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May 11, 2006
Fast Water
So I did it! I went to the Pitt masters swim practice this morning! I know, doesn't sound like the victory that I'm making it out to be, but it was a big step for me.
I can't believe how nervous I was for this. I was nervous last night and again this morning while I was driving down...what the heck? I felt like I was driving to the Olympic Games or something?! I'm really not sure why I get so worried about stuff like this, but nonetheless.
So anyway, I get there (in record time no less - not much traffic at 5 AM!) and I walk down to the building and I go to open the door and...yeah...you guessed it...it was locked! Humph. I didn't really know what to do next. I stood there for several minutes and mulled over my options, one of which included just walking down to the hospital and starting work and skipping the swim altogether! But just as I was thinking such bad thoughts, another swimmer walked up and told me we just have to wait for them to unlock the doors from inside. Darn. :)
Fast forward to the locker room where I met some very nice triathletes that calmed my fears. They also don't do flip turns and they don't swim any other strokes. Good deal. They told me the general procedure of things in the morning and pointed out the coach. I introduced myself and she gave me the general run down. She said she would just watch me today and help me with my stroke and I could work into doing the workouts if I continued to come. Okay - fine with me.
So everyone is in the pool (which was thankfully set up for the 25 yd distance) warming up and I join in. My new triathlete buddies point me in the direction of the slow lanes. I start swimming and I have no idea how far I swam or even what I was doing. My mind was racing. Then, at some unknown (to me that is) point, everyone is back on the wall. The coach is calling out the workout, then adjusting people into different lanes. She looks at me and says I'm ready for the workout, no need to work on my stroke first. Uh...okay. So I'm splitting a lane with a middle-aged guy who I later learn is also a triathlete. I was so glad too. We basically did the workout together and it was awesome! I was sooooo thankful for him. He was a little slower but that just meant I got more rest, which I needed.
The workout (which I guess is called the "main set") was...
4x200
4x150
4x100
4x50
...where the first 3 intervals of each set were swam at "average" pace and the last one was all out. Ouch. Like I said though, it was a good workout. I don't know what our rest intervals were - we just kind of made them up along the way. My lane buddy would finish and say - okay, ready to go again on the half or on the top or something else that I didn't know what he meant but I figured it out. I do know that our rests were shorter than what I would normally take at home, especially on the longer intervals. I didn't catch most of my times but my last 200 was 2:51 and my last 100 was 1:24 - faster than usual for me.
The coach told me after that I did fine and that my stroke is "actually, pretty sound". I'll take it! I'm definitely going back, at least once a week but maybe even twice. It was really nice to swim with a group and I'm sure I'll get some really good workouts in that way. What may have been even better though was being around a group of triathletes. It's a good group. Very supportive. Everyone was talking swim/bike/run. I learned that the awful pain I get in my neck after riding my bike for a while is normal and will eventually go away. I learned that you can get a $150 ticket for trying to swim in the Allegheny River (only a triathlete would know that). I learned that the temperature of the lake I wanted to go swim in to try out my wetsuit is currently 61 degrees. Brrr... And I spotted one woman who had an Ironman bag and an Ironman swimming cap on. Now I'm sure anyone can buy that stuff, but really - would you buy it if you didn't actually do it? I didn't talk with her today, but I would like to befriend her. I love the fact that the group was all talking about whether they were going to either run or bike after work today. (me - I just came home and sat on my butt :).
I feel like I could go on forever. I'm usually a fan of training on my own, but this swimming group I like. By the way, I did a 500 yd cooldown and I did at least 600 yds of warmup so I'm rounding down and calling it a 3000 yd day. Oh yeah - my arms are really tired right now. Good thing I'm not a real swimmer and I won't be swimming again for several days. :)
Hope everyone's day was as good as mine...
Posted by beth at May 11, 2006 6:35 PM
Comments
Awesome! I'm so glad that you had such a positive experience. It sounds like you'll really benefit from the experience of the other triathletes in the group.
By the way, when you said that you have never switched sports before -- remember that you weren't born running laps around a track (although it might seem like it sometimes). You learned all about horseback riding, you learned all about running -- you can do this too!
Posted by: at May 11, 2006 8:36 PM
I knew you'd be fine. I'm glad that you know it now too.
Maybe this'll be a good way to learn about triathlon stuff, including bike stuff, from someone other than the guy at the bike store.
I'm glad to hear that it went so well!
Posted by: Alison at May 11, 2006 9:14 PM
I'm so glad you went!! I always get nervous when I'm the new one somewhere and I always have to talk myself/psych myself up into going. It sounds like you are totally prepared/fit in with this group. I'm glad you fun!!! And, as usual, your enthusiasm motivates me to get back at it!
Posted by: Audrey at May 11, 2006 11:35 PM
Growing gills yet? scales ? :)
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at May 12, 2006 11:25 AM
Gills and scales don't sound fun, but fins - I think growing some fins would really help my speed. :)
Posted by: Beth at May 12, 2006 11:28 AM