The Quest for 25,000 Meters

The quest towards 25,000 meters continues. Oh, I didn't tell you? Well now you know. My goal for the week, one of them, is to train 25,000 meters or more in the pool water. Yesterday I knocked off another 4,800 bringing me to 18,925 for the last week of July. Why not 5,000? OK, I got lazy. Shoot me. I did a straight swim, and I made my mind up to swim until the Ladies Aerobics finished. When they finished, my push got out of the pool with them so I stopped too.

No, I did not run. This killer heat is still with us. I usually do not let the heat stop me, but starting with Tuesday, the weather here has been truly dangerous. For several days we have had dew points north of 75 degrees. How does 98 degree air temp and a 78 dew point sound? You can actually die in that.

Yes, I went to the gym at 5:30. I would have waited until later, but you know, the Olympics are on and I wanted to watch the prime time coverage. I am still on that new bench press program, and it seems to be working. This one has the heavy/light day. remember? Thursday was my third week of 5/10/10/as many reps as possible at 110 pounds. Last week I got 17 reps on the last set. This week, I did 18. When I make 20 reps on the fourth set, I raise the weight. The whole bench workout looked like this:

   12 X 45

     6 X 65

    1X 100

   5 X 110

 10 X 110

 10 X 110

 18 X 110

 Incline dumbbell 8 X 30

Then I did lateral raises, overhead presses, and seated dips. Of course I finished off with the New Swim Machine (NSM) for 1:31.

So swim training for the Heart O' Dixie continues. Fifty-one weeks and a few days to go. Thank you, Jesus.

New Swim Machine

Wednesday was a big day for Plate City Gym. I finished putting together my new secret weapon. It was so hot, I had to turn a screw driver about three revolutions and then sit down and rest. Maybe one day I will reveal what the new machine is, but for now I will just call it the New Swim Machine. 

First, I swam. It was one of those days when I did not feel it. I slogged, slapped, and pushed myself through 4,450 meters of little quality and less endurance. It went something like this:

1,600 37:18

50 picking up money

400 9:32

3 X 100

1,500 34:43

5 X 100 @3:00

total: 4,450

That brings my week's total up to 14,125 meters.

After the swim, I went to Tractor Supply to purchase some stall matts to go along with the new equipment at Plate City. I put three large matts down at Plate City extended and one in the covered part of the gym. Despite wanting to use the new piece, I was afraid to until around 6:30. I was literally afraid I might die. It was that hot. I moved some things around, cleaned up, and did light leg work. Then I tried the machine.

Oh! My! Goodness!

I love this thing. One day, when it is too late for any competition to benefit from it, I will reveal to the world what I bought, why I bought it, and how I use it. I went 1:15 on the New Swim Machine (NSM). That is one minute and fifteen seconds. Why so short? Any new move I do, I ease into slowly. I will build a little bit every day, but I am sure this will be a game changer.

Thank you, Jesus.

HOD 2022

Yeah, I'm already thinking about it. And training. I have some big plans to drop my swim. Yes, I think I can go faster. I have been sub 13 there, and I want to return to that performance level. I really did not train the swim that hard until the last six weeks because of the Great Geezer Run. Since then, the focus has been on swimming and dryland, i.e. Plate City Gym for swim strength.

Also, I missed doing the whole thing. Just to finish the HOD is an accomplishment and a quality workout that puts fitness and health in the bank. Maybe next year I can be a part of a team and also do the entire race.

Monday morning, Penny's truck did not crank so my morning swim was out. I took a run and went 7.3 miles. Then I went to the little pool after lunch and did a bunch of sets. I swam a long warmup and a 500 for time and a 400 for time. Also, I worked the backstroke with a straight 400. Add to that some paddle work, and I wound up with 6,100 yards or 5,575 meters. That is not a bad way to start preparing for the next Lake Tiak O'Khata swim.

Yes, I went to Plate City and did the push variety of my upper body workout. I benched 

  12 X 45

  6 X 65

  4 X 100

  2 X 125

  1 X 150

  2 X 150

  3 X 150

  4 X 150

  4 X 150

In addition, I did lateral raises and seated dips. All in all, that was one solid day of running, swimming, and lifting.

Tuesday, I intended to ride my bicycle in the afternoon. Bikes, Blues[,] & Bayous is coming up, and I have been on my bike exactly four times the whole year. First, however, I went to the pool, in the morning, to the outdoor long course pool. I did not feel like swimming but I slogged through 4,100 meters.

It was crazy hot but I went out anyway for a 1.51 miles. I had to do some walking. The dew point was 78, the temp 95, and the heat index around 111. I mowed the front lawn and waited for the second of two packages to be delivered. The first had arrived Monday. These two packages mark the next major upgrade of Plate City and it is one I am counting on to put me over the top in my swimming. I have such a high expectation for this that I am debating on even sharing it here. 

Really? 

Yes, really. 

Not too many people read my blog. But it is out there and available for anyone in the world. I don't want other swimmers whom I will compete against to know my secrets. Up until now, I have had no secrets. Every practice and every set has been meticulously posted here. I did not post my sets this week, not to hide anything, but out of laziness. These practices had so many sets and were so unorganized that I did not go through the effort to decipher the data in my watch and transcribe that to print. Anyone could read and duplicate, emulate, or adjust.

At the gym, I did my pull workout. Between sets, I was working on the machine, the part that came in Monday. When I finished lifting, the heat had whipped me down so that I went inside and took a shower. The UPS man did not arrive until I was out of the shower. I wasn't about to get back out in that heat. I would finish the machine the next day.

So, in two days, I have swum 9,675 meters, run 8.81 miles, and lifted weights twice. Not a bad start. Now I have 353 more days to prepare. By the grace of God, I will be ready.

7/19 - 7/25

This was a taper week for the Heart O' Dixie Triathlon. Monday, I swam a pretty decent amount of volume with some quality. It was still a step back from what I normally do. I stroked 3,200 and did some upper body weight lifting. Tuesday, I cut the volume a little more and did 2,450 meters with a touch of quality. I also ran and did some more weight lifting.

Wednesday, I swam in the little pool for 2,000 yards. I also did some light running but no lifting at all Thursday I swam even less, 1,300 meters. I ran a little, 1.54 miles but I durst not touch a weight. Friday I did nothing but sleep in, and pack for our trip. Saturday, I only swam the HOD course for 800 meters. When we got home, I lifted weights and hit the whole body.

For the week, I 

ran - 10.63 miles,

lifted weights - three times,

swam - 9,578 meters. 

All in all, it was a good week. My swim at the HOD was a good one. I did the course in 13:36 which was one of the best of the day. This was good for my mind. I had been wondering if I was past peak, past prime. I am 65 years old. My best running days are behind me. My best cycling days are behind me. I am about as strong on the weights as I have ever been, and I am still swimming well. Thank you, Jesus.

Heart O' Dixie Race Report

We left Greenwood a little before 2:00 p.m. headed for Noxapater, Mississippi. If you have never been to Noxapater, plan a day trip. What's in Noxapater you say? Not much more than a cool name. And my aunt. My last surviving aunt, my dad's baby sister, lives there alone, uncle Paul having passed during the past year. 

The Heart O' Dixie Triathlon passes through the town, which covers a whopping one square mile and has a population of 472 471. Louisville is the town a few miles away and Louisville and Noxapater are like Greenwood and Itta Bena. They are about the same distance apart and the size difference is similar but both of the former towns are much smaller than their delta twins.

Penny dropped me off at the shop (my cousins' tire service) and then she went on to Aunt Mary's. The plan was for me to visit with my cousins, John and Paul, and then walk to Mary's after they closed. But it was raining cows and goats. Not to worry, John gave me a ride.

Lisa and Paul came over as did John so we got to visit with cousins before supper. I had asked Aunt Mary if we could take her out somewhere for supper, but she said no. Now I understand. It was just easier to stay home and we had more time to visit and a more relaxed atmosphere to do it in. We ate sandwiches and chips. It was good, yeah. Then Penny and I retired to bed early. The race starts at 6:30 a.m.

If my arithmetic is right, this was my 20th HOD. I did the first one on August 2, 1980. It was the first triathlon I had ever heard of. After doing the first six, I retired to go into the ministry and raise a family. I started back in 2004 and have done all but the one that was cancelled and two others since. One year Penny was in the hospital, and one year my right arm fell off.

Not only was this my 20th, but it was my first relay team there. Shay and I were signed up as a team in 2018, but my arm fell off. We had talked about 2019, but Shay and Shelly were building a house. Then we planned to team up in 2020, but COVID cancelled that race. So our fourth attempt had me nervous. Would we make it to the starting line or would something else happen? 

We did make the start. Despite getting to the lake at 6:00 a.m., I did not really get to warm up. I swam maybe two minutes before I saw someone waving at me and yelling that the race was starting. The first swimmer was in the water before I got out. We were number 25, so I did not have long to climb out and find my place. The staggered start has a swimmer leaving every five seconds.

My GPS watch did not catch the signal before it was my time to go, so when I got out of the water, I did not know my swim time. I just knew that I had swum hard, had passed a few swimmers, and had not been passed by any. When I got out, Shay was there and grabbed that chip so fast that he didn't waste a tenth of a second.

Shay is a strong rider, and I knew he would turn in a good cycle leg. Penny and I got into her truck and headed out for T 2. We passed Shay on the way. He was way up towards the front and grinding a big gear when we drove past. At T 2, I met out runner, Anthony Steele from Philadelphia, Mississippi. I got out of the truck and found someone who looked like a runner standing around looking back up the cycle course. Someone asked him who swam for them. Seeing the number 25 on his arm, I answered before he could: "This guy did," I said pointing to myself. So that is how Anthony and I met. 

Shay was in within minutes of me getting there. He laid his bicycle on its side and fought to get the chip off and to Anthony as fast as possible. Wow. His competitiveness was amazing. In nothing flat, Anthony was on that hot, hilly road running for our victory.

Penny and I then drove on it to the fair. At the grandstands, for the first time every I got to watch the winner and the top finishers come in. Amazingly, one of the most impressive things I saw that day was a twelve year old runner for a relay team. He came in looking like an Olympian. He averaged a 6:41 pace per mile and believe you me, that is a hot, hard, hilly course. I looked up the results later. That boy had the fastest run of anyone in the relays and the fourth fastest run of the entire race. I did get to speak to him after he finished. I encouraged him to stick with his running.

Me coming out of the water.

To make a short story long, our team won the relay division. Out of fifteen teams, we were number one at an even 2:22:00. Surprisingly, the second team was only 1:55 behind us. It was all I could do to keep from crying when they called our names, and we ascended the stage to receive our award. After twenty attempts  and forty-two years, thanks to my cousin Shay Darby and the runner he recruited, I won something at the Heart O' Dixie. Even Penny was a little moved by it all.

Above is the winning team. That is our runner on the left, Anthony Steele. Shay, our champion cyclist, is in the center, and yours truly, the old man swimmer is on the right. Notice that red mud we are standing on. That is typical of Winston and Neshoba Counties.

It was a nice experience. We got to visit with family, see some sacred geography, and Shay and I finally did our team, and with Anthony, we made a good one. Thank you, Jesus.

A Private Investigator?!?!?!?!?!

My cell phone rang at 7:30 a.m. "Zane Hodge?" the voice on the other end asked.

First, it is a thousand wonders I even answered. I am already poised to assault those extended warranty folks, and I was pretty sure that was who it was. I don't know anyone from Meridian, and my cell phone said the number was a Meridian number.

"Yes," I answered, probably sounding irritated.

"This is Thomas Demeo. I'm a private investigator from Meridian."

O.K. You have my attention, I thought. What is this about?

"I was hired by Anthony to find the best swimmer in Mississippi and east Alabama who is not signed up for the Heart O' Dixie Triathlon."

Anthony? Huh? What?

"You are that man."

"Who is Anthony?" I finally spoke.

"Anthony is a talented runner from Philadelphia, Mississippi. He signed up for the Heart O' Dixie Triathlon as a team, and he has a solid cyclist on board. He needs a good swimmer for a championship team."

"Oh. O.K., I'm interested."

"The date is July 24th. I can give you his cyclist's name, and you can contact him. In fact, you know him, Shay Darby."

"Yeah, Shay is my . . ."

"Cousin," he finished my sentence. "I'll give you his number."

"I have his number. You don't have to give it to me."

"I am also prepared to rent you a room."

"I have a place to stay. My aunt, Shay's grandmother, lives in Noxapater. She will put me up and feed me like a starving pigmy at an all day dinner on the grounds at church.

"Well it is all set then. Call or text Shay with the information he will need to officially add you to the team. The entrance fee and one-day memberships have been paid already."

"Great."

"Any questions?"

"Yeah. One. Shay knows about my swimming. Why hire a private eye?"

"That was Anthony. He wanted the very best, and he was skeptical about you because of your age. I did a swimming resume on you and several other swimmers. You won out easily."

"Thank you. Thank you very much."

"Thank you. And congratulations on The Great Geezer Run and the State Senior Olympics."

"Wow. You did investigate didn't you."

"Just doing my job."

So just like that, I went from thinking about the Heart O' Dixie, from wondering if I had the moxie to do it this year, to being a part of a squad that could win the whole team division. Then I realized that I still don't know who Anthony is. I guess it doesn't matter. I know Shay. I know the Heart O' Dixie. I am in. Thank you, Jesus.

Like John

I didn't tell you, but John was on time Monday. That usually means that he misses entirely the next day. This time it meant that me missed entirely the next day. He did not call, did not write, did not send a carrier pigeon. It's like he has to make up for it. He has never been on time two days in a row. Never. Me, I swam 

2 X 50 picking up money

950 20:43

4 X 50 80%

500

2 X 50 80%

400 8:01

500 80%

150 easy 

total: 2,450

I did run, shuffle that is. Since I did not run Monday, I decided to do like John and make up for it. I shuffled 5.52 miles, which apparently goes for a good run nowadays with me.

Yes, I went to Plate City. I did my main moves like usual, but I cut down on the assistance work. I might do traps with legs tonight, but basically I am finished with upper body for the week.

So I had a good day, a good training one. I did all three workouts, but my yardage in the pool was down, my poundage in the gym was down, and my aggravation with John was up. What else is new? Thank you Jesus.

HOD Week

The Heart O' Dixie Triathlon returns this Saturday in Louisville, Mississippi. The continental United State's oldest continuous triathlon, like many events, was cancelled in 2020. For the first time ever, I am doing a relay.

I usually do the whole thing, and that, along with Bikes, Blues[,] & Bayous, helps to form a training and performance program that keeps fit and healthy. Last year, I was offered a slot on a good relay team, and I jumped at the chance. I had the same offer in 2019, but one of my arms fell off. So this is our third attempt to form a strong team, and it looks like this time we might make it to the starting line.

Yes, I want to whip them guys from Greenwood. The ones who think they are tough, the ones who take pictures after the race but never ask me to be in them, the ones who meet at a cabin afterwards but have never asked me and my wife to join them. No, they will not read this. They are the pure in heart who do not do social media. When I see one of them there is usually a question about my training. I remind them that I have a blog where I tell everything. I think they have never read. Maybe their swimmer has. Maybe.

Me? What leg will I do? Are you kidding? That's a question? What do you think?

Yeah, that was tough wasn't it. I guess that is one reason my running has fallen off a cliff because I'm focused on the swim like it's my life's work. So this is my taper week, and I want to get it right. I wrote out a plan and then I Messaged my old Masters coach to bounce it off him. What would you change? I asked. He told me.

So Monday morning, I swam 3,200 straight. I tried to throw in some pickups, some fast 50s. He recommended 25s. But I was either too lazy, too tired, or too forgetful. Yes, it was all three. I am good like that.

No I did not run, but I did go to the gym. I lifted push. I will lift pull tonight, but I will not do round two later this week. I even reduced my assistance work to almost nothing so it was not a hard workout. Then we went to Over 60s just in time for me to gain five pounds at the first of race week. But you didn't really gain five pounds in one meal, did you? The scales say I did, and we have a tentative date to eat out with friends this Thursday. I have always tried to make my athletic exploits intrusiveless in our lives. I do that to my athletic and health harm. Eating out is one of the worst things you can do for your health.

Thank you, Jesus, for the health I have. I do try to be a good steward of it and a good husband at the same time. Those two goals clash head on, however, like two cars on the highway.

7/12 - 7/18

A clear pattern has developed: I am swimming hard, swimming long, and swimming often. I am running little, running slow, and running out of desire. All of this despite my intention to run much. You know what they say about the road to hell, right? It is paved with good intentions. Is it my age? After busting out a big pool practice, do I not have the energy to run long also? Is it my lack of resolve? Do I intend mildly? Is it the fact that despite people over and over praising me for my discipline, I really have little of that necessary quality? I think it is the latter. It is the latter. 

Monday I went to the Twin Rivers in the afternoon. Thunder and lightening kept me indoors until after lunch. In the short course pool, I swam 6,050 yards or 5,529 meters. I did shuffle 3.11 miles, and lift weights.

Tuesday, I swam 4,600 in the long course pool. The I ran a week's high 4.37 miles. I also lifted big iron in my nice backyard gym. Wednesday I swam 4,500 meters, and tipped around the neighborhood for 1.38 miles. I lifted to complete another three-workout day.

By Thursday the accumulated fatigue was setting in. Still, I managed to swim 4,400 and lift some weights. Running? I just could not get back out the door for that. Friday was the same with the running. I swam 4,000 meters and lifted heavy and long, but that was all my will could muster from my tired body.

Saturday I went to the little pool for a short 1,200-yard swim. I had intended to do more, but I just wimped out. Later in the day, I lifted again, but running would not even break into my mind.

For the week, I

lifted weights six times,

ran 8.86 miles, and 

swam 24,125 meters.

That is good swim training right there. Not only that, but it is good weight training also. Running? Well, not so much. Where is the bicycle, you say? Hanging quietly in the storage room. Bikes, Blues[,] & Bayous is coming up shortly, and I have been on my bicycle exactly four times in the whole year. Did someone say I have a lot of discipline?

Thank you, Jesus, for helping me get the training done that I did.

Good Training, Yeah

The big yards continued Thursday morning as I knocked off 4,400 meters in the large pool. That brought me to 19,000 meters for the week. The practice went something like this:

2,400 of various swims, picking up money, putting stuff out of the pool,

10 X 200 I cleared my watch accidently and did not get the times. They were a mix of all out, floating 50s, paddles, and an easy one or two.

I had to mow on Monroe, so that pretty much knocked my run out. Also, I mowed at the Hideout. 

It was push night at the gym. The bench went like this:

12 X 45

6 X 64

1 X 100

5 X 110

10 X 110

10 X 110

15 X 110

Incline 9 X 100

In addition, I did two set of the log press, fifteen sets of lateral raises, and three sets of seated dips. It was good training, yeah. Thank you Jesus.

Big Water Continues

The big-water week continued as I knocked out another 4,500 meters in the long course pool. It went like this:

  2 X 50 (picking up money)

  1,600 38:50

  10 X 300 (with a floating 50, a floating 100, and various paddles)

    1 - 5:54

    2 - 6:10

    3 - 6:10

    4 - 6:10

    5 - 6:13

    6 - 6:07

    7 - 6:10

    8 - 5:59

    9 - 5:59

  10 - 6:38

  11 - 6:52

  2 X 50

  total: 4,500

Yeah, I know, the math does not work. Actually, I wrote times for 11 300s taken from my watch, but I am sure the total said 4,500. I remember counting the 300s several times to make sure I had it right. Maybe some of those duplicate times were the result of my failing eyesight. I am counting it as a 4,500 meter practice.

I took a short shuffle before lunch because I had to work in the afternoon. I only did 1.38 miles. My legs did not want to do anything. 

After work, I got the call to come get my mower. It has been in the shop. So I drove out to Galey Road to pick it up. Then I went to Plate City when I got home and squatted 

10 X 45

16 X 75

8 x 100

5 X 110

3 X 115

1 X 120

Also I did leg extensions and leg curls. So it was another three-workout day. Thank you, Jesus.

Oh Shut Up!

Tuesday continued the success of Monday. Yes, I can hear some of my former professors saying that a day cannot be successful. You can be successful, you can have success on a day, but . . . Oh shut up! Tuesday enjoyed herself. She had fun. She worked hard. She was successful.

She started with me having a good practice in the pool. I swam

 1,200 28:30

 8 X 400

   1 - 8:18 first 100 fast

   2 - 8:19 second 100 fast

   3 - 8:16 third 100 fast

   4 - 8:19 fourth 100 fast

   5 - 8:17 first and last 50 fast

   6 - 8:07 medium paddles

   7 - 8:08 first and last 100 fast

   8 - 8:02 small paddles

 200 easy

 total: 4,600 long course meters.

I shuffled 4.37 miles as Tuesday continued to be good to me. She was hot but not killer hot. Then I went to the gym and did pulls. Plate City is the bomb. On the chest supported, I pulled

 20 X  37.5

 11 X 625

 10 X 65

   9 X 67.5

I added to that a set of one-armed rows at 70 pounds, four reps. Then there were chins and the Swim Pull, and shrugs. That is good training right there. Thank you Je

Plate City Extended

Here is a quick video of the latest upgrades at Plate City Gym. Enjoy.

Good Start

Monday was a bit different this week. It was lightening when I woke up so I ditched the idea of going to the outdoor pool. Instead, I lounged, drank coffee, studied, and just generally took it easy. After lunch I went to the little pool. I wish I could list my practice, but I accidently cleared my watch. I went on YouTube to try to find out how to access History. I did find out how to get to History, but I was not able to view Laps. I know I started with a long warmup of 2,500 yards. Then I swam 1,800 for time. This is where I grieve because I don't have the time. I do know that it was under thirty minutes. I swam a total of 6,050 yards, which was a pretty good start to the week.

Despite wasting a lot of time, I went out for a shuffle before lunch, going 3.11 miles. I did the swim around 4:00, and then went to Plate City with little rest between the two. On the bench, I pressed

10 X 45

  5 X 65

 3 X 100

 2 X 120

 1 X 140

 2 X 140

 3 X 140

 4 X 140

 5 X 140

In addition to that, I did a set of incline bench presses, two set of log presses, fourteen sets of lateral raises, and three sets on the seated dip. This is my new machine, the seated dip, and I hope and believe that a few weeks of this will make a difference for me in the water. It allows me to do a lot of extra volume for the triceps. I don't like the triceps pushdown because it causes me elbow pain. This move utilizes a neutral grip which is easy on the joint.

Thank you, Jesus, for a solid day of training.

7/5 - 7/11

For the second week in the last three, my running fell off a cliff. I am not sure why? Yes I am. Laziness. Sometimes I just do not want to push it that hard. I did, however, have a banner week in the water. That is the priority now and for the next almost year: swimming, long, fast, strokes, starts, turns, dryland, all of it.

Monday, I did a straight swim in the outdoor pool of 5,300 meters. That is a good way to start a week for some big numbers in the water. I did not run. I did not lift. I let relaxation take over for the rest of the day.

Tuesday, I swam again, focusing on the 50s. I wound up with 4,300 meters. Again, I did not run, but I did lift, and I hit it hard. Wednesday I finally got back to all three. I swam 4,200 meters with some quality sets. I lifted pretty thoroughly at Plate City doing upper body pull movements, and I ran. The run was only 2.13 miles, but I ran.

Thursday I swam another 4,200 with a main set of 4 X 200. In a long course pool, a fast 200 is about twenty five times harder than it is in a short course pool. Really, it is. I lifted legs at the gym and shuffled 2.16 miles.

Friday was another one of those days when I did not train much. I swam a short 2,200 meters. The accumulated fatigue was hitting me pretty hard so I dialed things back a bit. Saturday, I slept in and then went to the little pool. There I only swam 2,350 yards, but I did a 200 for time and swam 2:52. I won the state Senior Olympics at 2:50. Swimming alone in the little pool meant I had to start and stop my watch (worth a minimum of two seconds), push off from the wall instead of a dive start (worth another two seconds), and race myself (worth ten or more seconds). Without wading through my training diary from 2019, I think that is the fastest I have ever swum the 200 alone.

Not only did I have a quick swim, but I received a package from Titan Fitness, and our daughter and grandchildren were in town. They came by and Zane helped me put together the seated dip machine. After we got it set up, we tested it. He loved it and did set after set. I worked out and taught him a few things about lifting. He had such a good time that his mom texted after they left that he wanted to come back soon and spend the weekend with us.

Later that afternoon, I went out for only my third run of the week. I left the house a little after 8:00 p.m. It got dark on me, and I did something I never do in town: I took my shirt off. My upper body was wet, the sun was down, and a light breeze blew. It was unbelievably cool as I shuffled along in the dark. I went 7.43 miles in a near record slow, but I loved it.

For the week, I

swam 22,347 meters,

lifted weights five times, and

ran 11.72 miles.

That made my fifth straight 20,000 meter swim week and my biggest of 2021. I hope to beat that this week before tapering for the Heart O' Dixie. This year I am only swimming as part of a team. My cousin, Shay, signed us up. We are going with the purpose of kicking butt and eating candy bars, and I am all out of candy bars. 

Thank you Jesus.

John's record this week is:

   Monday - no show

   Tuesday - on time

   Wednesday - no show

   Thursday - 27 minutes late

I am ahead of myself. Today's blog is only about Wednesday. I showed up and slogged through a tough swim practice. Actually, the practice was not so tough. I just did not feel like swimming. That happens sometimes. When you are alone, those days are really difficult. I swam 

   100 picked up money

   1,000 

   5 X 100 @ 2:25

   500 small paddles

   12 X 100 @ 2:30 medium paddles (I was just trying to get some distance in at     this point. The quality was not there.)

   2 X 50 easy

   7 X 100 @ 2:45 (slow and lazy)

   2 X 50 easy

   total: 4,200 meters.

After lunch I did a shuffle, my first of the week. Yeah, it has been like that. I went 2.13 miles at a pace many can walk at.

Later, at Plate City, I did my first pull workout of the week. I went light to keep with my wimpy training. At least I was doing something. Thank you, Jesus, for that.

On Time?

John was on time. That is after missing Monday altogether. I guess he felt guilty. Naw, he doesn't do guilt. I swam

  1,200 27:56

  8 X 50

  400 large paddles 7:45

  4 X 50

  500 medium paddles 9:52

  4 X 50

  600 small paddles 12:29

  8 X 100 various paddles

  total: 4,300 meters.

That makes two pretty good days in the water, volume wise. On the road? I did not do it. Huh? Yeah, I was busy and tired. We are still trying to finish moving. I went to Monroe and made two loads. Then I did some work on Plate City. Yes, I am still improving the new and improved Plate City Gym.

After resting, hydrating, and cooling off, I was back at the gym for some real work. On the bench press, I did

  10 X 45

  5 X 65

  3 X 100

  2 X 120

  1 X 135

  2 X 135

  3 X 135

  4 X 135

  5 X 135

Besides that, I did a ton of shoulder work and other assistance stuff.

It was a full day. I was tired when I went in and got my shower. CC wanted to hang out. She is sweet like that. Thank you, Jesus, for affectionate cats. They are such a blessing.

Sheriff Pee Wee Is Back on the Job

Monday was a wild day. First, we woke up to find our backyard sheriff gone. The fireworks and gunfire sent him off I suppose to look for a place to feel safe. Despite our eight-foot fence and padlocked gates, the little turd found a way out. I spent the day driving around looking, calling, praying. I drove 145 miles around town, north of town, anywhere I could conceive of him being. He was posted on Facebook and and his picture shared numerous times. When Penny and I drove back into town after a foray out Money Road, my phone rang. The number was identified as being from Massachusetts. It is a small miracle that I answered because I was sure it was about my extended warranty.

"Zane Hodge?" the voice on the other end asked.

"Yes."

"I think I have your dog."

Holy moly. She did. The little turd jumped into her car, a friend of Forrest's, when she stopped to call him. She had seen the Facebook pleas for help, thought it might be him and stopped her car and opened her driver's door. That is all you have to do, open a car door and he is your friend. Boy were we happy. 

Needless to say, that was not good for training. All I did was go to the pool after kid hours. I just swam, my usual default when I am tired or distracted or something. I went for a minute over two hours covering 5,300 meters. That was a good start to the week water wise. The rest was all nothing. But thank God our little buddy is home.

21/22

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about a 20/20 week. What's that? A 20/20 week is a training cycle where I swim 20,000 meters and run 20 miles in the same week.  Back in the day, that was my gold standard for total-body aerobic fitness. Now that I am Zane the aged, it is a more difficult goal. I hit it much more infrequently than when I wore a younger man's running shoes. Last week, however, I one upped the 20/20 with a 21/22. Yeah, it was a Randy Beets shaming, world beating round of training. It went like this.

Monday I started things off right with 4,500 meters in the big pool. I added to that a 3.23 mile run and a few tons of weights lifted at the gym. Tuesday I swam another 4,500 meters, lifted a bunch more weight, and shuffled 3.57 miles. I wondered what Randy was doing. Probably eating pizza.

Wednesday the fatigue was catching up with me. The swim was only 4,100 meters, the roadwork slipped to 3.4, and the weight training was only some light leg work. But I was still in the hunt for a big one, a big week, a trophy on the wall, so to speak.

Thursday I swam 4,200. The weight training was solid, and although the shuffling was only 3.37 miles, I had an ace up my sleeve. Friday I swam in the little pool for a mere 1,650 yards. The run was only 2.06 miles, and the weight lifting never happened. But a check of my sleeve revealed that the ace was still there.

Saturday morning found me back in the little pool. This time I hit it for 3,050 yards bringing my week's total to 21,595 meters. That was my biggest total of the year. I lifted a lot, but I did not run. I waited patiently to play my ace.

My ace? It was a rare Sunday run. I know that running on the Lord's day is a staple for a lot of people. For me, not so much. It is truly a rest day and I normally nap all afternoon. But this time Sunday and the Fourth of July were on the same day. Our little church closed for the day so I slept in and then ran and walked to Hillbilly Heaven.

Oddly, it was not terribly hot. Since my running fitness has slipped of late, I had to add in a lot of walking to get there. I shuffled 7.3 miles and walked the rest of the 14.2 mile total from the Hideout to the hill top. Then I ate and napped and enjoyed the day doing nothing. In the words of Luke, "Sometimes nothing is a pretty cool hand."

For the week, I

swam - 21,595 meters,

ran - 22.93 miles,

lifted weights - five times,

cycled - none, but I thought about it,

ate - a lot,

napped - some,

hung out with cats - hours.

So there you have it in outline form. This is the kind of training that caused Randy Beets to leave the Mississippi Delta and to and sojourn in a strange land.  Sometimes I even feel sorry for the big guy. But that never lasts long. Thank you Jesus.

The Lonesome Loser

"The Lonesome Loser"

By Jay Unver

(Lehrton, Mississippi) I went to the new Plate City Gym to check in with Big ASS superstar Zane Hodge. We sat, we talked, we drank coffee. I thought it would be worth sharing with Big ASS fans the gist of our conversation.

Unver: So what is new with you?

Hodge: Not much. Since I set all those world records in the Great Geezer Run, I have been trying unsuccessfully to flush Randy Beets from his hiding place.

Unver: What has Beets been doing?

Hodge: From what I can tell, he is just hiding. It looks like I have beaten him so much that he has given up. I can't get a rise out of him. He is Missing in Action. I even fear that Big ASS with cut him for noncompetition. 

Unver: Do you have any more victories planned.

Hodge: The Heart O' Dixie is coming up. Since it was cancelled last year, I am sort of eager to get back that and recapture my Big ASS triathlon title. I have also been busy setting Association of Sports Strongmen world records almost weekly. Yesterday I set a new world's best in the High Rack Pull with 280 pounds.

Unver: Wow, 280. What is Beets' best?

Hodge: Beets? What does a fork weigh?

Unver: Do you have anything to say to Randy?

Hodge: I was hoping you'd ask.

Hodge then hit a button on his gym stereo. The Little River Band came on. Lonesome Loser began to play. Hodge picked up and five pound dumbbell as a make-believe microphone and began to sing

         Have you heard about the lonesome loser?

         Beaten by that Zane Hodge every time

         Have you heard about the lonesome loser?

         He keeps losing and he just keeps on cryin' 

Breakfast on the Hill

Danny Collins and I did breakfast at Acy's. We do that from time to time just to catch up, to keep up an old friendship. I had told him that I would pick him up at 7:29, but when I drove up and saw that his wife's car was gone, I feared he would be late without her there to wake him and see that he got ready. I, however, underestimated him. He was on time and we pulled out of his drive at 7:29. 

If you have never had breakfast at Acy's, drive however far it is and do it. Anita, if you and Tim have never eaten there, drive the 1,700 miles and eat breakfast. Drive back home, then drive back the next day for lunch. I am not kidding. They do the best short order cooking in the area, in any area that I have been in. Their Po Boy is the best around here, better than the Crystal Grill's. Don't believe it? Give it a try. Eat one at Crystal and then go to Acy's with a full stomach and eat theirs. You will see, taste, and feel the difference. And their hamburgers. Do it if you want to gain some weight.

Breakfast on the hill meant that my morning swim was out. I did do a short run before lunch. After lunch I went to the little pool. I only swam

1,350 23:08

200 back 4:40 

100 large paddles

total: 1,650 yards = 1,508 meters.

That was not much, but it was 1,509 meters more than I did last Friday so I count that as a win. A couple of thousand today and I will hit my fourth straight 20,000 meter week.

I had planned to lift, but I was feeling tired and took a nap instead. Then Penny and I went to Hilltop for supper. We had steaks and they were good, yeah.

Thank you, Jesus, for a good day.

New Info on the Pool and a New Bench Press Program

The water was a little more forgiving to me Thursday. I swam

3,200 1:12:33

4 X 100 @ 2:25

2 X 50

200 medium paddles

100 large paddles

brick kick (25 yards)

total: 4,200 long course meters.

Two things. One, I wrote long course meters. Wednesday I confirmed a long held suspicion I had about the outdoor pool. Although I will continue to refer to it as such, it is not a meters pool. Tucked away in my memory from forty or more years ago is the information that the pool was 55 yards. That equals 50.29 meters. I took a wheel in and measured the thing. It came out with 165 feet and 10 inches. The ten inches I think came from a less than straight line. So it was true, it is a yards pool, the yards equivalent at the time of construction to 50 meters.

Two, I was able to do a little bit of quality in the four 100s and the two 50s. Like Wednesday, I did not feel like swimming, but the long warmup worked its magic and got me in the mood for a bit of lung busting. Just a bit, but a bit is better than no bit.

I ran out the gravel road which has been my habit lately. I am trying to avoid being seen on the streets. I am a bit embarrassed by my slow pace and would rather run where people cannot laugh at me. I know, I know, I have nothing to be ashamed of, at least I am out there trying. But I still feel that way.

At Plate City, I did some rearranging in anticipation of a new piece of equipment I ordered. The new machine is part of my program to get ready for the nationals I hope to do next spring. I also started a new bench press program that I picked up from Steve Shaw on YouTube. This program sounded intriguing to me so I thought I would give it a go. It has a heavy day where you bench a seven rep max weight for five sets. Set one is for one rep. Set two is for two reps. Set three is for three reps. Set four is for four reps. Set five is for as many reps as possible. When you can do five reps on set five, you increase the weight at the next heavy day.

The light day is done with a twenty rep max weight and involves four sets. Set one is done for five reps. Sets two and three are for ten reps each. Set four is as many reps as possible. When you make twenty reps on the fourth set, you increase the weight.

I used a one rep calculator to set my weights and started with the light day at 100 pounds since I had already benched once this week. Although it hurt like heck, I made the twenty reps on the fourth set so I will go up five pounds next week. Monday I will do the heavy day and Thursday the light day.

Thus I had a good day, a solid one. Thank you, Jesus.

John Is MIA, the Water Was Cruel, but Mississippi State Is the National Champion

He didn't even show up. John. And no, he did not call. He never does. Yet when I tell him today that I will not be there tomorrow, he will be aggravated at best.  

Besides that, I did not have a strong day in the pool. It was one of those where I was just trying to get the distance in anyway I could. To start with, I only swam 1,200 as a warmup. That was a sign that I was not feeling it. My overall energy level was down and my swimming muscles had no zip. After the warmup, I swam some 100s with Vicki Jee. I met her at the little pool a few months back, and she went to Biloxi for the senior Olympics. She was not feeling it either, but working together helped me a some. I would give her a head start, then I had something to chase. We did six and she tapped out. That left me alone trying to get to 4,000 while not even wanting to be there. I slogged on and swam

500 large paddles

400 medium paddles

400 small paddles

6 X 50

100 large paddles

200 small paddles

total: 4,100 long course meters.

Well, I got the distance in, but there was little quality. Sometimes that happens. Maybe today I can pull off some speed work. To swim fast one has to swim fast.

The roadwork was not much better. My recent running slump has lasted long enough to affect my fitness. I went down on the river trail. It is still a bit messy but better than last week. The eastern end is runnable, but there is water standing on the western half. I did 3.4 miles at a walking pace.

I found someone to work on my mower and delivered the thing to him at 5:00. Then I went back home for leg day at Plate City. I did not hit it too hard, but am rebuilding the squat after letting of the workload for a while.

When that was finished, I took a shower and some nutrition then settled in for some baseball. Mississippi State was playing Vanderbilt for the national championship. State had never won a team national championship in any sport. The game started right and got better. State won 9 - 0, and I am not ashamed to say I cried. I just did typing that. I did not pray for them to win. I prayed for them to play a good game. They did and that was enough for a dominating victory. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you so much.