The Alcatraz Swim is not for novices. Swimming, thanks to its low impact and full body exercise, is an ideal way to get in shape, lose weight, and do everything else that Men's Health tells you to do. However, swimming almost always costs money, compared to jogging/walking, so here are some local places you can do it on the cheap (sort of):
1. Silliman Center, Newark: 510- 578-4620, Mowry Blvd @ Cherry St. The nicest public pool complex in the Tri-Cities. Adult fees are $7 drop in, season and multi use passes available. Discounted rates on passes for Newark residents. Indoor, open year round. Check website for lap swim hours.
I have swam several times at this pool, and if you can afford it, it is worth it for lap swimming. They have a hottub, and zero edge gutters. At least one pace clock. Lanes are divided by ability, and everyone knows how to 'circle swim' if it gets too crowded. Also, during lap swim, all the 'water walkers share one lane. The morning lap swim hours are usually the least crowded. The fees do seem to be going up, though.
2. Milpitas Sports Complex: (408) 586-3225. 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas. $5 drop in visit, multi use and monthly passes also available, with discounts for Milpitans.
3. Dan Oden Swim Complex, Union City: 675-5485. 33901 Syracuse Avenue, Union City. Lap swim is $3 per person, but I don't know if the rate is higher for non Union City residents. Multi use pass available.
4. Fremont Aquatic Center, opening this May in Fremont's Central Park, adjacent to Lake Elizabeth. More info to come.
5. 24 hour fitness. The San Leandro 24, located adjacent to the BayFaire Center on Hesperian, has a very nice 25 yard 4 lane indoor pool. I have never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a lane. The pool users seem friendlier and more advanced than Hayward, which is only a 20 yard pool. Locker room is spacious. Unfortunately, like all gyms, etiquette for circle swimming is non existent, everyone splits a lane. In an upcoming post, I will review the following 24 hour locations, where I have often exercised. Here they are ranked in my personal preference for Tri City residents:
1. San Leandro (by far)
2. Newark
3. Fremont-Paseo Padre
4. Hayward
5. Fremont-Irvington
Coming soon: will have some general advice on how to write your own workouts, and how to pace yourself.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim 2009!
For some, it helps to have a challenge for a goal. I have a hard time with a goal defined as simply 'losing ten pounds.' That is what a doctor will always tell you. Ten pounds never seems out of reach when you start. I propose a new term for this, such as 'destination training,' 'target training' 'event training.'
So Amy and I found a new method. Pick a hard event, and train for it. Swimming was the sport that got me through high school and college, and Amy was a lifeguard. I did the Sharkfest swim in 2002, 2003, and 2004. This will be Amy's first time.
The swim is 1.5 miles. The 800 participants ride the Blue and Gold ferry to Alcatraz, and then jump off and swim back. It is a gut check when you stand on the edge of the ferry door, look down at the blue-green (ok, usually green-brown) water of the bay, and jump.
The Alcatraz Swim will be August 15, 2009. For more info, go to www.envirosports.com.
Here's my workout for the past two swimming days:
2/22/09:
1. 1650 swim, laps 50, 55, 60, 65, 66 at 90-100%
2. 10 x 100; (#1,3,7: Pull #2,4,8,10 Descending to 90% #5,6,9 Kick)
3. 6 x 50 @100% Freestyle
On 2/24, after swimming, I hit the Cable Cross machine at the San Leandro 24 Hour Fitness for a tough dry land strength training routine: Single arm alternating lat pulls in a squatted position, standing bicep curls, pull downs with the machine arms at the highest position, squats while holding the cables above shoulders with elbows at 90 degrees, and tricep bends.
So Amy and I found a new method. Pick a hard event, and train for it. Swimming was the sport that got me through high school and college, and Amy was a lifeguard. I did the Sharkfest swim in 2002, 2003, and 2004. This will be Amy's first time.
The swim is 1.5 miles. The 800 participants ride the Blue and Gold ferry to Alcatraz, and then jump off and swim back. It is a gut check when you stand on the edge of the ferry door, look down at the blue-green (ok, usually green-brown) water of the bay, and jump.
The Alcatraz Swim will be August 15, 2009. For more info, go to www.envirosports.com.
Here's my workout for the past two swimming days:
2/22/09:
- 300 S
- 300 K
- 300 P
- 3 x 400; (#1,3: Free; #2: IM)
- 4 x 150; (Odd: Pull Even: Kick)
- 6 x 50 @ 100%!
1. 1650 swim, laps 50, 55, 60, 65, 66 at 90-100%
2. 10 x 100; (#1,3,7: Pull #2,4,8,10 Descending to 90% #5,6,9 Kick)
3. 6 x 50 @100% Freestyle
On 2/24, after swimming, I hit the Cable Cross machine at the San Leandro 24 Hour Fitness for a tough dry land strength training routine: Single arm alternating lat pulls in a squatted position, standing bicep curls, pull downs with the machine arms at the highest position, squats while holding the cables above shoulders with elbows at 90 degrees, and tricep bends.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Welcome
How many times in the Bay Area do you look to the top of Mission Peak, Mount Tamalpais, or Mount Diablo, and think, how do I get up there? Or how many times do you look down at a belly and think, how did that get down there?
This blog will tell you literally how to get up there, when to go, and how to prepare for it. This is a blog for the average person who wants to get in better shape. This is a blog for families who don't have time or money for gyms (which is so many more of us). We have a specific focus on Fremont, Newark, Union City. Men's Health consistently rates Fremont a healthy city, and we want you to discover why.
Follow this blog, and read posts about scenic and low traffic jogging routes, challenging bike rides, goal setting, exercising with dogs, healthy recipes to satisfy unhealthy cravings, all with a specific focus on affordability. Gyms are great, and we will review them here to help you decide if one can work for you, but not everyone has that luxury.
This blog will tell you literally how to get up there, when to go, and how to prepare for it. This is a blog for the average person who wants to get in better shape. This is a blog for families who don't have time or money for gyms (which is so many more of us). We have a specific focus on Fremont, Newark, Union City. Men's Health consistently rates Fremont a healthy city, and we want you to discover why.
Follow this blog, and read posts about scenic and low traffic jogging routes, challenging bike rides, goal setting, exercising with dogs, healthy recipes to satisfy unhealthy cravings, all with a specific focus on affordability. Gyms are great, and we will review them here to help you decide if one can work for you, but not everyone has that luxury.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
