We did it! The East T-birds came and swam! The boys team dominated the relays, winning all three. We only had one individual boys state title, Lars' 100 Breast, but with Aaron's great sprint Free swims, Andrew's 50 Free, Dan's 100 Fly, and Charles' 200 Free, not to mention Lars'200 IM and Brandon's diving, we did just fine. We beat the 2nd place team by over 30 points.
On the girls side, Meghan dominated the 200 Free and 100 Fly with state records swims. It was quite a relief and well deserved. Renee places 2nd in the diving and Kelly placed 2nd in the 100 Back and scored in the 200 IM.
In the end I have to say it was all worth it. While it was going on it was consuming. I could feel it over me for 3 months. Now time seems lighter. I don't know how to describe it.
Time to move on to club swimming. Go NLSC!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Back to the Lights!
With High School swimming ending it is time to get back to real swimming. Club swimming is the heart and soul of swimming in the USA and Alaska. Without club swimming there would be no fast swimming at all.
Things are looking good for our club. The Palmer branch has finally started to grow to the point that it pays for itself. It is also getting quite fast. We are going to be sending 5-6 Palmer kids to Fairbanks for AG champs next month. I am excited to see things coming along out there.
In Anchorage things are better now that Service Pool is going to be open. We are experiencing an influx of kids. Most of them have not been on a club before and are coming from the South High swimming program. A few are coming from another club team. It is hard because we are not trying to "take" these swimmers from the other club, but they seem to gravitate our way.
I am happy to have them, but it does mean having to watch our backs. Like I said we have not been recruiting, but it may seem as though we are. We are going to make sure we do everything correctly so there can be no accusations. It does seem as though we will be tough to beat.
I don't think that the kids would be joining our club if Ben and I were not so good at what we do. I think that we are approachable, likable, and knowledgeable about coaching fast swimmers. Each of us works off of a combination of intuition, science, and experience. Given that we both have a little different style, we appeal to a wide base of swimmers. That is good for business.
So onward to the AK AG Champs, Great Alaska Open, Sectionals, AG Sectionals, and JO's. Go NLSC!
Things are looking good for our club. The Palmer branch has finally started to grow to the point that it pays for itself. It is also getting quite fast. We are going to be sending 5-6 Palmer kids to Fairbanks for AG champs next month. I am excited to see things coming along out there.
In Anchorage things are better now that Service Pool is going to be open. We are experiencing an influx of kids. Most of them have not been on a club before and are coming from the South High swimming program. A few are coming from another club team. It is hard because we are not trying to "take" these swimmers from the other club, but they seem to gravitate our way.
I am happy to have them, but it does mean having to watch our backs. Like I said we have not been recruiting, but it may seem as though we are. We are going to make sure we do everything correctly so there can be no accusations. It does seem as though we will be tough to beat.
I don't think that the kids would be joining our club if Ben and I were not so good at what we do. I think that we are approachable, likable, and knowledgeable about coaching fast swimmers. Each of us works off of a combination of intuition, science, and experience. Given that we both have a little different style, we appeal to a wide base of swimmers. That is good for business.
So onward to the AK AG Champs, Great Alaska Open, Sectionals, AG Sectionals, and JO's. Go NLSC!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Whats the Word?...
Thunderbird!
I have been coaching the East High Thunderbirds now since August 6th. We have a strong, albeit small, group of boys and girls. I think we have a real shot at a State Championship on the boys side. The girls are strong, but Juneau has a large and dominating group that would be difficult to overcome.
I have been holding back with the stronger line-ups in an effort to keep my cards close to my chest. For the boys, our strength is the relay. We may score some good individual points, but our relays look strong enough to take two, if not three, titles. The key is our unswum hero. We have one of our strongest swimmers playing starting QB for the school football team. It means that we might not have him until the week before regionals. I think we could win 2 relays without him, but for a shot at 3 we definitely need him.
On the girls side we have some good individuals led by a 6 time individual state champ. If she can win her two events this year she will be only the second person to ever go undefeated in AK High School Swimming. She works very hard and I am quite anxious for her to do well. She really deserves.
I will post some practices next time.
I have been coaching the East High Thunderbirds now since August 6th. We have a strong, albeit small, group of boys and girls. I think we have a real shot at a State Championship on the boys side. The girls are strong, but Juneau has a large and dominating group that would be difficult to overcome.
I have been holding back with the stronger line-ups in an effort to keep my cards close to my chest. For the boys, our strength is the relay. We may score some good individual points, but our relays look strong enough to take two, if not three, titles. The key is our unswum hero. We have one of our strongest swimmers playing starting QB for the school football team. It means that we might not have him until the week before regionals. I think we could win 2 relays without him, but for a shot at 3 we definitely need him.
On the girls side we have some good individuals led by a 6 time individual state champ. If she can win her two events this year she will be only the second person to ever go undefeated in AK High School Swimming. She works very hard and I am quite anxious for her to do well. She really deserves.
I will post some practices next time.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
LC Champ/Sectional review
Last week we had our two "big" summer championship meets. We had 6 kids at Senior Sectionals in Gresham, OR and about 40 at LC Champs.
We had a marginal meet at Sectionals. There were some best times, but not in our biggest events. It was very warm at the meet...deep into the 100's, but I think that was only part of it. I think that we could have done some more yardage to prepare and build up confidence. I also think that we need to be more mentally tough.
Long course champs was a good meet from the perspective that we had some solid swims and I really got to know some of the kids. It always takes a while to build a relationship. It definitely takes work to keep it up. A championship meet really gets the blood going and works those relationships. We did a good job here in Anchorage.
My Silver swimmers had 3 records and an NRT. John set the state record in the 400m IM and achieved an NRT on the way to a state record in the 200m Breast. Jesi broke her sister's record in the 200m Fly.
Now it is time to prepare our kids for Zones and/or High School season. We have 7 kids who made the Alaska Swimming Zone Team. The meet will be at altitude, so we will be using the center mount snorkels with the cardio caps in practice. I have also ordered some special devices to help train their lungs while out of the water too. Hopefully it will make a positive impact.
Just three weeks left until Zones and HS season!
We had a marginal meet at Sectionals. There were some best times, but not in our biggest events. It was very warm at the meet...deep into the 100's, but I think that was only part of it. I think that we could have done some more yardage to prepare and build up confidence. I also think that we need to be more mentally tough.
Long course champs was a good meet from the perspective that we had some solid swims and I really got to know some of the kids. It always takes a while to build a relationship. It definitely takes work to keep it up. A championship meet really gets the blood going and works those relationships. We did a good job here in Anchorage.
My Silver swimmers had 3 records and an NRT. John set the state record in the 400m IM and achieved an NRT on the way to a state record in the 200m Breast. Jesi broke her sister's record in the 200m Fly.
Now it is time to prepare our kids for Zones and/or High School season. We have 7 kids who made the Alaska Swimming Zone Team. The meet will be at altitude, so we will be using the center mount snorkels with the cardio caps in practice. I have also ordered some special devices to help train their lungs while out of the water too. Hopefully it will make a positive impact.
Just three weeks left until Zones and HS season!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Powerline Pass
Powerline Pass is my favorite hike during the summer. It is picturesque with plenty of opportunities to see wildlife.
Yesterday I took JD and Rory for the walk. I have been dog-sitting Rory for a few days and I needed to tire the two of them out a bit. We took the trail out to the lake at the base of the pass. I think the lake is Ptarmigan Lake, but I am unsure.
We saw some small birds, a Cow Moose and her two young calves, and a Bull Moose. I did see some bear scat, but fortunately never saw one. The dogs chased ground squirrels the whole time.
Toward the end of the trip Rory was beat, but JD pushed on playing the entire time.
The Calm Before the Storm
We have been working hard and I am exhausted. I just got up for Saturday practice today, after about 6 hours of sleep. I came home and slept for another 5. I did not realize I was so tired. I wonder how the kids are.
We have two championship meets this weekend. Six of our swimmers are competing at Sectionals. A step down from Jr. Nationals, but a big meet non the less. The rest of the kids (42 of them) are swimming at the Alaska Swimming Long Course Champs with AK Zone Team positions on the line. Last year we had only 26 swimmers at the meet, so this is pretty good considering 6 of our fastest swimmers won't even be in town.
The taper is the best and worst part of the training. Everyone gets anxious. The kids have more energy and the coaches worry more. I feel pretty confidant. I will be glad when this week is over.
We have two championship meets this weekend. Six of our swimmers are competing at Sectionals. A step down from Jr. Nationals, but a big meet non the less. The rest of the kids (42 of them) are swimming at the Alaska Swimming Long Course Champs with AK Zone Team positions on the line. Last year we had only 26 swimmers at the meet, so this is pretty good considering 6 of our fastest swimmers won't even be in town.
The taper is the best and worst part of the training. Everyone gets anxious. The kids have more energy and the coaches worry more. I feel pretty confidant. I will be glad when this week is over.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Non-swimming weekend ahead
Well, I think that the group finished the week strong. We did some new balance exercises during dryland and even got to play a nice game of ultimate in the end. This weekend...no practice and no meets. I am looking forward to that. I am sure the kids are also. Just need to get through practice this afternoon and I will be set.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Fresh ideas, hard core results
I was concerned after the last couple of days of dryland. I felt like the energy was waning a bit. People dragging from the locker rooms to the balcony or outside. Today was better.
Last night I spent some time looking up med ball exercises on the internet. I just needed some fresh ideas. Today we worked mostly our abs. We did some exercises with the med balls:
Last night I spent some time looking up med ball exercises on the internet. I just needed some fresh ideas. Today we worked mostly our abs. We did some exercises with the med balls:
- Balls between knees, reverse crunches
- Balls between knees, oblique rotators
- Ball on chest between (just below chin), crunches
- Seated with feet off ground while leaning back, chest throws
- Both partners with feet of ground while leaning back, chest throws and oblique touches
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Getting tired, working past the hump
I can feel it coming off the kids like a vapor or a stench. Things are getting stagnate and tired. We did our 5km run today and only one person dropped time. Everyone else gained or DNF. I think that I need to change up the dryland routine a bit just to freshen everyone up.
This happens every season. It is part mental and part physical. Of course those two things go hand in hand. Things have to change in order to keep the kids interested and the training effect...well in effect.
I will ponder this and see if I can come up with some new material.
This happens every season. It is part mental and part physical. Of course those two things go hand in hand. Things have to change in order to keep the kids interested and the training effect...well in effect.
I will ponder this and see if I can come up with some new material.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Airedale Photography
I manage to take a lot of pictures of jd. Well here is a cool one and my favorite. It is from the first snow last October. She was in heaven and this was a lucky shot.
I got an Olympus E-330 last fall around the time I took this photo. SLR's are amazing. I love the fast shutter speeds and the depth of field that you are able to get with this type of camera.
The Softer Side of Airedales
The picture is of Rory (left) and jd (right). Don't let the small letters in jd's name fool you...she is a wild one. But only out in the open.See that is what I have come to notice about Airedales. They have boundless energy on the walks and at the dog parks. Get them home though and it is a different story.
It helps that this picture was taken right after a weekend walk with the Airedale Group at the North Bivouac Trail Head in Anchorage. I just wanted to post this peaceful picture of these two great dogs.
Summer Season
As the head coach I have been working with the Gold group primarily as a sniper. We (the NLSC coaches) use sniping to describe our coaching when we are mostly giving technique advice and urging the swimmers to keep going. I am also their dryland coach.
The dryland training for the Gold group is centered around two basic foundations. Providing weight baring exercise, primarily through running, and core strength exercises (med balls, abs, stretchcordz, etc). The dryland is designed to be dynamic. Combinations of various running and core strength exercises are organized into circuits. The swimmers seem to like this high energy form of training. I have been getting excellent effort from them.
Here are some new things that I have tried with this summer's dryland training.
The dryland training for the Gold group is centered around two basic foundations. Providing weight baring exercise, primarily through running, and core strength exercises (med balls, abs, stretchcordz, etc). The dryland is designed to be dynamic. Combinations of various running and core strength exercises are organized into circuits. The swimmers seem to like this high energy form of training. I have been getting excellent effort from them.
Here are some new things that I have tried with this summer's dryland training.
- "The Tenderizer" - A series of abdominal exercises centered around an isometric 6 inch leg lift. I have been building it up from 5 minutes. It is very tough. We usually follow this exercise with a running/through down set.
- 5km run for time. Pretty straight forward. There is a 1.03km cross country loop behind the pool. It is perfect.
- Dryland 100's. These are 1min short course dryland "swims". The med ball version is a series of med ball throws against the wall with a streamline jump every 15sec. The stretchcord version is similar but doing swimmer's pulls or chest flys.
- Wall sits with med balls between the knees. This is good for jumpers knee and challenges the legs of the swimmers who can not run.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Inspiration to Blog
You can blame it on the Sundance channel. Yep. Robert Redford would be pleased. His channel inspired me to get online and blog it up. Well, maybe he will be pleased. I am not sure he and I have that much in common.
This blog is about me and my rather humdrum life. I coach swimming and like to fly fish and hang out with my Airedale. I am a bit of a shutterbug and enjoy taking pictures of the scenery from hikes with JD (thats my dog) and of Alaskan wildlife.
I am not exactly sure the direction this blog will go. Will I just share it with family and friends? That would be safe. They could keep up on the goings on in my life. I could post pictures and letters. My friends and family can do the same.
Will I open it up? A bit more risky to be sure. Sharing my thoughts on politics and such would make me feel good, but it would leave me open for ridicule by ideologues. Can I take that kind of beating? I will sleep on it for now.
In the end the blog is for me. I guess that will do for now.
This blog is about me and my rather humdrum life. I coach swimming and like to fly fish and hang out with my Airedale. I am a bit of a shutterbug and enjoy taking pictures of the scenery from hikes with JD (thats my dog) and of Alaskan wildlife.
I am not exactly sure the direction this blog will go. Will I just share it with family and friends? That would be safe. They could keep up on the goings on in my life. I could post pictures and letters. My friends and family can do the same.
Will I open it up? A bit more risky to be sure. Sharing my thoughts on politics and such would make me feel good, but it would leave me open for ridicule by ideologues. Can I take that kind of beating? I will sleep on it for now.
In the end the blog is for me. I guess that will do for now.
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