it seems to work

The tips Nikki gave do seem to work, but it be the fact that all the stars and planets are aligned again and for the third time I was able to swim sine I was 12 years old. It is bound to happen a couple of time in 35 years. She even gave a pointer on open water swimming on how to hold the head up to see where I'm going. I'm hope the lake is crystal clear like the pool. Do you know of any like these? I have experienced panic. Not only the first time getting into a pool after so many years, the lack of swimming ability and did I forget to mention you need to learn to breath. Breathing in the water is where panic can set in. The first time I suck in what felt like a 1,000 gallons of water, I thought that was it. I was going down and did not follow my wife's advice. Don't drown tonight. Then I realized I sucked up that much water I can touch the bottom in the deep end. It has happened a few times since and first is panic and then I over come and keep going.

tips from coach

Webster has a new swim coach for the swim team and just the short time she watch me swim. OK paddle through the water, she was able to give me some help. First tip, stick to running and biking. No she didn't say that, but maybe thought it. Ok for real. The advise she gave seemed to pay off, but I did not realize I had to think. When I run it one foot in front of the other, breath and pump my arms. Biking. It's clamp in my feet, peddle and when I see a hill shift... Swimming is much more than a sport. It takes thought. Are my fingers to far apart, to tight, does my hand go back to far, not far enough out front, don't kick like I'm running in the water, but kick from the hips, look down into the water and turn the head to breath. Each one of these by themselves is no problem for me, but pt it all together takes a lot of thought. While I'm going to give a little more to see if it is still working and go back to see what else I may have forgotten. Everyone needs a good laugh.

Wonder waves

While last night made me feel good in the pool, on the way made me wonder. It was a South Dakota breeze. The white caps on Lake Kampeska made me wonder. Do they even hold an event when it looked like the waves from Deadliest Catch. I never imaged them pulling in a crab pot and finding me, but the waves had me wonder. It's like riding a bike into gale force winds, but it great coming back. Do they start the swim at another point in the lake so the waves help carry you or is it the chips fall where they may. No matter what, this has been an experience, but last nights waves made me wonder if their would be another post if I had to attempt them last night.

It's happened twice

I don't know if all the stars and planets were aligned last night and a month ago or so, but for me I was able to swim, twice. It may not have been pretty, but it could have worked. The problem is it needs to be regular, a little faster and let me out of the water without being exhausted. For swimmers reading this congrats. It was something I could do as a kid, but after being a land breather and for most part, a couch potato the last 25 year, I think I've come a long ways in 16 weeks and for the swimming aspect, 32 hours. That could be even stretching it as the first couple swims did not last for an hour. I'm not sure if I stop because I was completely out of breath, the life guard thinking they were going to be able to use their training after all, or the other swimmers wondering what in the world I was doing. I'm sure they knew it was not swimming, but did not what to call it. I'm hope in the next weeks I can get control of my swimming, hop on a bike and then take off on foot. The other alternative is not good. Have you ever tossed a rock into the lake and seen what happens to it. You have the picture.

Back to Back

It is so much easier doing back to back than doing one training and later in the day yet another. It is easy to talk yourself out of them and find yourself exhausted as the day is extended. What is equally hard is finding time to participate in actual events as most weekends there are many commitments. A number of those work related and then other activities calling for attention and then add in weather. With nine weeks to go, I begin to question time and commitment. I know I'm going to be first and with a goal to finish some might think it is a piece of cake. Finishing and finishing that I want to do it again are two different items.

It's easy

It's easy to skip a workout, but I fear to many skipped workouts will mean a long day on the course. Swimming just knocks it out of me, or maybe it is the hour ride home. The book says to get up at 5 a.m. and knock out one of the workouts for the day and the second at the end of the day. I tried the 5 a.m. start and did it for a couple weeks during the winter months, but I like my sleep. As much as I like my sleep it might be time to get back early mornings or change something around. Wednesday when I got home from the pool, it was supper and relaxing on the couch, not the hour run. We'll see about tonight's bike and run brick. Hopes it goes better.

the countdown

I do not think I'm going to be able to bring my history up to date, so I will start with the countdown. Sixteen weeks ago I started training for a 1/2 ironman. Keep in mind I hated to run in high school 30 years ago and loved to eat, drink and not get off the couch just a couple years ago. The last time I rode a bike, other than a kid was in Custer State Park when one of two bicyclists abandoned their ride and hoped into one of our vehicles. It was better than getting trampled by some pissed off buffalo that day. Grabbing the bike and holding on to it out the window until we were clear of the buffalo and then getting on it and riding it down to safety was it. Maybe it was a 1/4 mile. My wife inspired me as she is training for a six day ride over 470 miles on her bike, so I should be able to do 56 in a day. I've ran a few half marathons, so I told myself I can do that. Putting the bike ride together with the run has been work, but doable. OK you might remember it is a triathlon. Biking and running are the last two events. The first is how much lake water can I drink. Actually that to swim 1.2 miles. For swimmers, you are thinking a piece of cake. My fear other than drowning is finishing the swim, exhausted and dead to the world, then heading to the bike rack and seeing only my bike, or worse yet, someone parking their bike and heading out on the run. I've been hitting the pool and can now swim more than 25 yards without being completely out of breath, but not a 1.2 miles yet non-stop, but I can do a mile plus. June 1 the local pool opens and I'm plan on a little more time and seeking some more help so in 10 weeks my fears don't become a reality.