Various Freakouts

I am signed up this weekend to do a sprint triathlon as a team and I will be doing the swim portion. Now that I have my wetsuit, there is not reason to avoid it. I finally tried it on after eyeing the box suspiciously for a few weeks. The good news is that is does fit. The bad news is that I will never be a superhero because being encased in rubber is SO not the look for me. Anyways, it is my first lake swim and my palms get all itchy and sweaty just thinking about it. So, we are not going to discuss it anymore until afterwards to avoid possible panic attacks.

Monday is my 29th birthday. I will be doing a birthday challenge of some sort in the vicinity of that date. (how much more vague can I get?) This birthday is bothering me a little because in my mind I am entering the very last of my twenties. One of my friends suggests a "30 things before 30" list of stuff I would like to accomplish in the next year and so that way when I hit 30, I will not be freaked out but feel accomplished when I finally get there! It is a good idea and I will be working on that. I am sure there will be several small things on there, but I would like to come up with some really good creative things as well. Go outside the normal and all of that. I am thinking a 70.3 will be somewhere on the list. If I don't drown on Sunday of course. :)

Counting

I have not ever been one to actually see how many yards I swim when I am at the pool. Really, I am just out there for survival at this point and anything beyond that is just a bonus. This week however, I really tried to keep track of how many yards I swam and I was fairly shocked to see that I can now swim over a mile (with minimal clinging to the side of the pool and gasping for air)! As best as I can count without having to look at my toes too much, I think I swam right around 1900 yards during my coaching session which gets me right past that mile marker! This may or may not have been the first time I have swum that far, but this is for sure the first time I tried to count. It kind of makes the idea of doing an Olympic length at the end of summer a little more possible. We will see though. While this may not seem like a lot for the Masters swimmers, I am elated. It was only six months ago that I could not swim 400 yards without backstroking and some dog paddling (and lots of clining to the side and gasping for air).

I also ran last night. We will pretend I did not count and see how far that was and just say I worked really hard for as far as I went. Which was not far. At all.

Have a good bike story coming up, but this one has to have pictures so I will work on that tonight.

Time to Up the Swimming

Swimming yesterday was HARD! For the first time ever during our session, I actually looked at the clock to see how much more time I had left. I made the mistake of telling my swim coach that I needed to increase my yardage, and boy did we! It was good though and we worked distances and sprints. I am going up to two sessions a week with her for the next few months to really get ready for the next few triathlons. Hopefully between those sessions and my individual swims, this will be a breeze!
I also ordered my first triathlon wetsuit yesterday. I think this will be a short term wetsuit because it was fairly inexpensive (Neosport)but as long as it fits, then it will be fine for my first few. Then if I continue in this sport and get more serious about it, then I will invest in a better one. I am excited about it because it means my move out of the pool and into open water. Time to put on my big girl panties (or wetsuit as the case may be!).
In a funny note, someone the other day wrote a blog post warning about checking your swim suit to make sure the rear was not see through. I have been religiously checking mine to make sure ever since but I never thought about the same thing happening to shorts. I lent my roommate a pair of bike shorts that I don't use anymore so she could wear them at our triathlon and after we got done she was walking around and I realized that I could very clearly see her swimsuit under the shorts I had given her! I am so thankful she did not take my advice to just swim in the shorts because then she would have given everyone a show! Oops. So, it is good to make sure ALL of your sport clothing has adequate rear end coverage. Unless you are into that kind of thing....then more power to you!

One Stroke at a Time

Sorry for the lack of blogs lately, however there has been less time to report with and even less activity to report on! The one thing I have managed to get in is my swimming lessons and I really feel like those are really making a difference. Tonight was a tough night because we did a lot more actual swimming than just working on strokes.

It was tough realizing that when it comes to swimming, I am totally in craptastic shape. It was hard not to get bitter as after a few hundred yards the coach told me I was dragging my arms like I was tired. Now, she is a totally sweet girl and said this with full innocence and luckily I was too busy gasping to make some biting comment back. Instead of getting frustrated though, it just makes me more determined to schedule in more time to get in the pool. I did learn to do flip turns which will while that seems routine to most people, is a total blast for me to do. It makes me want to get to the end of the pool just so I can do one! Simple minds are always easily amused.

Another thing that is making a huge difference in the pool for me is the new goggles I got. My old ones leaked and fogged up so I never wanted to wear them. After doing some research, I ordered the Speedo Vanquish goggles and not only do they not leak at all, but I have not had them fog either. It amazes me how such a small change can make my swimming so much more enjoyable!

I have also been working on what races I plan to do next year. Right now the list is very long with everything I want to do, but I am sure it will get shortened considerable after reality sets in!

Success!!

For the first time ever...I am excited about swimming! Ok, I have always liked swimming, and always thought I was a decent swimmer but certainly not well equipped enough to swim long distances. I worked with the instructor yesterday and she was a huge help in figuring out how to perfect my strokes and I was amazed at how much easier and faster I went through the water. It made all of the difference in the world just having someone work with me for 30 minutes. Now I am super excited to go back and work on this some more before my next lesson!

It is just not starting to get cold here but luckily the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend and in the 60's so I am planning on getting out and enjoying it by going for some bike rides and some runs while this gorgeous weather lasts! I feel like I need to really appreciate this weather after reading about everyone else dealing with snow and ice already I will enjoy this gift I have been given!

On a totally random note, I have a blemish (I am too old to have pimples. I refuse to admit it, I don't care how common it is) right below my eye and I can see it and it is driving me bonkers and I am sure I keep making the oddest faces as I look down at it. If only I had not killed my camera. Sniff.

Swim Lessons

I start swimming lessons tomorrow at the local Y. I have not been able to find a masters class and really I do need help with my basic strokes so I think this is going to be the best thing for me for awhile. I also think this will help me be more confident in the pool so I will be more likely to go and not be so worried the whole time about the other people there. Swimming is the worst area for me to really beat myself up mentally before I even start racing so I hoping this makes a big difference next year in whatever races I decide to do.

I am dragging my roommate along with me and while she is whinning now, I know she is going to love it. I always make her do these kinds of things with me, and while she whines and drags her feet, she always goes along with these fleabrained ideas I have....and then ends up beating me in whatever it is we are doing. I need to get her out on a bike because I am hoping that I have enough of a lead on biking that maybe I could stay ahead of her for awhile......but just in case I will put her on a big heavy mountain bike to start with. :)

Stupid Goggles

Ok I swam. It was not bad, but I remembered now the irritation I used to have Scuba diving when your dive mask would fog up. When diving masks fog up or get water in them, you can easily clear them. Not so with swimming goggles. So, I tried spit. No go. (I have crummy anti-fogging spit) I made my whole family spit in my goggles. Nothing. I tried toothpaste. Nope. Any other suggestions? I know they have anti fog spray, but I have not really looked for it yet.

As far as the actual swimming goes.....I need a coach. Seriously. I have been trying to get a picture in my head of how I look, but it is all bad. (imagine throwing a cat into the pool and watching it try to get out. That is me) I know I can get through the 500 M I need for the race just fine, but anything more than that and I am going to need considerable help with form. I have a feeling I am just wasting a lot more energy than I need to be.

Panic has now set in since my first triathlon is in less than 50 days. I had to take down my counter because it was giving me mini panic attacks. I know it will not be a big deal, but I just want to get through this one so I can go on to bigger and better! I have started looking for clothes to wear. I keep learning towards purchasing the one piece tri suits because they look so easy, but advice on this would be welcome! Suggestions? For this first triathlon, it is in reverse order with a pool swim last so at least I don't have to worry about a wetsuit!

In other news, HI TRIJONES!!!! I love your blog too!! Although some days, I might say some ugly things about you in my head because you are one of the ones that got this stupid triathlon idea in my head. Yes, you. Stop looking around at the other bloggers. Yes, there are some others to blame, but I would say you are in the top 3. So nice to hear from you!

I will....

I will go swim.
I will not be insecure about my swimming.
I will not be intimidated by the "real" swimmers.
I will remember that no one is paying attention to what I am doing but me.
I will stop putting this off.

In other events, I loaded up my bike and went to a local park to ride. It was gorgeous with several small hills to practice on. The bike routes were not really long enough and after a couple laps, it got boring so I think I will ride there next time in order to get enough miles in. It was a nice change of pace though and next time I will remember to take my camera since it is just about the only scenic ride I have been on in awhile.

Besides the swimming goal, I am also going to learn ride without my camelback and be able to reach down and grab a water bottle without becoming one with the road. Or on the road. You know what I mean. I have been riding long enough to have the balance to do it so it is time! I keep reminding myself how much cooler I will be without the camelback and that is helping to motivate me.

I have also figured out that my 10 year high school reunion is the same weekend as the Sprint Tri I had wanted to do. It was supposed to be my first and I am loath to put it off, but it keep going back and forth. Obviously a reunion is only held every few years and they have triathlons all the time, however I do spend a lot more time working out and thinking about working out than I ever do thinking about people from HS. Hmm....still time to work it out. If I can find one in the area the weekend before or after I guess that would help make up my mind.

Allergic to Water?

A very large wrench has been thrown into my training plans. It seems I am allergic to water. More specifically, the water at the YWCA where I have been attempting to swim. The first sore throat and congestion I blamed on my boyfriend and his constant cold. Now, after repeated sore throats that only occur AFTER I have been swimming, I have to think that the water is slowly poisoning my will to swim. I am guess the chemicals in the pool are a little much for me. I am hoping that will time, I will get used to it....especially since I bought a set number of swim tickets. However, any advice would be greatly appreciated!! And in case you are wondering, I am not gulping down the water in the pool glass by glass. There is a possibility I am swallowing some of it as I flail from one end to the other, but I seriously don't think I am getting that much in my system. I am thinking it is the breathing in of the chemicals, but I could be wrong. Still, any helpful hints would be great!

First Swim, then Spin

The swimming portion is not something I have ever had any concerns about when thinking about doing this triathlon (except for maybe the whole bathing suit thing). I have really been worried about the runs and put the swimming on the back burner. While I still believe that run is going to be the hardest portion for me, I am no longer unconcerned about the swim. Let me preface this by saying that I can swim, but I have never swum laps except once for my Scuba test. I have always enjoyed swimming but have never really worked at it.
I got my membership to the YWCA over a week ago but have procrastinated about this ever since signing up. I have no idea what the rules are for swimming laps, staying out of peoples way, etc and so therefore have "accidentally" overslept for the past several days. Until today. I figured that I would get there as soon as it opened at 5:30 am, beat the crowd and get to figure this out on my own without the other kids pointing and laughing at me. I arrived at 5:31.....and the pool is packed. Seriously? When I go to the gym this early, there is never anyone there. Swimming in the morning is popular apparently.
It did not appear that people were sticking to lanes so I squeezed in between two older ladies who were just bobbing along and (gulp) a serious looking swimmer. I quickly slipped into the pool (whole bathing suit thing again) and started out. The first four laps or so started out pretty easily, but then it started getting harder....and more depressing as I realized I had only gone half of the length of the swim for the first triathlon I wanted to do. This was actually going to be work. AND I got hot while swimming. This was really a first!
I managed to get about 14 laps in...only because no else was getting out so I kept pushing myself to do one more in hopes someone would come out before me. Silly I know. I finally gave up and quit after 25 minutes which I was semi-embarrassed about, but again, this is all for fun. If I just can go 5 minutes longer each time, I will have it made! Oh, and form. I am going to have to work on that. Like I need to have some semblance of it. I suppose eventually I will need to get to the point where it does not feel like I am thrashing like a fish fighting the line, but all in good time. I think a coach is going to have to come into play at some point, but for now, my main goal is to just not sink!
I have a spinning class planned for this afternoon which will be a highlight for my day. While they are tough, I feel like I grin like an idiot through most of the class because I love the high energy and just the fun in taking a class instead of just working out on my own. When I first started bike riding, I did not have a lot of time before it got dark to ride my bike on the weekdays so I took 2 or 3 spinning classes a week....and I sailed through my first 100K. I was shocked because I really did not feel like I had trained enough, but obviously those classes paid off. I have not done one in awhile so I would imagine that tomorrow I will be feeling it!