13 Random Notes on the Olympics

I want this look! Credit: Nike

I'm not going to lie: It's definitely turning into Olympics central around here. It might not seem like it 100 percent of the time on Fit-Ink--because I can't keep up with all the action of training, working, recovering, event-attending, and Olympics-watching--but it's obvious offline. Two TVs running during primetime, recording coverage especially when I have to leave for a swim or run, live streaming on the swimming because I simply can't wait seven or eight hours to watch the tape delay, and engaging in random Olympic discussions like the one where a friend thought Ryan Lochte sounded pompous after he won gold in the 400 IM. Basically, I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when the torch is extinguished in two weeks because I can't watch sports 24/7.

Enough about me and my Olympics love that borders more on craziness and obsession rather than adoration. Here's a baker's dozen of random facts, comments and notes--mostly swimming related--that I've noticed in the first three days of London 2012 competition.

1. I'm not shy on my love--and strong following--of the swimming events. And I can assure you that I follow the sport any time it airs on TV, not just during the Olympic years. You can learn a lot about your own stroke mechanics by watching these Olympians especially when you look at the underwater views. I know I'll never swim breaststroke like Rebecca Soni--I can barely swim a 100 free that fast and that was when I still had some of my sprinting speed--but the girl whisks through the water. Matt Grevers pushes an amazing amount of water behind him as he powers through the 100 back (Did you see that underwater shot? It was insane). And then watch any freestyler and you'll pick up plenty of tips to make your stroke a little faster and more efficient.

Fit-Pic: Swimming Ironman 70.3 Racine

The swim is easily my favorite part of a triathlon. It might be the shortest part of the race, but it's the one discipline that rarely leaves me disappointed with the results. Just don't count two races in Chicago: one were I hyperventilated for some unknown reason, and last year where a rip current took over most of Lake Michigan and left triathletes swimming upstream. So if there's one portion of today's Ironman 70.3 Racine that I want to remember, it's the swim. That plunge into Lake Michigan to swim 1.2 miles was divine--the coolest, literally and figuratively, part of the day.

Stay tuned for a race report, but I'll be catching up on some sleep and hydration first.

I'm an Anthony Ervin Fan

I think, no, I know, that Anthony Ervin is going to be trending huge in the next 24 hours. And I can admit that I’m part of the problem, much like we've gone crazy over Kara Goucher. I was a fan 12 years ago when Ervin and Gary Hall, Jr. (the swimmer I totally remember my cousin having a crush on—we liked his shadowboxing, among other things) tied for gold in the 50-meter freestyle showdown that had literally been amped up since the Games started because of a little rivalry between the Russian Rocket (Alexandr Popov) and the Boxer (Hall). But I became a bigger fan on Friday when I read that Ervin was racing again and then that escalated to even higher heights after the final was swum tonight.



It’s partially because Ervin is a guy my age who got back into the pool after wanting more out of life than swimming. I didn’t swim even remotely close to the levels of these Trials athletes (I can however boast that I swam against two Trials qualifiers—in 2000 and 2004--in dual meets) but I was always swimming—or studying—and couldn’t ski because it overlapped with the swim season. It’s partially because Ervin is a sprinter—he makes the two events I was a regular in look so easy—which gives me even more reason to cheer like I have for Matt Biondi, Jenny Thompson, Gary Hall and Dara Torres (or just dream that I can swim distance like Janet Evans).

Water-Logged...I'm [Watching] Swimming

We'll be watching swim starts all week. Credit: WhyOhGee

This week is almost like my second Christmas. Nah, make that my third Christmas; the second one comes during the first week of the Olympics. It starts with the opening ceremonies and then I’m glued to the TV every hour the swimming events are on—prelims, finals and all the story clips in between. I’ve annoyed roommates with my antics (just ask any of the friends I lived with in 2000 during the Sydney Games). I’ve filled many a VHS with coverage—and refuse to tape over them. If I’m lucky, I think I could still dig up my tapes from 1992 when I first recorded the swimming races. And I’ve studied many a film, much like a football player would to study his opponents, yet I did it to pick up tips and teach myself better technique.

But prime time coverage for the swimming Olympic Trials? This year is just too good. So what if it's the result of amplifying Michael Phelps to near-God status and beefing up a rivalry between him and Ryan Lochte (I've already been reminded too much tonight)? It sure beats missing the trials because they were televised on tape delay on a random Saturday afternoon, lumped into other sports coverage.

Fit-Pic: Swimming or Surfing?

Whitecaps? Really? I know I live in the Windy City, but sometimes even the best of us know when to stay out of the water. Take today, where the wind is just too much and it's looking more like December than early September (minus the blue sky and sun). Thanks Wind, you spoiled my swim for the day. No way I wanted to slosh around in that for two miles. And apparently, no one wanted to sit on the beach in these less-than-perfect conditions: It was empty too. But that only means there's more room for my beach blanket. Or that I needed to borrow my husband's surf board and ride the waves.

Stock Up on Swim Gear

Between buying a bike and the maintenance fees that then follow, upgrading your running shoes and gear periodically, shopping for swim stuff and a pool membership for when the open water just isn't cutting it, enrolling in the requisite member groups to save on at least a tiny aspect of a race or training plan, and registering for the races, triathlon is an expensive sport. So if you're exhausted spending more and more on your sport, there is an online savior when it comes to the swimming gear. At least if you're searching to stock up on swim suits for beach season, triathlon season, masters season or a combination of all three. If you want the answer, go to swimoutlet.com now and you'll see what I mean.

Swim Outlet has serious values when it comes to swim suits, and not because they're poorly made, discontinued leftovers or no-name brands. You'll find your Speedos and your TYRs and your Nikes, but you might think you're eyes are playing tricks on you when you see the price tags that accompany the Club Swim line. Most of these suits come in under $20, even more of a bargain than the discounted Speedo, TYR and Nike products available. And that's not even touching on the leisure suit and triathlon gear selection.

All I have to ask is, "Where were you when I was younger, Swim Outlet?" I had a lot of swim suits to get me through year-round practices, from the practice suit to the retired-to-drag suit to the swim-meet-only suit. But I know my mom wasn't paying $20-a-pop. Try $50 and up--not good when you need at least one new competition suit and two new practice suits per season because the others in your collection have faded, stretched-out, disintegrated or no longer match the team's selection for the new season.

Let's just say, I replenished my swim collection with a few new numbers thanks to this site. Probably more than I needed in one season now that I'm not swimming day in and day out, but at the time I thought the deals were too good to be true. Apparently I was wrong and that's just how Swim Outlet rolls. 


Photo grabbed from toddandkatie.com.

Neato Speedo

Technical swimsuits have never been known for their fashion-forward-ness, but Speedo is changing that with a recently announced collab with fashion house Comme Des Garcons. I'm totally smitten with the logo-ed version, they've also got a pretty cool tie-dye suit. (So far, I can't find the suits on sale via the U.S. retail site.) Even on this grey, cold day, slipping into one of these suits would almost be enough to make me wanting to go swimming! Posted by Liz

Swimming sucks sometimes

I'm sorry, I know that's a really downer headline. But I'm struggling with my swim workouts. See, I'm not a born swimmer. I didn't do swim team as a kid. I basically have enough of a stroke that I don't drown or totally humiliate my self in the pool (well, that "humiliate myself" part is actually debatable). But, none of none of that explains why swimming sucks sometimes. Why it sucks--right now, in winter, today--is because I haaaaate thinking about getting into the water when it's freezing outside. I imagine myself shivering and cold in the pool. I visualize the crystalline-blue lap lanes and wonder why I put myself through the agony (I know, so tragic!). I dwell on the inevitable aftermath: my hair freezing into icicles on the walk home.

Of course, the hardest part is getting to the gym. Or, rather, actually putting on my suit, goggles and cap instead of tying my running sneakers in the locker room with a "Argh, I don't need to cross-train, I'm going running!" But I do need to cross-train, I think it's the whole reason my running improved over the summer and I'm really worried I'm losing my running mojo because I'm such a wimp about doing my cycling and swimming workouts these days. And the truth is, I always warm up once I get into the pool and the water is never chilly like I fear it will be. And, afterwards, I feel as awesome and as accomplished as I do after a tempo training run (such is the dread and drama I create before both swim and tempo workouts). So swimming, as much as you suck sometimes, I'm trying to commit. Bear with me! Posted by Liz