Well, a couple months since my last entry, and I can say with confidence that a good portion of the "Channel weight" is gone. I am actually getting cold in the water again, which is actually a good thing.

While I’ve been in the water teaching four nights a week lately (love the UV pool system that stops me from drying out), I have not been swimming workouts for a while. With three months of not working out, I jumped in for the annual 100×100 on New Year’s day.

I can say that with no training base but decent form, my stroke lasted a while. On a 1:30 interval, I held steady between 1:07 and 1:16 for 65-70 x 100…but then I found my limit. By the end, my stroke count had jumped, but I didn’t do the workout just to do form. it was a way to start the year with my own training theme, and I was pleased that my form had held so long. I was fluid and enjoying my time for the first 2/3 of the workout, but I am not ashamed to admit that I was training a different thing for that last part. Since my failure to make a 50-mile swim in 2007, I’ve been a bit weak-willed, and that was what I was training for the last part. And it has helped me since.

After New Year’s ,I have had to begin really reworking my stroke. i noticed that as I got tired, I was turning my right hand inward on entry, an old habit I battle often. With my missing buoyance from the 35 pounds I’ve dropped already, I have to adjust my balance and front quadrant timing. I also have a stronger core and hip snap, which has made my rotation cleaner and more precise, and cold water swimmers often turn down the leg emphasis for warm blood conservation. I can dump that now.

I am looking forward to two training trips to Florida in February and March for running and swimming. Some of you are joining me already- go look at www.mntrimasters.com if you are not!