Progress

Well, this week has been pretty unproductive. But I'm okay with that. Basically, for this week, I've been back in my hometown and had very little I've actually needed to do. Yet somehow I've managed to go swimming once and running a few times. First, it's really hard finding a pool out here because the ones that are around are only open like 2 hours a day for lap swimming. Though I have practiced basics swimming things (backstroke kicking off, diving) which have improved a lot. I've also ran a bit. It's always good too because yesterday, when I went running, I realized I hadn't fueled very well and felt like shit and barely got 2 miles in. One good thing though was that I improved my 200 IM time! I got 3:23. 7 seconds! Only :23 seconds till my summertime goal! I've got some serious swimming to do. Also, I've been reflecting, and I think I want to do less running and focus on my swim goals for the time being. Running is really fun, but I'm more into swimming...like a lot. I literally crave the water like 20 times a day. Also, last night I was talking with a swimmer friend of mine. He gave me a bit of advice when doing timed swims, "leave it all in the pool." I def gotta start pushing myself more in the water. Let's see how this goes. ;)

Plan for the week

Currently listening to: How to be a Heartbreaker by Marina and the Diamonds So this week I start working out again. Sadly, since it's summer semester, my school gym membership has expired. So until I renew it once I get back to school, I can't lift. It's fine though since there's a community pool here and great running places. Basically, my goals for this week are to just get back into the grove of things. . So far I've ran 4 miles twice and last night I did 100 push ups and crunches since the pool is closed on Sunday. Today I'll go swimming and do a 3200 yard IM work out. My two runs were interesting. The first one I did out of sheer boredom, ran 4 miles and had a bomb breeze. It was sunset so that was also a great thing I got to see. My pace was off though, I'm not sure how slow I did since my phone died, but it was slower than what I'd like (8:30 mile pace). Then the next morning I did another 4 miles at 9:06 pace. I have to focus on pushing myself more. Another thing that slows my time down is cross walks. It's a pain! Ugh, I hate them. With all this running, I want to eventually start to increase my distance and run the LA marathon next year. Since the pool was closed, I decided to do some dry land exercises, as said above: 100 push ups, 100 crunches, 100 leg lifts. Of course, it wasn't all at once, I did them in sets of 20 and 30. Then after I watched a 400 IM on youtube and did the strokes with the swimmers. It's almost like I was there at there in the pool doing it. I didn't realize that doing all that was a work out though, by the time I finished the sweat was pouring. It was great. Tonight I shall go to the pool and get back into the groove of things. ALSO, I started reading Michael Phelp's book No Limits. TOTALLY inspirational. Recently, I've been feeling pretty on top of the world with graduation and exercising and all that. I feel like I can achieve anything I want. Goal setting is key and I'm just starting to realize that. I was looking at the California record times for swimmers in the 10 and under division in swimming. If I can reach my summer time goals, I can be swimming that fast by the end of summer! It's kind of sad to aspire to swim at the speed of someone less than half your age, but every race begins with one stroke. I will reach those goals!

3 months in

Here's my progress I've made so far by working out in about 3 months.


March 24th, 2013


April 20th, 2013


May 19th, 2013

I've decided to change my life

Three months ago I started going to the gym intensely (5-6 times a week). I've never been so dedicated in going to the gym before and I'm not sure what changed. My love the gym is always in short bursts and rarely lasts, but I've discovered something I really love doing; I really love swimming. Like a lot. I need my daily fix of swimming literally. Recently, because of graduation, my schedule has been hectic and full of partying. I will start getting back into the grove of things starting in a few days, but I've decided, since I'm getting more serious about my workouts, to make a blog with my progress and other exercise things I've been occupying myself with. So first I'll write little of my background, then I'll write about where I stand as far as swimming and other things I do, then I'll talk about what I hope to accomplish writing this blog.

So I'm a 22 year old college student. I'm just graduating with my B.A. in Linguistics and will be entering grad school this fall. I used to be the fat kid when I was little which I feel can sometimes still carry baggage, but being a 160 pound 6' person, I can no longer call myself the fat kid. I've recently fallen in love with swimming after finishing my Advanced Swimming class at school where we learned all 4 strokes. I now am in the pool at least 5-6 times a week doing 3000 yard workouts. I also run a few times a week doing about 4.5 miles per run. I lift weights too, but not as dedicatedly. I've never been an athletic person; in fact, the most athletic thing I did in high school was marching band which isn't even a sport! Basically, I'm doing things and becoming capable of doing things that I've never done before and it feels great.

Swimming

Current times:

100 IM: 1:28
200 IM: 3:30
100 fly: N/A
200 fly: N/A
100 free: 1:35

I'm not sure why all of a sudden I got interested in swimming, but I did. Now, I consider myself an intermediate swimming and I have a long way to go to improve. I'm not sure where I will end up with swimming, probably just some hobby I do, but goal setting for swimming is kind of a pain. You see, I'm not going to do a swim marathon, so really all I can do is try to swim events faster and faster or build endurance, but hey that's what it'll be.

I like doing work with the butterfly stroke since it's the hardest. I'm also going to start putting more work into backstroke since I'm noticing it's my weakest stroke. Above are my times for different events. For fly I haven't timed myself on a 100 yet since I can barely survive that and the 200, well, same thing. The 200 IM I did about 2 weeks ago and haven't done a time since. The 100 IM is one I consistently at around 1:28-1:35. Ultimately, by the end of the summer, I want to improve a bunch of my times and have amazing endurance.

Goals for end of summer:
100 fly: 1:30
200 fly: 3:00

100 free: 1:00

100 IM: 1:10
200 IM: 3:00
400 IM: be able to do it.

In order to achieve these events, I'm going to be swimming a lot. Also, I will record my times at all my practices so that I can see how I'm improving. Basically, I see myself in the pool maybe twice a day putting in 5000 yard practices until I reach these goals. I think I'll stop once it starts getting too cold to swim probably sometime in the fall. It's in that time that I will take up running.

Running

current times:

mile: 7:05
5k: 24:11

Running is fun and really easy to get into. You see a lot of great places when running and just feel good in general. Currently, I only run maybe once or twice a week with swimming, but I will definitely try to incorporate it more once I get back in the grove. I usually do runs in the morning of about 4-5 miles at about an 8:30-9:30/mile pace. I will definitely have to improve that, but as my friend who was on track said "get in that milage." Ultimately, I want to do the LA marathon, but before that I want to run a 5k in under 20min so once I start training for the 5k, I'll probably slow down on swimming. I have a friend with whom to do the LA marathon with, so we will train together as a support system, but I'll discuss that plan when it comes closer.

Goals:

mile: 6:00
5k: 20:00


There you have it. My current status on running and swimming. As I said, I do weight lifting too, but just the machines about 3-4 times a week, but I just do them without any goals in mind. Ultimately, I want to have a super sexy swimmer's body, but hey one thing at a time. I've also been eating a lot! It's kind of great. With this blog, I want to just keep track of my progress in the pool and on the street as well as do some sweet before and after pictures. If any of you readers have tips for improving my running or swimming or health in general, please just let me know.

-Eric Borja