My First Mile

Remember when you ran your first mile?  I do - I was on the treadmill at the YMCA.  I ran until the display said 1.00 and then hit the stop button and caught my breath.  Well - now I have another mile to remember...my first mile swim!  I actually hit it faster than I expected.  Last week, I came sooo close (my wednesday swim was only 60 yds shy of the mile mark), but I didn't realize it until I was logging my swim or I wouldn't done two more laps.  So, today before I got out of the pool, I checked my lap count to see how close I was to the magic 36 laps...and I had already swam 41 laps!  Hmmm, what shall be the next distance goal for the hour long class...I'm not too far off from 2km (44 laps) so that is not much of a stretch, maybe an even 50 laps (2,500 yds)?  Why not? 

Today's workout - Swim 2050 yds. First mile swim!! 

Not Exactly "Master" Swimming

Don't get me wrong...I am no "Master" swimmer.  But, I do know how to swim - I took lessons through the YMCA back in Indiana about 30 yrs ago after all.  However, I have never been a part of a swim team/group.  Over the past couple years, I have been in the pool maybe twice a month (at the most) as cross-training. 

But then I got some "bucks" to spend at my gym for a referral.  Out of the options that they had, for some unknown reason, I decided that three months of Master Swimming would be a good way to spend those "bucks".  For two weeks before I actually signed up for the group, I made it the pool twice a week and tried to build up somewhat of a base - you know, so that I could make sure that I could survive trying to swim for a whole hour! 

So, two weeks ago I took the plunge and actually showed up for the group.  There were probably about a dozen people there that day.  I was by far the worst/slowest swimmer in the group. Somehow, I managed to survive the whole hour - although I wasn't exactly keeping up with the group.  There were 3 people in my lane and basically, I would go last and swim around twice.  Then I'd wait while they passed me (because they were about to lap me!) and repeat.

After class, the instructor asked me how I felt about the class and told me it would get easier. But I don't feel too bad about it - I mean, I couldn't even run a mile when I started out, and here I am two marathons later!  Today - I ALMOST swam a mile!!  I was only 60 yards short!  Next week's goal - I will get that mile swim for sure!

Today's workout - Swim 1700 yds.  Words of wisdom from the coach: Lift elbows higher on the recovery, I'm a really good kicker (could that have anything to do with the fact that I run?)

Only two weeks into class and it is already getting a little easier.