Petervanderkaay.com

Charlotte Grand Prix

Peter — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:31:29 +0000

Today I arrived in Charlotte for the annual Ultraswim competition here. This meet is always great because of the atmosphere, competition level, and athlete friendliness. The folks running the meet go above the call of duty in making sure the athletes are comfortable. In terms of swimming, this meet is always a mixed bag of performances. Like I mentioned in my MGoBlue blog (which I just started doing recently), trying to analyze where others are at in their training based on this meet is like trying to read poker faces. Some swimmers are totally thrashed from training while others are starting to feel good from paring back their intense sessions. Last year I was in the “thrashed” category so we’ll see what happens this year. Nobody is qualifying for the US team this weekend so ultimately it doesn’t really matter. Still, it’s always better to win.

I’m getting super excited for Trials. It’s clearly on everyone’s mind nowadays. The next couple of weeks are going to be great.

Last weekend I was back in Michigan for about 24 hours. One of my classmates got married and I’m really glad I could make it back. Note: Try to never miss a wedding where you can get together with old buddies. You won’t regret it! The wedding was fun and I was able to visit briefly with some family as well.

M Swimming class of 06' - Congrats Jorge!

Last Month Recap

Peter — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:38:28 +0000

Again, I need to stop going so long between updates. I’m actually taking a class right now that will be over in a few weeks so hopefully that will free up my time heading into Olympic Trials. Training is going well though and I’m excited for the last few months before the “Big Show”.

Let’s go back a few weeks so I can give you the full update. A little while ago a drag racing event called Gator Nationals came through town for the annual race. A few teammates and I headed out to the track to see what it was all about. I’ve never been to a drag race before so I really didn’t know what to expect. It was pretty awesome. I knew those cars were loud but I had no idea how loud it would be in person. Those things are loud! I was wearing ear plugs and it’s not like the kind of loud that hurts your ears a little bit…It’s the kind of loud that makes your brain shake and your organs rattle inside your chest. When those cars fly by at over 300 mph it is a total rush. You must have to be crazy to strap yourself into one of those cars.

Some hot rods starting a race

The other great thing about the race was the people watching. Hands down the best people watching event I have ever attended. Thankfully it wasn’t a sunny day so not too many shirts where taken off.

Last weekend I went to Indianapolis for the Indy Grand Prix competition. Overall, I swam pretty well. I dropped a little time on my season bests and felt pretty good about my races. Considering we trained right through the meet as usual, I don’t have any complaints. I even went a personal best time in the 200 IM, with a 2:01 something something. I guess since I haven’t raced that event in a jammer since 2006ish, I was overdue for a best time.

Indy is one of my favorite towns to visit. I love the pool, great restaurants are everywhere, and you can walk just about anywhere in the heart of the city. I hit up my usual favorite spots which didn’t let me down. I also got to see family and friends which is always great.

This weekend we might head to the beach for Easter after workout. In a little over 2 weeks I’ll be heading to Minnesota and North Dakota for some clinics.

Speedo Photo Shoot

Peter — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:10:09 +0000

First off, congrats to all the Gators this weekend that competed at SEC’s. It was great to see all the hard work pay off!

The past couple weeks have been thick with training and getting in the best shape possible, but last week I was able to get out to Pasadena for a Speedo catalog photo shoot. Besides having to travel all the way out there, this was a pretty good time. The folks at Speedo took great care of me, putting me up in a nice hotel, taking me out to dinner, and just generally being cool. The best part was the catering service truck on set, which had a dangerous amount of good eats on the menu. I would easily consider taking out a mortgage to have this truck parked in my driveway at all times. I would also be 400 lbs.

The set itself was pretty cool too. The photographer used a lot of different effects to create some cool shots. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to show that will end up in the catalog. Here is a quick picture of one of the sets though.

Now there are a few things about a photo shoot that I will never get used to, the first being make-up. I don’t have any sisters and this is a department which I know slim to nothing about. I’m totally fine with it, but I will never get comfortable with someone putting stuff on my face while I stand there doing nothing. It just feels weird, I don’t know how else to describe it. Another thing about a shoot, particularly a swim suit shoot, is having to be oiled up. I guess it just makes the photos turn out better…I don’t make the rules! Thankfully nobody lit a match nearby because I felt like I had just been swimming in the Gulf circa June, 2010. Here is me getting oiled and fixed up!

Here are a few impromptu shots while hanging out on set:

Later this week I’m heading to Omaha to meet with some of the great people at the Mutual of Omaha company headquarters. Training on the road isn’t very much fun, but it does break up the monotony of being home all the time. From Omaha, I’m going directly to Orlando for the ~~NBA All-Star Game~~ Florida Senior Championships competition. I’ll be competing on Saturday and Sunday and then heading back to Gainesville.

Good luck to the Michigan Men this weekend at Big Ten’s at Iowa! GO BLUE!

Austin Grand Prix and PACEPAL!

Peter — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:09:34 +0000

This past weekend our team went to Austin, TX for the Grand Prix held there. I may have said this last year, but the best part about going to Austin is the food. The BBQ and Tex-Mex is hard to beat. I didn’t win a race, but I’m inclined to say that I may have won the crown for “most brisket eaten,” which is obviously the next best thing. In all seriousness, I was pretty pleased with my swims considering where I am in my training right now. We’ve been cranking pretty hard in workout, so I was a little bit surprised to go as fast as I did. That’s always a pleasant surprise. Now we enter a 6 week training cycle to carry us through until our next competition.

On a totally separate note, I’m pleased to introduce a new sponsor, PACEPAL.

PACEPAL is a portable underwater clock specifically designed for swimming. I’m really excited about promoting this product because I am a big believer in it’s benefits. PACEPAL’s founder, Larry Day, is a longtime swimming enthusiast. He created a product that I have always desired: a clock that you can see while swimming. As a distance swimmer myself, I am the type that feeds off positive momentum in practice. For years, I’ve looked up and checked my times at the running clock on deck, sacrificing speed and more importantly, sound technique, to see how fast I’m going. Not anymore! With this product, I can easily check my pace during a set while actually promoting good technique, like keeping my head down on the turns. This is just one example of many that makes the PACEPAL a valuable training asset. Recently in training, I set a personal best practice time for a timed 1500 freestyle using PACEPAL. It kept me right on pace and motivated me to stay on pace. Teammates also noted how the set goes by faster when you’re concentrating on keeping pace. I believe that PACEPAL is a great tool for everyone who enjoys swimming, from those who compete at the world-class level, to those who simply swim for exercise and enjoyment. Thanks PACEPAL, for making me a better swimmer, especially in this Olympic year!

The Holidays

Peter — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:56:35 +0000

This last month has been a whirlwind for me. It started with US Nationals, where I had to grind out a few days of competition with no rest. Then came Christmas training and the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. This was an amazing setup for a competition:

Unfortunately, this meet came directly after our hardest training cycle of the year. I wasn’t much of a factor in terms of scoring points for the team, but I also recognize that no Olympic medals are won at this meet. I had a lot of fun though and enjoyed the experience. Congrats to former UM teammate, Davis Tarwater, who set the American Record in the 200 fly! Our final team dinner was held at the Aquarium in Atlanta, which is awesome. I got this sweet picture of one of the whale sharks. I also had the chance to visit with former teammate, Ben Michaelson, who is getting married and shipping out to Afghanistan in the Spring.

A few days after the Duel, I headed home to Michigan for Christmas, and to train with my club team, the Oakland Live Y’ers. In the ATL airport, I saw the “Turtleman,” who is most widely famous for his Youtube video. It was awesome to go home and see my family and friends. I really had a good time and it was a nice break from the normal grind.

: Bros and swim buddies

The day after Christmas, my family went downtown to the Boll YMCA where my bros and I helped with a swim clinic for some kids in the area. A good time was had by all. There are definitely some talented kids in Detroit and I hope they stick with swimming. A special thanks to Speedo and USA Swimming for donating suits for the Swim Detroit Initiative. Also, a big thank you to the great folks at the Boll YMCA for all the great work they do for kids in the community.

: My friend Isaiah, who attend the event

I flew back to Florida yesterday from Detroit. My mom convinced me to take one of the summer sausages that came from the deer my dad shot this year during hunting season. It was frozen and in my carry-on bag. Needless to say, I was stopped at security because something in my bag looked suspicious. The kind gentleman working security, opened my bag and gave me a weird look, in which I replied, “It’s just food.” Apparently the guy at the computer thought is was a water bottle…

Anyways, I’m back to the normal schedule now and getting ready for 2012!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Peter — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:32:09 +0000

Thanks to everyone who voted for me for the Perseverance award. I had a really nice time in LA and the event was fun. Backstage, I was able to get a picture with Louis Zamperini, who co-presented my award. If you haven’t heard of Louis, you should check out his book, Unbroken, because it’s an amazing story.

Yesterday Christian and I ran in the Turkey Trot. It was pretty crowded but a lot of fun. I’m just glad I was able to out-run some of the dogs that were running alongside their owners. One particular beagle was hard to shake…

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving day and enjoyed some turkey. If you’re venturing out for Black Friday shopping today, good luck…

I’m Still Alive….

Peter — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:08:02 +0000

I apologize to those who check the site and have been waiting for an update. I am still alive if you were worried…

Last weekend I raced for the first time since Nats. Have you ever left your car in the the driveway for months and tried to start it, only to cringe as it barely turns over? That was me this past weekend. Not only have I not raced in awhile, but I’ve been beat down by some pretty hard training recently. Some of my races weren’t too bad, but a few of them were horrendous. Luckily I’ll have a few days rest for Nats in ATL so I won’t be nearly as tired.

This weekend I’m heading to LA for Golden Goggles. It should be a fun trip, minus the plane ride. Then I leave to go home for Thanksgiving. Christian and I (the only two in my family tough enough, yes, I said it) signed up for the Turkey Trot early Thursday morning in downtown Detroit. That will count as my workout for the day, justifying the 8 million calories I will consume thereafter. If you live in the area and want to join the run, I think you can still sign up, even the morning of…Don’t let staying out til 2am on the biggest bar night of the year deter you.

Special props to my mom who raised $1200 for swimsuits for kids in Detroit. She has collected over 250 suits so far…Thanks to everyone who has helped her!

The Worst Time of Year for Productivity…

Peter — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:55:38 +0000

If you’re like me and you’re a sports fan, this time of year is probably the least productive in terms of getting stuff done. For me, I feel like if something can afford to be put off, it’s going to be put off. Especially since all my favorite teams are doing well. It’s the heart of the college football season and Michigan is undefeated. The Lions are undefeated to this point for the first time in my life. The Tigers are in the playoffs and the Red Wings season has begun. Now I’m not a couch potato who sits around all day watching sports, but I do follow the teams. I really can’t ask for more without being greedy…Hopefully this post doesn’t jinx the magic thus far!

This weekend I’m heading to the Bay area for some Fitter and Faster Swim Tour events. The following weekend I will be in NJ and PA for Breakout Swim Clinics. These are pretty much my last travel weekends sans the holidays. Unless the Tigers make the World Series, in which case I’ll sell a kidney for a ticket!

Hawaii and Ann Arbor

Peter — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 23:36:04 +0000

The Maui Channel Swim went pretty well. The near 10 mile race from Lanai to Maui proved to be a challenge though. Our team finished second, just a few minutes behind the Aussie team. We battled lots of choppy water and swells for most of the race. My leg seemed extra choppy, which didn’t bode well for me since my stroke tempo is so low. I was getting knocked around like crazy! At least I wasn’t the person who spotted the 12-15 foot tiger shark that was trolling beneath the pack in the clear, blue water. Maui is a beautiful island though, and I highly recommend spending a week there because 3 days is way too short. Here are a few pics:

Our team

View of Lanai from the hotel beach

Our escort boat. Thankfully didn't sink, like one of the others...

This past weekend I went back to Ann Arbor for the first Michigan football night game. The experience was unforgettable, as Michigan eeked out a close win over Notre Dame in the final seconds. The atmosphere was more wild than any game I’ve ever attended. The Desmond Howard legend ceremony gave me goosebumps before the game even started. I had a great time seeing friends and family too. After the game I ended up coming down with some sort of stomach virus, which ruined my Saturday night. The flight home Sunday was not my favorite travel experience! To anyone I didn’t get to say goodbye to, sorry!

Nick and myself at the game

Back in the Saddle

Peter — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:02:57 +0000

I didn’t take much time off because I have a few traveling commitments coming up. Last weekend I was in Chicago for a few clinics, which went really well. It was really nice to see my brother and some friends in the area. Tomorrow I leave for Hawaii because I’m participating in the Maui Channel Swim. It’s a long trip, but I’m excited to compete and enjoy the location. Next week, I’m heading back to Ann Arbor for the weekend to see the first night game at Michigan Stadium. Training has been going well so far, and I’m ready for the big push forward this year.

Now for a few plugs…

If you are a person who enjoys keeping up with Olympic sports but hasn’t found a news outlet to do so, then check out this site: www.dailyhouse.com. It was started by USA Olympian speed skater Joey Cheek. Joey and company have daily blog-style updates with news and current events that are informative, witty, and entertaining. Definitely a good site to visit if you’re into the Olympic movement.

If you are a person who feels strongly about giving to charitable causes, then check out this site: www.globalempathynow.org. It was started by my longtime friend Randy Lam and his girlfriend, with a mission to help feed underprivileged children. I’ve known Randy for most of my life, and I can guarantee that this charity is reputable. We swam together for years and Randy is one of the most loyal and trustworthy people I know. If you are looking to make a charitable donation now, or maybe towards the holiday season, this would be an excellent choice. After all, who’s against feeding the children?!