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July 6, 2008
Camp Conclusion
Yesterday was another great day of training. Starting at the pool with Chris and Liz's masters team.
I've really only been to my masters swim practices which are pretty laid back. We don't swim too long and there is a wide variety of abilities from the really fast to the pretty slow. I fit right in the middle somewhere.
Not so with Elizabeth's team. I think everyone is a national champion! They swim long and EVERYONE swims fast. So when Liz says she can't keep up with her masters teammates it's only because they are the Real Deal. I told her she needs to come to Pittsburgh where she'd be kicking everyone's butts!
Regardless, Liz took me under her wing and joined me in a lane with a man named Fritz. I liked Fritz. He was a cool guy.
At the pool where we swam there was a huge white board mounted on the wall that the masters coach wrote the workout on. One piece at a time. I would have liked to see him try and write the whole workout all at once. He would have needed a much larger board!
But first the warmup. Not too bad. And then a few sets of 50s to get us going. And then the main set. I immediately got scared. It was all stroke and IM! But luckily Liz noticed the fear in my eyes and said I could stick with all free.
At first I felt kind of bad - it's not fair for me to do all free while everyone else is toiling away with breast, back and fly. But then I quickly got over it. Mostly because I STILL had trouble keeping up with everyone! And the intervals were by no means cushy even when I was doing all free! And let me just say, it's not as if I was having a bad day and swimming slowly - no, no, these people are just FAST!
As we were just finishing up the main set I noticed the coach erasing the white board and writing another whole main set. Hmmm...main set #2? Okay then! This set had more stroke and IM but luckily also a good amount of free. But again, no time spent standing around at the wall. Fritz was always pushing off the wall for more!
Of course by this point we had already swam >4000 yds so I figured that was the end. But wouldn't you know that dang white board was being erased again and ANOTHER main set was about to start? When the coach was explaining it my brain wasn't processing. Did he say more 400s and more fly? How could this possibly be? But he was serious. Luckily Liz had swam her quota for the day and set off on a cooldown, as did I. When all was said and done, we had a good 90 minutes of pool time. And then it was hot tub time. I'm going to be severely disappointed when I get back to my YMCA and there is no hot tub waiting at the end of my swim workouts. :)
Next up was our ride. Chris and Liz drove us up to a beautiful area to ride - much more like where I live, out in the country. But much flatter. And a lot more corn. :) There was an hour loop to do and Liz rode it with us showing us where to turn. It was awesome. Beatuiful roads and beautiful countryside. Definitely what one pictures when they think of the midwest. After the first hour Liz went off to do some harder riding while Ness and I started our 2nd loop. And then our 3rd and then our 4th. We rode just a little over 4 hours and got in over 77 miles! And it was an amazing ride. One of the best 4 hour rides I've ever had. The weather could not have been more perfect (sunny, in the high 70s/low 80s, no humidity and very little wind), I had great company, there was no traffic and the scenary was beautiful. We rode past farms and fields of corn and soybeans and cows and horses.
And Ness was so kind to ride with me the whole way. I don't think 4 hours was her original plan but she was great company. We sometimes talked and laughed and sometimes just rode together in silence.
And that was our day! We drove home, stopped for snacks, and then ordered a Chicago deep dish pizza for dinner. OH MY! O would have been jealous. It was so good and so filling. Now THAT is my kind of pizza!
So now I am sitting in the airport waiting for my flight back home. I was thinking back on the week and all that I learned. I truly can't begin to thank Elizabeth and Chris enough for having us to visit. They fed us, housed us, kept us clean and provided for great training opportunities! Not an easy task! And all for nothing in return! It was definitely a lot to ask but they graciously and selflessly provided. I hope they had as much fun as I did.
I learned so much. I very, very much enjoy spending so much time with such awesome athletes who are so dedicated in their pursuits of excellence. It's a different breed of person than the usual and that was readily evident from the get go. I tried to pick their brains - all of them - Elizabeth and Chris and Ness and Jen, to learn and see their perspective on our sport. And I came away with different ideas and some different experiences.
And let's not forget the fact that it was just fun. Boss? Yeah - he could entertain all day. Ness? Could make me laugh for hours on end. I had a blast and created many great memories.
But now it's back to Pittsburgh. I really miss O and Roxy so it will be great to see them again! I'll get home this afternoon in time for some running and riding and laundry and then it will be back to the daily grind tomorrow.
Thanks for a wonderful, wonderful week in Chicago Elizabeth and Chris! Your generosity has meant the world to me. Now it's time to put my new found knowledge to use.
Posted by beth at July 6, 2008 8:28 AM
Comments
BETH! SO glad you had a great time out here and Elizabeth/Chris took such great care of you! See...the training isn't too bad, eh? And, I live up near Marengo where you were riding, so much better riding than where Elizabeth lives. And, the Masters swim team - yep, best in the state. So, sounds like you got it ALL and even some great Chicago deep dish pizza (lOVE IT!) even tho Elizabeth was eating bean sprouts!!! :) Hee hee! Jen
Posted by: Jen Harrison at July 6, 2008 4:06 PM
What an awesome trip, Beth. I cannot imagine swimming with such swimmers! Fly, what's that? Sounds wonderful.. I want to go to Camp Waterstraat next year :) Have a great trip home!
Posted by: rachel at July 6, 2008 4:59 PM
GREAT trip Beth! Sounds like a load of fun! I hear you can out drink ANYONE with the D. Pepsi! Too funny! Do you fill your water bottles with it too??
Posted by: breewee at July 6, 2008 6:42 PM
It sounds like a fun camp with great training. You gotta try out some of the IM one of these days--it is actually quite fun and a great workout!
Posted by: maija at July 6, 2008 6:58 PM