Swim Smart

I sat on the edge wondering how to approach the start. Should I just go for it. Or be cautious? After fidgeting awhile I was ready to go.

It had been 3 1/2 months since I had been in the pool. I wasn't sure what to expect. I tried to use the brains of an athlete and made the decision to warm up first before I did a time trial. After the first hundred yards I thought well this is going to be tough. Starting over yet AGAIN! Did another slow 100m and decided I better start the time trial or I may be to tired to do it after another slow 100m.

My time trail test was a 400 meter swim. That will be the distance in my next race so I wanted to get a feel for where I'm at. Now keep in mind I'm not a fast swimmer. I would say I'm about average speed for someone who swims on a regular basis for exercise. Anyone who swam in HS or has been racing for years, or takes master class or or or, will be faster than I am. So times are relative to only me here. I'm not sure how fast I have ever swam a 400m I want to say it was about 8:30 possibly 8:35. I should of written it down. I was hoping today after being a fish out of water for so long I would hit 9 minutes. I would be happy with that.

Off I went. I remember 6 months ago I would swim 2000m and time would go by albeit not fast but it would go. I swear time couldn't go any slower. The first 200m seemed to take forever. I wondered how on earth I swam the longer distances without getting so bored. This is not good. If it feels like it's going slow than I must be going slow. My heart rate was up and I was feeling muscles in my arms working that I haven't felt in awhile. The last 2 laps were hard. Very hard. Lactate acid forming in the legs. They started to tingle and get stiff. Harder to move with every stroke. But with any time trial you have to push it to your limit. That is exactly what I did. After touching the wall and glancing at my handy swimming device it said I did 16 laps in 8:24. OMG! Really 8:24. Thrilled with the time I hung on to the edge of the pool and waited for the heart rate and tingling to go away. Another 200m slow swim and then another 400m at a comfortable pace. I wanted to get a feel for what my time would be for long swim. Ended up I finished that in 8:54. 30 Seconds slower than the first attempt but at a much lower effort level. Low enough that my mind was wandering while I was swimming. Some day when I decide to do an Ironman I would like that comfortable pace to be 8:00 per 400m. So I have a long way to go. But for being gone 3 1/2 months I have to say the pool was very kind to me.

I'll be back on Wednesday to start paying attention to form and some drill work. I have lots of time until the first race in April. Distance swimming is not important right now. If I can improve my form I will become faster without even trying. Drill work will make me stronger again making me faster.

I have a goal in mind for my race in April. One I will keep to myself. But I need to improve in all 3 events to meet the goal. I have 3 months to get back into triathlon shape. Should be enough time if all goes my way. I'll think positive.