It's been a while since my last post. Not much has happened, really. I swam on Saturday, October 3rd after making it through Homecoming week and did fine; about the same number of laps as my last swim, similar pace. I ordered a lap counter, a really cool one that you wear on your finger, because I just couldn't take it anymore!
Homecoming week went fine, not too much drama and the boys had a great time. Tom and I chaperoned the dance on Saturday night and enjoyed spending time with the kids.
Saturday morning Parker, my youngest, seemed a bit lethargic and started complaining of general achiness and malaise. I didn't know if he was just trying to get out of Saturday chores or if this was a legitimate complaint. My boys, for the most part, don't complain unless there's really something wrong. Years and years of training on my part; "no fever, no vomit, you're fine"! Lots of illness had been circulating around our school and area schools and I was a bit worried about what was in store. His symptoms worsened and he ended up staying home from school on Monday. I was scheduled to attempt to make it to his JH football game (rain date from the prior week) and to Connor's cross country meet. I ended up coming home after work and taking care of Parker instead. By the time Connor finished his race, he wasn't feeling well and skipped his college psychology class that evening.
They were both experiencing the same symptoms of the flu with no fever. Tuesday morning came and they stayed home from school. Mason was sent home by 10:00 with the same thing. Although they're all older, 17, 15, and 13, I still worry about them and feel like I need to take care of them and illness ALWAYS creates more laundry, no matter what! Not that I don't have enough laundry to do on a regular basis....
Add to all of this the fact that I was three weeks behind on my bible study homework, an early morning committee meeting on Wednesday, regular work responsibilities, no hope of a trip to the pool and the result is a stressed out mom. I start to wonder what I'm thinking when I have weeks like this. How can I possibly add something else to my schedule?
I decided to just forget about working out or swimming for the week and focus on my family and other responsibilities. Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday I was able to get caught up on my bible study homework enough to attend class Wednesday evening. I'm participating in a study of the book of Esther by Beth Moore. Beth is not my favorite speaker but her message is always good, even if I don't particularly care for her delivery.
Studying Esther has been really timely for me.....it's tough being a woman! I struggle finding balance in my life and haven't figured out the "magic" combination to make things flow smoothly. I have a tendency to "over do" or "under do", neither of which makes me happy. If anyone out there has the solution, please send it my way!! I'm a little like Alice in Wonderland when she sings, "I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it". Aren't we all a little like that? It's easy to "fix" someone else's problem but not so easy to fix ourselves.
Back to swimming and "the journey"...... Everyone healed. Mason and Parker returned to school Thursday, Connor visited the doctor and was confirmed to have a virus. Connor didn't return to school until today and is drowning in homework. The result of my focus on everyone, but me, was a very unhappy Emily by Sunday night.
Balance doesn't mean focusing all one's attention outward in an even manner, or sacrificing everything for everyone else. It also doesn't mean feeling sorry for yourself and taking it out on those around you.
I returned to the pool tonight, a little late but I made it. I swam 25 laps / 50 lengths in about 20 minutes......pretty standard pace for me right now. I had to force myself to get out and do this, the only reason I really did it was because we were out of milk and coffee creamer; two "must haves" in my household and a trip to town was necessary.
In forcing myself to do this, I realized that I NEED THIS! Not because of the bigger picture and goal of swimming the channel but because I need this to keep my sanity. It doesn't seem logical that adding something to my plate would make things better but, somehow, it does. The other little detail I need to keep going is FEEDBACK! Here is my plea.....IF YOU READ MY BLOG, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT OR CLICK A FEEDBACK BOX. I need to know you're out there, listening, and that I'm not alone in this. Have you ever been surrounded by people who love and care about you and still felt lonely? (This is not a fun stage of life to experience.) And, guess what, if you leave a comment I'll be sure to reply. I have opened up my comments so that anyone can leave an "anonymous" post. I don't care who you are, just that you're out there.....
Call it a mid-life crisis if you will, I don't care. I call it a solution to life! Just as it's true that it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a world to raise an adult!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Quick Update
I made it to the pool tonight, probably the only night this week with all the Homecoming festivities going on! Randy, my coach, thought he might try to be there but as far as I know he didn't show. He may have been observing without my knowledge......I guess I'll find out tomorrow.
With the exception of an early cramp in my right foot, I breezed through 46 laps (92 lengths) in 40 minutes. I know, I know......not that great for a seasoned or competitive swimmer but......wow! I didn't think I'd be saying that this soon! The best part is that I could have kept on going if lap swim hadn't ended. I may have to negotiate with the Y to get a longer session for laps.
Until next time....
With the exception of an early cramp in my right foot, I breezed through 46 laps (92 lengths) in 40 minutes. I know, I know......not that great for a seasoned or competitive swimmer but......wow! I didn't think I'd be saying that this soon! The best part is that I could have kept on going if lap swim hadn't ended. I may have to negotiate with the Y to get a longer session for laps.
Until next time....
Sunday, September 27, 2009
The Blue Mile
I love a good Saturday morning swim! I love it even more when Tom and the boys join me at the YMCA.
The night before we traveled to Highland for the football game and enjoyed watching Mason and the team win the second of their two divisional matchups for the season. On the way home I announced that I would be going for a swim the next morning and everyone was welcome to join me at 7:30 am. Tom, Connor, and Parker were all interested and I was happy to have them come along.
Tom played a lot of raquetball in college and liked the idea of reacquainting himself with the sport. Connor stated he'd like to give racquetball a try and Parker's plan was to workout then shoot hoops until I was done with laps.
We were running a little late, of course, and I got to the pool at about 8:10 am. I was determined to stay in the pool until I had completed at least one mile which is 44 laps / 88 lengths. I didn't think it would be a problem since the last time I swam in this pool I completed 35 laps in about 40 minutes. I still haven't quite figured out when is the best time for me to swim and under what conditions. I usually have more energy during the swim if I eat before I go but then I have to deal with all the regret associated with what's residing in my stomach. I opted for my standard protein shake and vitamins and was curious to see how I reacted to that. I didn't experience anything unpleasant associated with the combination but I was dragging....
I've discovered that it takes me about 10 laps to really get warmed up and into a groove. I shared the pool with one other swimmer.....the teen-something girl I was so impressed with during my very first swim. She was still a machine but I didn't feel nearly as lame this time around. As with Slappy in Seattle, I discovered that my stroke is fairly efficient compared to the standard Red Cross crawl.
I HATE counting laps!!! I love to let my mind wonder when I'm swimming and the task of keeping track of what lap I'm on is really annoying. (I decided that my first job when I returned home was to order a lap counter.) Once I hit lap 20 I was feeling pretty good until I noticed that this series of 10 was taking FOREVER! I don't know if I lost track or if I just hit a bad groove but I didn't think I would ever make it to 22, which is halfway, much less 30. It's times like these that I have to dig deep and realize that swimming across the channel is going to play with my mind a lot more than swimming a measly mile in the pool. (another reason I MUST have a lap counter) I'm pretty well versed in the art of self-talk and self-motivation as long as I have a good attitude. I'm also very accomplished at tearing myself down and defeating my best intentions.
This time, I refused to let myself fail and kept on swimming..... Once I exited the 20's, the next 14 laps went relatively quickly. Wait.....I just completed my first official mile!! YEAH!!
I have a very long way to go.....about 29 miles.....but when I think back to the beginning, the progress is good!
My new short-term goal is to increase my rate and endurance to complete two miles per hour by January 1st. I begin training under the direct tutelage of my coach in a week or so and I'm sure he can help me accomplish this.
The night before we traveled to Highland for the football game and enjoyed watching Mason and the team win the second of their two divisional matchups for the season. On the way home I announced that I would be going for a swim the next morning and everyone was welcome to join me at 7:30 am. Tom, Connor, and Parker were all interested and I was happy to have them come along.
Tom played a lot of raquetball in college and liked the idea of reacquainting himself with the sport. Connor stated he'd like to give racquetball a try and Parker's plan was to workout then shoot hoops until I was done with laps.
We were running a little late, of course, and I got to the pool at about 8:10 am. I was determined to stay in the pool until I had completed at least one mile which is 44 laps / 88 lengths. I didn't think it would be a problem since the last time I swam in this pool I completed 35 laps in about 40 minutes. I still haven't quite figured out when is the best time for me to swim and under what conditions. I usually have more energy during the swim if I eat before I go but then I have to deal with all the regret associated with what's residing in my stomach. I opted for my standard protein shake and vitamins and was curious to see how I reacted to that. I didn't experience anything unpleasant associated with the combination but I was dragging....
I've discovered that it takes me about 10 laps to really get warmed up and into a groove. I shared the pool with one other swimmer.....the teen-something girl I was so impressed with during my very first swim. She was still a machine but I didn't feel nearly as lame this time around. As with Slappy in Seattle, I discovered that my stroke is fairly efficient compared to the standard Red Cross crawl.
I HATE counting laps!!! I love to let my mind wonder when I'm swimming and the task of keeping track of what lap I'm on is really annoying. (I decided that my first job when I returned home was to order a lap counter.) Once I hit lap 20 I was feeling pretty good until I noticed that this series of 10 was taking FOREVER! I don't know if I lost track or if I just hit a bad groove but I didn't think I would ever make it to 22, which is halfway, much less 30. It's times like these that I have to dig deep and realize that swimming across the channel is going to play with my mind a lot more than swimming a measly mile in the pool. (another reason I MUST have a lap counter) I'm pretty well versed in the art of self-talk and self-motivation as long as I have a good attitude. I'm also very accomplished at tearing myself down and defeating my best intentions.
This time, I refused to let myself fail and kept on swimming..... Once I exited the 20's, the next 14 laps went relatively quickly. Wait.....I just completed my first official mile!! YEAH!!
I have a very long way to go.....about 29 miles.....but when I think back to the beginning, the progress is good!
My new short-term goal is to increase my rate and endurance to complete two miles per hour by January 1st. I begin training under the direct tutelage of my coach in a week or so and I'm sure he can help me accomplish this.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Slappy, Stud Muffin, and Shamu
Swimming in Seattle....
While preparing for my trip to Seattle, I hopped online and checked out the details for the hotel's pool; 15 meters, lap layout. I was planning on swimming each day, if possible, and was looking forward to having some extra time to work on my stroke and technique. As with most good intentions, this didn't quite happen. I awoke at 3 am CST on Sunday morning and arrived in Seattle at 11 am PST. By the time I met up with Julie, ate lunch, checked in at the hotel, set up the booth, did some sightseeing, and ate dinner I was thoroughly exhausted.
We ended up calling it a night fairly early and spent the evening in our jammies, visiting and relaxing. Julie and I decided that we'd like to do some shopping the next morning so I gladly put off another swim until a later time. (After all, this is about as much "vacation" as I get lately.) Before heading to our room that evening, we decided to check out the fitness room and pool. I was impressed with the set up and was really looking forward to a good swim in the morning.
I forgot to pack workout clothes, but I did have my suit, goggles, and swim cap. I couldn't talk Julie into letting me traipse through the hotel in that lovely outfit so I picked up some items the day before during one of our stops. The next morning, I headed to the pool.
Before I reached the locked glass entrance door to the pool, I heard an unusual sound; a rhythmic slapping of sorts. I didn't know if there was someone cleaning the pool or beating a wet towel on the tiles..... I opened the door and discovered the slapping sound was someone swimming laps. I've never heard such a ruckus! Wouldn't that hurt? Not that I'm a proper form aficionado but I DO know that there should not be that much noise when one swims. I then began wondering if that's what I sound like......impossible.
I changed out of my workout clothes and entered the pool. The water was a little cool but nothing like what I'll experience in Lake Michigan next fall. I had factored the distance I wanted to swim the day before; a 15 meter pool would require about 106 lengths to equal a mile. I had been swimming a little short of that at home so I decided that I'd set a goal for 100 lengths / 50 laps.
I felt good in the water and tried to focus on my stroke rather than become distracted by the commotion next to me. I soon realized that my quiet, smooth stroke was just as efficient as the thrashing going on next to me. Boy, did I feel great! Let me remind everyone that I'm still focusing on my upper body.....mostly because I can't get my legs to kick the way they're supposed to with this modified version, but also because I figure the stronger I am in my upper body, the better off I'll be.
About halfway through my laps, I noticed another swimmer entering the water. The pool was beginning to feel a little crowded, but I need to get used to that. I was expecting this swimmer to join in on the laps and viewed a pretty aggressive freestyle, not nearly as noisy as my neighbor. It's fun to observe and pretend as though you're not and I detected this new visitor taking a prolonged break after his first length. I began to worry that he'd need CPR and I certainly wasn't going to oblige. The amount of huffing and puffing going on was a little reminiscent of my first time back in the pool. He then proceeded to start the next lap with the butterfly.....a pretty ambitious endeavor considering his condition after the freestyle lap. My first thought was that this was going to get pretty obnoxious but after one lap the "stud muffin" exited the pool to sit in the hot tub. What was that about?!?! I giggled a little to myself and kept on swimming.
About the time Slappy ended his swim and headed for the hot tub, another swimmer showed up. This guy at least looked serious with his goggles and swim cap. Did I mention that this pool was quite narrow? He opted for the center lane, eventhough the far lane became available shortly after he began his swim.
I continued on with my laps, nearing the end of my goal for the day, when I noticed an unusual amount of turbulence. I took a peek and saw that this new swimmer was swimming the breast stroke.....not a stroke one would imagine to produce waves of any size. I'm not sure if it was the size of the swimmer or the dimensions of the pool but I was being tossed about as if I were a dinghy in the middle of the Pacific. I doubt Shamu causes this much motion at Sea World! I was expecting to see white caps soon and decided that I couldn't have asked for a better pool companion. This experience gave me a teeny, tiny taste of what to expect not only in the channel but in any open body of water. Each challenge can be viewed as an opportunity when wearing the right goggles....
I completed my goal of 50 laps / 100 lengths and felt great. Julie had already finished her run on the treadmill and was waiting poolside. After a quick dip in the hot tub, we headed back to the room to prepare for the day. I didn't have the opportunity to return to the pool before the end of my trip but thoroughly enjoyed Seattle and can't wait to return for a REAL vacation!
While preparing for my trip to Seattle, I hopped online and checked out the details for the hotel's pool; 15 meters, lap layout. I was planning on swimming each day, if possible, and was looking forward to having some extra time to work on my stroke and technique. As with most good intentions, this didn't quite happen. I awoke at 3 am CST on Sunday morning and arrived in Seattle at 11 am PST. By the time I met up with Julie, ate lunch, checked in at the hotel, set up the booth, did some sightseeing, and ate dinner I was thoroughly exhausted.
We ended up calling it a night fairly early and spent the evening in our jammies, visiting and relaxing. Julie and I decided that we'd like to do some shopping the next morning so I gladly put off another swim until a later time. (After all, this is about as much "vacation" as I get lately.) Before heading to our room that evening, we decided to check out the fitness room and pool. I was impressed with the set up and was really looking forward to a good swim in the morning.
I forgot to pack workout clothes, but I did have my suit, goggles, and swim cap. I couldn't talk Julie into letting me traipse through the hotel in that lovely outfit so I picked up some items the day before during one of our stops. The next morning, I headed to the pool.
Before I reached the locked glass entrance door to the pool, I heard an unusual sound; a rhythmic slapping of sorts. I didn't know if there was someone cleaning the pool or beating a wet towel on the tiles..... I opened the door and discovered the slapping sound was someone swimming laps. I've never heard such a ruckus! Wouldn't that hurt? Not that I'm a proper form aficionado but I DO know that there should not be that much noise when one swims. I then began wondering if that's what I sound like......impossible.
I changed out of my workout clothes and entered the pool. The water was a little cool but nothing like what I'll experience in Lake Michigan next fall. I had factored the distance I wanted to swim the day before; a 15 meter pool would require about 106 lengths to equal a mile. I had been swimming a little short of that at home so I decided that I'd set a goal for 100 lengths / 50 laps.
I felt good in the water and tried to focus on my stroke rather than become distracted by the commotion next to me. I soon realized that my quiet, smooth stroke was just as efficient as the thrashing going on next to me. Boy, did I feel great! Let me remind everyone that I'm still focusing on my upper body.....mostly because I can't get my legs to kick the way they're supposed to with this modified version, but also because I figure the stronger I am in my upper body, the better off I'll be.
About halfway through my laps, I noticed another swimmer entering the water. The pool was beginning to feel a little crowded, but I need to get used to that. I was expecting this swimmer to join in on the laps and viewed a pretty aggressive freestyle, not nearly as noisy as my neighbor. It's fun to observe and pretend as though you're not and I detected this new visitor taking a prolonged break after his first length. I began to worry that he'd need CPR and I certainly wasn't going to oblige. The amount of huffing and puffing going on was a little reminiscent of my first time back in the pool. He then proceeded to start the next lap with the butterfly.....a pretty ambitious endeavor considering his condition after the freestyle lap. My first thought was that this was going to get pretty obnoxious but after one lap the "stud muffin" exited the pool to sit in the hot tub. What was that about?!?! I giggled a little to myself and kept on swimming.
About the time Slappy ended his swim and headed for the hot tub, another swimmer showed up. This guy at least looked serious with his goggles and swim cap. Did I mention that this pool was quite narrow? He opted for the center lane, eventhough the far lane became available shortly after he began his swim.
I continued on with my laps, nearing the end of my goal for the day, when I noticed an unusual amount of turbulence. I took a peek and saw that this new swimmer was swimming the breast stroke.....not a stroke one would imagine to produce waves of any size. I'm not sure if it was the size of the swimmer or the dimensions of the pool but I was being tossed about as if I were a dinghy in the middle of the Pacific. I doubt Shamu causes this much motion at Sea World! I was expecting to see white caps soon and decided that I couldn't have asked for a better pool companion. This experience gave me a teeny, tiny taste of what to expect not only in the channel but in any open body of water. Each challenge can be viewed as an opportunity when wearing the right goggles....
I completed my goal of 50 laps / 100 lengths and felt great. Julie had already finished her run on the treadmill and was waiting poolside. After a quick dip in the hot tub, we headed back to the room to prepare for the day. I didn't have the opportunity to return to the pool before the end of my trip but thoroughly enjoyed Seattle and can't wait to return for a REAL vacation!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Providential Serendipity
Life is magical when one is open to it and lives it with intent. I cannot fathom the number of coincidences that have crossed my path in the last several months. I still don't understand where this idea of swimming the channel came from. One moment I'm floating in the ocean for the first time in my life and the next I'm convincing myself that it would be a good idea to someday swim the English Channel. I don't conciously remember ever reading about or seeing a news story on the subject. If one of my family members out there knows where this came from, please enlighten me.
I can remember when we moved to Council Bluffs, IA. I believe I was 4-years-old. The subdivision was so strange to me having lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere for all but the first year of my short life. I recall pulling into the entrance of this veritable maze of large houses with grand, emerald yards. I was excited at the thought of making a few friends and hoping beyond hope that someone my age lived close to our new home.
I don't recollect what my reaction was when I first took in the sight of the neighborhood park and swimming pool that shared a property line with our back yard but I do remember watching the pool being filled for the first time. I stood at the chain link fence, my small fingers threaded through the diamond pattern, and watched the water pour into the pool wondering how long it would take. I vividly remember the smell of the chlorine and chemicals, the sun dancing on the surface. I couldn't wait until lessons started, couldn't wait to jump in and feel the enveloping sensation of being under water. I loved how sounds and sights were transformed just under the surface.
I remember those summer days with the utmost fondness; lessons in the morning then run home for lunch, wait the obligatory half hour and return to the pool as soon as the gate was unlocked, swim until dinner and again wait the necessary half hour then swim until dark. As I got older, most summer days were concluded with a neighborhood game of Kick the Can or Capture the Flag. I don't ever remember having trouble sleeping then......
My family lived there until the end of my seventh grade year.
Returning to the present and my streak of strange events, please allow me to recap:
1. I discover my co-worker is a former all-stater and coach who volunteers to train me for the channel.
2. My general inquiry to the USMS "contact us" page is responded to by Karen Burton Reeder, English Channel swimmer, record holder of the Catalina Channel, gold medalist.......the list goes on.
3. The YMCA happens to be running a free week membership promotion beginning the day I show up for my first swim in years.
4. Glenn Stout posts a comment on my blog. (I'm still a little giddy about that one.)
Okay, on to the next one.....are you ready?
I recently traveled to Seattle, WA where I exhibited my company's products at the AOPA National Assembly. This event is for orthotic and prosthetic professionals to attend for the purpose of showcasing their wares, earning continuing education credits, learning about new products, and networking with others in their field. My sister, Julie, joined me there to help work the booth. She's a great partner and we make a fantastic team. (It's also wonderful to see her!) Julie helped me at the Chicago show in 2008 so is a seasoned assistant.
We quickly became acquainted with the vendors around us and made a point to visit with them as traffic allowed. These shows are great opportunities for networking even if one is stuck in an 8' x 10' booth for three and one half days! These shows typically offer several small individual booths and a few which occupy the equivalent of six or eight of the smaller spots combined. The booth across from us was one of the larger spaces in the hall. The company had about eight reps working, their ages ranging from early thirties to early sixties, each wearing a coordinating polo. Julie and I soon discovered that this group was going to provide us with some entertainment.
Each of the reps was unique and their individual personalities ran the Myers-Briggs gamut. One of the VP's on staff soon proved to be quite the "class clown". Among stealing chairs, story telling, and chucking empty wrappers we rapidly learned that he would prove to be an amusing neighbor.
I don't want to give the impression that the show was slow or that, as vendors, our primary purpose is to goof off. As with any professional situation, if you can't find something to keep busy with during the down times you'll soon find yourself watching the clock and we all know what happens when that's the only distraction.......the day never ends.
One of the perks of working these shows is all the S.W.A.G.! (For those of you not familiar with the term it's Stuff We All Get.) Sometimes there are great little items being given away and one must act fast before they're all gone. So, during a slow stretch, I decided to take a walk around and see what I could snag. I came across a company that makes a skin protecting salve for amputees. I was intrigued, always thinking about how I can use things in a new way, and began asking if the product has other uses. She proceeded to tell me that her girlfriend, who is an open water swimmer, uses it under her wetsuit to prevent chafing. (this is right up my alley, eh?) I asked if I could have a sample and she was kind enough to oblige. Most reps don't want to get stuck with any samples at the end of the show because then they have to haul it back home.
I continued around the hall, picking up squishy vans, free orthotic inserts, mini bubble gum machines, coffee mugs, pens, bags, etc. and returned to my booth.
Mike was, of course, sitting in my chair when I returned visiting with Julie about a knee brace for her husband. I began showing them all the great things I'd picked up when I came to the salve and started to explain that I planned to try it under my suit straps once I start swimming longer distances in open water. Mike chimed in and said, "You need to talk to Jim if you're serious about open water swimming.". Mike called Jim, a white haired 50-something gentleman, over to the booth. Mike introduced us and asked me if I could guess what Jim's hobby was. I remembered hearing some conversation about triathalons across the carpet so I asked if that was it. Mike proceeded to tell me that Jim......get ready for it......SWAM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!!!
I couldn't believe it! It was the equivalent of standing next to a rock star or Roger Federer! I couldn't spit the questions out fast enough! My mind was racing with all the things I'd been wondering about. Jim was very kind and answered all my questions, between customers of course, over the next few remaining hours left in the day. There was no way to wipe the smile from my face......I couldn't have wished for anything this amazing. The best part was having a brain to pick - in person.
I'm sure I'll be contacting him as I get closer to these goals to ask for additional advice and more specific workout information.
If I ever needed a sign that I'm on the right path, this was it. I'm convinced, without a shred of doubt, that I am supposed to do this! I just don't know why.....
I can remember when we moved to Council Bluffs, IA. I believe I was 4-years-old. The subdivision was so strange to me having lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere for all but the first year of my short life. I recall pulling into the entrance of this veritable maze of large houses with grand, emerald yards. I was excited at the thought of making a few friends and hoping beyond hope that someone my age lived close to our new home.
I don't recollect what my reaction was when I first took in the sight of the neighborhood park and swimming pool that shared a property line with our back yard but I do remember watching the pool being filled for the first time. I stood at the chain link fence, my small fingers threaded through the diamond pattern, and watched the water pour into the pool wondering how long it would take. I vividly remember the smell of the chlorine and chemicals, the sun dancing on the surface. I couldn't wait until lessons started, couldn't wait to jump in and feel the enveloping sensation of being under water. I loved how sounds and sights were transformed just under the surface.
I remember those summer days with the utmost fondness; lessons in the morning then run home for lunch, wait the obligatory half hour and return to the pool as soon as the gate was unlocked, swim until dinner and again wait the necessary half hour then swim until dark. As I got older, most summer days were concluded with a neighborhood game of Kick the Can or Capture the Flag. I don't ever remember having trouble sleeping then......
My family lived there until the end of my seventh grade year.
Returning to the present and my streak of strange events, please allow me to recap:
1. I discover my co-worker is a former all-stater and coach who volunteers to train me for the channel.
2. My general inquiry to the USMS "contact us" page is responded to by Karen Burton Reeder, English Channel swimmer, record holder of the Catalina Channel, gold medalist.......the list goes on.
3. The YMCA happens to be running a free week membership promotion beginning the day I show up for my first swim in years.
4. Glenn Stout posts a comment on my blog. (I'm still a little giddy about that one.)
Okay, on to the next one.....are you ready?
I recently traveled to Seattle, WA where I exhibited my company's products at the AOPA National Assembly. This event is for orthotic and prosthetic professionals to attend for the purpose of showcasing their wares, earning continuing education credits, learning about new products, and networking with others in their field. My sister, Julie, joined me there to help work the booth. She's a great partner and we make a fantastic team. (It's also wonderful to see her!) Julie helped me at the Chicago show in 2008 so is a seasoned assistant.
We quickly became acquainted with the vendors around us and made a point to visit with them as traffic allowed. These shows are great opportunities for networking even if one is stuck in an 8' x 10' booth for three and one half days! These shows typically offer several small individual booths and a few which occupy the equivalent of six or eight of the smaller spots combined. The booth across from us was one of the larger spaces in the hall. The company had about eight reps working, their ages ranging from early thirties to early sixties, each wearing a coordinating polo. Julie and I soon discovered that this group was going to provide us with some entertainment.
Each of the reps was unique and their individual personalities ran the Myers-Briggs gamut. One of the VP's on staff soon proved to be quite the "class clown". Among stealing chairs, story telling, and chucking empty wrappers we rapidly learned that he would prove to be an amusing neighbor.
I don't want to give the impression that the show was slow or that, as vendors, our primary purpose is to goof off. As with any professional situation, if you can't find something to keep busy with during the down times you'll soon find yourself watching the clock and we all know what happens when that's the only distraction.......the day never ends.
One of the perks of working these shows is all the S.W.A.G.! (For those of you not familiar with the term it's Stuff We All Get.) Sometimes there are great little items being given away and one must act fast before they're all gone. So, during a slow stretch, I decided to take a walk around and see what I could snag. I came across a company that makes a skin protecting salve for amputees. I was intrigued, always thinking about how I can use things in a new way, and began asking if the product has other uses. She proceeded to tell me that her girlfriend, who is an open water swimmer, uses it under her wetsuit to prevent chafing. (this is right up my alley, eh?) I asked if I could have a sample and she was kind enough to oblige. Most reps don't want to get stuck with any samples at the end of the show because then they have to haul it back home.
I continued around the hall, picking up squishy vans, free orthotic inserts, mini bubble gum machines, coffee mugs, pens, bags, etc. and returned to my booth.
Mike was, of course, sitting in my chair when I returned visiting with Julie about a knee brace for her husband. I began showing them all the great things I'd picked up when I came to the salve and started to explain that I planned to try it under my suit straps once I start swimming longer distances in open water. Mike chimed in and said, "You need to talk to Jim if you're serious about open water swimming.". Mike called Jim, a white haired 50-something gentleman, over to the booth. Mike introduced us and asked me if I could guess what Jim's hobby was. I remembered hearing some conversation about triathalons across the carpet so I asked if that was it. Mike proceeded to tell me that Jim......get ready for it......SWAM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!!!
I couldn't believe it! It was the equivalent of standing next to a rock star or Roger Federer! I couldn't spit the questions out fast enough! My mind was racing with all the things I'd been wondering about. Jim was very kind and answered all my questions, between customers of course, over the next few remaining hours left in the day. There was no way to wipe the smile from my face......I couldn't have wished for anything this amazing. The best part was having a brain to pick - in person.
I'm sure I'll be contacting him as I get closer to these goals to ask for additional advice and more specific workout information.
If I ever needed a sign that I'm on the right path, this was it. I'm convinced, without a shred of doubt, that I am supposed to do this! I just don't know why.....
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Short and Sweet
Where to start? It's been a crazy couple of days. I don't know who decided that 24 hours in a day was enough to accomplish everything!
I'll start with some very exciting news; I received a comment on one of my postings from Glenn Stout, the author of "Young Woman and the Sea"! How awesome is that?!?! He encouraged me to keep going and wished me good luck. This was such an unexpected and wonderful surprise I was squirrely and couldn't focus on work for a good two hours.
Today was the first day I've made it to the pool since Tuesday. I never thought I'd experience withdrawal from swimming, but I did. I couldn't wait to get back and I knew my schedule wouldn't allow it. Between bible study, JH and varsity football games, cross country meets, volleyball matches (Tom's the coach), laundry, cooking, errands, work, yardwork, and very little sleep, it's difficult to squeeze anything extra in. It will get better once this season is over.
Today showed me that swimming first thing in the morning or in the evening is by far the best time for me. I wasn't able to go this morning due to a hair appointment so was planning on heading in at 4:00 pm. I told the boys that if all chores were done they could join me at the "Y". Well, things were moving along as planned until the boys started fighting. I'm not quite sure about what, they're teenage boys - do they really need a reason? Long story short; after much dodging, yelling, and frustration we headed to the pool. I was excited to have the opportunity to swim for a full hour. I had great expectations for what I could accomplish in that amount of time. I prepped for the pool and ran downstairs to find the door locked. The lifeguard was evidentally running late and didn't get there until 4:25......UGH!!
By the time I started swimming I was thoroughly frustrated from the week and day's events and completely distracted. I continued on with the same format as Tuesday; TI style stroke focusing on upper body. I was able to complete 35 laps (70 lengths). Not too bad but certainly not what I was hoping for.
I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow morning for a business trip and will not return until Wednesday. I plan to swim daily in the hotel lap pool and hope to make some progress before I post again.
I'll start with some very exciting news; I received a comment on one of my postings from Glenn Stout, the author of "Young Woman and the Sea"! How awesome is that?!?! He encouraged me to keep going and wished me good luck. This was such an unexpected and wonderful surprise I was squirrely and couldn't focus on work for a good two hours.
Today was the first day I've made it to the pool since Tuesday. I never thought I'd experience withdrawal from swimming, but I did. I couldn't wait to get back and I knew my schedule wouldn't allow it. Between bible study, JH and varsity football games, cross country meets, volleyball matches (Tom's the coach), laundry, cooking, errands, work, yardwork, and very little sleep, it's difficult to squeeze anything extra in. It will get better once this season is over.
Today showed me that swimming first thing in the morning or in the evening is by far the best time for me. I wasn't able to go this morning due to a hair appointment so was planning on heading in at 4:00 pm. I told the boys that if all chores were done they could join me at the "Y". Well, things were moving along as planned until the boys started fighting. I'm not quite sure about what, they're teenage boys - do they really need a reason? Long story short; after much dodging, yelling, and frustration we headed to the pool. I was excited to have the opportunity to swim for a full hour. I had great expectations for what I could accomplish in that amount of time. I prepped for the pool and ran downstairs to find the door locked. The lifeguard was evidentally running late and didn't get there until 4:25......UGH!!
By the time I started swimming I was thoroughly frustrated from the week and day's events and completely distracted. I continued on with the same format as Tuesday; TI style stroke focusing on upper body. I was able to complete 35 laps (70 lengths). Not too bad but certainly not what I was hoping for.
I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow morning for a business trip and will not return until Wednesday. I plan to swim daily in the hotel lap pool and hope to make some progress before I post again.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Amazing Human Body
For the first time since this hair-brained notion entered my head, I actually think I can physically do this!! I've never doubted my mental capacity, I'm just crazy enough to think I can do ANYTHING, but I was becoming a little unsure of whether or not my body was going to allow it. Tonight was my answer! I can absolutely do this and my body IS going to let me!
After my coach heard that I did so well with the kickboard workout last night, he decided to let me just swim and see what I could do. He encouraged me to try some of the Total Immersion techniques I'd watched online and see if I could figure some of it out on my own. I wasn't sure what to expect but headed to the Y with moderately high hopes.
I started out visualizing what I needed to tell my body to do based on the videos I'd watched. (A very useful skill taught to me by my mother.) I wasn't sure if I could get everything in sync as it needed to be but I sure was willing to give it a shot. I began by kicking off the side and gliding in the water until my progress started to slow then I took my first full breath and new arm stroke. I could immediately tell a huge difference in the way my body was moving through the water. I quickly found that I couldn't get the kick synchronized with the arm stroke as shown in the video so I decided to just do without it. Randy has been telling me that he's going to tie my feet together and make me swim using my arms only so I figured, "what the heck, I'll just do it on my own today"!
I finished the first few lengths and started to get excited. I felt great in the water! Everything felt so natural, like I was born to do this. I could feel my body sliding through the water, my arm strokes efficient, even without kicking my legs. For the first time, I wasn't out of breath at the end of each length!
I continued to focus on my movements, trying to make my arms move both in and out of the water the way they should. I found myself entering into a good rhythm. If not for counting the lengths to keep track of my progress, I'm sure I would have easily slipped into a "zen" state. This is how swimming should feel! This is why I love it!
I completed 60 lengths, all freestyle, and would have kept going but the lifeguard kicked me out.....end of lap swim for the night. I know that doesn't sound like much to a seasoned, well-conditioned swimmer but to me, this is HUGE!
Is it the tar and nicotine finally leaving my system? Has my body just been waiting for something like this? Am I just a giant ball of untapped energy and potential? I guess we'll find out. Tonight gave me a glimpse of all the great opportunities that lie ahead. I know I'll be ready to compete in the Big Shoulders 5K in Chicago a year from now and I'm excited to see what other challenges I can tackle between now and then.
Lesson - never think you're too old or it's too late to do something you've always dreamed of! Never tell yourself you can't accomplish your goals! YOU CAN DO IT!
After my coach heard that I did so well with the kickboard workout last night, he decided to let me just swim and see what I could do. He encouraged me to try some of the Total Immersion techniques I'd watched online and see if I could figure some of it out on my own. I wasn't sure what to expect but headed to the Y with moderately high hopes.
I started out visualizing what I needed to tell my body to do based on the videos I'd watched. (A very useful skill taught to me by my mother.) I wasn't sure if I could get everything in sync as it needed to be but I sure was willing to give it a shot. I began by kicking off the side and gliding in the water until my progress started to slow then I took my first full breath and new arm stroke. I could immediately tell a huge difference in the way my body was moving through the water. I quickly found that I couldn't get the kick synchronized with the arm stroke as shown in the video so I decided to just do without it. Randy has been telling me that he's going to tie my feet together and make me swim using my arms only so I figured, "what the heck, I'll just do it on my own today"!
I finished the first few lengths and started to get excited. I felt great in the water! Everything felt so natural, like I was born to do this. I could feel my body sliding through the water, my arm strokes efficient, even without kicking my legs. For the first time, I wasn't out of breath at the end of each length!
I continued to focus on my movements, trying to make my arms move both in and out of the water the way they should. I found myself entering into a good rhythm. If not for counting the lengths to keep track of my progress, I'm sure I would have easily slipped into a "zen" state. This is how swimming should feel! This is why I love it!
I completed 60 lengths, all freestyle, and would have kept going but the lifeguard kicked me out.....end of lap swim for the night. I know that doesn't sound like much to a seasoned, well-conditioned swimmer but to me, this is HUGE!
Is it the tar and nicotine finally leaving my system? Has my body just been waiting for something like this? Am I just a giant ball of untapped energy and potential? I guess we'll find out. Tonight gave me a glimpse of all the great opportunities that lie ahead. I know I'll be ready to compete in the Big Shoulders 5K in Chicago a year from now and I'm excited to see what other challenges I can tackle between now and then.
Lesson - never think you're too old or it's too late to do something you've always dreamed of! Never tell yourself you can't accomplish your goals! YOU CAN DO IT!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Roller Coaster
I love roller coasters! The kind in amusement parks anyway......
Emotional roller coasters aren't quite as much fun. I always experience all of the nausea but very little thrill.
Since my last post, I have been on an emotional roller coaster extraordinaire. I received the books I had been anxiously waiting for the other day, "Dover Solo" and "The Young Woman and the Sea". I immediately started in on "Dover Solo" as it was recommended by Karen Reeder and was a direct account of one swimmer's experience preparing for and swimming the English Channel.
After the first chapter, I was thoroughly discouraged. The author of the book, Marcia Cleveland, had been swimming since she could walk and swimming competitively for at least a decade and when she decided to swim the English Channel, she gave herself three years to prepare. THREE YEARS! How could I, an untrained swimmer who has never competed and is the overweight, out of shape, working mother of three teenage boys, possibly expect to be ready in FIVE YEARS?!?!?!? WHAT AM I THINKING?!?!?
I continued reading and became more discouraged. Marcia was swimming 45,000 yards each week and spending lots of time in the open sea. I can barely find time to get to the pool twice a week and I live in Iowa....about as far from the open sea as you can get in the wonderful United States of America!
At times I was able to distract myself from the negative thoughts and just read the story. She had an incredible journey and the amount of training and preparation she committed to is absolutely astounding. She successfully crossed on her first try to become the 445th person to swim the channel. Oh, by the way, more people have been in outer space than have successfully swum the English Channel! Have I mentioned that before?
I was planning to swim again on Saturday morning, the start of a long day of chores both inside and out. We attended my son, Mason's, football game on Friday night and within the first series of plays, he was injured. I watched from the bleachers, wondering what was going on and what had happened, as Mason fought an incredible amount of back pain. After observing his movements, I was sure he had sustained a disc injury. I ruptured a disc in 2005 and can easily recognize the telltale movements and signs of that type of pain. Most of me was worried and concerned about him but a little, tiny part of me was upset that I wouldn't be able to make my early morning swim as I would be spending the morning in a dr's office. I know that sounds horrible. I'm an insensitive and selfish mother thinking those thoughts, but when do I get time for me?
Luckily, Mason checked out with nothing more than a pulled / strained muscle in his back due to a tight hamstring from an earlier injury. He's in a lot of pain but with stretching and rest he should be back to it in no time at all.
So, after a long weekend of nursing duties, yard work, grape harvest, and laundry I'm back to Monday and made it to the pool. Yeah!! My coach, Randy, gave me a new workout - 30 lengths with the kickboard, legs only. As you may recall, last time my feet cramped so badly I thought I'd scream. I was, however, able to get out of bed unassisted the following morning so I wasn't dreading it too much.
In addition to everything else that had happened in the last 5 days, I finished "Dover Solo" and started reading "The Young Woman and the Sea". I was hoping I would find a little more hope and encouragement directly related to my situation and I was right! The book is full of history of swimming, the origin of the "crawl" stroke, how the English Channel was formed, how it became socially acceptable for women to learn to swim and so on. I came to the solid realization that my freestyle "style" needed to be seriously evaluated and a change needed to be made. After reading descriptions of swimmers "thrashing through the water without much forward motion", I thought to myself, "This is precisely how I felt the first time back in the water after all these years.".
I began doing research online for help and tips on more efficient freestyle methods and found something called Total Immersion Swimming. I watched a YouTube video and a lightbulb went on!!! I immediately realized that if I was going to do this I had to learn this technique! The technique consists of more fluid motions, a longer and leaner line, and efficient power stroke kick instead of flutter kick. I watched the video about 15 more times to try to take in all the details. I shared this information with Randy and he seemed interested as well.
Back to my workout. I entered the pool knowing that by the 4 length my legs would begin to tighten, by the 8th length my feet would cramp, but that eventually I would find a rhythm and be fine. I was confident I could add 10 lengths to the workout but figured I would probably struggle a little to finish. Well, guess what?! By the 2nd length I thought I was going to die and was regretting the spicy chicken sandwich I ate for dinner! But then, something amazing happened.....I got warmed up and felt great by the 6th length. Even more amazing was the fact that my feet didn't cramp and my breathing came easier than before. At length 26, I decided to try a little 2 stroke power kick following the TI method and I couldn't believe the difference! My body was so much more efficient and I traveled to the other end of the pool much more quickly than with the flutter kick. My time ran out, but I exited the pool thinking that TI had some real potential benefits.
Emotional roller coasters aren't quite as much fun. I always experience all of the nausea but very little thrill.
Since my last post, I have been on an emotional roller coaster extraordinaire. I received the books I had been anxiously waiting for the other day, "Dover Solo" and "The Young Woman and the Sea". I immediately started in on "Dover Solo" as it was recommended by Karen Reeder and was a direct account of one swimmer's experience preparing for and swimming the English Channel.
After the first chapter, I was thoroughly discouraged. The author of the book, Marcia Cleveland, had been swimming since she could walk and swimming competitively for at least a decade and when she decided to swim the English Channel, she gave herself three years to prepare. THREE YEARS! How could I, an untrained swimmer who has never competed and is the overweight, out of shape, working mother of three teenage boys, possibly expect to be ready in FIVE YEARS?!?!?!? WHAT AM I THINKING?!?!?
I continued reading and became more discouraged. Marcia was swimming 45,000 yards each week and spending lots of time in the open sea. I can barely find time to get to the pool twice a week and I live in Iowa....about as far from the open sea as you can get in the wonderful United States of America!
At times I was able to distract myself from the negative thoughts and just read the story. She had an incredible journey and the amount of training and preparation she committed to is absolutely astounding. She successfully crossed on her first try to become the 445th person to swim the channel. Oh, by the way, more people have been in outer space than have successfully swum the English Channel! Have I mentioned that before?
I was planning to swim again on Saturday morning, the start of a long day of chores both inside and out. We attended my son, Mason's, football game on Friday night and within the first series of plays, he was injured. I watched from the bleachers, wondering what was going on and what had happened, as Mason fought an incredible amount of back pain. After observing his movements, I was sure he had sustained a disc injury. I ruptured a disc in 2005 and can easily recognize the telltale movements and signs of that type of pain. Most of me was worried and concerned about him but a little, tiny part of me was upset that I wouldn't be able to make my early morning swim as I would be spending the morning in a dr's office. I know that sounds horrible. I'm an insensitive and selfish mother thinking those thoughts, but when do I get time for me?
Luckily, Mason checked out with nothing more than a pulled / strained muscle in his back due to a tight hamstring from an earlier injury. He's in a lot of pain but with stretching and rest he should be back to it in no time at all.
So, after a long weekend of nursing duties, yard work, grape harvest, and laundry I'm back to Monday and made it to the pool. Yeah!! My coach, Randy, gave me a new workout - 30 lengths with the kickboard, legs only. As you may recall, last time my feet cramped so badly I thought I'd scream. I was, however, able to get out of bed unassisted the following morning so I wasn't dreading it too much.
In addition to everything else that had happened in the last 5 days, I finished "Dover Solo" and started reading "The Young Woman and the Sea". I was hoping I would find a little more hope and encouragement directly related to my situation and I was right! The book is full of history of swimming, the origin of the "crawl" stroke, how the English Channel was formed, how it became socially acceptable for women to learn to swim and so on. I came to the solid realization that my freestyle "style" needed to be seriously evaluated and a change needed to be made. After reading descriptions of swimmers "thrashing through the water without much forward motion", I thought to myself, "This is precisely how I felt the first time back in the water after all these years.".
I began doing research online for help and tips on more efficient freestyle methods and found something called Total Immersion Swimming. I watched a YouTube video and a lightbulb went on!!! I immediately realized that if I was going to do this I had to learn this technique! The technique consists of more fluid motions, a longer and leaner line, and efficient power stroke kick instead of flutter kick. I watched the video about 15 more times to try to take in all the details. I shared this information with Randy and he seemed interested as well.
Back to my workout. I entered the pool knowing that by the 4 length my legs would begin to tighten, by the 8th length my feet would cramp, but that eventually I would find a rhythm and be fine. I was confident I could add 10 lengths to the workout but figured I would probably struggle a little to finish. Well, guess what?! By the 2nd length I thought I was going to die and was regretting the spicy chicken sandwich I ate for dinner! But then, something amazing happened.....I got warmed up and felt great by the 6th length. Even more amazing was the fact that my feet didn't cramp and my breathing came easier than before. At length 26, I decided to try a little 2 stroke power kick following the TI method and I couldn't believe the difference! My body was so much more efficient and I traveled to the other end of the pool much more quickly than with the flutter kick. My time ran out, but I exited the pool thinking that TI had some real potential benefits.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Child's Play
I just returned from my second official swim workout, first official task to complete as given by my coach. As you may recall, I about drowned myself doing laps of mixed strokes on Saturday. Surprisingly, I wasn't too sore later in the day or the day after. I rode 6 miles on the stationary bike that afternoon and the next morning I walked/jogged 2.5 miles on the treadmill and 4 miles on the bike so maybe that helped with any soreness.
So today, I asked my coach what he'd like me to work on tonight and he challenged me to do 20 lengths, legs only, with a kickboard. I thought to myself, "child's play.....no problem", fully convincing myself that I would breeze through it. Isn't it amazing that as we get older, our body knows that it can't do everything it used to but our brain refuses to listen? Must be some kind of defense mechanism or survival tactic. It's so easy for me to overestimate my physical abilities and underestimate my limitations!
Back to the workout.......20 lengths with a kickboard in front of me at arms length, focusing on bilateral breathing and leg strength. First lap wasn't too bad, harder than I thought, but not bad. By the 5th lap, I took a 30 second break (or more) to catch my breath. By the 8th lap, I stretched after every second lap as I could feel my thighs tightening up. By the 14th lap, my feet were cramping so badly that my toes were curling up like monkey paws!
After that.......it got a little better! I must have finally warmed up. I finished out my 20 lengths and decided to swim a few more with the full use of my arms. AHHHH.......much better! I was able to complete ten more lengths, 4 breaststroke and 6 freestyle.
All in all, not too bad! I may need help getting out of bed in the morning but right now I feel pretty good!
I still have a very, very long way to go but I think I'll get there!
So today, I asked my coach what he'd like me to work on tonight and he challenged me to do 20 lengths, legs only, with a kickboard. I thought to myself, "child's play.....no problem", fully convincing myself that I would breeze through it. Isn't it amazing that as we get older, our body knows that it can't do everything it used to but our brain refuses to listen? Must be some kind of defense mechanism or survival tactic. It's so easy for me to overestimate my physical abilities and underestimate my limitations!
Back to the workout.......20 lengths with a kickboard in front of me at arms length, focusing on bilateral breathing and leg strength. First lap wasn't too bad, harder than I thought, but not bad. By the 5th lap, I took a 30 second break (or more) to catch my breath. By the 8th lap, I stretched after every second lap as I could feel my thighs tightening up. By the 14th lap, my feet were cramping so badly that my toes were curling up like monkey paws!
After that.......it got a little better! I must have finally warmed up. I finished out my 20 lengths and decided to swim a few more with the full use of my arms. AHHHH.......much better! I was able to complete ten more lengths, 4 breaststroke and 6 freestyle.
All in all, not too bad! I may need help getting out of bed in the morning but right now I feel pretty good!
I still have a very, very long way to go but I think I'll get there!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Day One
I entered the YMCA early this morning with quite a bit of trepidation. Will I really be able to do this? Am I going to make a fool of myself in the pool? We'll soon find out.....
Good news.....they're running a free week membership promo! Another coincidence? I received a quick tour of the facilities, thinking the whole time, "Hurry up! I just want to get to the pool!" The familiar smell of chlorine and locker room assaults my senses and brings back a whole host of memories.....swimming lessons, diving practice, high school PE, teaching my boys to swim.
Luckily, there is only one other swimmer, a teenage girl diligently swimming laps while her mother sits in a chair on the pool apron, reading a book. The girl is swimming a steady pace in good form. I decided not to wear my swim cap, only my goggles for this initial swim. Big mistake! Halfway into my first lap, my hair is getting in my mouth every time I take a breath. By the time I reach the other side, I am already winded....not a good sign. The girl next to me is a machine, performing lap after lap, only changing her stroke twice to get a break. Oh brother, what have I gotten myself into? I continue swimming, changing between freestyle, breast stroke, and side stroke to keep myself from drowning. I exit the pool long before my poolmate shows any sign of slowing down.
The result? Well, I haven't quit but I did realize just how out of shape I am. I've also realized there is a huge difference between swimming around and swimming laps! I also know that I'll have to do more out of water training in addition to my 6 miles on the bike or 3 miles on the treadmill each day. And, it takes longer than three days for the effects of 20 years of off and on smoking to wear off and optimal lung capacity to return!
I am still determined and my goal is still 2015. I know that, with lots and lots of work, my body will reshape and reform to it's peak performance level. (whatever that is for a 37-year-old, mother of three who has a desk job)
Baby steps, Emily, baby steps!
Good news.....they're running a free week membership promo! Another coincidence? I received a quick tour of the facilities, thinking the whole time, "Hurry up! I just want to get to the pool!" The familiar smell of chlorine and locker room assaults my senses and brings back a whole host of memories.....swimming lessons, diving practice, high school PE, teaching my boys to swim.
Luckily, there is only one other swimmer, a teenage girl diligently swimming laps while her mother sits in a chair on the pool apron, reading a book. The girl is swimming a steady pace in good form. I decided not to wear my swim cap, only my goggles for this initial swim. Big mistake! Halfway into my first lap, my hair is getting in my mouth every time I take a breath. By the time I reach the other side, I am already winded....not a good sign. The girl next to me is a machine, performing lap after lap, only changing her stroke twice to get a break. Oh brother, what have I gotten myself into? I continue swimming, changing between freestyle, breast stroke, and side stroke to keep myself from drowning. I exit the pool long before my poolmate shows any sign of slowing down.
The result? Well, I haven't quit but I did realize just how out of shape I am. I've also realized there is a huge difference between swimming around and swimming laps! I also know that I'll have to do more out of water training in addition to my 6 miles on the bike or 3 miles on the treadmill each day. And, it takes longer than three days for the effects of 20 years of off and on smoking to wear off and optimal lung capacity to return!
I am still determined and my goal is still 2015. I know that, with lots and lots of work, my body will reshape and reform to it's peak performance level. (whatever that is for a 37-year-old, mother of three who has a desk job)
Baby steps, Emily, baby steps!
The Beginning
On July 5th, 2002 at the age of thirty years, six months, I stepped into the ocean for the first time in my life. A day trip to Jones Beach while visiting my sister Julie and her family. I cannot adequately describe the feeling of swimming in the ocean for the first time. The sense of freedom and awe as I looked out over the horizon, wondering what lay beyond my sight. I began to swim out farther and farther, my husband, Tom, yelling at me from the beach, "Emily.....come back!". I reluctantly turned around and headed back to the beach to save Tom from a massive anxiety attack. Upon my return to our shared beach blanket I made this declaration, "Someday I'll swim the English Channel.". To this day, I'm not sure where the notion came from. Had I read something about this as a child or seen a movie whose random scene was locked away in my subconscious? My family, of course, told me I was crazy for even thinking that.....typical reaction.
I entertained this thought for a few days then let it pass as nothing more than a delusional notion.
Flash forward to 2008, my birthday. Tom and I went to dinner and a movie to celebrate. Our movie choice was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". I thoroughly enjoyed the show and connected with the thought that if you're unhappy with your life, change it, if you want to do something, do it. The moment the clip was shown of his old love interest having crossed the English Channel.....that particular notion was rekindled in my addled brain.
Over the next few months, I would casually mention this life goal in conversation, more as a "someday I'll do this" comment than a true committment. I had no idea how far it was, what the typical conditions were and the training required to tackle this feat. I began to do some light research on the internet. I gathered a few facts, enough to be dangerous, and convinced myself that I could do it.....no problem..... with the proper training by the time I turn 50 years-old. I added this to my "bucket list" along with several crazy goals and tucked it away again.
Spring 2009, I was having a business lunch with our corporate tax accountant, my boss, and a co-worker. We were discussing individual vacation plans for the summer and my family happened to be scheduled for a return trip to "our" rustic cabin in the Porcupine Mountains in the upper peninsula of Michigan. This sparked interest in my lunch companions and they began to wonder just what I consider fun. If I think hiking 3.5 miles to a cabin with all my supplies strapped to my back where I'll be rewarded with a stiff cot, no electricity, no running water, and the only "modern" facility being an outhouse, is a fun thing to do.....then what else do I consider a good time? So, I proceeded to share some of my "to do before I die" list. Among them, skydiving, BASE jumping, backpacking through Europe, and swimming the English Channel. My co-worker, Randy, piped in and offered to be my "coach" for the English Channel swim. I thought to myself, what can this 50-year-old, pudgy, smoker teach me about swimming? Come to find out, Randy was an all-state swimmer in high school and coached swim team for 9 years!! A coincidence? I don't think so!
I agreed to let Randy be my coach and started to look forward to my goal. I started to do some more extensive research on swimming the English Channel, gathered a few more facts, and tucked the thought away again.
Over the course of the next few months, I began to enter into a funk......I stopped feeling joy in ANYTHING in my life. I wasn't unhappy per-se but I wasn't happy either. Work was work, chores were chores, cooking was necessary, life was life... I decided I needed to make a change, have a new focus, a new purpose to spur me through this time. Enter the English Channel.....again.
On August 28th, 2009 I came home from work and posted my goal on Facebook with training to officially begin January 2010 and the feat to be accomplished by 2015. Pathetic? Maybe, but I knew in order to make a true committment and really stick to it I needed to know that I had told anyone who cared about me that this is what I'm planning to do. Goals and dreams, unvoiced, are easy to forget and allow to slip past without a second thought. After posting, I proceeded to hunt the world wide web for help.... tips on training, what to realistically expect, cost, rules, dangers, successes and failures.
I made contact with a woman, Karen Burton Reeder, whose resume blew me away. Gold medalist, successful channel crossing in 9 hours, 4 minutes on her first attempt, record holder for fastest time crossing the Catalina Channel, the list goes on. She was gracious enough to take time to talk with me over e-mail and offer some advice and background. I proceeded to order two books written by women who have crossed the English Channel, a competition swimsuit, goggles, and a swim cap. On my way.....right?
While I waited for these items to arrive, I found the site for the local YMCA and checked out the lap schedule for the pool. I had initially wanted to start my training in January, but the excitement began to build so that I couldn't wait any longer. I decided that, since I had the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics coming up, why wait to begin? I thought that if I started training right away, I could probably not only "plunge" for Special Olympics but swim for Special Olympics, as long as the water's not TOO cold. Knowing that I couldn't just jump in the lake and cross without having done any recent swimming, I decided that a few workouts a week would be enough to get me ready.
Step one - quit smoking.....something I haven't mentioned yet. I have been a casual, closet smoker for about 20 years, on and off, with up to a 5 year break in-between times. I typically smoked 3-4 cigarettes a day.....not much, right? I knew that this habit would have to be given up if I was to succeed. I quit on Wednesday, September 2nd.
Step two - head to the YMCA the first Saturday I could to test the waters and see what I can do. My swimming history consists of swimming lessons followed by lifeguard training from age 4 to age 14, member of a diving team from age 12-13, lots of time spent in area lakes and town pools from the teen years through early 20's. No competitive swimming history......at all.
My gear arrived on September 4th, yipee! Up early Saturday morning for a trial run.
Predictions -
1. I'll get in the pool, run out of breath halfway through the first lap, ask myself "what the hell am I thinking?", and get out.....dejected and depressed.
2. I'll get in the pool, swim a couple of laps, realize how out of shape I am but reset my determination to follow through.
3. I'll get in the pool, swim like a fish, complete 40 laps and exit feeling refreshed and resetting my goal for 2013 instead of 2015.
I entertained this thought for a few days then let it pass as nothing more than a delusional notion.
Flash forward to 2008, my birthday. Tom and I went to dinner and a movie to celebrate. Our movie choice was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". I thoroughly enjoyed the show and connected with the thought that if you're unhappy with your life, change it, if you want to do something, do it. The moment the clip was shown of his old love interest having crossed the English Channel.....that particular notion was rekindled in my addled brain.
Over the next few months, I would casually mention this life goal in conversation, more as a "someday I'll do this" comment than a true committment. I had no idea how far it was, what the typical conditions were and the training required to tackle this feat. I began to do some light research on the internet. I gathered a few facts, enough to be dangerous, and convinced myself that I could do it.....no problem..... with the proper training by the time I turn 50 years-old. I added this to my "bucket list" along with several crazy goals and tucked it away again.
Spring 2009, I was having a business lunch with our corporate tax accountant, my boss, and a co-worker. We were discussing individual vacation plans for the summer and my family happened to be scheduled for a return trip to "our" rustic cabin in the Porcupine Mountains in the upper peninsula of Michigan. This sparked interest in my lunch companions and they began to wonder just what I consider fun. If I think hiking 3.5 miles to a cabin with all my supplies strapped to my back where I'll be rewarded with a stiff cot, no electricity, no running water, and the only "modern" facility being an outhouse, is a fun thing to do.....then what else do I consider a good time? So, I proceeded to share some of my "to do before I die" list. Among them, skydiving, BASE jumping, backpacking through Europe, and swimming the English Channel. My co-worker, Randy, piped in and offered to be my "coach" for the English Channel swim. I thought to myself, what can this 50-year-old, pudgy, smoker teach me about swimming? Come to find out, Randy was an all-state swimmer in high school and coached swim team for 9 years!! A coincidence? I don't think so!
I agreed to let Randy be my coach and started to look forward to my goal. I started to do some more extensive research on swimming the English Channel, gathered a few more facts, and tucked the thought away again.
Over the course of the next few months, I began to enter into a funk......I stopped feeling joy in ANYTHING in my life. I wasn't unhappy per-se but I wasn't happy either. Work was work, chores were chores, cooking was necessary, life was life... I decided I needed to make a change, have a new focus, a new purpose to spur me through this time. Enter the English Channel.....again.
On August 28th, 2009 I came home from work and posted my goal on Facebook with training to officially begin January 2010 and the feat to be accomplished by 2015. Pathetic? Maybe, but I knew in order to make a true committment and really stick to it I needed to know that I had told anyone who cared about me that this is what I'm planning to do. Goals and dreams, unvoiced, are easy to forget and allow to slip past without a second thought. After posting, I proceeded to hunt the world wide web for help.... tips on training, what to realistically expect, cost, rules, dangers, successes and failures.
I made contact with a woman, Karen Burton Reeder, whose resume blew me away. Gold medalist, successful channel crossing in 9 hours, 4 minutes on her first attempt, record holder for fastest time crossing the Catalina Channel, the list goes on. She was gracious enough to take time to talk with me over e-mail and offer some advice and background. I proceeded to order two books written by women who have crossed the English Channel, a competition swimsuit, goggles, and a swim cap. On my way.....right?
While I waited for these items to arrive, I found the site for the local YMCA and checked out the lap schedule for the pool. I had initially wanted to start my training in January, but the excitement began to build so that I couldn't wait any longer. I decided that, since I had the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics coming up, why wait to begin? I thought that if I started training right away, I could probably not only "plunge" for Special Olympics but swim for Special Olympics, as long as the water's not TOO cold. Knowing that I couldn't just jump in the lake and cross without having done any recent swimming, I decided that a few workouts a week would be enough to get me ready.
Step one - quit smoking.....something I haven't mentioned yet. I have been a casual, closet smoker for about 20 years, on and off, with up to a 5 year break in-between times. I typically smoked 3-4 cigarettes a day.....not much, right? I knew that this habit would have to be given up if I was to succeed. I quit on Wednesday, September 2nd.
Step two - head to the YMCA the first Saturday I could to test the waters and see what I can do. My swimming history consists of swimming lessons followed by lifeguard training from age 4 to age 14, member of a diving team from age 12-13, lots of time spent in area lakes and town pools from the teen years through early 20's. No competitive swimming history......at all.
My gear arrived on September 4th, yipee! Up early Saturday morning for a trial run.
Predictions -
1. I'll get in the pool, run out of breath halfway through the first lap, ask myself "what the hell am I thinking?", and get out.....dejected and depressed.
2. I'll get in the pool, swim a couple of laps, realize how out of shape I am but reset my determination to follow through.
3. I'll get in the pool, swim like a fish, complete 40 laps and exit feeling refreshed and resetting my goal for 2013 instead of 2015.
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