Lane 3

I'm already having one of those days. The kind of day that you try and find an excuse why not to go to the gym, but there isn't really a good one. I knew I was going to go. I knew that there was no other option. But that still didn't stop my mind games.

It's going to take awhile for the mind games to stop. Now that I'm following a training program that basically is as long each day as a part time job there is no time for excuses. Just get up and get the family off to work and school. Get the dog feed, played with, loved and ready for a nap then hit the gym. I managed to get there after shoveling the driveway by 9:00.

9:00 isn't the best time I have realized. If I don't get there between 8:30-8:45
the lanes are already filled with swimmers. I sat and watched the difference between the fishes.

In lane one we had "grandma" whom I have seen many times. She's very impressive. She obviously has some serious issues with arthritis and osteoporosis. Her legs hang low in the water almost so she's 90 degrees. Her strokes are slow but purposeful. She barely moves. I probably could swim 75m to her 25. She goes and goes and goes. I'm sure her bones and muscles get quite a workout.

In lane two we have your typical female young swimmer. Probably was on the swim team in HS. Just out of college and trying to stay fit. Not quite gliding on the water but close. You can tell she's been at it for awhile. Probably got there an hour before I did.

In lane three another "grandma". This one is faster. She has been swimming for years. Ever since she was young. She swims slow but it effortless and very good form.

In lane 4 we have the star college swimmer. Young, fit and with his trainer pushing him on. Gliding through the water with flip turns that come without a splash. He was there for over 1 1/2 hours. Lap after lap. Drill after drill. Even getting out of the pool to do sit ups, bike legs, push ups and back in for another 100m, then back out and do it again. It was exhausting just watching him. Lucky me I got the lane right next to him. Boy that doesn't help me feel any faster.

Finally in lane number 5 a guy that drives me nuts. He got there seconds before I did. So he got the last available lane. He had a pile of swim accessories as did I today. He proceeded to pile them at the end of the lane and then walk away. Went to the restroom. Talked to a few people. Checked out a few girls. As I sit and wait about 10 mins. I actually got in the pool before he did. He's there often and thinks he's the cats meow. About age 45 and in good shape. He's a triathlete for sure. I know because I saw him later chatting with another girl before he got his run done for the day. I got in before him and stayed longer than he did. He's a good swimmer but should be better for the way he acts!

It's amazing what you can take in with 10 mins to people watch. I wonder what people though of the girl in lane three today? Did I look like I knew what I was doing? At one point I had another guy pacing off of me. Letting me push off the wall seconds before him. He would try so hard to get to the other side before me. There was no way I would let that happen.

My workout today was a swim of 1:15/2500m and a 45min run only letting my HR get to the top of zone 2. Hard to keep it that low. I managed to get in a 4.35 distance in that 45 mins. All in all a good day 2. Tomorrow will be easier. A very fast 1 hr bike ride with a possible 1 hr run after it.