MDCC 5K

Yesterday we had our MDCC Greenwood Center 5K. Now I know what all this food was about. They have been feeding and feeding and feeding us here. Yes, my pants have become tighter. Is not the hand of Katie Jones in this? Like she needs it. 

The Las Vegas oddsmakers had made her, BK (Bad Kate) the prohibitive favorite. Wow, I could have done that. The part that bothered me, however, was the fact that Mary Peyton Rogers was made a three to one favorite to beat me, and she was not even running. The sad part is, I knew she was a threat.

We met at the linear park in front of the world famous Crystal Grill. All five of us.

With the odds stacked against me, I was nervous when we started. I ran shuffled hard, harder than I intended in an effort to get out ahead of MP (as we call Mary Peyton). I was running with Katie, but I knew I had no shot at beating her. My goal was to make it to the next street crossing with her. Then the next. Then the next. 

I was breathing so hard at our 10:05 pace that I am surprised she was not worried that I would die. I am sure if an EMT crew had driven by with the window down, they would have stopped, thrown me to the ground, and slapped an oxygen mask on me. 

I managed to hold on for 1.1 miles before I fell off, and Katie pulled away from me. She was a good .2 of a mile ahead when I turned around at the half way point. On the way back, I was looking for MP, and it did not take long to find her. She was coming hard with her long, swift legs eating up the pavement like Katie Jones eating up a burrito. 

After hanging with Katie for 1.1 miles, I had fallen off to that old-man shuffle that I am so famous for. Now I picked the shuffle up in fear and desperation. If MP beats me, I thought, I will not be able to get out of bed tomorrow. The depression and shame will be overwhelming.

I made it to the park, City Park, where there is a slight angle down of the path for a few feet. I tried to gain a second there. When I crossed the street on the east side of City Park, I looked back and saw that MP was gaining on me. My Garmin watch records my heart rate. It shot up from 145 to 180. I thought I was going to fall over dead.

Desperately I pushed on and prayed. Oh God. Don't let this woman walk me down. About two blocks from the finish, I looked back and she reminded my of an 18-wheeler coming up fast from behind. She is not only going to beat me, she is going to run me over, I thought. So I shuffled even faster probably hitting 12:30 per mile. And then it was over, and MP had not caught me. Thank you, Jesus.

The bottom fell out, and MP and I took shelter under a store awning. Then we were joined by a student, then Katie who had gone back out to run the course again. Finally, we were all together, wet, tired, and for me grateful to God that I had not been beaten by a walker.

Praise God Anyway

Since I swam 1,100 Monday, I went to the pool to swim 1,150 Tuesday. I didn't make it. The biceps tendon was too tender to continue past 650. Dude. I am falling off a cliff. Or maybe jumping off one.

I went home and watched Paul Finebaum while wishing I had a road sign to shoot. That would make me feel better. But only for a little while. I am willing to back off. I was out of the water for twelve days, and I have cut the weight lifting way way way back. Where is my shotgun?

I went outside to see Pee Wee and workout some. It was pull day and I did five sets of the chest-supported row, one set of lat pulldowns, and one set of machine curls. Oh yeah, I did some external rotations. So then I went inside and hung out with CC.

The school day was nice. Since it is homecoming week, we have had something special each day. Monday they fed us breakfast. Tuesday we had lunch and it was good, yeah. The ladies conducted a very competitive eating contest which was won by the diminutive Katie Jones. Despite the desperate contenders, she won first and second place. Buckner Showanda finished third, and Monday's champion, Kathryn Ledbetter, dropped to an honorable mention.

Wednesday is hat day. As I type this, I am wearing the prize-winning ancient worn out straw cowboy hat. I look like palace and feel like palace also. I think the Culinary School is feeding us lunch. Yee Haa! 

The food was really good, Monday and Tuesday. My day was really long, Tuesday. I have four classes on Tuesday and one of them is a three hour job. It is my favorite: Film as Literature. At this point, however, I am not sure I have anyone who is going to pass that one. I have worked really hard to make that course easy, fun, and informative. I tell them from day one that if they do not learn the things I ask them to, they will not pass. So far they have not learned. Last week we watched The Journey of August King. Each week we watch a movie and the next week we open the class with me asking, "Why this movie?" After seven weeks, they should shout the answer: hero's journey and Christ-figure! I did not get a word. I asked again and again and again. Not. A. Word. The answers are on the board, by the way. Yeah, you can't make this stuff up.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Even if no one passes that class, I am and will enjoy it like nothing else I teach.

Sylamore

My wife picked me up from the Greenwood Center of MDCC at the conclusion of my 10:50 class. We found a high gear and headed north towards Mountain View, Arkansas. I was to preach a revival at the Sylamore Baptist Church Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights as well as Sunday morning. We were giddy with excitement., not having been anywhere in a while.

We made our way up Highway 49, across the Mississippi River bridge at Helena, Arkansas, and then my phone led us over a plethora of small highways that angled north and west until we finally got there four and a half hours after driving out of Greenwood. We found Wal Mart and texted Glenn Johnson, the pastor of the Sylamore Church. He found us, and we followed him to a small, private cabin on a mountain above the White River a few miles outside of Mountain, as the locals call it.

After unpacking and settling in, Lisa, a member of Sylamore, came to the cabin and offered to lead us to Jo Jo's, a local fish house on the banks of the White. 

We had a nice meal of fried catfish, hushpuppies, coleslaw, and a baked potato. It was good. Yeah. Was it as good as Larry's? No. We enjoyed the company of Lisa and her husband, another couple, and Glenn.

Church started at 7:00. I preached on "Needing a Heart for God." I was impressed with Glen's church. He has some good people. They were attentive and worshipped.

Friday, Glen served as our tour guide. We went so many places there is no way I can remember them all. Shopping. Penny wanted to shop. The main thing I remember is us going to a shop out in the boonies somewhere that had two cats inside. Pretty. They were pretty. And sweet. They were sweet. I am a cat man. I have never seen a cat I did not automatically love. Friday night we had supper at church, always a nice thing, and I preached on "Developing a Heart for God." 

Saturday we were once more all over. We went to Heber Springs, among other places. While there we went into one shop that had a couch. Glen and I sat down while Penny did her thing. The proprietor turned a TV on for us and found the Mississippi State football game. When Penny got ready to go, we did not want to go. Glen treated us to both breakfast and supper that day. Breakfast was at the Skillet, a buffet that featured sausage gravy among other stuff. It was wow good. Supper was at the Angler, a fish house on the banks of the White River. That night I preached on "Keeping a Heart for God." The alter service was good, and it was here that I felt like we were beginning to break through. After service, we went to the square for some of the live music Mountain View is so famous for. We bought ice-cream and listened to four fiddlers play beautiful music.

Sunday morning was our last service with Sylamore Baptist. I got up sort of early and ran half way up a mountain. That was all I wanted. At church, I preached on "Passing on a Heart for God." We had lunch at the church, something that has always been a good experience for me. It was a good time, yeah. We left with a glow in our hearts. We enjoyed the area, the food, the people, and the church services. We even enjoyed Glenn. Yes, that is tongue in cheek. 

Gosh, now we want to go back. There is a lot there, the music, the mountains, the shops. We did not do any hiking. I'd like to go back for some of that. The store that had the cats also conducts horse rides. Yes, they have the horses. And the White River looks swimmable. I'd like to swim while Penny and others kayak down the river. Praise be to God for a wonderful trip, and the imagination it set loose within us.

Wet Again

I was out of the water for twelve days. Twelve days. On the thirteenth day, yesterday, I finally reentered my watery world. What's that, you ask? Why? Well, my arm did not fall off, but it was hanging by a thin flap of skin. Some duct tape and time off as well as some external rotations has it a little better. I went to the pool and did a short, slow, stroke session of 1,100 yards.

Then I went home and hit Plate City. Since some of my trouble started there, I reduced the number of sets, the weight, the reps, and the exercise selection. Was it worth it to even go? Yes, because injured parts need to be worked. They can't be worked like when they are well, but they need to be moved, and they need a load. A light load, but they need one.

So there you have it. I came back from Arkansas fat. And I was too lazy to go out for a short shuffle. But I feel like I am started back. My shoulder feels better today than it did yesterday. That is a very good sign. Fourteen and fifteen days ago it felt stiff after swimming. It will take a while yet, I know, but I am on the road to recovery. Thank you, Jesus.

Ezell's Truck

HOD 9

HOD 9 is not worthy of the name. I swam not a single stroke. Not. a. one. Maybe this week. 

Monday I ran 3.07 miles and lifted some weights. As promised, I lightened my bench press and topped out at 140 pounds. I think I will stay there for a while.

Tuesday I did some more lifting but did not run. Wednesday I shuffled 1.58 miles but did noting else.

Thursday my wife and I went out of town. I ate a lot. Friday I shuffled 1.68 miles on some very unflat roads. Saturday I did not run. Sunday morning I ran half way up a mountain for a total of 2.57 miles.

For the week, I

ran 8.9 miles and

lifted weights two times.

Not so good, but it was a good week. I will tell you about it in another post. Thank you Jesus.

De-load

The week started with a bang. NOT! I had things to do. I did not go to the pool. My shoulder is better. I am stretching and doing my external rotations. I ran a short 3.07 miles Monday. After two hours of the Paul Finebaum Show, I realized they were not going to talk about the Mississippi State game and the hosing they got from an SEC crew who obviously were paid off so that State could not win the game. That is not an exaggeration. The punt return was just one of several bad dishonest calls. You can't screw something up that bad by accident. There was clear intent.

So I went to Plate City. Since my latest bench program has gone stale on me, I am making some adjustments to the heavy day. I dropped the working weight to 140 pounds and thought I would try 6 X 6. I did not expect to make six reps on all six sets, but I did. No, I am not going up next week. I am going to work that weight for a while and up the reps. Besides, I will only be able to push once this week so my strength will take a hit there. But I need a de-load. Life usually gives you one. It does this week. Next week, I will start back trying to build my reps at 140. I can remember when four reps at that weight was my PR. 

Praise God for the changing weather and the infinite ways one can lift weights.

HOD 8

You may be wondering where I have been. I have been dry, and when I go dry everything changes. Dry you say? Yeah, let me tell you about it. Or rather, let me whine to you about it.

Monday I was not dry. I started my training week with a 4,000 yard swim in the little pool. Then I moved outdoors and ran 5.71 miles. As if that was not enough, I lifted weights at Plate City. Everything was good. Almost.

Tuesday I still was not dry but I was not wet long. I swam only 1,400 in the big pool. My shoulder has been flaring up again. The right one. The one that fell off a couple of years ago. What is it? It is either the biceps tendon or impingement. Or both. I have had some discomfort when in the overhead position, and after several swims of late it has been stiff. Doo Doo. And I just officially registered for the National Senior Olympics. Unlike the state version, this one cost some money, and I have paid. Yes, I lifted some weights in spite of the shoulder.

Wednesday I did not swim. I ran 7.28 miles and did some light leg work. Thursday I did not swim. Thursday I did not run. Thursday I did not lift. Thursday I did eat candy. Just in time. Arm fall off. Mind get lazy. Mouth eat candy. Yee Hah. That's how I roll.

Friday I shuffled 2.06 miles and lifted front and back. Huh? Yeah, that is push and pull. Saturday I spent with the family in Jackson having fun and eating too much food. 

So for the week? I

ran - 15.05 miles,

swam - 5,056 meters, and 

lifted weights - four times.

The SkiErg? I'm letting the shoulder rest.

What is next? I am going to try to swim a few times this week, slow and low yardage. I will lift, but I am cutting the weight especially on the bench press. Also I have reintroduced the external rotations into my program. I had stopped not out of design but out of carelessness. I forgot until I did not remember anymore. Yeah, I'm smart like that. Pray for me. I need it. Thank you, Jesus, for an arm to fall off not for an arm that did fall off. That is what the Bible says, "In everything give thanks." I Thessalonians 5:18

It Was Big, and I Woke up Tired

It was big, and I woke up tired.

The day. 

Monday.

I did not get up early to run. I do that every two or three years. After work, I went to the pool and hit

 1,750 33:11

 brick kick

 350 small paddles 6:27

   300 4:44

   300 4:44

   300 4:41

   200 3:04

   150 2:19

   100 1:30

 350 small paddles 6:03

 200 back 4:47

total: 4,000 yards = 3,656 meters.

That's a good practice right there, I don't care who you are. The indented part was the main set. I think I will call it my SO (Senior Olympics) set. It changed a little from last week when the 300s were on 5:30. I cut the interval to 5:29. Yeah, I'm bold like that. Also, I added a 100 at the end to bring the set up to 1,350 yards. The idea is to build endurance at that higher pace that I swim the 200 and 500 at in competitions. Also, this will work the heart rate and the lactate buffering capabilities. This will carry over nicely to the HOD Triathlon. Hey, I did not dread this set, and I was not in pain. That means I am getting better, better than last week when my muscles were screaming at me.

I hit Plate City for a nice workout. Last week, I made the five reps last week on the fifth working set at 155 so I went up to 160. Then bench went like this:

 13 X 45

 8 X 67

 4 X 100

 2 X 122

 1 X 144

 1 X 160

 2 X 160

 2 X 260 (missed at 3)

 2 X 160 (didn't try 3)

 2 X 160 (missed at 3)

 4 X 150

 7 X 140

The 160s were a big ouch. I thought I could at least get 3, but it was not to be. Have I stalled? Next week will tell. I should get 3 on one of my sets then or I will have to drop the weight and ramp back up. Also I did lots of lateral raises and several sets of seated dips. On the SkiErg, I went 5:45 to top off the upper body workout.

I too some nutrition, rested some, and then went out for a shuffle. It was dark out, and I enjoyed the anonymity that running at night provides. I shuffled along for 5.71 miles. When I was running up to the house, a guy in a golf cart stopped and wanted to chat. He lives a few doors down and said he has seen me running all over. He asked about lifting and wants to workout with me. Wow. I have been praying about a workout partner. I really need someone in the gym. It helps. You do more if you have a good workout buddy.

So it was a full day. I went to bed tired and woke up that way. Praise be to God Almighty. 

It Was Good/Bad (HOD 7)

HOD 7 was another mixed bag. I swam big, ran little, and lifted a lot. Let me tell you about it. Monday, I swam 3,850 yards. I also ran 6.27 miles and lifted weights. That was one good day, I was one tired man, and I slept one good sleep.

Tuesday, however, I did not run. I'm lazy like that. I swam another 3,850 yards but did not other training. Shoot me.

Wednesday I was back on the road for 4.1 miles. In the pool, I did another 3,850 yards with a tough new set I am developing. Developing? Yeah, I adjust it each week and it gets longer and more dense. More dense? Yes, I take some time off the intervals so that I do more work in less time. It's a double progression: more reps, reduced time. I also lifted weights.

Thursday I got lazy. I swam my 3,850, but I did nothing else but lounge in bed all afternoon then go back to work that night.

Friday I hit the pool for 5,500 straight in 1:38:37. Yeah, that was a good aerobic swim to put some endurance back in the tank. But, I did not lift or run.

I was so behind on lifting that by Saturday I hit the gym twice. First I went to the outdoor pool and swam 1,800 meters. I did my push workout around noon. Late in the afternoon, I worked legs and pulls. That made for a full day of three workouts, but two of them were gym sessions.

For the week, I

 swam 20,899 meters,

 ran 10.37 miles, 

 SkiErgged 10:00  minutes, and 

 lifted weights four times.

That was a pretty good week except the running. I have been prioritizing the swim and the gym. That means that on some days, the run gets squeezed. Anyway, I am still out there trying. Thank you, Jesus, for the health and the desire to be in the game.

A Different Three

I try to get in three workouts per day: a swim, a run, and a session of weight training. That, however, doesn't always workout for me. Sometimes I only get in two. Heck, sometimes I only get in one. OK, sometimes I only get none. But Saturday I did three, only with a twist.

I went to the pool in the morning, and since the sky was hazy, I swam outdoors in the big pool. Why? Because I do try to limit my sun exposure. I have been swimming short on Saturday so the outdoor pool made sense. Because the sky was cloudy and I was swimming short, I could get some vitamin D without cooking. I swam

1,100 23:05

4 X 100 @ 2:23

  1 - 1:42

  2 - 1:44

  3 - 1:42

  4 - 1:43

200 medium paddles 3:49

total: 1,800 long course meters.

That was all I wanted. It gave me over 20,000 meters for the week.

I went to the gym about noon. I needed to work push, pull, and legs. Yeah, I messed the week up like that. My first workout on the bench press was

  13 X 45

  7 X 67

  3 X 100

  5 X 115

  10 X 115

  10 X 115

  19 X 115

The pin-press set up

Then I did pin presses with the Swiss bar at 88, 98, 102, and 107 pounds. I felt it in the triceps which is the purpose of pin pressing, i.e. pressing off pins which shortens the range of motion. The next time I do this, I will up the weight a bit. Or a lot. I also did seated dips and lateral raises. That was pretty much workout number two.

I tried to rest some after that. One of the simple pleasures of this time of the year is watching college football. I was distracted, however, by an unexpected errand I had to complete for a friend. When I got home from that, it was time for another session at the gym. I felt too tired to run, but I went to Plate City and did pull and some legs. I took my yoke squat to 270 pounds and my deadlift/shrug to 225. For me, that is real weight.

After all of that, I went inside for the night. I took nutrition, watched some of the Mississippi State game, and took a shower at half time. 

So I got three workouts, but there was no run but two weight sessions instead. It was a good day. Thank you Jesus.

Fall Euphoria

I usually don't run in the morning since school started back, but I did Wednesday. After waking up not too early, I could not go back to sleep or even get comfortable. It did not take a socket rientist to figure that if I was running by 6:00 a.m., I could do four miles and still not have a problem getting to work on time. So I got up, put on my shoes, and headed out the door. 

It was cool, almost chilly, feeling like fall. Wearing only shorts, shoes, and a T-shirt, I remember thinking that if I was any nippier, I would need sleeves. Thank God for normal weather. In 2019, September was the hottest month of the year.

The birds were out even though the sun was not. I have always heard that the early bird gets the worm. Birds are all early in Greenwood. I shuffled while admiring birds and noticing people. I saw eleven other folks out walking or running. That made me feel lazy because I do this so infrequently, this early morning thing.

I shuffled 4.1 miles and went inside for a shower. Some cereal served for breakfast, then I was off for one of my two short days at work. On Mondays and Wednesdays I am off at noon. Yeah, that is nice.

I ate lunch, took a nap, and then went to the pool where I swam

1,200 22:04

did some stretching

800 14:54

brick kick

250 easy 4:38

 300 - 4:42

 300 - 4:43

 300 - 4:45  The indented part was the main set completed in 23:00 minutes.

 200 - 3:06

 150 - 2:17

350 easy

total: 3,850 yards = 3,518 meters.

Then it was home for the day. Oh, I forgot to mention that just before going to the pool, FedEx delivered my latest package from Titan Fitness. What did I buy? you ask. Two wagon wheels and a pair of collars. The collars were a disappointment because only one of them would work. The wagon wheels, however, were just as much of an upgrade as I thought they would be.

What are wagon wheels? They are forty-five pound plates that look like wagon wheels. They have a much greater diameter than a normal forty-five so with them the bar is farther from the floor. How much farther? Four inches or more. With wagon wheels on my trap bar, I am pulling from just below knee height. I lifted 220 pounds and there was more there. I will get some of it next week.

I did pulling with the wagon wheels. They save me the time and effort of setting the power rack up to pull from higher. I did the chest supported row for more weight than ever. I also did two sets of one-armed bent rows, chins for more weight than ever, and the SkiErg for more meters than ever. Yeah, it was a good workout like that. Not only so, but a breeze blew while I was back there and it felt glorious. I was comfortable. That fall euphoria flooded my soul.

Thank you, Jesus, for a really nice day.

Not Aloof

How many times have you heard it? Cats are aloof. I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how often my own ears have taken in those words. The problem is it's not true. No it is not. Don't argue with me. Listen, you might learn something. 

Cats are just like people. They are socially awkward, extremely sensitive, and very proud. This creates problems when we humans don't recognize these traits. For instance, take socially awkward. Those introverts among us can identify that cats, like us, try to be sociable but often times we and they don't know how. Sometimes a cat will jump up on a table hoping you will notice her. If you fail to see that kitty is making an overture towards you, you hurt her feelings. As a result, she will ignore you the next time you call her name. I know because I did that the last time I lay down on a table hoping my wife would rub my belly. She yelled at me, and I have not done it since. One day she will say, "Hop up here, Big Boy, and let me see that belly." I'm going to yell back, "No way, Little Girl, you had your chance, and you blew it."

Besides being socially awkward, cats are extremely sensitive. They get their feelings hurt when we don't notice them, make a fuss over them, or give them undying devotion. Admit it. You want that too. You and I might have lived long enough to learn that we can't have it, but cats have not. They want it, they need it, and they deserve it. At least in their minds they do, and I agree with them. They deserve it. If you don't know that, learn it now and do not forget. Did you hear me? Your cat needs, desires, and deserves you undying attention and devotion. Give him or her that and don't talk back!

Not only are cats socially awkward and highly sensitive, but they are proud creatures as well. Often when they want your attention, but they are simply too proud so show it. You must read their minds, know this, and give it to them anyway. Do it. Don't doubt me, and do not say you don't have time. If a cat follows you into a room, you must speak to him. That means you must be constantly aware because, unlike dogs, they do not make noise when they walk through the house. For a cat to follow you from one room to another and you not respond, wounds their pride severely. Please stop doing that.

In short, pay attention to your cat. Care about her feelings. Dote on her. Be devoted to her. If you don't, she will give you the silent treatment, act aloof to you. And you deserve it.

Lazy like That

Tuesday is my long day at work, remember? So I went to the pool with swimming prioritized. I will get that if I do nothing else. I swam 

2,200 41:54

brick kick

300 medium paddles 5:02

3 X 400 @ 8:00

  1 - 6:25

  2 - 6:26

  3 - 6:26

150 small paddles 2:40

total: 3,850 yards = 3.518 meters.

I got home from the pool around 7:00. I chatted with Penny for a bit and thought about going for a run. I had the time. I had the energy. I had the opportunity. Nevertheless, I wimped and did not do it. I am lazy like that.

Thank the Lord anyway.

Labor Day

I had a good one with lots of relaxation and lots of training. Lots of cats too, always lots of cats. First, I slept in. The sun finally roused me around 7:00 a.m. Or maybe it was CC. She does not like me sleeping late. Anyway, I did the slow start thing, drank coffee, studied some, did devotions, petted cats. Somewhere around 11:00 I went to the pool. At Twin Rivers, I swam

2,350

brick kick

250 medium paddles

2 X 500 @ 9:15

  1 - 7:51

  2 - 7:59

250 easy

total: 3,850 yards

That 7:51 is, I think, a PR for being alone in the pool. I have swum faster in competition, but one always swims faster against others. Without spending a day flipping though training diaries, I think that is a PR. I do not think, but am sure that getting two of them under 8:00 is a PR. That I am 100% sure of.

I went home and snacked on something. Later, mid-afternoon, I went for a shuffle and did 6.27 miles. That is not a bad start for the week.

Yes, I went to Plate City. It was push day, and I like push day. On the bench, I pushed

13 X 45

8 X 67

3 X 100

2 X 122

1 X 144

1 X 155

2 X 155

3 X 155

4 X 155

5 X 155 (I did it!!!)

3 X 150

7 X 140

8 X 135

Remember I am on that program where yo go up after you hit five reps on the fifth working set. Last week I missed rep five. This week I got it. I also did lots of lateral raises and three sets of the seated dip. 

Then I went inside and watched a ball game. What game? you ask. Ole Miss vs Louisville. I actually pulled for Ole Miss. I was proud of myself. God has helped me. That and some good people at church who have showed me that not all Ole Miss fans are jerks. Gerald Johnson even said to me, "How 'bout them dogs," after State won the national championship in baseball. That was nice.

One day off, three workouts, four cats, an SEC victory, and a partridge in a pear tree. That's what I call a day. Thank you, Jesus.

HOD 6

HOD 6 was finally worthy of the name. I trained enough to make a difference. In one sport. Maybe two. But not three. Yeah, those are sentence fragments. Shoot me.

Monday, it was raining, so I did not do the early morning run like I did the week before. But we were off at work, or we went online, and since it was only one day, I had some extra time. I ran, in the rain, 6.54. But you could not get up early in the rain? Go figure. At the pool, I swam 3,800 yards. At the gym I lifted heavy and long. Solid, the day was solid.

Tuesday I did not run. I work late on Tuesdays so I focused on the swim with 3,400 meters in the big pool. That was all.

Wednesday I hit the little pool for 3,650 yards. Then I hit the road for 2.32 miles. I lifted also for my second day of three workouts.

Thursday is the day I have a night class so I only swam with 3,900 yards in the little pool. There was some quality in there and the distance for the week was now 13,773 meters. The roll was on.

Friday I went to the big pool in the morning and got there about the time the ladies did. As I was getting out of my truck, Bk (Bad Katie Jones) rode by and hollered, "Hey Hodge." Nice. She is nice like that when she is not being bad. I went long, or maybe I should say I did a straight swim that was longish. I outlasted the ladies, then Vicki Jee got in and when she stopped I was at 100 more than last week. So I stopped at 4,400 since I wanted to chat with her. My run was only 1.81, but I did one. Then I lifted big so I had a big day before Penny and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for a bigger meal. When we got home, I ate a big bag of candy she brought me from the grocery store.

Saturday I usually go light in the pool. This Saturday was no exception. I did 2,150 yards. Later, I mowed the lawn then ran 2.21 miles. In the gym I did pulls and legs. On the legs, I have been really lazy of late. I did one warmup set, and then some Yoke squats working up to 220 pounds. That is a lot of weight for me even though the Yoke squats are partial range of motion. Very partial. How partial? you ask. None of your dang business. I did them and that is what counts.

So for the week, I

ran 12.88 miles,

swam 20,138 meters,

lifted weights four times, and 

SkiErgged 15:40 minutes.

Huh? 

SkiErgged. What I have been calling the New Swim Machine (NSM), I have finally revealed for what it is, a Concept 2 SkiErg. This thing is the cat's meow for dryland swim training. I am convinced it is going to take me to a new level in the water. I kept it secret for a while hoping to gain an edge on Randy Beets. But I know he will not buy one and he is afraid of a gym and too lazy to use one if he went to a gym and they had one. So there, now you know. You might have thought I bought a Vasa trainer. No, the SkiErg has been on my list for a long time. I finally pulled the trigger on the purchase and I'm glad I did.

Thank you, Jesus, for a good week of training plus a week with CC being nice to me. Life is good.

The Swim Secret

I thought it was time to let the bag out of the cat. This is the piece of equipment I have been hiding for several weeks. This is a Concept 2 Ski Erg, and I made the purchase to do dryland training for swimming. Is it good? Yeah. It works the swimming muscles, the lats, the pecs, and the triceps like crazy. It's aerobic, and it is in my backyard. It runs the heartrate up while using the very muscles I use in the water. I can use it at will. Poor Randy Beets. He never had a chance.

Ida Day

I started the week right with three workouts Monday. It was Ida Day and to celebrate, I tried to sleep in but CC would not let me. What's up with that? She got to where she tried to get me out of bed starting around 6:30 every morning. Geez Louise.

So I could not sleep in. Oh, I didn't mention that face-to-face classes were cancelled because of the hurricane. That meant I posted some assignments in Canvas and then went to the pool. I swam 

  2,000 36:57

  brick kick

  400 medium paddles 6:29

  2 X 400 @ 8:00

    1 - 6:28

    2 - 6:32

  200 back 4:42

  400 small paddles 7:11

  total: 3,800 yards = 3,473 meters.

Later in the afternoon, I went out in the hurricane for a run. I did 6.54 miles. It was glorious, almost as enjoyable as swimming in the rain. Almost, but nothing tops doing laps in a downpour. 

At the gym, it was push day. On the bench, I pressed

  12 X 45

  8 X 67

  3 X 100

  2 X 122

  1 X 144

  1 X 155

  2 X 155

  3 X 155

  4 X 155

  4 X 155 (missed on the 5th)

  2 X 150

  6 X 140

  7 X 135

I did seated dips for 

  32 X 80

  23 X 105

  22 X 115

Also I did 18 sets of lateral raises and a few more small things.

So Ida Day was a good one. Besides all of that, I got a new tire on my truck. I needed one more day. B u u u u t, I  thought you said that teaching online was hard. Teaching a single class period online when you have already met face-to-face is not difficult. Doing the whole class online is. I did my work Sunday night and Monday morning I only had to publish my assignments so it was like having a day off. Thank you, Jesus. 

Tuesday, however, was a different story. We were back in the classroom and I teach until 2:45 and then keep office hours. I only swam and struggled through that. In the big pool, I did

  1,300 26:36

  6 X 50

  then just a bunch of filler stuff for a total of

  3,400

Maybe today I can crank it back up. Praise the Lord.