Swim Bike Run Live

Family Swim Day

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

Sam’s new gym has a pool. While I loathe the idea of having a gym membership, she’d never workout in the cold winter so being a gym rat is her main option. It also means that she has a chance to return to her swimmer roots from +15 years ago and is jumping into the pool to do some laps again.

Except that my little grasshopper has a few things to learn. During her first trip to the pool (without me), she couldn’t tell why people were giving her funny looks. She has awful eyesight, so without glasses or contacts, she had no idea that the protective stickers were still on the front of the lens. We both got a good chuckle out of that one when I showed her. 

Sunday is “family swim day” at her pool where the whole family can swim for free if anyone is a member. (Totally meant for families with little kids, but we’ve got the same last name now, so I’m taking advantage of it.) It is REALLY rare that Sam ever has me workout with her (because we are both super competitive) and even RARER that she asks me for advice on workout stuff. Needless to say, I was really surprised when she asked me to come and critique her form and help give her a swim workout plan. I didn’t ask questions, I just jumped in and started watching.

I’ve seen her swim a million times, but I’ve never actually seen her freestyle technique before. I’m not sure why, but I always just assumed that she had really good form. She didn’t disappoint. I was able to quickly notice some small ways that she could improve her rotation, arm entry and body position. I was only only impressed by her form after so long out of the pool, but my knowledge in how to break down people’s swim stroke. (Am I becoming a swimmer?)  I did my best not to overwhelm her and give her one tip to work on at at time.

After a quick shower, we regrouped in the lobby and headed out to the car. Sam was quick to note that now we had swam, ran AND biked together. This, coming from the girl who for years has been content hanging on the sidelines, taking pictures and cheering during races. It has only taken my 8.5 years, but I think I’m slowly starting to wear her down. Maybe in another 8.5 years she’ll toe the line and do a triathlon with me.

Even if she never does race with me, family swim day made me a proud husband.

| Posted in Triathlon | 4 Comments »

All You Need Is Just Enough – Motivation

Friday, February 17th, 2012

This morning’s swim session was a test of my mental strength more than anything else. Mildly entertaining and potentially insightful, so I thought I’d share.

• First alarm goes off at 4:40. I turn it off. Roll over. Close my eyes.
• Second alarm goes off at 4:50. I turn it off. Roll over and put my arm around Sam. She is very warm and comfortable.
• “If I can just put my feet on the floor, I can get my swim in this morning.”
• I keep my feet under the blankets. They stay warm. The floor is cold.
• I pry my feet from under the blankets at 5:05, throw on socks, shoes and a sweatshirt, grab my pre-packed swim bag (I can’t find a speedo in the dark for the life of me) and am out the door by 5:10. Pretty much the latest I can still leave my house and still be ready and in the pool when practice starts at 5:30.
• I hit every. single. red. light.
• 15 minutes to go under 4 miles. I daydream (is it possible to daydream at 5am?) of spring and when it is warm enough to bike to the pool – which would have been faster. Parking lot is already full.
• Make it to front door of the pool at 5:28 with a few other stragglers. Apparently I wasn’t the only one hitting snooze this morning.
• I shuffle through the locker room and my stomach reminds me that I had Chipotle last night. Ugh. Not something you want to ignore before a swim.
• Yadayadayada, 10 minutes later and I’m finally ready to suit up and hit the pool.
• 10 minutes later means 10 minutes late. Warmup has ended and everyone is already onto the main set. I’m still bone dry.
• I stare at the wall, trying to figure out if it is worth turning around and going home, maybe squeezing in a strength training session before work, or just diving in for a short(er) swim set.
• Motivation is pretty much depleted. I’m 20 feet from the edge of the pool, but all I want to do is drive back home.
• I dive in.
• Some new girls are in my normal lane. They are fast. It hurts. Bad

The moral of today’s story is that sometimes, you are just off. Constantly. You don’t need to be organized, efficient and 100% on top of your game to get training in while still having a “normal” life. Sometimes you need just enough motivation to put your feet on the floor…

Or to still jump in the pool after an exhausting buritto-induced bowel movement.

Happy Friday! I hope you have at least “just enough” motivation to get shit done this weekend and be more awesome than you were yesterday.

| Posted in Triathlon | 5 Comments »