Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Fear Is A Good Motivator

Well, I can honestly say that I wasn't going to do it on my own. Someone was going to have to make me.

Do what?

Swim in the lane with the fast guys.

Seriously. I have to say that I am really thankful for my swim coach because she is definitely pushing me. Encouraging me to do a 1500m timed swim instead of 750m to see how fast I can go. Including A LOT of speedwork in our workouts. This morning I woke up to big, fluffy flakes of snow. (Yes, after 12C weather yesterday, there was a huge amount of snow falling this morning...) Inclement weather like that always results in a pretty small group for swimming. Swim coach Rhonda wanted me to swim with someone so she asked the two fast guys to move over into my lane. And yeah...fear is a good motivator because I was so worried about getting run over by these guys. After a warm up we had a timed 300m swim. After that we broke it down:
  • 2 x 150m
  • 4 x 75m
  • 6 x 50m
  • 12 x 25m
I failed miserably on trying to keep up on the longer sets, mostly because I would lose them at the turnaround at the wall. Once I started in on my 50m sets Rhonda told me to just try to hang on and to really try to be efficient at the wall so I wouldn't lose them. And yeah...guess what? I was able to hang on! Some of it may have been to the benefit of drafting...but it felt good to be able to keep up half decently. So will I move into the lane with the fast kids? Um...probably not unless Rhonda makes me... I was really thankful that she pushed me this morning though!

One other interesting note? I got out of the water, looked down...and noticed some weird white stuff on my suit. What happened? Upon closer inspection my suit was starting to fall apart! I threw it out right away at the Y since I don't want to forget and wind up wearing that one again!

This evening was our first spin session at Crestmont. We moved here since Bow is now open later in the evenings so spin sessions there aren't possible. Angie warned us that tonight's workout was going to be 1:40 long. My legs were feeling dead when I got home from work and I really didn't know how this spin class was going to go. I figured I'd probably perk up once I got there though. Thankfully the energy just flowed once I was there and I knocked out a really great spin workout. Thanks Angie!

As a total aside...I got sucked into the vortex known as The Bachelor last night and didn't get to bed until almost midnight. I have avoided The Bachelor for so many seasons, but I got sucked into the finale with promises of a shocking ending and a leaked story that he was going to change his mind. Anyhow... Getting up at 4:30 sucked... Then I sat in a training class all day, broken up with a lunch and learn on a piece of software I want to start using at work. My brain was so sore...

15 comments:

Missy said...

Yeah for swimming with the fast boys! I totally know what you mean. I just get in and try to hang on for dear life.

The Bachelor - didn't watch it all season and got sucked into the finale. Yep, I need those three hours of my life back. What a prick!

Meg said...

I bet your bathingsuit fell apart because you were going so fast. Good work!

Run Mommy said...

Good for you! I couldn't even swim with little old ladies so I am very impressed. I can honestly say I have never watched a single episode of the Bachelor and somehow I still heard about the shocking ending.. :)

Deb said...

Haha...i'm having similar issues with 2 of my suits and the dreaded white stuff...i'm doing the ghetto thing right now though ;-) and end up wearing the 2 together rather than forking out some money for a new one...I figure it'll just create some extra drag and once I get a new one i'll feel super speedy :)

Deb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lily on the Road said...

I'm so happy you are able to swim and spin. Good job swimming with the big fish!

RunToTheFinish said...

you are a machine! i can only imagine how much butt you are going to kick on race day, wowie!

Wes said...

hahahaha I luv Missy! She does not mince words... Way to go, fishee!! I don't do flip turns, nor swim with a group. I need to remedy both those things!

Marlene said...

You know you must be putting in a lot of pool time if your suit starts to fall apart. Way to keep up with the fast kids!

Nice job with the spin workout too. 1:40!!?? Awesome!

teacherwoman said...

I wish I had a swim coach!

Badgergirl said...

Nice job on swimming with the fast boys!

Speed Racer said...

They say that the best way to swim faster is to swim with faster people. You bitch, you moan, you hurt like hell, but in the few months since they basically moved my whole lane "up a lane" (meaning we're doing the same workout as 1 lane up – faster – from us, rather than one lane down), I've taken about 5s per 100 off my time. But gosh, I sure miss those rests!!!

Congratulations on keeping up with the big boys. I bet one day you'll overtake them all!

Marathon Maritza said...

Great job swimming with the speedsters! I'm sure you're being to hard on yourself and truly didn't 'fail miserably'...come on...you're a swimming rockstar! :)

And ugh, I totally remember the days of suits falling apart from swim team in HS. RIP Leana's suit. :(

hee hee

ShirleyPerly said...

Great that your coach is pushing you to swim faster! I don't know where all the swimmers in my area are but they are NOT at the pool these days (still too cold outside?).

And I remember the first swimsuit I used falling apart and having my instructor tell me I should not wear it any more. What??? It seemed OK from the front but lo and behold the back side was quite sheer -- oh my!!! Now I try to get a lined swimsuit if possible.

Danielle said...

I haven't watched the Bachelor in forever either and I managed to stay away from the season finale even with the promises...now kind of wishing I had seen it!!