This week is more like RADswimming and RADbiking :) So, since my calf wasn't too happy yesterday the last couple miles I decided to be nice. I haven't hit the pool like I should, but figured it was no big deal. So, since I had a free day and hubby home (we're jetting off for camping here quickly) I thought I'd go and swim. I did some math a figured out the IM swim is 3.86KM or 4221.3 yds. Since all our pools are yd pools I needed to figure out how many yds I'd be swimming at the half IM in August....I wanted to do a timed test swim (no stopping!). So, 1/2 of 4221.3 is 2110.65, then it is easier for me to keep track in touches (25yds, not a full lap - just a length), so divide that by 25 and I got 84.4 'touches'. Ahhh, perfect. I'll do 85 and call it good. I started out at the pool and the first 20 flew by. BUT, by 40 my goggles were hurting my head SO bad I had a headache and felt like my head was going to implode. I needed to fix them. In order to simulate my IM swim I didn't 'stop' time or swimming, but in the deep end I took my goggles off, and dog paddled to the other end (no touching the bottom! I'm in the middle of the lake :) ) - still moving. I did this back as well to give my head a little extra break, then got back at it. Just before 60 they pulled the lap lanes. Crap, crap, crappy crap. I ended up stopping at 60 and having to walk over to the other side of the pool to swim the 'short' way. I asked the guard and he said it was 22yds not 25. poo. So, I watched time and it was one minute exactly before I got swimming again. As I swam I figured out I'd need to do 3 laps and 9 yds extra to make up for the shorter distance. Well, I had 1/2 a 'touch' I'd added on, so I could throw the 9yds into that 1/2 a touch and just add 3 more. Poo. 88 now instead of 85. I was getting tired. My face and hurt, my throat was dry (too much breathing out no water in) and I wanted to throw up. I was SO done. I just kept thinking of feeling like that in the middle of the lake with no where to stop...had to carry on. I did do one more goggle rest/dog paddle lap as well (around 70). Then, the last 8 touches I could finally see the light and I picked up speed to just get done! Best 300 EVER! :) When I finished I was at 45:30, so taking away the minute for the detour I did 44:30 - almost exactly the 45 min I'd predicted. Now, to move up from that! Things I learned in the pool today - I need new goggles. Ones that don't hurt my head. Secondly, I need more endurance work in the pool. I can get through 1/2 the swim no problem, but around the 2/3rds mark I really struggle. The end is always better, because it is the end. But, I need to get more used to swimming without stopping and breaks. Very wonderful, educational day in the pool. No running workout by any means, but a day when you learn and grow in any sport is a good day! Oh, and as a side note...this half IM isn't going to be as 'easy' as I thought! People that complete full IMs....holy whoa, they are awesome!
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