Tough Targeted Training At Tower 26
Two-time FINA World Masters champion Gerry Rodrigues will start up the Tower 26 open water workouts again on Friday in Santa Monica Beach in Southern California.“The water has warmed a bit (63-64°F)and we are ready to start at 6 am sharp,” announced Gerry.
“These are tough and targeted workouts geared for massive improvements in small surf (1-2 feet) at 14-second intervals with flat, lake-like conditions.”
“This week, we’ll do a moderately intensive workout around a tight two-buoy course as we practice the value of frequent sighting, how to enter the water in flat conditions and positioning. We run several circuits in different groupings, organized by speed.”
We asked Gerry about speed in the open water, something he knows about after winning the 5K open water swims at the FINA World Masters Championship in Indianapolis in 1992 and in Montreal in 1994. “Indianapolis was easy and flat with no wind, 5k. It was in the regatta basin where the world rowing championships were held. It came down to a two-man race after 4K and I kicked it in the final sprint.”
“In Montreal, the M-shaped 5K course was held in 1976 Olympic rowing venue. The conditions were flat and calm. I learned a lot from this race. I thought I could win from the front and took it out hard trying to drop the field. I did establish a 25-meter lead, but then I blew up and saw [International Swimming Hall of Fame honoree] Paul Asmuth, [3-time Olympian] Djan Madruga, and three others go by me. I was dropped by 25 meters, but hung on. As with many races, the pace slowed just a bit with about 500 meters to go as everyone got ready for the final sprint. This allowed me back into the pack. I positioned myself well, then slung-shot up the holes to out-touch Paul at the end. I liked the Montreal venue because the spectators were able to walk along the sides close to us. It was very cool to get cheered along almost all the way.”
Copyright © 2010 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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