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February 16, 2008
Paddle-Challenged
So I've had a delightful morning/afternoon of training and now I'm clean, fed, stretched and happily awaiting O's return from his indoor track meet today. O's brave for being a track coach. I never really realized how LONG track meets (both indoors and outdoors) were until I was married to a track coach. They are fun when you are actually competing but otherwise - oh dear Lord. I'm hoping our children don't want to run track (just kidding of course)! :) All track parents deserve medals - especially those who have to sit through 42 heats of the 200 and 400! :)
Anyway, I started this morning off with a swim at the YMCA. It was a great one! There was some pull 600s, one of which I vowed to do with paddles. I dislike paddles to a great extent because I'm so SLOW with them. I don't have a lot of arm turnover to begin with so slap some paddles on me (even small ones) and my arms are moving even slower! Plus I'm paddle-challenged. I just can't get the darn things to behave when I'm swimming with them. I lose them or they are flapping off in directions they shouldn't be. And it's really hard to do open turns with them (I know, I know - just slap me for not doing flip turns to begin with!). I've had some pretty embarrassing moves with paddles. I always secretly hope that the lifeguards aren't watching when I'm trying to tame my paddles. In fact, I'm pretty sure Marit would have one of her fits of laughter if she saw me trying to swim with paddles! :)
But today was a little better. I didn't lose any paddles. They were going forward with me at all times and I even set a paddle PR in the 600. Now don't get me wrong, I'm still slow as molasses and my shoulders just ache when I'm done using them but I keep telling myself it will eventually get better if I keep at it. I also hated the pull buoy when I first started using it but now I love it!
Regardless, enough of the swim chatter. I came home to my trainer, ready to be ridden. I had a 3 hour ride so I was REALLY hoping the weather would cooperate and be somewhat warm but still at 10 am it was in the low 20s with windchills lower and I just can't handle that kind of cold while riding. I'm sure there are people that would think that's positively balmy but I'm not there yet. So 3 hours on the trainer it was.
The ride was...okay. Not great. My legs were protesting after only about 2 hours making for a very long last hour but I got through it and made a quick transition to outside running gear for my T-run. I'm getting better at pulling tights on very sweaty legs. It's quite a talent if you ask me. :)
My run was great. It always surprises me how good my legs can feel running right after they just felt like crap on the bike. Now in races the opposite seems to happen. Of course I wasn't trying to run hard today which obviously makes a big difference.
So that was my day. After the run I came home for food (lots of it), an ice bath, a shower, a stretch, and now back to the waiting for O. Incidentally I wanted to mention that our little Roxy dog jumped into my ice bath today. It was actually as the water was being drained - she was so curious and kept trying to get at the ice until she finally jumped in (she couldn't reach the ice otherwise). She then promptly jumped right back out. Smart dog. :)
Posted by beth at February 16, 2008 4:21 PM
Comments
hee hee hee hee hee!
No - I had the same problem with paddles, until I figured out to tuck my hands in and sweep upwards with them during the flip turns - otherwise I nearly drowned myself doing the turn with paddle thing. You are not alone :)
Hee hee hee hee hee - I think all pets are curious about the ice bath! They just want to "play" - must have been cute!!!
Posted by: marit c-l at February 16, 2008 6:10 PM
Ok, I am trying to tell you in your blog how to flip w/ paddles...actually, it is almost easier b/c I USE them to flip stronger...hmmm..You just have to keep them up higher and not drop your arms/hands...and push down w/ the paddles to initiate your flip/turnover and then keep your hands still and push off....Hmmm...Once you get used to the paddles they are SMOKING fast...b/c they are like buckets in the water - but wait until you see that swim video of you...you aren't pulling as much UNDER the water and that is where the paddles help...so, perhaps once you see yourself under the water you'll see...:)) Jen H.
Posted by: Jennifer Harrison at February 16, 2008 6:54 PM