Posts from — August 2009

Saturday (Day 135)

Swam (1:33 approx)

Temp: 86º F
RPE: 8
Weight: 175

First open water swim. First race start, first swim event ever. Lots of firsts! Did the Tallchief Open Water Challenge. I did a 2 mile swim. It took me a little bit less time that I thought it would, but still a long time – about 1:33.

It was a lot of fun. My proudest moment is when I swam into the second slowest guy on the course. I think by that time he and I are the only guys still left in the lake. Anyway, I’m heading toward the buoy, he’s heading away from it, and somehow, in the midst of this not small lake, thousands of yards of open water all around us, we collide and  head butt! Go figure.

Some of the things that I learned are that it is important to practice sighting – maintaining your swim pace while raising your head to look for buoys and/or obstacles. Never even occurred to me ’til I was talking to Denise, the race director, the Monday before the event. I also learned that the fastest swimmers are usually the ones that swim in the straightest lines, and that it’s disorienting when you swim into a canoe or kayak who’s helpfully trying to guide you back into the race path and, finally, that if you’re dead last, you get your own personal kayaker.

The other thing I learned is not to panic or freak out. Faced with all that brown water and no swim lanes, at the start I really didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. First time in over a year that I’ve been in a lake to actually swim and that was through an event sponsored by TAT. Then I did freak out and quietly bailed after about a couple of hundred yards out into the bay where we were swimming. This time I just focused on counting strokes and that seemed to help a lot.

Anyway, I’d really recommend the event. Denise did a great job, the event was well organized, the course was well  marked and laid out, the water was calm and protected making for great swim conditions, and the kayakers/canoers  out on the course were great – especially the guy in the white kayak – whom I will forever after think of as my own personal kayaker. Once it was clear I was dead last he stayed with me the whole way and gave me encouragement the whole time “doing great, almost home, there it is, etc.” If he should somehow read this, thanks. I tended to use him to mark my path, I tried to stay about ten feet off his side and that seemed to keep my position.

Talked to some swimmers from Ft. Worth and they actually had practice sessions for doing the buoys stroke stroke, roll onto your back as you turn, roll back as you straighten out. Oh, and man, the hamburgers were delicious too!

Wednesday (Day 134)

Swam (59)

Temp: 86º F
RPE: 8
Weight: 175

Fun swim. Last time I’ll be able to get in the pool before Saturday’s big open water event. It was a Fin Day so I was able to get in more mileage. Did two 800 free /400 kick sets. Got in about 300 free in addition before I was out of time – about 2700 yards all told.  That gives me a pace of about 38 minute a mile  Pretty slow even with fins, but compared to when I started a couple of years ago, it’s rocking. I guess if I’m serious, I need to start working on the lap speed. The faster you go in practice, the faster you go in the real world.  Love being in the pool. It’s really strange now to me how much I hated the swim club when I was a kid.  I’m taking Friday off to rest before the event and I won’t be able to swim tomorrow because of a MS Certification class I’m taking.

Tuesday (Day 133)

Swam (35)

Temp: 86º F
RPE: 8
Weight: 175

Tried to get in some sets, but couldn’t manage more than one and a partial before I ran out of tim. (800 free /200 kick) Did about 1650 yards all told. That means I’m probably going to do (if I make it through) somewhere between 37-42 minute miles, at least according to my handy dandy pace calculator. I’d be okay with that, but I probably won’t do that well. The only time I did an open water swim (other than the time in high school my friend and I- he was on the high school swim team and guess whose idea it was? – swam across a bay in Lake Keystone and I almost didn’t make it), it was a little bit freaky. I know I’m not used to the waves, the brown water, the lack of swim lanes, and I’ve never started with a group launch before either. It will be really weird until the pack settles out. The good thing is that I expect the decent swimmers (i.e. everybody else) will take off and leave me in their wake PDQ so I can just worry about maintaining my pace and sighting my course. Despite all the whining, I’m looking forward to it. Oh, and Denise and her buddy were back in the pool tonight to smoke me again. It’s down right disheartening to have your freestyle beaten by a backstroke!

Monday (Day 132)

Swam (20)

Temp: 86º F
RPE: 8
Weight: 175

Got in late so I didn’t get much of a swim in, but it was still fun because it was FIN Day! I was so late that I almost didn’t go, but then I thought, “Hey, I get to use the fins today” and off I went! I just love the days I get to use fins and paddles! I feel like I’m just rocketing through the water. If only I had size twenty feet! Anyway, Scot, Denise and a younger, but still strong swimmer were in the pool. They were rocking it. I could barely keep up with my fins on – of course, they left me in the dust at the ends – still no flip turn. Afterwards, we talked about the Open Water event this Saturday at Zink Ranch. I committed to doing it, so looks like I’ll be there – unless I get the flu or hit by a truck. Should be fun, except for the part where I stagger out of the water and everybody looks at me like, “Wow, it took you that long. Really?”

Saturday (Day 131)

Swam (2:00 +)

Temp: 86º F
RPE: 8
Weight: 175

Good swim. Finally got in some time. Did 800 free/200 kickboard sets. Got in 4000 yards. Forgot to time myself, but I was slow, slow, slow. My lack of training is really showing. Still good to be in the water. Next week I’m doing the two mile lake swim, I think. It’s going to be sad when I hop out of the water way later than everyone else. Oh well, … that’s why I’m the wimp.

Friday (Day 130)

Swam (35)

Temp: 86º F
RPE: 7
Weight: 175

Good swim tonight. Did a couple of 800 yard sets mixed with 200 yard kick board sets.  Hard to believe that it’s been as long as it has been since I did my last update. Just got out of the habit of typing it in. Also got out of the habit of regularly training too. Oh, I did some runs and swims, but not with any degree of consistency. Started a new job, my Uncle died, had a minor surgery, I took a couple of weeks off to get my friend Rick married on the East Coast, started taking a class for a Microsoft certification, in short, life happened, but regular training didn’t. It wasn’t ’til tonight when I was walking around the house feeling bored and lazy wondering what to do with myself on a Friday night that I suddenly realized, “Hey, I have a goal here! It’s not going to happen on its own!” So back at it and looks like next year for the triathlon. . . and I mean next year!