« Ho-Hum | Main | Jackpot Round #3 »
February 20, 2008
Music for the Soul
Well I think it's an epidemic. The winter blahs that is. I wrote my tale of woe last night and then started reading other people's blogs and well, I just started to laugh. Because about 5 other people wrote the same tale of woe! Really at this point what can you do? Laugh - and take solace in the fact that you are not alone. It won't be long before I'll be complaining about the heat and humidity. :)
So today was a much better day for me. I started things off with a great swim where among other things I had a great 600 pull followed by a 600 wherein every 4th 25 I only took one breath. OUCH!!! I am TERRIBLE at all that breath control stuff. I am not a fan of the suffocation feeling!! And every time I see something like that in one of my workouts I shake my head and think "crazy swimmers." You don't see runners doing 400 repeats on the track holding their breath the whole time! :) Seriously though, I know it will make me stronger and I understand the reason why swimmers do it - but I don't have to LOVE everything do I? :) Anyway, during the 600 pull I really focused on...well...PULLING the water! Jen sent a video from her clinic back in January of me swimming and it's pretty apparent that I lack that whole follow through with my stroke. I really thought about it today while I was doing the pull and it made a BIG difference! (thanks Jen!)
Oh - and the BEST part of the swim? For the whole warmup AND cooldown I forced myself to do flip turns! I don't know if I'm doing them right because I haven't had someone actually teach me in the water but I was probably close. Some were better than others and suffice it to say, I need a lot of practice, but I did it! I'm just sticking with warmup and cooldown for now though. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Meanwhile, in the lane next to me, O was doing a real swim workout that I made up for him with 100s on descending intervals! And he made every interval!
Anyway, after work I got home and got the mail. And let's just say, I hit the mother-load!
First off, lately the mail has been treating me well. Yesterday I got the video from Jen, some stuff from PowerBar and NO bills. Sweet. And today? WOW!
The first thing I saw was a package from swimoutlet.com. That's where I order my swimsuits so I was VERY excited to be getting some new ones!! I really want a Splish suit but I have to admit that they are a little too expensive for us. I'm sure they are worth every last cent but I usually order from the swimoutlet grab bag (you pick the style and size and they just send you whatever color they have left) and I can get 2 good suits from TYR or Speedo for $50. Of course you end up with some wild colors and patterns but I'm really not too picky so it doesn't matter! Regardless, new suits are always really fun and a good motivator to get to the pool! And I have masters practice tomorrow! Yippeee!!!
But something FAR greater was awaiting me -- a package from Bree with FIVE CDs!!! We discovered we have the same taste in music and decided to swap some of our favorite tunes. And boy did Bree not disappoint! I was beside myself with happiness. All kinds of good music. But the very first CD I put in, first song - I nearly started crying. It's called Hungry (Falling on My Knees) and it is one of my all time favorites. Every time we sing it in church I get teary-eyed.
O is pretty much beside himself with happiness right now too. He is a big fan of Ten Shekel Shirt and Bree included a bunch of their songs. There is just a whole variety of music too (fast, slow, rap, 80s, you name it!) - I am actually looking forward to my trainer rides, my long (cold) runs and EVEN my commute into work because now I have some seriously good tunes to jam with! It's amazing to me what a little good music can do for the soul. And it's amazing what a wonderful, selfless person can do to lift someone else up, even if they've never even met. Thanks a million Bree!
My mother-load:
Posted by beth at February 20, 2008 7:01 PM
Comments
YEAH!!! Love it....It is Christmas in February! You needed a little lift...so perfect timing of everything!!! :))
Posted by: Jennifer Harrison at February 20, 2008 11:03 PM
Yay! I am so stoked you liked the music... I am telling you there is nothing like some tunes to change the mood/attitude! You are one of my only friends that likes the "hungry/air I breathe song"... I am telling you that song is like a full-body mood lifter, you can hardly help but to feel refreshed by it!
Great job on the flip turns and those suits are not bad at all! My luck they would pick me brown and yellow stripes or something!
Posted by: Bree at February 21, 2008 1:47 AM
HOORAY!!!! Here's to a HAPPY DAY IN FEBRUARY! Love all those gals - they are GREAT! Good job on the flip turns... STIL can't believe you swim as fast as you do without consistent turns. Man... makes me afraid of what you'll do when you turn all the time. Holy Cow Beth!!!
Posted by: marit c-l at February 21, 2008 9:46 AM
That is really awesome! I like the suits, so that worked out great for you! Ok... now you girls have me intrigued with this song. I'll have to see if I can find it and download it :)
I'm glad you're feeling brighter!!
Posted by: kellye at February 21, 2008 11:18 AM
Beth:
Glad to hear that you are fighting back at winter. Cute suits--I am a big fan of grab bag ones, too. A lot of times, I get suits I never would have picked for myself, but in the best twist, end up really liking.
Good luck with the flipturns--they will come along quickly and then just watch your 100 time drop a few seconds in a flash!
Happy tunes!
-Danielle
Posted by: Danielle at February 21, 2008 2:35 PM
Yes, the weather thing was a blogger epidemic yesterday...too funny. AND the flip turn thing. I hear ya!! Nothing better then some new suits and tunes to get you motivated though. Cheers
Posted by: at February 21, 2008 5:47 PM