago. For some reason, those two dogs decided instantly that I am a good guy and someone to make a fuss over. Finally, a little after 6:00, I left for the pool.
After parking, I saw Cagri, The Mad Swimming Scientist, making his way towards the natatorium. I called out to him and we chatted as we walked together into the building I had not been inside in two years.
It was good to be home. Ricky was there, Mark was there, Tabatha was there, and so was Duke. The old gang was back together. I stood in fear on deck. After swimming in an 88 degree pool for months, the prospect of jumping into that water was not a pleasant one. Mark said it was 80. That probably sounds warm to non swimmers, but it is actually pretty cool. I jump in a yelled under water at the shock of cold.
I swam for 450 before everyone was stopped on the wall. I like to warm up much longer than that, but when in Rome. Cagri announced to main set: six 300s decline by 50 one to three. In other words, we go out fast, then swim faster, then go all out two time through for each 300. Rest twenty seconds, and swim the first two with paddles and a buoy, two paddles only, and two swim only.
I finished and then swam an easy 100, stopping when I saw Ricky and Tabatha on the wall. They had another 300 to go so I swam it with them. When we finished and before we swam the next set, Cagri said to me, "Your stroke looks like crap." He asked questions about my injury, made some speculations about why the stroke has changed and then told us to swim 8 X 50 with fins @ 1:30 decline one to four. I concentrated on my stroke trying to regain what Petya used to call "Your beautiful stroke." It made me a bit sad to know it is not so pretty anymore. We did the sprints, and I cooled down with a mere 150. I was in a pensive mood not a swimming one.
On the ride home, I pondered what Cagri told me, appreciating his boldness and honesty. I want to get better and a swimmer needs someone to give him feedback from time to time. That is one thing a coach does. Swimming with others is good also. I was reminded of body position coming off the wall. Tabatha has a great streamline and a nice dolphin kick on the turns. Mine were never good and have grown worse since my injury. Listening to Charles Stanley preach on the radio, I remembered something Trevor told me at Plate City recently. He said the center knurling on the bar was not coming down in the center of my chest when I bench pressed. He even videoed it and sure enough, the bar shifted to the right as I lowered it to my chest. It was the right arm the Cagri complained about. It was the right shoulder that I injured and suffered with for the last two years. Something is amiss on the right side of my body.
Now I have some new work to do. I must work on range of motion and trying to correct my benching and swimming form. That you, Jesus, for making this known to me. I plan to go back to DSU Thursday. Next week, my warm pool should be back in operation. But I think I need to make the pilgrimage to DSU from time to time to get some fellowship and feedback.
I hung to the wall, surprised, stunned.
"Compared to what it looked like two years ago, you look terrible."
Let me back this day up to the beginning and try to fill in some blanks.
Tuesday started with me loading the truck for school, lunch, a change of clothes, swimming stuff, and the several care packages my wife was sending to the kids. It was always that way when I went to Cleveland after work. I would be leaving from Moorhead and needed everything for the day and early night.
After classes and after my office hours, I was in no hurry to leave campus but stayed a while and watched some YouTube videos. The grand kids would not be home until 4:00. When I did leave, I made my way first to Lehrton Cemetery where my parents are buried. There I changed clothes since it was a place where no one alive was watching. Then I drove to Bear Pen Park in Cleveland.
At the park, I did some shuffling, not much, but I did 3:00, followed by a 2:00 walk, then a 1:30 shuffle, another 1:30 shuffle, and finally an 8:00 minute shuffle. A 2:00 walk separated each shuffle. The idea was to mimic with my heart rate and leg strain what I will do at the Senior Olympics. There I am signed up for the 200, 50, 100, and 500, in that order. Those shuffles replicate the time I will spend swimming those events. The walks represent the cool downs.
After my little bit of shuffling, I drove to my daughter's and waited for the kids to get home. The school bus stopped, and I got out of the truck and watched them walk up the drive. When they saw me, they cried out, "Poppy!" and came running. Of course that brought great joy to my heart.
When my daughter came home, she unleashed their new dog, Sadie upon me. She, a young boxer, went wild and swarmed over me like Smu did many years ago. For some reason, those two dogs decided instantly that I am a good guy and someone to make a fuss over. Finally, a little after 6:00, I left for the pool.
After parking, I saw Cagri, The Mad Swimming Scientist, making his way towards the natatorium. I called out to him and we chatted as we walked together into the building I had not been inside in two years.
It was good to be home. Ricky was there, Mark was there, Tabatha was there, and so was Duke. The old gang was back together. I stood in fear on deck. After swimming in an 88 degree pool for months, the prospect of jumping into that water was not a pleasant one. Mark said it was 80. That probably sounds warm to non swimmers, but it is actually pretty cool. I jump in a yelled under water at the shock of cold.
I swam for 450 before everyone was stopped on the wall. I like to warm up much longer than that, but when in Rome. Cagri announced to main set: six 300s decline by 50 one to three. In other words, we go out fast, then swim faster, then go all out two time through for each 300. Rest twenty seconds, and swim the first two with paddles and a buoy, two paddles only, and two swim only.
I finished and then swam an easy 100, stopping when I saw Ricky and Tabatha on the wall. They had another 300 to go so I swam it with them. When we finished and before we swam the next set, Cagri said to me, "Your stroke looks like crap." He asked questions about my injury, made some speculations about why the stroke has changed and then told us to swim 8 X 50 with fins @ 1:30 decline one to four. I concentrated on my stroke trying to regain what Petya used to call "Your beautiful stroke." It made me a bit sad to know it is not so pretty anymore. We did the sprints, and I cooled down with a mere 150. I was in a pensive mood not a swimming one.
On the ride home, I pondered what Cagri told me, appreciating his boldness and honesty. I want to get better and a swimmer needs someone to give him feedback from time to time. That is one thing a coach does. Swimming with others is good also. I was reminded of body position coming off the wall. Tabatha has a great streamline and a nice dolphin kick on the turns. Mine were never good and have grown worse since my injury. Listening to Charles Stanley preach on the radio, I remembered something Trevor told me at Plate City recently. He said the center knurling on the bar was not coming down in the center of my chest when I bench pressed. He even videoed it and sure enough, the bar shifted to the right as I lowered it to my chest. It was the right arm the Cagri complained about. It was the right shoulder that I injured and suffered with for the last two years. Something is amiss on the right side of my body.
Now I have some new work to do. I must work on range of motion and trying to correct my benching and swimming form. That you, Jesus, for making this known to me. I plan to go back to DSU Thursday. Next week, my warm pool should be back in operation. But I think I need to make the pilgrimage to DSU from time to time to get some fellowship and feedback.
211 - 213
211
Nature gives Him praise,
birds and leaves and trees and sky,
to those who will see
212
tree rat runs large limb
crossing into pecan tree,
Gardner grabs gun
213
coyotes run the ridge
hunting rabbits, deer, squirrel,
danger stalks all life
Nature gives Him praise,
birds and leaves and trees and sky,
to those who will see
212
tree rat runs large limb
crossing into pecan tree,
Gardner grabs gun
213
coyotes run the ridge
hunting rabbits, deer, squirrel,
danger stalks all life
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Swimless Monday
I just now got reconnected to my power cord. I left it at work over the weekend, but not at the Greenwood Center but at Moorhead. Thus I only booted to computer briefly twice to post when I couldn't stand it anymore. Now maybe can be responsible and keep up with the cord and post as much as I want to.
They drained to pool Sunday afternoon so there was no swimming for me Monday. I missed it, and when I stepped on the scales Tuesday morning, I could see that my body missed it also. The Super Bowl put three pounds on me. The lack of a swim helped keep it on. I knew I should have taken a long walk. Instead, I just lounged around with the cats. But Trevor and I did hit it hard at Plate City. It was bench day and on the flat I hit
20 X 45
13 X 95
10 X 115
8 X 140
5 X 147
5 X 147
5 X 147
I was definitely stronger this week than last. Is that because I am rebuilding or is it because I did not swim? Wish I knew.
On the incline I did
11 X 100
9 X 111
7 X 117
I also did squats, but the numbers are so puny that I can't bear to share them. In addition, I always do rotator cuff work.
Right now I am in English Composition I and we are writing. I loaded the ruck this morning with my swimming stuff and nutrition. I plan to go to the kids and then to DSU to swim with the old Masters's crew. It has been awhile. I miss them and the grand kids, but the money I am saving on gas is a lot. I hope next week to be back in my old routine of burning up the pool every day.
In addition to working out, I went by Leflore Steel and place a couple of orders. One is a fat bar. It has something to do with strongman training. That't Trevor's domain. The other is an attachment to go to the new power rack which had become the center piece of the gym. This will give us the ability to do dips. I don't know how long it will take to get this stuff because I am always on the bottom of the list. But eventually we will get it and once more, Plate City will be even better. Thank you, Jesus.
They drained to pool Sunday afternoon so there was no swimming for me Monday. I missed it, and when I stepped on the scales Tuesday morning, I could see that my body missed it also. The Super Bowl put three pounds on me. The lack of a swim helped keep it on. I knew I should have taken a long walk. Instead, I just lounged around with the cats. But Trevor and I did hit it hard at Plate City. It was bench day and on the flat I hit
20 X 45
13 X 95
10 X 115
8 X 140
5 X 147
5 X 147
5 X 147
I was definitely stronger this week than last. Is that because I am rebuilding or is it because I did not swim? Wish I knew.
On the incline I did
11 X 100
9 X 111
7 X 117
I also did squats, but the numbers are so puny that I can't bear to share them. In addition, I always do rotator cuff work.
Right now I am in English Composition I and we are writing. I loaded the ruck this morning with my swimming stuff and nutrition. I plan to go to the kids and then to DSU to swim with the old Masters's crew. It has been awhile. I miss them and the grand kids, but the money I am saving on gas is a lot. I hope next week to be back in my old routine of burning up the pool every day.
In addition to working out, I went by Leflore Steel and place a couple of orders. One is a fat bar. It has something to do with strongman training. That't Trevor's domain. The other is an attachment to go to the new power rack which had become the center piece of the gym. This will give us the ability to do dips. I don't know how long it will take to get this stuff because I am always on the bottom of the list. But eventually we will get it and once more, Plate City will be even better. Thank you, Jesus.
Monday, February 4, 2019
1/28 - 2/3
If you are wondering where I have been, I left my power cord at work over the weekend so I have not been able to post like I wanted to. Just the numbers:
Monday I swam 3,600 yards and lifted weights.
Tuesday I swam 4,150 yards and lifted weights.
Wednesday I swam 3,300 yards, lifted weights, and shuffled .77 of a mile.
Thursday I swam 3,200 and lifted weights.
Friday I did my long swim, 7,500 yards straight in 2:10:57. Later in the day, I lifted weights.
Saturday, I lifted weights, swam 4,500 yards, and shuffled .92 of a mile.
I planned to swim Sunday morning because they are supposed to have drained the pool at 3:00 pm. But Saturday night, something felt uncomfortable in my right arm so I took that as a warning not to swim.
For the week, I
swam 23,809 meters,
lifted weights six times, and
shuffled 1.69 miles. I also put in few minutes on the exercise bike. That is real training right there. This week, I will miss it. Praise God.
Monday I swam 3,600 yards and lifted weights.
Tuesday I swam 4,150 yards and lifted weights.
Wednesday I swam 3,300 yards, lifted weights, and shuffled .77 of a mile.
Thursday I swam 3,200 and lifted weights.
Friday I did my long swim, 7,500 yards straight in 2:10:57. Later in the day, I lifted weights.
Saturday, I lifted weights, swam 4,500 yards, and shuffled .92 of a mile.
I planned to swim Sunday morning because they are supposed to have drained the pool at 3:00 pm. But Saturday night, something felt uncomfortable in my right arm so I took that as a warning not to swim.
For the week, I
swam 23,809 meters,
lifted weights six times, and
shuffled 1.69 miles. I also put in few minutes on the exercise bike. That is real training right there. This week, I will miss it. Praise God.
Friday, February 1, 2019
Thursday
As part of our second three-day week in a row, Thursday was glorious. Not only did I have a nice day at school, and some proper training, but Swamp People is back on TV and that is helping comfort me over the loss of Finding Bigfoot.
After work I went to the pool. I had it all to myself and swam
2,100 37:52 (1:47)
2 X 250 @5:00
1 - 4:10 (1:39) cruise
2 - 4:02 (1:36) 3rd and 5th 50 fast
3 - 3:56 (1:34) 1st, 2nd, and third 50 fast
4 - 4:09 (1:39) 100 easy, 75 fast, rest cruise
100 small paddles
total: 3,100 plus 100 kick with fins.
Then it was time for Plate City Gym where I did benches and squats. I also started an inventory of our plates. It will take a couple of more days for a complete accounting of all the weights, but for just one inch free plates, we have 1,679.5 pounds. That's why we call it Plate City. I benched
21 X 45
15 X 95
15 X 110
12 X 125
10 X 130
Incline bench press
8 X 100
8 X 100
8 X 100
Besides rotator cuff work, I also did some triceps push downs.
40 X 20
30 X 25
It was dark by the time we finished and Trevor drove off. I like working out back there in the dark. I never do that in the summer, though. West Nile is too much of a risk. But there is an ambiance to being out there with the sun down. We do have a street light in the ally behind our house. That gives a little light, just enough. And the geese honking overhead and the dogs barking in the neighborhood is better than any canned music you might get at a commercial gym. I love it; we love it. Thank you, God, for it. Viva la Plate City!
After work I went to the pool. I had it all to myself and swam
2,100 37:52 (1:47)
2 X 250 @5:00
1 - 4:10 (1:39) cruise
2 - 4:02 (1:36) 3rd and 5th 50 fast
3 - 3:56 (1:34) 1st, 2nd, and third 50 fast
4 - 4:09 (1:39) 100 easy, 75 fast, rest cruise
100 small paddles
total: 3,100 plus 100 kick with fins.
Then it was time for Plate City Gym where I did benches and squats. I also started an inventory of our plates. It will take a couple of more days for a complete accounting of all the weights, but for just one inch free plates, we have 1,679.5 pounds. That's why we call it Plate City. I benched
21 X 45
15 X 95
15 X 110
12 X 125
10 X 130
Incline bench press
8 X 100
8 X 100
8 X 100
Besides rotator cuff work, I also did some triceps push downs.
40 X 20
30 X 25
It was dark by the time we finished and Trevor drove off. I like working out back there in the dark. I never do that in the summer, though. West Nile is too much of a risk. But there is an ambiance to being out there with the sun down. We do have a street light in the ally behind our house. That gives a little light, just enough. And the geese honking overhead and the dogs barking in the neighborhood is better than any canned music you might get at a commercial gym. I love it; we love it. Thank you, God, for it. Viva la Plate City!
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