The Open Netherlands Masters Swimming Championships LC 2023
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May 3 2023.
In just two days I will start with the 50m Backstroke at the amazing new(ish) Amerena in Amersfoort. After being out of the pool for nearly 3 weeks with a back injury, the last two weeks have been a mix of tough swim sets, dryland training, yoga and healthy eating. Monday was my last taper training and Tuesday my last dryland. Tomorrow an easy swim in the pool to stay in the swim and relax. Then on Friday morning drive to the Amerena. Two starts in the afternoon: the 50m Backstroke and the 200m Individual Medley 😬💪
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I will be posting daily (I hope) updates here and also on the Rwenzori Health Swim Challenge page and my Blog pages at www.journeytokyushu.com
The goal for this weekend is to get at least one more qualifying time for the World Masters and to see some improvement in the times. Watch this space. You can support the challenge and Rita's work in the Rwenzori by donating at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-rwenzori-health-swim-challenge
May 5 2023. Drove down from Bergen to the Amerena Swimming pool in Amersfoort, about an hour fifteen, in time for the warm-up session at 12:00. My swim buddy Jackie came along. She would swim first as the afternoon session started with the Women's 50m Backstroke. Had a good warm-up and I was due to start at 13:20. The usual pre-start nerves soon settled. I had a good start off the wall with a decent underwater phase; but for whatever reason, I just could not get going and could not settle into a rhythm. End product was 1" over my PB for a 50m pool - and I was hoping to do better. So I wasn't looking forward to the 200m Individual Medley which was some 3 hours later.
Last taper and dryland training
The afternoon passed relatively quickly. I spent some time visualising the 200m medley and tried to relax. I was soon under starters orders. The start was ok and the 'fly leg went as expected - not full out but at a reasonable (for me!) tempo. However, again the backstroke just did not click (note to me: more backstroke work!). the breaststroke leg felt better but my legs started tiring at around 30m. I was glad to hit the turn into freestyle trying to focus on technique to see me home. A new PB for the 200m IM for a 50m pool by just 1" (but they all count). So overall pleased with the day. Back at the hotel, met up with some friends for dinner and a relatively early night. Tomorrow the 50m Butterfly and 100m Breaststroke await.
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May 6 2023:
After a healthy breakfast at the Hotel, we headed to the pool. Apparently it was already heaving and parking proved to be an adventure of discovery. Finally inside the pool and changed just in time for the warmup session. First was the 50m butterfly and I was in the first series. Plan was to go flat out for this. Had a great start and u/w phase and after 35m it was going swimmingly. Five meters further and the dreaded lactosis hit! Arms turned to lead and I just about made it. Amazingly a season PB by 0.5” (they all count don’t they?).
Next up was the 100m Breastroke and I felt confident about this. But it was 2 hours later. With 10’ to go I had a good dryland warmup and went to the start block. Again a great start and u/w phase. Also a good turn. And then at 80m the dreaded lactosis hit again. This time I decide to lengthen the strok but I slowed down. The end result was the slowest 100m breastroke. I was pretty disappointed (note to self: more hypoxic training). Reading the club write-up that evening I discover I placed third and another bronze. As they say, “wonders never cease to exist”!
That evening 14 of us went to the Italian (Ristorante San Giorgio) for a bit of pizza and pasta and then an early night. Overall mixed feelings for today: good and not so good swims, a PB
and a bronze. Have to be satisfied.
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May 7 2023:
The 100m Freestyle was on the agenda today. I felt confident of setting a good time and maybe even a QT for Japan. Checked out of the hotel and headed to the Amerena. The women's 400m IM was in full swing. Only one DAW swimmer was competing in this. My start was planned later that afternoon at 14:35; so plenty of time to relax and have a good warm-up. Time passed by quickly mainly through cheering on DAW swim buddies. Went for a warm up about 45' before my start and kept warm. At the start block I felt nervous but OK, and pretty focussed. The swimmer on my inside was 12 years younger and his time was well within the QT. So I decided to swim at my pace but keeping him well in sight for the first 50m and then kick on from there. The start was good and again a great u/w phase (starts haven't been a problem this meet) as I surfaced, I was level with my neighbour. I felt great and kept stroke at a good tempo, at 50m and the turn I was well within my plan and decided to kick on. That proved a mistake - had gone to early. 15m from the end and lactosis set in again. I ended touching just under 2" off a QT.
Pretty disappointed with that; but also that I developed lactosis again in as many starts. That had never happened to me before. So looking for reasons, the only one I can think off is that the 3 weeks off pool with my lower back injury really took their toll. As they say "the mind is willing but the body is weak". I then decided not to swim at the next regionals in two weeks' time but focus on the one on 4th June In Heerenveen. I like that pool and always swim fast times there. It also gives me 4 weeks of focussed training. It is a bit of a risk as that will be my last chance to set another qualifying time for Japan; but i think thatit's the best strategy at the moment.
As for our team, DAW ended the meet with 11 Gold, 12 Silver and 14 Bronze. Pleased to contribute two of the bronzes to the tally. Otherwise our swimmers swam 6 National Records (if I remember correctly). The meet was super well organised with many National, European and even one world record set. The meet attracted swimmers from 13 Countries, 83 Clubs, and a total of 3100 starts. Overall, I am pleased with my swims - onwards and upwards!