I was a competitive swimmer for 12 years of my life. I started at age 6 and swam through high school. I peaked my freshman year of high school. After that I only swam during high school season instead of with age-group all year.
In college I did some lap swimming and competed in a few intramural one-day/year meets.
Post-college I spent a very short time with a YMCA membership that also allowed me to lap swim.
The local age-group team started a "Masters" program several years ago. I tried it out a few times, but it was basically a time for adults to lap swim. The coach didn't have workouts...he seemed more of a lifeguard on deck. So I didn't go more than maybe 2 times.
The past couple of years I have wanted to join the Masters team again, knowing that there was an active coach on the scene (I was still on the emailing list and stalking the group silently from my couch). However, with graduate school and Jeremy working at Domino's, it was not at all feasible for me to find time to commit. And, let's face it, with a monthly fee, I better be committing!
I'm finished with grad school and Jeremy just quit Domino's. The excuses are no more.
I got in touch with the coach and now here I am sitting on the couch after my first practice in over 13 years!
Here are a few things worth noting:
1) It was apparent before I finished my first 200 that I have lost all muscle in my arms. By the end of practice, my arms weren't just tired, my triceps were sore. Don't expect me to move my arms much the next few days.
2) It was also apparent in that first 200 that my suit is not made for lap swimming. I had to find one quickly and didn't fit into the ones at the local sports store (horrible), so it's a Kohls suit. Not really what I was looking for, but it will do. It just doesn't fit snugly across the top, so there's considerable drag. However, I'm not going to look for a more suitable one just yet as I hope to have an excuse to buy a new suit sooner rather than later. :-)
3) I was in the slow lane...the fastest person in the slow lane, but the slow lane nonetheless. The jets in this lane suck! Or blow, rather. Seriously. They're horrible. I do not recall ever swimming in a pool with such awful jets. I plan to remedy this situation in the next couple of weeks. Of course with 19 and 20 year-olds in the pool, I will not be finding myself in the fast lane. Those days are past me. I'll be happy with the middle :-)
4) Practice was an hour and I got in 2100. The top lanes did 2500. I also plan to remedy this in a couple of weeks.
5) The coach told me about 40 minutes in that he usually has new people "just swim" and not really listen to him. I told him that I need a coach and will do whatever he says...and need him to tell me what to do...but that if I need a break I will just take one :-)
6) I did everything I was told to do. The 1200 warm-up (200 swim-100 kick-200 swim-100 pull x 2) was the most difficult. After that, I got into a groove. And...my 4x100s descending were actually descending! 5 seconds off each one! Woohoo! This was the last set of practice and my last 100 was 1:40. I'm okay with that. I'm documenting it here so I can see how I've improved by the end of the summer.
7) I know running is free, but there is no way I will ever get this kind of workout for free. So I do believe I will continue to pay a monthly fee to swim with a coach. Plus, swimming is far superior. No pounding of the joints. Working your entire body. Sweat isn't noticed. It's a win-win-win.
I have a feeling, if I stick with this and practice 3x a week that I will finally reach that elusive 20lb weight-loss mark. I got to 19lbs during the Biggest Loser competition at work and couldn't get to 20. I have gained a few pounds back, so it will take me a couple of weeks. I've got a goal to lose another 13 pounds before our Florida vacation at the end of July.
I'm also planning on signing up and training for my first triathlon! Which does mean I still have to run every now and then. I also need to start biking. I have never biked for anything other than leisurely rides. This will be interesting.
Here's to my summer of fit!
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