One of the great joys of being a member of the Walnut Creek Masters swim team is participating in the annual Thanksgiving Day practice.
It is the gathering of our swimming tribe before the gathering of family, where team members of all ages and abilities from five different daily practice times, come together to share a workout.
It is a swimming feast before the big Thanksgiving meal, where those sharing a lane select their practice from a menu of choices – Shall we do the light meat or dark meat set? Succotash or yams? Pumpkin pie or pie with “whuppin”cream? And after all that, the meal that follows, along with that second helping, come guilt free – But until then, there is a great deal of talk during workout about just how amazing that second meal is going to taste.
It is a time to be Thankful. Grateful for the good health to live the swimmer’s life, appreciative of our extended swimming family, and privileged to have known for almost 35 years the great spirit that brings it all together: Walnut Creek Masters Head Coach – Kerry O’brien. He is truly the best at what he does.
“Whether it be a Thanksgiving meal or a Thanksgiving practice, the concept is the same: Surround yourself with good people that matter to you, and live into your thankfulness.” – Kerry O’Brien
Despite the 33 degree start time temperature, over 120 masters, ranging in age from 18 to 76, came out to join the celebration this morning. A special shout out to the young purple cow home from college for the first time — Your dad is so thankful that this is a tradition that the two of you can still share together. Happy Thanksgiving all!
A copy of the practice menu follows.
| A PRACTICE TO FEAST ON! | ||||
| WARM UP: S-300 K-200 P-200 | ||||
| *** IF YOU ARE COUNTING CALORIES (YARDS), TAKE SMALLER SERVINGS TO SAVE ROOM FOR PIE! | ||||
| SET 1: PICK YOUR VEGGIE | ||||
| SUCCOTASH (A MIXTURE OF STROKES) | or | YAMS | ||
| SWIM 10 X ( 25 – 25 – 50 ) | SWIM 8 X ( 75 + 50 ) | |||
| – ALL ON MODERTAE INTERVALS | – ALL FREE | |||
| – 25’s ARE OF DIFFERENT NON-FREE | – 75’s @ +5 INTERVAL | |||
| STROKES | – 50’s @ +10 INTERVAL | |||
| – 50 IS YOUR CHOICE | – DESCEND LAST THREE 50’s | |||
| (1,000 YARDS) | (1,000 YARDS) | |||
| SET II: CHOOSE YOUR MEAT (3 CHOICES) | ||||
| WHITE | or | DARK | or | THE “TURDUCKEN” |
| SWIM 10 X ( 25 – 50 – 75 ) | SWIM 6 X ( 100 – 100 – 50 ) | (PART TURKEY – PART DUCK – PART CHICKEN) | ||
| – ALL @ ASCENDING AND DESCENDING | – 1st 100 @ FPSO | SWIM 10 X ( 25 – 50 – 75) | ||
| INTERVALS | – 2nd 100 @ FPSO +10 | – ALL @ MODERATE INTERVALS | ||
| – ODD ROUNDS @ EZ – MOD – FAST INT’s. | – 50 IS EZ @ EZ INTERVAL | – WITHIN EACH ROUND, EACH DISTANCE IS A | ||
| – EVEN ROUNDS @ FAST – MOD – EZ INT’s | ***1st 3 ROUNDS, DESCEND | DIFFERENT STROKE | ||
| 100’s @ FPSO | 100’s @ FPSO | – YOU MAY CHANGE STROKES FROM ROUND | ||
| *** LAST 3 ROUNDS, DESCEND | *** LAST 3 ROUNDS, DESCEND | TO ROUND | ||
| 100’s @ +10 INT. | 100’s @ +10 INT. | – 25’s ARE ALWAYS SPRINTS | ||
| (1,500 YARDS) (1,500 YARDS) | (1,500 YARDS) | (1,500 YARDS) | ||
| SET III: THE STUFFING | ||||
| 25 – DOLPHIN KICK UNDER H2O ON YOUR BACK, THEN KICK ON BACK YOUR CHOICE | ||||
| 50 – 50 DRILL/SWIM: YOUR CHOICE OF STROKES | ||||
| *** REPEAT 8X | ||||
| (600 YARDS) | ||||
| SET IV: DESSERT | ||||
| PUMPKIN PIE | or | PUMPKIN PIE WITH “WHUPPIN CREAM”: | ||
| 24 x 25: 3 @ FAST INT. / 2 @ MOD. /1 @ EZ | 24 x 25: 3 @ FAST INT. / 2 @ MOD. /1 @ EZ | |||
| ANY 12 ARE BUTTERFLY OR HYPOXIC FREE | ||||
| TOTAL: 4,200 YARDS |
Looking good Dean!
Paul Peterson….Andover HS
HC Great Waves Aquatics
Kerry, sorry to have missed this tradition. Always look forward to it. I did get a Wed swim in SoCal. Greatly appreciate the time and dedication you and the staff give and especially on Thanksgiving!
Ron Johnson
Thanks to coaches – was a great way to start the day! Nice writing, Dean. Miss you leading the lane, Ken.
So blessed to have Walnut Creek Masters and the awesomely creative and gifted Kerry O’Brien in my life! You make suffering fun!
A great start to a great day. Love the tradition of the Thanksgiving day work out and the creativity Kerry O’Brien puts into the sets. Thanks to Kerry and Steve for coaching us on Thanksgiving and thanks to great lanemates!
I’m grateful to be a part of this amazing group of swimmers. Thanksgiving AM is always a treat. Thank you Kerry and Steve for coaching such a nice kick a** workout.
I love gathering with my swimming tribe to hit the water. WCM is full of amazing people that I love and am grateful to have in my life. Thank you Kerry and Steve for being on the deck coaching that whupp a** workout. Thank you Dean, it’s always a joy to be your lane mate.
I love this team so much. I’ve made some best friends for life here. I appreciate how the coaches always lift my spirits, whether through kick*** workouts, encouraging words, excellent stroke tips, or good plain humor that gets me every time. Thanks WCM!!