Alaska swimming elevation training blog No. 4
January 7, 2013
Jamie Foland
474-6807
The Alaska swim team trekked down to Flagstaff, Ariz., for its annual elevation training trip. This trip will prove to be vital for the success of the Nanooks later this season heading into the PCSC and NCAA Championship meets. The swimmers will provide blog updates every couple days from the Grand Canyon State.
The training trip will last from Dec. 28 until Jan. 12 when the Nanooks will fly to Vancouver to compete in a tri-meet against Simon Fraser and University of Puget Sound in Burnaby, B.C.
Today, in the fourth edition of the team's blog, senior Sarah Meierotto (Fairbanks, Alaska/Biology) talks about the her four trips she has now taken to Flagstaff and the importance for later in the year as well as a way to get away and unwind from a grueling semester. The Nanooks are done with the first week and have one to go before resuming dual meets. Here is her account of the trip:
"The training trip is an essential component of training for spring semester. Our big meets of fall are behind us and now it is time to refocus, repair any damage done by the holidays, and push ourselves through the most challenging training of the year. After we get home from this trip, taper and our conference meet are just around the corner.
Here for my fourth trip to Flagstaff, I know the grueling schedule, sore knees, and
aching muscles will pay off. After altitude and a 50
meter pool for two weeks of nonstop training, swimming in a 25 yard pool at sea level feels like a piece of cake (with double the flip-turns).
But more than just essential for training, this trip is a much needed break for my mind. During the semester I have to keep track of where I have to be and what I need to be doing every minute of the day. Here, it is easy. Swim, free time, swim, free time. I can read, sleep, or watch television and not have to feel guilty about procrastinating because there is nothing else I ought to be doing! Even at home for break there are demands and appointments, while here, we are encouraged to take as many naps as we want. Even better, you get to be with your friends and make memories that will stay with you forever."
You can also follow along with the Nanook swimmers on Facebook and Twitter!
Check out the previous blog postings:
Blog #1 by freshman Eileen Audette
Blog #2 by senior Meghan O'Leary
Blog #3 by sophomore Genevieve Johnson