Week 27: Thanksgiving

11/24/2013
2100 yds
62 min.
This was a challenging swim, but I had better endurance than last week.  I could swim 200 yds at a time without having to stop and catch my breath.  Now that I don't have to think about the new TI techniques so much, I could relax more and check out mentally, something only swimming allows me to do.  The rocking, swinging sensation was almost hypnotic.  I tried to keep my upper body lower in the water, shorten each two-beat kick, reach down more.   Eight of my laps were free-back kick.  After a discouraging week last week, I was glad to get this week off to a good start.


11/29/2013
2100 yds.
Untimed
I missed my 11/26 swim, due to a cold.  I missed my 11/28 swim, because the pool was closed on Thanksgiving.  I still have the cold, but took a nap and made myself go to the pool anyway this afternoon.  I was so checked out mentally that I frequently lost count of my laps.  I was half asleep while swimming.  I know I swam at least 42 laps, if not more.  ... I did not swim Saturday, due to worsening of cold symptoms and feeling exhausted.  Could not take the girls to Y nursery, because they are contagious.  Illnesses and fatigue are the main obstacles I have been experiencing.  I feel angry that these things have been getting in the way of me reaching my weekly goals.

**********
When I look back over my swim log for the month of November, I focus on the reasons why
I didn't meet my weekly swim goals.  They are not invalid reasons:  I went to see my grandmother in Chattanooga for her birthday.  I couldn't drive to Madison due to a tornado warning.  I couldn't drive to Madison during a four-county bomb threat, that thankfully was a false alarm.  I was sick one day.  The Y was closed for Thanksgiving.  However, the main reason I didn't make up missed swims was fatigue.  Constant, unrelenting exhaustion.  Poor sleep at night and early awakenings.  I am going to ask to have my blood work done early.  I want my doctor to be sure my thyroid isn't going hyper again and to check for vitamin deficiencies.

Week 26: The Eternal Reach of Time

11/18/13

1800 yds.

47 min.

Missed 42-lap workout on 11/17/13, due to tornado weather.  Made up 36 of those laps today.  Now I am behind 6 laps for the week.  Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  Also focused on keeping my head lower in the water, keeping legs higher, keeping feet closer together, making each kick shorter, and rotating more.  Also focused on tring to drop arm sooner and lower, to improve catch.  My time was not great, however.  I lost time due to having to stop to rest, because winded.  It did feel good to continually lap the triathlete in the next lane, though.  Also, I had less of a bubble trail.  I really need someone to critique my stroke, now that I am trying the TI technique.  Will continue to watch tutorial clips, etc.  My chiropractor today instructed me to do wrist exercises by lifting a half-full milk bottle a certain number of times per day. 

11/20/2013
1800 yds.
52 min.
Missed 42-lap workout on 11/19/2013, due to traveling due to bomb threat in Decatur.  Made up 36 of those laps today. Now I am behind 12 laps for the week.  Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  Also focused on keeping my head lower in the water, keeping legs higher, keeping feet closer together, making each kick shorter, and rotating more.  Also focused on tring to drop arm sooner and lower, to improve catch.  However, 52 minutes is a very slow time.  I felt exhausted during the workout, and my lungs felt heavy when breathing.  I don't think I am sick, just very tired; perhaps not fully back after the pneumonia.  Need to take Vit. D and get better sleep. I really need someone to critique my stroke, now that I am trying the TI technique.  Will continue to watch tutorial clips, etc.

[Missed 11/21/13 workout of 42 laps, because completely exhausted.  Now behind 54 laps for the week.  Discouraged.]

Week 25: The Flesh That I Fight

11/12/13

1800 yds.

44 min.

Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  The two-beat rhythm felt completely automatic.  Missed my mile-long workout on the 10th, because we were out of town, and pools were closed on the 11th for Veterans Day. Now I am 36 laps behind.

11/15/13

1250 yds.

35 min.

Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  I felt exhausted, slow and discouraged.  I have not been sleeping well, due to shoulder/arm/wrist/hand pain, due to pinched nerve at C5.  When I don't sleep well, I skip workouts or don't swim well during them.  While swimming, I felt pain in my left shoulder.  However, I swam through it.  I fell short of my 36-lap goal, only swimming 25.  It felt rather hard to breathe.  Now I am 43 laps behind.

Week 24: Getting With the Program

11/3/13

1200 yds.

30 min.

Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  The two-beat rhythm felt completely automatic.  My time for each 100 was about 1:51.

11/5/13

1400 yds.

38 min.

Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  The two-beat rhythm felt completely automatic.  My time for each 100 was about 1:51.

11/7/13

1600 yds.

40 min.

Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  The two-beat rhythm felt completely automatic.  My time for each 100 was about 1:51.  I met my goal to swim 3x this week!  Up until now, I have found this to be very difficult.  My biggest challenge has been fatigue.  I am really trying to fight through that.  I also met my distance goals for the week!  It was strange starting at only a 1200, but I needed to start slow, due to coming back from pneumonia.

11/9/13

200 yds.

25 min.

64-degree water at Upton Lake!!!  Clint and I did it!  The most encouraging thing is that the Strait will most likely be 5-7 degrees warmer than this!

Week 23: Rehabilitation

10/27/13
Distance: 600 yds.
Time: 15 min.
Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  The new two-beat rhythm felt completely automatic.  John helped time my 100's.  I stayed at a time of 1:51 with this new technique, much faster than the 2:05's of the previous technique ... and this was after a bad illness!  During the nights of pneumonia, I would dream and dream about swimming.  I would dream about my deep longing to swim.  Most of all, I would dream about swimming with the two-beat kick.  My brain was processing this new motor skill while sleeping!  During this workout, it felt as though I had never swum any other way. ... On the day I got pneumonia, I found out my thyroid disorder has been in remission, even off medication!  I am praying it stays in remission, so that I don't experience any more setbacks to this training.

10/29/13
Distance: 1200 yds.
Time: 31 min.
Focused on 45-degree stroke, straight pull and two-beat kick.  The new two-beat rhythm felt completely automatic.  My time for each 100 was about 1:51.

Weeks 20 - 22: Pneumonia

Was in bed with Pneumonia from 10/4/13 until 10/16/13.  From 10/17/13 until 10/26/13, gradually did daily activities, but was too weak to swim.  Made a swim plan to begin again on 10/27/13 and gradually build endurance with the goal of being able to log 10 miles per week by the last week in March 2014.

Week 19: Two-Beat Kick

Date: 10/2/13
Yards: 2200

Time: 70 min.

Stroke count: 15-16

Felt: Physically challenged.

Challenges/Progress: Focused on driving hand flat into water and doing a straight pull as Clint recommended.  However, trying to also learn how to drive hand down into water at a 45-degree angle.  Trying to keep fingers pointing toward bottom of pool during the stroke.  Also, tried to do a two-beat kick for the first time.  Was very clumsy, and it felt very awkward. But I have total faith learning this kick will help me up my distance and that it will begin to feel more automatic.  Tried two-beat kick throughout workout.
Fears: What if, after getting my blood drawn tomorrow, I find that my thyroid has gone hyper again.  Praying that I will stay in remission while off the Tapazole!  I will find out next week.
Emotion: Sad, because of something difficult that happened this week.  Swimming helped me to process it a lot, though.  It is like therapy.
Learned:
1) Am going to keep going three days/week on my own and complete the endurance training on Pace Club.
2) Will continue with endurance workouts, but looking forward to training for increased speed.
3) Will continue to try to incorporate Total Immersion techniques.

Date: 10/4/13

Yards: 2000

Time: 50 min.

Stroke count: 15-16

Felt: Hot and cold, shaky.

Challenges/Progress: Focused on driving hand down into water at a 45-degree angle.  Trying to keep fingers pointing toward bottom of pool during the stroke.  Also, did two-beat kick throughout workout.  Had faster times!  Best time was 1:52 for a 100.  Just before workout, I found out my thyroid test came back normal! I'm still in remission, even off the medication!  However, during the workout, I got clammy and shaky.  I kept thinking, "I could go faster if I weren't so tired.  I ate a granola bar, but the shakiness didn't get better.  I had to stop short of my goal to swim a 2500.

Fears: Am I sick? ... Found out on 10/6 that I had a viral respiratory infection.  Today, 10/8, I am worse. Going to doctor in one hour to be checked for bronchitis/pneumonia.

Emotion: Sad, because of something difficult that happened this week.  Swimming helped me to process it a lot, though.

Learned:

1) I hate to have to sit out sick from my swimming.  Once I am well, I am going to keep going three days/week on my own and complete the endurance training on Pace Club.

2) Will continue with endurance workouts, but looking forward to training for increased speed.

3) Will continue to try to incorporate Total Immersion techniques.

Week 18: Getting Stronger

Date: 9/25/13
Yards: 2200

Time: 64 min.

Stroke count: 14-15

Felt: Great

Challenges/Progress: Focused on driving hand flat into water and doing a straight pull as Clint recommended.  This felt comfortable and easy to switch to.  Also learn how to do a side kick drill.
Fears: None
Emotion: Pleased.
Learned:
1) Am going to keep going three days/week on my own and complete the endurance training on Pace Club.
2) Will continue with endurance workouts, but looking forward to training for increased speed.

Date: 9/27/13

Yards: 2350

Time: 70 min.

Stroke count: 15-16

Felt: Great

Challenges/Progress: Focused on driving hand flat into water and doing a straight pull as Clint recommended.  This felt comfortable and automatic.  Need to learn how to do a head lead drill, something my workout called for.

Fears: None

Emotion: Proud, because my mom came in to watch me swim, after having seen me either miserably pregnant or sick with Graves disease for the past 5 years.  Mom was so happy at how much my health has improved and that I am more back to my old self.  She told a little boy and the coach of the swim team that I'm training to swim the Straight of Gibralter ... Anyone who would listen!

Learned:

1) Am going to keep going three days/week on my own and complete the endurance training on Pace Club.

2) Will continue with endurance workouts, but looking forward to training for increased speed.

Week 17: Upton Lake

Date: 9/16/13

Yards: 1800

Time: 57 min.

Stroke count: 14-16!!!

Felt: Winded

Challenges/Progress: Swam one mile.  Felt the need to rest more frequently than usual.  However, technique was better.  Swam every length in 14-16 strokes. I'm pulling more water per stroke and expending less energy bringing my hand over.  I stuck to one kick to position while gliding and two hard kicks when pulling.  Not sure if this is right, but it certainly seemed to work. Bilateral breathing quite automatic now.  

Fears: Have been afraid lately, wondering whether my thyroid is going to go hyper again.  Being so winded made me worry about this more. Worrying doesn't do any good, though.  Felt critical of myself for only having swum one day last week, due to having gone out of town.  Natchez has no Y.

Emotion: Happy with stroke count, but dissatisfied with need to catch breath more frequently.  Will need to see how I do when I swim again on Wednesday. Will try to do more continuous sets with flip turns, while also trying to keep stroke count down.

Learned:

1) Decided to wait until spring to reconsider joining Masters.  Am going to keep going three days/week on my own and complete the endurance training on Pace Club.

Date: 9/19/13
Yards: 2000

Time: 57 min.

Stroke count: 14-15 when not pulling

Felt: So tired when I started that I almost didn't go to the Y.  Then, felt great during the workout.

Challenges/Progress: Technique remained good.  Swam every length in 14-15 strokes when not pulling.  When pulling, 18 strokes.  Had pain in left shoulder. Pushed through it.
Fears: Afraid of pain I felt in left shoulder.
Emotion: Relieved that I did not get winded during this workout, which was more challenging than Monday's.  Proud that I have swum twice this week already.  As long as I swim on Saturday, I will stick with my goal of 3x/wk.
Learned:
1) Am going to keep going three days/week on my own and complete the endurance training on Pace Club.
2) I can now handle swimming 3x/wk.
3) I do need to swim on Wednesday mornings and not put it off until Thursday.
4) My speed, technique, and endurance are all getting better!

9/21/2013

Today, John, Clint, Silena and I went with Claire and Juliet to Upton Lake.  We were so grateful to the Uptons for allowing us to "borrow" their lake for a couple hours for training!

I felt only a little nervous before the swim, not nearly as nervous as last time.  I learned a few things from the last time.  For instance, I ate more for breakfast, remembered to bring water, brought a robe and stretched out a good deal more before swimming (since there are no walls at which to stretch every 25 yds.).  I knew I wouldn't be as fast as Clint, but my goal was to be faster than last time.  I was!

On our first length, I felt a bit stiff, but just focused on technique and reaching out as far as possible on each stroke.  I had no trouble staying on course.  I practiced Clint's sighting tips, which helped.  My neck and shoulders did not cramp up at all.  I stayed with Clint about a third of the way, and then he pulled ahead of me.  I didn't get tired, but couldn't go faster and still meet the distance.  Once I caught up, we both treaded for a while.  The second length back felt a little easier.  I liked the water temp: not as warm as last time ... perfect.  It was an overcast day with a little rain, but no thunder or lightning.  When we reached the house, it was neat to see John and Silena on the dock waiting for us - and Claire and Juliet!  We got out and drank water, but didn't rest too long.  By this point, we had swum over half a mile. My time: 23:19

We went across the lake again.  I had a song in my head and felt relaxed.  I tried to go as fast as I could, although not expecting to match Clint.  Tried to stick with him as long as I could and then follow his bubble trail until it disappeared.  Then, I would use him as my focal point when sighting.  This helped me stay on course.  Clint made it to the dam and treaded while I caught up. We treaded for a little while and then headed back!

I had been breathing bilaterally and evenly all the way along, but a few times on this last length, I had to breathe every one, like catch-up breaths.  Form was good.  None of my muscles cramped!  I kept trying to do the "kick kick", which helped.  In a rhythm.  Daydreaming.  At the other side suddenly.  My time: 24:54 (bit slower than the first lap). 

I decided not to swim the third lap with Clint.  I really wanted to keep going, but I knew that, although I could make it across, I would struggle on the way back.  I remember how I barely made it back on the third lap last time we swam in the lake.  I decided to stay on shore while Clint swam the third lap by himself.  My goal is to up my workout distances to between 45 and 60 laps, so that the next time we go to the lake, I won't feel hesitant to do three laps "long-course".  I also plan to practice what Clint taught me, and start making sure my hand is entering the water flat, not thumb-first, to reduce the out-of-date S curve.

Bottom line: I absolutely loved this swim.  I felt stronger, and my times improved over last time.  I felt way more comfortable in the water and much less apprehensive.  I also was not sore at all the next day, just tired, whereas after the last lake swim, I felt as if I had been hit by a truck. 

We swam the equivalent of 40-42 laps.  Counting the swim as a 2000.  Total time: 48:13

Week 16: Get It Out

Date: 9/9/13
Yards: 1600

Time: 45 min.

Stroke count: 20

Felt: Left shoulder felt sore.
Challenges/Progress: I had a hard day with Claire, who seemed extra passive-aggressive and disobedient today.  I was so angry when I started swimming.  Swimming helped me get it out and calm down.  Despite having a sore shoulder, I kept going and added an extra 250 to the assigned 1350 workout, for a total of 16.  Did drills, in which I woul breathe every 6 strokes. I really love this, as it is even more rhythmic and relaxing.  
Fears: The typical one about blowing out my shoulder(s). Not really rational.  Makes me afraid to push myself. But if I don't push myself, what is the point of having shoulders at all?
Emotion: Very angry, but became less and less angry as I swam.
Learned: 
1) Just because I am hurting, doesn't mean I should stop the workout.
2) Good thing I calmed down. Claire was only acting that way, because she had a fever!  When I found that out, I felt guilty for having allowed myself to get mad!

Week 15: Child Free!

Date: 9/3/13

Yards: 1600

Time: 47 min.

Stroke count: 19-20 - Clint needs to tell me more about measuring stroke count by time, rather than distance, which he says is more relavent to open water swimming.

Felt: Good. Need to practice overkick. Felt clumsy.

Challenges/Progress: The girls have started preschool. Claire will go M-F. Juliet will go MWF.  This gives me a huge break.  Time to get errands done. More time to swim!

Fears: None

Emotion: Calm

Learned:

1) Now have no excuses.  Will swim 3x/wk starting now!

Date: 9/5/13
Yards: 1900

Time: 43 min.

Stroke count: Didn't count. Just tried to be constantly aware of form.

Felt: Great.

Challenges/Progress: Did Week 2/Workout 3.  This involved a main set, in which I had to swim 10x100 with :10 rest between each, trying to maintain a consistent time.  My times varied between 2:10 and 1:55, with an average time of 2:01 per 100.  This is a big improvement from where I started.  Also, I got faster overall, not slower like I used to do!
Fears: None
Emotion: Calm
Learned:
1) Felt good during first week of swimming 3 times!  Will maintain this until I complete the 8 weeks worth of endurance workouts on Pace Club.
2) May join Masters swim team, because I would get individual coaching every Tues and Thurs at noon, while Claire stays for lunch bunch.  This may help me with form/endurance.  I would also meet other open water swimmers, mostly triathletes.  Thinking about it...

Week 14: Three Months

Date: 8/30/13
Yards: 2400

Time: 66 min.

Stroke count: 19-20 - Clint needs to tell me more about measuring stroke count by time, rather than distance, which he says is more relavent to open water swimming.

Felt: Very strong.  Am now off Tapazole.  Started taking vit D for deficiency.

Challenges/Progress: So pleased that I am able to do 48 laps and feel this good!
Fears: None
Emotion: Elated
Learned:
1) Need to swim 3 days/week!!  This will become easier to do, once the girls start preschool :)

Tiny Swimmer with the Rushing Heart

My mother wrote this poem for my daughter, Claire, a few months before she was born.

On the birth of Elizabeth Claire: poem from a new grandmother - by Carol Hanson

June 24, 2009 at 9:22pm

It seems I just heard about you.
Now you are here,
tiny swimmer with the rushing heart,
thrust from your watery element
into our air and light.
Going where?
Oh, what things will you see?
and what will you do?

Already your tracks have pressed
into my heart & mind,
long before you were born.
For a second skin of softness
(against that which nothing can be softer)
each stitch I knit furiously into the night
with wonder & thoughts of you

Fair beauty of the nether lands,
small goddess blonde and blue?
Little Levantine, darker, exotic?
a miniature of my Taurean father
translated into the feminine?
facsimile of an elusive Native ancestress?
Could anyone predict?

Memories of babies born,
mine, not mine,
swirling in my brain,
hands racing, needles clicking,
garments flowing out of fiber,
pondering the human race,
how it continues,
in spite of everything.

In spite of everything,
or perhaps because of it,
you have been born.
Now I can see you,
hold you, love you.
If you are cold or hungry
Don't be afraid
Just cry
Someone will come to fill your every need,
Faster than your heart can beat,
Or you could ever swim.

Little sweet one,
you cannot know,
how everything has become so different,
nothing is the same nor ever will be,
no one around you is untouched, unshaped,
by the simple fact of your existence.

The very air is different
an atmosphere heavy with joy.
It boggles the mind how
someone so helpless can have such power
to create our most intimate world anew
and set our hearts to dancing.

Identities are redefined on your arrival.
There are new names for us.
Your awaiting gifts shine from shelves
Even our music is transformed -
Oldies, country, rock, what have you -
Into the slow, dreamy melody of lullabies.

All of us will wait now.
Through the hours, days, weeks, months
of your cries
and of your silence,
until that day
when you first can speak
and tell us
what is in
your young and rushing heart.

Week 13: Confidence Boost

Annah:

8/24/2013

Today was a wonderful day.  Clint, Silena and I went with Francie to Upton Lake, a 1/2-mile x 1/4 mile, family-owned lake in Alabaster.  Mr. Upton was so generous to invite us to practice there.  He and his lovely family were spending the day at one of the lake houses.  It is a beautiful, man-made lake, clean with a gravelled bottom.  We had gorgeous weather.  Best of all, no alligators!

I felt surprisingly nervous before the swim, but mostly just excited to be swimming in open water, finally!  This was the first time Clint and I had ever practiced together, and I knew he would be faster than me. This didn't bother me; I know I have the time and motivation to work on speed.  But I didn't want to hold him back.

On our first length, I realized I should have stretched more and warmed up before starting. I felt stiff and tired.  I had trouble staying on course, and had no experience sighting.  I was amazed at how different it feels to get winded ... but not be able to stop at the end of a lap lane!  I also realized I should have eaten more than a small piece of toast for breakfast.  Clint quickly pulled ahead of me.  I wasn't surprised at the difference in our speeds.  I didn't feel anxious at all, because I have so many memories of swimming in Lake Castle in Madison, MS.  Plus, I knew if I truly got exhausted, I could always just float!

Once he made it to the other side, he waited for me and treaded water, something we'll have to do a lot of, in order to be able to "feed" during swims.  Once I caught up, we both treaded for a while and reviewed.  The second length back felt much easier.  I was more warmed up and confident.  I really enjoyed the water, which was in the high 80's - almost too warm!  I still wasn't relaxed and wasn't really stetching out my strokes, yet.  We got out, and I drank all of Silena's water, because I had forgotten to bring my own - another mistake!  By this point, we had swum over half a mile.

Clint said, "Ok, here's what I think we should do.  We should swim all the way across and back without stopping and then do it again, no stops."  I felt pretty confident I could go across and back with a stop at the dam, but did not think I could go farther than that, stops or no stops.  But, I said I would try!  We went across and I stayed closer to Clint's speed than I had before, although he did pull away once in the middle of the lake.  I stayed in a much straighter line during this third length, especially while following his bubble trail.  I kept better track of the point on the shore I had chosen to sight.  Clint made it to the dam and treaded while I caught up.  Then, I flip-turned and kept going!  But it wasn't easy!

I kept breathing bilaterally and evenly during the fourth length.  Form was good. But shoulders and neck got tired. In a rhythm. Daydreaming.  At the other side suddenly.  My time was becoming a couple of minutes slower on each length, according to Clint's watch.  We stopped for only a few minutes on the shore.  Clint said we should keep going. He said I could always get into the pontoon boat with the Uptons, if I had to.  (The pontoon was near the dam.)  This convinced me to keep going, even though I didn't think I could make it to the dam.  During this fifth length, I struggled to keep going.  I counted, "one, two, three."  I sighted by: side breathing on the right and then looking straight ahead as my right hand entered the water.  When talking to Clint later, I found out this is backward, so I was probably wasting energy.  Toward the end of the length, I had to backstroke.  I made it to the dam.

I called to Clint, "I'm getting in the pontoon boat!"  Clint called back, "You're not getting in the pontoon!  You're gonna do this!  That's not the shore of the lake!  That's Morocco!"  So I kept going ... out of pride.  We headed back to Silena and Francie.  I was even slower during this sixth length.  Twice, I had to switch to backstroke, because my shoulders were so tired.  But ... I made it!!

At first, Clint and I thought we had swum about 1.5 miles.  It turns out that we swam 1.76 miles!  That is 3,150 yards.  That is the equivalent of 63 laps in a pool, but without flip turns and kick offs.  That is the equivalent of 31.5 football fields ... with resistance.  That is pretty cool.

Week 12: Intermediate Level

Date: 8/17/13

Yards: 1850 - my farthest yet!

Strait #2 Progress: 2.0 of 10.2 miles
Length of time to complete Strait #1: 64 days
Length of time on Strait #2 (so far): 12 days

Time: 45 min.
Stroke count: 19-20 - Clint needs to tell me more about measuring stroke count by time, rather than distance, which he says is more relavent to open water swimming.

Felt: Much needed, but difficult, because still feel like I have this cold! And swimmer's ear!

Challenges/Progress: Breathing, whether it was every three or every four, whether it was on right or left, felt way more natural.  Am so glad the Y is now on its Fall schedule, so there are way more lap lane times.  The whole place is less crowded.  Fist drill felt more natural.  As part of Endurance, Intermediate, Week 2, Workout 2, I had to swim for 10:00, tracking my distance. I was disappointed it was only 425. I had hoped for 500.  My pace is still on the slow side. However, considering I couldn't climb the stairs in my house 6 months ago (Graves disease), I have made so much progress!  All in all, I'm so pleased and grateful to be able to swim again!
Fears: None
Emotion: Determined
Learned:
1) Need to swim 3 days/week!!  This will become easier to do, once the girls start preschool :)
2) I'm coming down with a cold.

Week 11: Amelia Island

Date: 8/6/13

Yards: 1600

Time: 48 min.

Stroke count: 18

Felt: Challenging, because have been sick with a cold all week and on antibiotics.

Challenges: Was being hard on myself, because I hadn't swum in a week. But I've been sick and on antibiotics. Still am.  Swam Endurance, Intermediate, Week 2, Workout 1. However, added 200 yards to make total distance 1600, my new minimum.

Fears: None

Emotion: Determined.

Learned:

1) Need to swim 3 days/week, 1600/workout, at least.

2) It took me an overall period of 64 days to complete Strait #1.

John and I left for Amelia Island on the 8th, our first trip without kids in three years.  We went to the beach on two evenings and swam for almost an hour in the surf.  Well, John collided into waves as he loves to do, and I swam.  I was surprised at how easy it was ... and how hard it was.  The current near the shore was pretty strong, and I swam where the waves were cresting.  I was able to breathe well on both sides, adjusting my rhythm even when waves crashed over me.  On the other hand, I didn't go anywhere. I would look up, expecting to be far out at sea, and John would be only a few yards from me, still.  No matter what, I loved it, even when one wave slammed me on the ground and tore my goggles off my head!  On a third evening, John and I went to the beach at 1:00 a.m., but we didn't swim.  We watched a meteor shower!

Open Water Begins

Thursday, August 8, I spent the afternoon swimming at Upton Lake.  It was the Restoration Academy faculty retreat and while my coworkers lazed around I made everyone uncomfortable when I put on my jammer and headed out into the lake.  It was my first training swim in open water and, now that I have done it, I am not looking forward to returning to tile walls and black lines on the bottom.  It was the most amazing feeling to be able to really stretch out my stroke and cut through the water and having sunshine, trees, and birds passing by when I took a breath instead of time clocks and a sleeping lifeguard.  (I usually swim around 5:30 each morning.)  I swam 2.3 miles and I can't wait to see that distance increase! 

Week 10: Completed Strait #1

Date: 7/30/13

Yards: 1800

Strait #1 Progress: 9.7 of 9.7 miles - COMPLETE!
Length of time to complete Strait #1: 64 days

Time: 48 min.
Stroke count: 18

Felt: Challenging, because very tired.

Challenges: Focused on rotation, breathing every fourth stroke.  On right on way down and on left on way back. Still some difficulty on left. Perhaps left arm is weeker, since it is not my dominant side. Less rotation on left side. Had chiropractic adjustment that morning ... first one in 4 weeks ... so back sore.
Fears: None
Emotion: Determined
Learned:
1) Need to swim 3 days/week.
2) I'm coming down with a cold.

Week 9: Smooth Sailing

Date: 7/24/13

Yards: 1500

Strait #1 Progress: 8.8 of 9.7 miles

Time: 44 min.
Stroke count: 17-18

Felt: Wonderful. So proud to be on the second endurance workout.  And I had the ability to do it well!

Challenges: At first, didn't know whether I would be able to do a continuous 800.  But I just focused on going slowly, gliding, and breathing every fourth stroke.  I started feeling almost hypnotized.  Before I knew it, I had finished the 16 laps of the main set.  Did backstroke on the last four laps, which worked out a minor cramp in my left neck/shoulder.
Fears: None.
Emotion: Happy!
Learned:
1) I need to go back to the chiropractor. I haven't been in 3 weeks.

The Strait Story, Part I

I think it is time for the silent contributor to break their silence.  You need to know that, for me, this goal was born out of a dream and a school lesson.  I am a husband, father, and high school teacher.  As I began to push deeper into my thirties it became increasingly obvious that I needed to find a way to exercise regularly.  I had tried weight lifting and running with some colleagues,  but this always fell apart at the end of the school year.  Added to this was my apathy towards running.  However, I have always loved the water.  I find it to be a place of peace and refreshment, having been a scuba diver since I was 15.  In January 2012 I joined the local Y and decided that I would begin lap swimming, never having done anything like that in my life.  It was harder and more fulfilling than any physical activity I had done to that point and I found myself actually looking forward to working out!  I loved my nice clear pool water with the handy black guide line on the bottom, always pointing me in the right direction.

Last fall I had a dream one night that was as vivid as any I had ever had.  I was on a plane flying over the ocean and then, all at once, I wasn't.  The plane had gone down and there I was floating in the sea all alone.  Far from being afraid, I took off swimming in the direction that I knew land must be.  I swam and swam, feeling relaxed and free.  Occasionally, I would see a passing ship and wave to them to get picked up, but they would glide by me without even a deviation of course.

Later that week when giving a geography lesson to my 9th grade about Europe, I pointed out the Strait of Gibraltar to them we discussed its importance in history.  I told them how it was such a narrow point between Europe and Africa and whoever controlled it, controlled access between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.  I then wondered out loud if anyone had ever swam across it.  Students, being eager to go down rabbit trails, begged me to find out.  Me, being an eager rabbit chaser as well, indulged them and a quick internet search led us to a video of someone swimming the Strait and while watching the video I couldn't believe it when I saw the first cargo ship off in the distance while the swimmer plowed ahead!  It was just like my dream!  I remembered how it felt in the dream to swim without reaching a tile wall every 25 yards.  After more research, I was hooked.

I teach at an inner city school and I spend a great deal of time within the context of my lessons extolling the importance of LIVING life.  For me this is a quest to do that.  I want to show my students, my children, and myself that anything is possible if you work hard enough.  I have spent my life in awe of the sea.  I have explored the wonders beneath the waters where all is quiet and still.  Now I want the chance to conquer the relentless power on the surface and swim from one continent to another.  I want to spend a day in a Speedo at the mercy of the wind and waves and fight back.  I want to create an international incident when I wash ashore in Morocco in my American flag Speedo, sunburned and tired.

Week 8: After the Storm

Date: 7/16/13

Open water at Smith Lake: 4 laps (out to buoy and back)

Yards: 1000

Strait #1 Progress: 7.1 of 9.7 miles

Time: 30 min.

Stroke count: N/A

Felt: Challenging

Challenges: 

1) Breathing more difficult in open water, even when just a light current.

2) Sighting very difficult. Goggles somewhat foggy. At times couldn't see buoy.

3) Staying on course a bit difficult.  Never realized how dependent on the black line I have become.

4) Having to pull Charles back on my inner tube, because he could swim out to the buoy each of the four times, but didn't have the endurance to swim back on the same leg. 

Fears: Snakes. Stayed well away from vegetation.

Emotion: Peace.  The lake was beautiful, just after rain storm. Sun breaking through clouds. Quiet.

Learned:

1) Smith Lake has a really large outdoor pool in walking distance to swimming section of lake.

2) I need to come here at least once every two weeks.

Date: 7/19/13

Yards: 1400

Strait #1 Progress: 7.9 of 9.7 miles

Time: 48 min.
Stroke count: 18 -20

Felt: Wonderful. Much needed.

Challenges: Learning how to do fist drill. Don't really like it!
Fears: None.Emotion: Triumphant, because just began 8-week-long endurance training.
Learned:
1) How to do fist drill.  Need to buy two whiffle balls for this.
2) I wish I could move this lap-only, saline pool to Decatur.

Week 7: No Swimming

John's father passed away on 7/7/13.

Week 6: A Mile Before the Storm

Date: 6/30/13

Yards: 1200

Strait #1 Progress: 5.5 of 9.7 miles

Time: 37 min.

Stroke count: 15-17 - did coasting, thigh touch drills on every freestyle lap

Felt: Like it was just too easy. Also breathed bilaterally automatically.

Challenges: Longed to go farther. Want to swim in open water. 

Fears: None.

Emotion: Excited about the longterm.

Learned: The BEST time to swim at the Madison Y is Sunday 12-4 ... So peaceful ... Until the schedule changes again tomorrow?

Date: 7/6/13

Yards: 1800

Strait #1 Progress: 6.5 of 9.7 miles

Time: 45 min.
Stroke count: 15-17 - did coasting, thigh touch drills on every freestyle lap.

Felt: Very challenging, because used paddles for the first time during the main set. Used pull buoy at times, which I have not done in years.

Challenges: Learning how to use the paddles to create the most resistance possible. 
Fears: None.
Emotion: Annoyance about crowd and lifeguards' unwillingness to keep random people out of the lap lane.
Learned:
1) Avoid the Y on Saturdays. So crowded.
2) Best is to do freestyle like climbing ladder as swimmers are taught now, not figure 8, as I was first taught.  This was obvious when using the paddles.
3) Must start swimming 3x/week. Have not been, due to caring for Mr. Joseph, being so tired.
4) Must use paddles and pull buoy some each workout.

Week 5: Outrageous Sunshine

Date: 6/24/13

Yards: 1100

Strait #1 Progress: 4.8 of 9.7 miles

Time: 35 min.

Breathed: Bilaterally, every 3

Felt: WAY stronger than last swim! MUCH easier when breathing on left side now! Also, this swim was after a 3-mile walk on Burningtree golf course!

Challenges: 

1) At first, lifeguard wouldn't let me swim, because swim lessons were in progress. I asked if I could use the lap lane or at least share it. He said "no."  The lifeguard was just doing his job, but I felt frustrated at first, because the front desk had told me I could use the lap lane anytime swim team was not practicing.  Plus, I had driven so far to get there, bought gas, checked Juliet into the nursery, changed clothes, etc.  So I went to the director, Drew Freeman.  I explained that I am training to swim the Strait of Gibralter and asked if there was any way I could swim today.  He went out of his way to talk to the lifeguard and let me swim in the main part on the other side of the rope.  I stayed out of the kids' way and was able to finish the workout.  I asked him if he'd like me to advertise for the Madison Y, which is a fantastic Y.  He asked me to send him info about the swim.  He is also going to have the aquatics director call me.  If she doesn't, I'll call her.  I am paying too much for a membership to not be able to use the pool, the only reason I joined.
Fears: What if I can't swim here, and then there's no other option?!  I have to trust God with this.
Emotion: Happy with swim.  Can tell I'm getting stronger.
Learned:

Week 4: Tired, But Swam Anyway

Date: 6/17/13

Yards: 1100

Strait #1 Progress: 4.2 of 9.7 miles

Time: 42 min.

Breathed: Bilaterally, every 3

Felt: Physically tired.

Challenges: 

1) Sleep deprivation due to the noise from John's c-pap, dog snoring, stuffy downstaires bedroom, pain/numbness in arms from lifting Juliet, nighttime eating.
2) An improvement that I was at 19-20 strokes. But used to be consistently at 18. Need to get stronger.
Fears: None
Emotion: Satisfied with progress.
Learned:
1) Must stop eating after 8.
2) Must sleep in upstairs guest room until John gets new C-pap.
3) MISSED second workout of last week.  Must not overcommit myself during the mornings when I need to be swimming. Must go to Y even if tired, even if must do shorter workout. Better than missing. When life gets stressful/hectic, I have an even greater need to swim.

Week 3: The First Mile

Date: 6/14/13

Yards: 1800

Strait #1 Progress: 3.6 of 9.7 miles

Time: 42 min.

Breathed: Bilaterally, every 3

Felt: Very encouraged. It was hard to keep pushing, but I went past the barrier I somehow set for myself over the past five years (25 laps). I was surprised to find I could have swum even farther!

Challenges: 

1) Hard to keep pushing. 
2) Still at 21-22 strokes. Used to be consistently at 18. Need to get stronger?
Fears: None!
Emotion: Elated. Especially at lap 30. Felt like I was bursting into flame ... in a good way.
Learned:
1) When out of breath and energy and "couldn't go on", switched to backstroke and not only kept going, but went pretty fast.

Week 2: Widdershins

6/5/13

1200 yds.

40 min.

Focused on bilateral breathing.  I felt stronger than last week.  It was difficult to share a lane with two swimmers, swimming counter-clockwise, although it motivated me to keep up my pace!  Another challenge is that the pool schedule changed without warning.  However, I was excited to complete the workout and to do well on intervals.

6/7/13

1100 yds.

40 min.

Focused on bilateral breathing, which I'm still getting used to.  Felt great.  It was difficult to share a lane with two swimmers, swimming counter-clockwise, although it motivated me to keep up my pace!  I used my new waterproof stopwatch. Helpful, but still having trouble getting it to reset.  I could not do the kick intervals fast enough. (Supposed to do 6 sets of 50 yards on 1:15 intervals. Did first two, but too slow on last four.)  I could not get number of strokes per length below 20 today. Perhaps need improvement on technique? Definitely on strength.  I had fun swimming with Megan and Charles.

Learned:

1) How to use new stopwatch.

2) I don't have to buy a pull buoy, because pool has them.

3) Remember to breathe every three strokes. shoulder to ear, rotate hips more.

4) Need someone to tape me swimming, so I can critique technique, to improve stroke count.
5) I need to read about/learn how to sight. I couldn't figure it out.

Week 1: From Spain to Morocco

5/28/13
1000 yds.

Untimed

Focused on bilateral breathing.  Felt great, but shoulders were tight.  Stiffness when rotating.  I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do 20 laps, but I did it!  I felt triumphant.  I learned not to use Nike goggles. It would be good to eventually include yoga for strength/flexibility.  I'm back!

6/1/13
1025 yds.
30 min.
Focused on bilateral breathing.  Felt great.  However, had never done interval training before!
I learned:
1) Think of one end of the lane as Spain, the other as Morocco.
2) When doing intervals, breathe every 3.
3) Put the clock at the opposite end of the pool from where I'm starting.
4) Interval training is hard ... but not as hard as being in labor.
5) Try to get workouts completed before Saturday, because pool is crowded on Saturday.