Strong Woman Triathlete

Swimming, Yes!

I guess I like swimming the most of the three sports. I feel like a fish in the water. And I love the breathing, breathing, breathing, in and out, in and out. There's an art to it, a calmness, and definitely a technique. I don't know the formal name. I'm sure Leslie Thomas, our head swim coach, could tell me the formal name. Basically, the trick is to breath out while your head is under water, and even to breathe out while you lift your head. And then breathe in while your head is turned to the side. Then the pattern starts again.

About breathing and swimming, our coach last night, Kurt, pushed my conceived boundaries of what I thought I could do in the water. That's what this training is all about!

(Dialogue is recreated from memory. I didn't have a tape record with me!)

"Tonight you'll do an hypoxic drill," Kurt said with a big grin, like it was no brainer what he was talking about.

"What?" I muttered to myself, a little fearful.

"You will breath one less breath per length for six lengths. So the advanced swimmers will swim 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1."

You must be kidding.

He detailed the intermediate breath count which started with seven and went down to two. And then for us beginners, he said the breath count was from eight down to three.

What mumbo jumbo was this? I was scared. I can't breath as I swim across the pool? And because I was scared I was pissed. How dare he take this vital action away from me?

I didn't say anything. Just got into the pool and started the 100-yard warm up. But I was having a hard time. I kept gulping water, and felt exhausted after the first two lengths. And then I decided I should get over it, forget about that future hypoxic drill, and just get into the groove of swimming.

Finally, it came time to do the drill. I was calmer now. I told myself I would just swim the length, 25 yards, and see how I did. So I swam the 25 yards.

And was so surprised. I crossed the pool in only six breaths, easily.

The rest of the drill was fun! It was fun to see that I could cross the pool in four, three, and yes, even two breaths!

Wow! This is why I train. To push my physical limits. To feel empowered by doing what I thought I couldn't do.

To be a powerful woman.

First Swim Workout of the Season

Swimming

It was great to be in the pool again. The coaches wanted us to take it easy, to take long pauses between laps. But i didn't want to. I wanted to be a fish! So I was. I'm still having goggle problems; my left eye piece leaks, but I can manage it.

Stats I swam 22 lengths last night. One length of the pool = 25 yards, so I swam 550 yards. The race length will be about 1238 yards, or 3/4 mile, or 50 lengths.

Lap = 2 lengths, or 50 yards

Our first track workout is this Thursday. I look forward to testing myself against the track, but not to the standing around that always accompanies the first time out. It's alright. I'll make sure I get a neighborhood walk/jog in the morning.

Third Training Starts Soon!

Who'd have thunk? I would have! That is to say part of me is amazed that I'm actually doing triathlons, and the other part of me says, "Of course!" At right, that's me finishing my second triathlon May 30, 2006 at the See Jane Tri, a fun womans-only race. I was having a blast!

I have yet to sign up with the See Jane Tri Training but will soon. The race will be April 29, 2007 in Sacramento, the Sacramento International Triathlon.

I've been walking and jogging on a regular basis for at least six weeks, and even did some swimming before the time change. I've also picked back up my stretching, and isometric exercise routine. Biking is not happening though. I'd like to get a trainer so I can work on my bike legs indoors. I also plan to change my tires to something a little thinner than the mountain bike tires I have, but not as thin as road bike tires. A fellow Jane told me there's a happy medium there. So I guess I have to take care of that too soon.

Because training starts Tuesday, Feb. 6!


Get:
new shoes
new bike tires
a proper wetsuit that fits! used is fine
Gu
Protein Bars
bike glasses (I lost the frames at the last race. )

Whew! My hobby/passion is expensive. But this passion is for my life, my fitness, my joy. And worth it. Because I'm worth it.