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.