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August 28, 2008
Swim!
Today I got to swim! I've never been so happy to walk into the pool, hassle free and not having had to drive 3 hours to find swimmable water! :)
But then the workout was announced at masters and I got a little scared. Because at the end there were 25s and some of those 25s were underwater NO BREATH!
Now I know I've discussed this before on my blog. Me and limited amounts of oxygen don't get along too well. Every time I see something with limited breaths or no breaths I think of Jen Harrison or my coach, who once told me he can do a full 50 with no breaths. Seriously? Really? Are you part fish? Because this little triathlete right here can get about 10 yds.
So my trusty lane partner and I went about the workout. We did 100s, 75s (on a very tight interval, not sure what we were thinking there), 50s and then finally the 25s. 6 of them were underwater, no breath.
The first one I didn't even get close. I came up around mid pool gasping for air. Number 2 was much the same. On number 3 Coach Jen gave me a very helpful suggestion - keep my face looking down as I was forcing myself to surface by looking up. With this little piece of knowledge in my back pocket I made it about 2/3rds of the way on #3! Yes, that definitely helped!!
On number 4 I declared to my lane partner that THIS would be the one we would make it. (don't know where that confidence came from) And by golly it worked! I made powerful pulls under the water and miraculously surfaced only once, at the end of the pool. At which point I made a huge gasping noise! SWEET, SWEET oxygen!
Starting the next one, I told my lane partner that I would rather do 1000 repeats than this. This is tough! He agreed. Then I told him this will be harder than his upcoming race at IM Wisconsin! Not so sure he agreed on that one. This, coming from someone who thinks a half IM is WAYYYYY too long to be racing... :)
Number 5 and 6 I survived as well. I made it all the way across! And then I decided I wouldn't attempt such crazy things for a long time coming. Meanwhile, all the swimmers were not thinking twice of this exercise in oxygen depletion. Silly swimmers!
So tomorrow I get to swim again. At a different pool. When I talked to the woman yesterday, she ASSURED me I would be allowed in because my YMCA pool is closed. I think I might cry if they give us (O is coming with me) a problem. It's just like being injured or sick - you don't know how badly you want to do your workouts until someone says you can't!
Good night everyone!
Posted by beth at August 28, 2008 8:09 PM
Comments
OH YEAH BETH! hee hee...nice work! Grrrrrrrrrrrr
Posted by: Jennifer Harrison at August 28, 2008 10:51 PM
On my... I am with you on holding my breath! I breathe every stroke swimming... thankfully we don't do that breath death thing in Kona!
Way to go Beth! Hope you get in the pool!!
Posted by: breewee at August 29, 2008 7:48 AM
Sounds like a tough reunion with the water! Way to find a way to make it happen!!
I couldn't imagine driving around for 3 hours to find a place to swim. I have a hard time making it to the pool 2 miles away!
Posted by: Cathy Y at August 29, 2008 12:11 PM
EWWWWW, I had those breath holding things yesterday. CRAP. Yeah, I can't make it the whole way before chickening out. Jen better not read this blog again for she will have me do them until I turn more blue in the face. Good tip though,thanks. Hope your pool hopping subsides.
Posted by: kerri at August 30, 2008 8:18 AM
Hello Kerri...here I am ..... watching....
:)
Posted by: Jennifer Harrison at August 30, 2008 11:21 AM