Michael Phelps is the man! That is all I have to say. I started training for the triathlon on Wednesday, September 24. I did not realize that a triathlon just means you are doing any three activities. Swimming, biking, and running are the usual three. It isn’t just one distance either…there are beginner ones and then there’s the most difficult, the Iron Man. So anyway...let’s get back to my first swimming experience!
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the tri group meets at the YMCA. A tri group is a group of people who do triathlons all of the time — who knew? I got up at 4:30 am and brushed my teeth, put my swim suit on and walked out the door. I turned the radio up loud and started to get excited. There were no cars on the road and the sun wasn’t even up yet. I got there and met my trainer. He said, “Well take a lap and let’s see what you’ve got!” I said, “What I have is that I fall off the float and swim to the side.”
I have never had swimming lessons although I have been swimming since I was 3...this was very evident over the next hour. I tend to swim with my head up and you can't do this or you will get a very stiff neck. You have to look straight down and learn to breathe out and then get a breath when you are stroking out (hard to explain). It is more mental at this point but I thought I was going to drown. He then put me on a board to work my lower body and then I did side strokes. I put this contraption in between my legs to keep my butt down and work on my upper body. I thought I was in shape. NOT! I looked at the clock and only 20 minutes had passed. I asked how far it is from one end of the pool to the next and realize that it is just 50 meters. My triathlon is 1,000 meters. I am ambitious but did not realize just how far this was until that moment. Plus it will be in the ocean…OMG! So here is where fear sets in.
On Monday, September 29, I got there and swam 600 meters. I will not let fear defeat me (this is what I am saying the whole time). I am not scared of water but of what I have gotten myself into. I just told Rox that one of my favorite quotes is the one that says,”You should do something every day that scares you.” Well I am! Another favorite is the one that says, “Give me a place to stand and I will move the earth.” So unless God intervenes I will do this.
And last but not least, my eating habits have improved because I always seem to be more aware of what I'm eating when I am exercising. I had a protein bar for breakfast, strawberries for a snack and salmon for lunch — better then a whole fudge pie.
I am loving the process and participating in the blog. I am telling all of my friends and family about it and asked if they would leave comments on occasion. One lady made a commitment to stop smoking...Go Tricia! I love that. Keep up the good work girls.! WE CAN DO IT!
P.S. My best friend, Kellye, saw my neon orange swimming cap in my car yesterday and asked if this helped with my speed. I laughed out loud. It only helps keep my hair out of my face at this point and to let the lifeguard know that I am still alive.
— Jennifer
Print | posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 8:49 AM