Skip to main content

Underwater

As I swam this morning I thought about the phenomenon going on at Gunn High School right now. The fact that four kids in four months have killed themselves by stepping in front of the train (and eight to ten other attempts have been prevented by police!!!) is just mind-blowing. Teen suicide in general is awful and tragic. Teen suicide in clusters - in a trend that seems unstoppable - is scary as Hell. Suicide in clusters where the method is standing in front of a train...I just cannot imagine the level of self-hate and despair and anger? these kids must have been feeling. As a kid who experienced depression but couldn't even play chicken with another bicyclist without getting freaked, I just cannot imagine what it takes to stay on those tracks and let the train roll through. I feel for those kids, and the ones who are left behind.

This morning's pull set was indeed therapeutic for me.

*warmup: 800 free

add pull gear for:

*300, 400, 500, 500, 400, 300, 200
second half of "ramp" faster

remove pull gear for:

3 x 100's descending

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Tell me about yourself...

This is fun. I don't get to swim on Wednesdays so here's some (mostly) non-swimming information about me that I hope you will not use inappropriately against me. It's really fun to answer these questions if only for yourself. Do it. Then post them here because I'd love to know more about all of you! 1.) Q. Can you cook? A. Well, I can read, so I can follow a recipe. Can I make anything without a recipe? Yes: Cinnamon toast. 2.) Q. What was your dream growing up? A. To be happy. 3.) Q. What talent do you wish you had? A. I wish I could sing, big time! 4.) Q. Favorite place? A. California (home) 5.) Q. Favorite vegetable? A. Sweet Potato 6.) Q. What was the last book you read? A. To my kids: The Important Book, to myself: Slow Man 7.) Q. What zodiac sign are you? A. Sagittarius, but I put zero stock in signs 8.) Q. Any tattoo's or piercings? A. Yes, both 9.) Q. Worst habit? A. Never cleaning out my car 10.) Q. If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a...

Butter My Buoy?

I know it's going to be a good day when the morning opens with one of my muscled male teammates (fully clothed of course) opening his parka to me for warmth while listening to the warm up set. (Apparently he hadn't heard about this damning blog yet :). Things just got better (if that's possible) from there. The fact that the main set was done with paddles didn't lessen my excitement when I heard Tim say "Eight 300's." Whooohoooo! Freestyle junkie heaven. Little did I know this uber set would also be a chance for me to improve my swim-cabulary. After the first 300, Emmit (correct my spelling if need be) popped up during the rest period and said, "Okay. Someone buttered my buoy". Fabulous. I don't know if Emmit made this term up or if I've just been unfortunate enough thus far in my career not to hear it, but I love it. I immediately knew exactly what he meant. This whole buoy buttering is exactly why I never, ever, use a buoy. It drives me...