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August 25, 2008
Descend What?
This morning I went to masters practice.
No wait...back up a few steps. I would FIRST like to announce that just about 10 minutes ago I (yes, that's I, Beth Shutt) figured out how to fix something on my bike. ALL BY MYSELF! This is quite an impressive feat for me. I'm not going to tell you what I did because you will laugh. What's that? You need a good laugh? Okay - here's what I did. I tipped the nose of my saddle down some! Now before you laugh TOO hard, do know that my saddle is quite a complicated piece and after inspection by both O and I we deemed it impossible to change the pitch of the saddle. But then, after some more inspection tonight I decided that maybe you could and I think I knew that it had to be possible SOME how. So I tried it and POOF! it worked! Now let's hope the slightly downward tilted nose has the desired effect or else I'll be moving it right back to where it was. At least I know how now. :)
Anyway, back to masters practice.
I usually don't go to masters on Monday because I'm supposed to do my long swims by myself. Plus, even though Monday at masters is longer intervals the total main set doesn't usually add up to be as much as had I done my coach prescribed workout. But I'm running out of pool options this week so masters it was this morning!
And boy was it nice to do longer intervals with other people! I was supposed to be doing 800s by myself today but instead I did 300s with a bunch of other people. Hmm...you choose what sounds like more fun! Regardless, I already promised myself I would do the 800s next week, by myself, when my pool will FINALLY be open again.
Anyway, I made sure to get to the pool nice and early so I could get a good, long warmup in and then it was time for the workout. But first Coach Jen was rearranging lanes. I was in a lane with two other (very fast) women (who happen to be sisters by the way and both training for IMs). But Coach wanted one of us to move up a lane - into the land of fast men.
To me, at masters, there exists an imaginary line. This line separates the fast swimmer guys from the rest of us. The "rest of us" being many of the women, lots of triathletes, many still very good swimmers but not quite like the "fast swimmer guys". Now these guys seem to be best at sprinting and do crazy things like swim 100s in under 1 minute. This boggles my mind. But I figured I might have a fighting chance during long intervals. I'm not fast but the one thing that saves me in swimming is my engine.
So I volunteered to move up with the fast swimmer guys. Now note the "fast swimmer guys" exist in every masters program in the country...but are all defined differently. For example, the "fast swimmer guys" at Elizabeth's masters team would put a serious hurting on the "fast swimmer guys" from my masters program. Her team is CRAZY fast. But nevertheless, my "fast swimmer guys" are still way faster than me and fast enough thankyouverymuch.
So the workout is announced - 8x300 (not too bad), descend 1-4 on 4:30 and then last 4 on 5:00 as best average holding at least the pace on #4 if not faster. Okay! This sounds doable! Very generous intervals! Giddy up!
Then I meet my very nice lane partner who asks if I swam for Pitt. Umm...did he see me doing my open turns? I guess not! :)
And off we go. I figure the first one will be a little relaxed because we are to descend them. I feel good but am surprised to see that I come through in 4 min flat. Well. How about that? I don't really swim 300s faster than 4 minutes to tell you the truth and I think my PR might be 3:55. Now granted I don't usually go around swimming hard 300s but still - the question lingered - if we are STARTING at 4:00 where exactly was this *descend* going to end up?! And what was that about doing the last 4 at a pace faster than the final descended one? I looked longingly at my old lane.
But you know what? It was TOTALLY fine! We descended to 3:52 and then I swam my last 4 in 3:52, 3:52, 3:50 and 3:50. And I was fine. At one point I looked at the digital clock as we went through a 200 and I realized that we were going through in 2:30. I can guarantee that I've never swam a 200 in 2:30! BUT IT WAS FINE!
Now granted I was swimming on a strong swimmer's feet and if I had to do this by myself I would have significantly more trouble. I understand why I am instructed to sometimes do my workouts by myself! But still, it was a huge lesson in putting limits on myself! I do it especially with swimming but also with the other sports. I *think* I am capable of X but not Z. When really I should be asking WHY NOT Z? Why the heck not? Sometimes the answer is "because you are not ready for Z" but I think sometimes we'd all be surprised to learn that the answer is "yep, Z would be just fine!"
So that was my lesson for the day. I've learned this lesson before, but I have to keep relearning it at times. I never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed. :)
Now excuse me, I have to go admire my newly adjusted bike saddle. Plus, my favorite song is playing on my iTunes and I have to sing it to Roxy. I bet she can't wait!
Posted by beth at August 25, 2008 7:59 PM
Comments
YES!!! Nice swim Beth and nice times!!! It is coming together! Yahhooo! :)
Posted by: Jennifer Harrison at August 26, 2008 7:45 AM
You are so cute! I'll congratulate you on the bike saddle thing! I'm scared to touch mine for fear of screwing it up completely! GREAT life lesson too. I completely agree with you, yet have to always talk myself into z as well. :) Awesome swim times too!
Posted by: Kellye at August 26, 2008 7:49 AM
Way to step up and swim in the fast lane with the scary swimmers.
Posted by: maija at August 26, 2008 7:05 PM
You are awesome!! Way to go and great work with that saddle. HAHA! Seriously, I have trouble with bike stuff too ;-)
E
Posted by: E Swanson at August 26, 2008 7:39 PM