A Humbling Experience

I met with a friend of mine that I met years ago doing agility - we both love our fast, insane border collies. We found we also had swimming in common. She had mentioned Masters level swimming to me several years ago and I pooh-poohed the idea since I was busy running and doing agility.

Well thanks to my IT Band, I have to find a new challenge so back in the pool I went. Mostly for exercise but I also decided I MIGHT try competing again. I ask Krysta to meet me at our local pool today.

I already knew my weaknesses were my turns among several other issues. Therefore, we mostly focused on turns. WOW - I have a lot of work to do. She also found a weakness in my freestyle stroke. I'm not even sure how I was as competitive as I was back in the day. Of course, the techniques she was showing me are from her 20+ years of coaching and she keeps up with the changes and the evolution of the sport, I suppose. It's possible that these techniques were not in vogue, it's also possible that my coach was focused on the other swimmers that needed a lot more attention. I was happy to learn them but it will take quite awhile for me to break the old habits.

I'll be the hippest 40+ yr old swimmer if I ever compete again. HEE HEE.

The Payoff

I'm finally starting to see and feel the payoff to all my workouts. Even though I'm not able to run, I'm enjoying all of my workouts. I walk fast for a minimum of 40 mins every other day. On my off day, I'm cycling or swimming. I cycle - slower than I'd like - on the days I can't get to the pool but my preference is the pool. It isn't bothering my IT Band, my knees or anything really. My lungs feel great and I am starting to build a bit of endurance.

I varied my workout in the pool today and ended with 2 25 yard sprints - felt the old familiar lung burn from competition years. WOO HOO - that felt great.

I've contacted a friend of mine that coaches and she is going to work with me to improve my technique, flip turns etc. I just spent a bit of time on a great website for swimmers. What fun!

Now if I only had an indoor pool at my house - for me and the dogs - I'd be in NIRVANA!

Everybody Into the Pool

Back to swimming for me while my IT Band settles down. I refuse to sit on the couch and get all depressed - been there, done that. I already bought my Mustang last year during my IT Band stint. Unless my darling Husband feels generous enough to let me trade mine in for the Shelby, won't be replacing cycling and running with a car this time.

So I went to the pool and did laps today. It was a great workout, my legs are still feeling the affects but my IT Band seems OK. I had to share a lane - haven't had to do that since swim practice in high school. I wasn't good at it then and I am not good at it now. I tend to over swim the person in my lane.

The lady in the lane next to me asked me how I could swim so fast. She felt like she was going backwards when I was next to her. I told her it was a curse of mine, not being able to slow down and pace myself. Tends to be a trend in my life and I told she was doing fine and would go the distance while I would be done due to the inability to slow down and pace myself. She laughed but sure enough she was still in the pool while I was done by 1/2 mile or so :) BUT I WAS FAST.