Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/370174
C O U R T E S Y : S T E V E S M I T H 48 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2014 Swim Team Parent Info Meeting Meet and greet with Coach Jennifer Mesler. Learn about the team and USA swimming, and get ready to kick off a great year! All parents of current and prospective swimmers are invited to attend. Wednesday, September 10: 5:30 pm; 8th Floor Card Room; refreshments will be served Beginning Adult Swim Lessons Adults with limited experience in the water will gain comfort and confidence in both shallow and deep water. You'll learn the front and back crawls and the basics of breaststroke and butterfly. Develop endurance for lap swimming, too. Mondays (September 8–29) : 1:30–2:30 pm Advanced Adult Swim Lessons For adults who can swim laps and have a basic knowledge of all four primary strokes. In class, you will refine stroke tech- nique, breath control, starts and turns, and endurance work. is class is a great pre- cursor to joining the WAC Masters Swim Team, lap swimming, or triathlon training. Wednesdays, September 10–October 1 2:30–3:30 pm Aqua Boot Camp A high-intensity, low-impact workout for athletes and non-athletes alike who want a tough workout without aggravating knees, hips and other injury-prone joints. Friday: 10:45–11:45 am Wednesday: 1:30–2:30 pm Deep Water Fitness Using fitness disciplines, this class offers a safe and challenging water-based workout that includes cardio conditioning, body toning, and exhilaration in deep water. Monday : 11–11:45 am Cardio Express A 30-minute shallow water workout designed to get you moving, with low impact to joints. is is great for cross- training or as an alternative to a rest day. Monday : 10:30–11 am Joints in Motion Ease joint and muscle pain. is class takes participants through gentle range- of-motion, joint-mobility and flexibility Fun in the Mud By Quin Nelson MEET THE ATHLETE Fifty-one-year-old Steve Smith felt like he needed some motivation to get in shape, so he decided to compete in a Tough Mudder—a grueling obstacle course event—last year. After completing the 11-mile challenge, Smith is coming back for more. Along with his wife, Erika, daughter Christina, and a few friends, Smith will compete in the Seattle Tough Mudder on September 27. Steve took some time to talk about training, injuries and suspended logs. How do you train for a Tough Mudder? It's a pretty unique challenge since it's an obstacle course. I take a lot of Group Fitness classes at the WAC, like Boot Camp and Aqua Boot Camp, to get in shape and build up muscle. I also do cardio work and train for certain obstacles on my own. Last year, I worked on pull-ups for six months to prep for the monkey bars. What are your goals for the Tough Mudder this time around? Complete all the obstacles and don't get injured. Have you had to deal with any injuries while training? I've had a knee problem, a hamstring issue, and some tendonitis in my arms. I've learned that at my age injuries are just a part of being active, and I have to be aware of them and deal with them. I try to listen to my body and make adjustments to my workouts as necessary. Are there any particular obstacles that you're looking forward to conquering this year? Last time, I fell off the log suspended over the water, and it's been bothering me all year. I've been training for it so hopefully I can make it across this time. Any memorable moments from last year's Tough Mudder? I got overconfident and tried to jump over another suspended log, but I ended up hitting it with my chest and bruising a few ribs. I'll probably take a more conservative approach this year.