marcrandell's blog

Here's a goot tip from USA Swimming.

My tip would have just been "Swim Really Fast."

When I first started writing this blog, 11 months ago, I called it "This is the Journey of a 30 something, ex-college swimmer who has tried to get in shape since graduation.  This time he will do it....We hope."

Well, if you have tried to keep up with the blog you may have noticed the lack of swimming, or any physical activity for that matter, discussed over the past four months.

I bumped into this little Youtube video / commercial today and it brought up some interesting thoughts.  I would love to hear what people think about using Oxygen in a can for performance enhancement...

Is it safe?

Is it ethical?

Should it be classified as a "Performance enhancing drug?"

Does it really help?

What about for kids?

If I knew that you could sell air in a can to help people swim faster, I might have chosen that over swim stroke analysis.  It sounds a lot easier.

Fran Crippen went at life 100%.  In the water and out.  I, like many of you, can not understand this senseless tragedy.  Here's my thoughts.

Here's an interesting article about freestyle swimming.  I still hear this debate in forums.  It seems that the 'elite' swimming community has accepted that the 'S' curve / Counsilman theory on lift was not quite scientifically sound.  I still hear swimming vigilantes advising folks to apply this technique.

I am not sure what role food plays in my life, but I am sure a professional would say I need to work on it.

A close friend of mine sent me this video.  He is a rower, and part time swimmer.  Mostly, he has been an incredible mentor to me over the years.  The video shows rowing, but the reality is, it's about life.  Everything we do comes down to inches.  Did you touch the wall first?  What if you had driven just a little bit slower, would you have avoided that crash?  What if you didn't go to the bar that night, and met your wife? 

Mike Gustafson of Swimnetwork has done it again.  Reporting on the mundane everyday rituals of swimming, and cracking me up along the way.  I am not sure if I love this column because I can relate to almost all of his diatribes (from doing arm circles for 20 minutes so I don't have to get in the water, to the specifics of The Deck Change) ...I wouldn't be surprised to read about the most offensive topic, peeing in the pool, soon!

Here's a great example. 

My old swimming buddy Brad emailed me this post on Swimnetwork.  I have to say, I can really relate.  I would guess most of us washed up ex swimmers can relate.  Here's a great quote.

You don't see much written about this important topic as it applies to student athletes.  Everyone talks about the epidemic of what I will call under age "binge" drinking.  But what about student athletes?

Although a bit naive, I give a lot of credit to this young writer, Michelle Berman, for bringing up the topic.  Of course if Michelle told the whole truth and nothing but the truth, she might be kicked off of her team (or maybe get a teammate kicked off). 

Here's an excerpt from her article.