Waterblogged

I know that I'm in a better mood (by far) on days that I have swum. And it seems some of you agree with me. Wallace just wrote me that he has decided not to make major decisions on non-swim days because his disposition tends to be negative. I know he was kidding, but you know what? That might not be a bad idea. Yesterday I didn't swim, and in the middle of the day I called my business partner and started trying to punch holes in our plan. Why? At the time I wasn't sure. I just felt negative. Now that Wallace has reminded me of the chlorine effect I am thinking it is because I was swim-frustrated. Just a thought. Take note of your moods swimmers. Are we all so nutso as to have our daily dispositions ruled by whether or not we go back and forth between plastic lane lines before the sun comes up? I think yes. And I think today will be a good day, because this morning: *warmup: 6 x 100's free descending add pull gear for: *400 moderate, 2 x 100's fast *300 moderate, 2 x...

More parenting videos on JuiceBoxJungle Thanks for coming to check out the latest and greatest on the JuiceBoxJungle widget. While you're here I might as well give you my playpen story as well. But before you read it, or heck even instead of reading it, click up above on the widget and check it out. Trust me, it's cool. I loved the playpen and used it with my first child, a semi whirling dervish of a human who could not be contained by anything but the playpen or my very tired arms, in our two story ancient apartment with a winding wood and concrete staircase. Let's just say there was nary a padded area in sight and I needed that monstrous plastic beast to keep my little rosy-cheeked beast from harm. I never used it as a Time Out zone, and the little guy seemed to have fun in it, especially on his first New Year's Eve. Opting for an early "East Coast" ball drop, we invited other six-month-olds (and their parents) over and hung a disco ball over the center of...

I was fully prepared NOT to swim this morning when my husband rustled me at 5:10 and said "Hey you can swim today if you want!" You see, we switch off days and I had swum yesterday, so I mentally prepared to not swim today. I wish I could swim every day, but still, the mental preparation is necessary or at least preferred. Regardless, I jumped out of bed and got going. And I'm glad I did. *warmup: 500 free *4 x 600's changing leaders at different times, and one full lead per swim is non-free: 1. change every 150 2. change every 100 3. change every 75 4. change every 50 *500 done by 25 leader change, as "follow the leader"

If you haven't seen the Almanac article on Menlo Swim and Sport yet, here it is . YAY Tim! Finally, a positive report of the unbelievable epicenter of swim that Tim has created here in Menlo Park. Okay, so years ago the bid to run the place didn't get opened up to the whole world. I'm okay with that, because I know that there is no one in the whole world that could run it like Tim. Every day I thank my lucky stars that the Sheeper family is here in MY town running the most kick ass swim program in any town I've ever visited. When I go away, even to lovely places like Hawaii and Hilton Head Island and Italy, I miss Burgess pool. I want to get back and swim with my Masters Mates, and I even want to shower in the public locker room over the country club spots I am lucky to visit. Why? Because Burgess is ALIVE. It's welcoming, clean (thank you STEVE!!!), friendly, abuzz with swimmers young and old, and because Tim is there to coach us and work us hard so that the shower...

This weekend was the start of soccer season for everyone in my family. W had his first game of the season on Saturday morning, after swim practice was canceled for the first time ever at Burgess (that I know of) due to lightening. B had his first game ever on Saturday afternoon and is proud to report that he scored 10 goals (not hard when the field is 10 yards long). And finally, N and I had our first game of the season yesterday. Thus, my sore muscles. A swim practice never feels as good as the morning after the season's first soccer game, if you ask me and my legs. *warmup: 500 free, 200 back *600 free, 200 back, 600 free all broken to some extent for 5 seconds *2 x 500's done as 25 kick, 50 back, 75 drill, 100 free swim, repeat

Ahhhh, after yesterday's 1,000 yards of butterfly, my arms are a bit tired. And still, loved today's 10 x 300's. Pure and old school...the old school week continues!

More parenting videos on JuiceBoxJungle Exciting launch today of our new "branded engagement" widget. Check it out, and send an ecard! Okay so this week at Burgess is Old School Week. Love it. Today's workout: *warmup: 400 free *8 x 50's free *8 x 25's fly repeat 5 times!

Just FYI I saw this movie last night which was entertaining (I recommend it), and saw a trailer for one that looks unbelievable. Check out the trailer here ... And this morning...good old fashioned pulling *warmup: 4 x 175's with last 50 stroke add paddles for: *300, 50 limited breathing, 4 x 100's on 1:25 *250, 50 limited breathing, 4 x 100's on 1:20 *200, 50 limited breathing, 4 x 100's on 1:15 *5 x 150's on descending interval

So, I've been swimming in a marsh-rimmed pool with concrete lip-sides that dripped with humidity even at 7:30 AM. Generally, I also ran the few miles to the pool, on paths made of asphalt, wound around moss heavy trees and languishing aligators sunning aside lagoons. This picture is one of my toes, propped happily upon a chaise lounge at the only club I'll ever be able to afford joining: my parents' club on Hilton Head Island. I flew there on a whim for a long weekend with NO KIDS, to sit and talk with my mom alone ( here's a post I wrote about the upcoming trip last week), and run and swim with the humidity. It was blissful. And I'm not super ashamed to say I didn't want to come back. But now that I have, Tim and the team and Burgess pool and Borrone afterwards always makes me a little bit glad that I left paradise. Plus, the workout today was damn good. *warmup: 400 free, 200 kick to free, 100 stroke *100 free, breast, breast, free *4 x 25's sprint free R...