Friday Swim

I missed my Thursday swim due to work (darn, I hate when that happens :)) and was sweating it out today while on a very long conference call with my managing partner and a client that began at 11 and showed little signs of ending until I excused myself at noon when it appeared we were winding down. The pool I swim at is open for adult lap swim from only 11:30 to 12:30 and I would have been very cranky about missing my third swim of the week as I only have one more day in the week to do my 4th swim.

I made was in the pool at 12:10 and swam for 25 minutes. It was a good swim and my goggles didn't bother me much at all. I did time myself for one lap and it was 20 seconds. Ugh! Very slow. Now I wasn't kicking (I was using a pull buoy) but still...

I had a conversation today with an old friend and training partner. I used to train in swimming and bicycling with this person, although truth be told I could only keep up on the bike in the beginning of the season -- and we were equal in the pool. I miss training with a partner as there's little motivation except my own to get going.

My goal was to swim 4X a week this month and tomorrow I will acomplish that goal; and then ride for 2 hours on the bike. I will repeat the bike on Sunday but may not swim as the pool is closed for a meet. Closest open pool is about 25 minutes away.

Till tomorrow.

Tuesday Swim

I am closing in on my 4th week of swimming 4X a week, and feeling very comfortable in the water, although my goggles leak and continue to be a problem. I was actually the fastest person in the pool.
Will bike this weekend and also have to make a decision if I swim on weekends too. I will definitely swim during the week.

The NY Marathon is this Sunday and I still feel sad about not being in it this year. It is such a great event and the anticipation was fun. Maybe next year.

Sunday Swim

Swam to Brahm's 4th Symphony today as well as the first part of Orf's Carmina Burama. Swam a little over a mile in about 50 minutes. Decent swim although my goggles kept leaking.

I saw a coach there today that I see a lot, Kevin, who coaches kids mostly. He had one 8th grader who was very fast and did a beautiful butterfly. She hasn't reached puberty yet and when she does and gets physically stronger she should be a standout. She's doing about 24 seconds for 50 yards. I think my workout rate is twice that!

This is the beginning of my fourth week of swimming and I will swim twice during the week and then bike for an hour Saturday and Sunday and probably swim as well.

Longest Swim in 35 Years

I had my longest swim in 35 years this morning, An hour and 5 minutes, swimming to Beethoven's 9th Symphony, which is typically about 65 minutes.

I remember quite clearly when I last swam over 45 minutes and I was at university, and decided to swim 2 miles one evening instead of one. I lost 25 pounds my first semester because of swimming. But I can't remember if I swam every week or every year, or just my first year.

Today's swim was very good and I have begun to master the alternate side breathing stroke.

Next weekend, on the bike -- although I will swim during the week.

Thursday Swim

If this is Thursday than I'm in the pool.
I think my last swim with Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty.
I think I'm getting a bit stronger although it's only been 3 weeks and my training program will probably only train me for long slow distance, no sprinting. Not that I have any speed. Never had it. Never will. I am the same speed today as I was at 18. Maybe that's a good thing. I have lost none of my speed!

Tuesday Swim

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel here. One more week of swimming and then a gradual ease back on the bike, albeit at the very end of the season here.

Tuesday's swim was pretty anticlimactic. Another 30 minutes that always seems like a rush given the timing during the middle of the day. Stayed with Swan Lake/Sleeping Beauty/ Romeo and Juliet fantasy (You may know this as...but did you realise it's also the theme song from..)

Today is actually Thursday so I am due for another day in the pool at 11:30. After 2 weeks I obviously don't see any change in my body, but then I don't think I'm swimming enough miles.

Sunday Swim

Halfway through my self imposed rest month from biking. Two weeks in. Ninth time in the pool in that period.

Did another mile, swimming to Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. Swam at Carroll. Two more weeks to go and then back on the bike.

Saturday Swim

Another day, another mile.
Two week into a month of swimming and averaging 4X a week.
The guy next to me, who was training for a race by doing intervals, was also wearing a FINIS MP3 player. He told me he's had it for a year. It's the first person I've seen wearing one.
Swim went by pretty quickly and I breathed both left and right the whole way, as it's beginning to feel a bit more normal, although it still feels "wrong" and sloppy. Hopefully more practise will help.

And my poor bike looks so forlorn in the garage.

2 more weeks!

Thursday Swim

Another decent swim today at lunch, but boy, am I slow. A 40 minute mile if I cruise and maybe a 35 minute one if I press. Did one thing today in the pool I have never done before -- breathed both right and left -- not just right, as I have been for almost 50 years. To be honest I have never been able to swim as effortlessly breathing left as well as right and thought maybe it would get rid of a persistent neck/headache I have had for a week that seemed to coincide with my increased swimming.

I managed to swim the whole 30 minutes with alternate side breathing and was pretty pleased as I rarely learn to do anything new in sports. I suppose if I keep this up in another 20 years I should have it down pat!

Tuesday Swim

Back at Grapevine pool during lunch hour. Leave at 11:30, arrive at 11:40, 5 minutes to change, 30 minutes to swim, 5 minutes to change and 10 minutes back to the office -- a fast paced hour.

Swam to Itzak Pearlman playing the Carmen Suite and violin concerto by Lalo, which is outstanding. I heard it at the Dallas Symphony a few years ago.

Sunday Swim

Swam another mile on Sunday -- listening to Brahms Symphony No. 2 -- which I did not warm up to. Have heard only the 4th, which I have really liked. Will try that tomorrow.

Swam at the Carroll Aquatic center, so 3 different indoor pools this week. Week one into my forced bike layoff. 2 more weekends and it will be a month off. Can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet.

There were two "real" swimmers next to me, and it's still hard for me to see where they get their speed. It's a 30 minute mile for me.

Swiiming

Swam four times this week, starting last Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and today, Saturday. Today was the longest swim, at a mile as I listening to one whole CD -- of CSNY -- Deja Vu; If that doesn't date me!

I confess that as much as I like swimming I find it boring when I swim by myself. Swam indoors all week at Grapevine Natatorium and today hit the Keller Natatorium for the first time since last spring. And since there are not enough adult swimmers doing lap swim to make it worth while to maintain the front desk, swimming there is free too. What a bargain.

Swam next to a triathlete who broke his foot two weeks ago when he tripped coming out of the water on wet grass during the first leg of a triathlon. He didn't have a cast on, just a boot, but was doing flip turns and pushing off the walls hard -- which I thought odd, but it's his recovery.

I may swim tomorrow, but at the Carroll Aquatic center, closer to our house -- as Keller is closed on Sundays.

Weighed myself today and am at 160 -- which I've been at since I was 18 -- plus or minus 3 pounds.

Tuesday Swim

My first indoor swim since the pool closed for renovations for the summer last May 15, and true to form I saw the same core group of swimmers there on their lunch hour -- as it's still the best deal in town -- Free. They have free adult swim from 11:30 to 12:30 M-F. Can't beat that. Did my usual half hour, but I do need to change my audio as I am finally growing tired of Grieg and Born in the USA -- although it's now Thursday and I have forgotten to do so.

Swim was fine although my right shoulder started to pain me in the last 5 minutes. Probably because I use the pull buoy the whole time and don't kick.

Will try and swim today during lunch -- which will make 3X this week. Saturday would be the 4th time.

Monday Rest Day

I am still feeling a bit of exercise glow from my swim yesterday as that's the best swim workout I have had -- and the hardest -- in about two years. And I do remember that swim too, because I was training with a friend and I beat them in our "non" race workout. It was the last time we swam together and it's been about 2 years since I have swam that fast -- thanks to the cold and the desire to go faster than the swimmer next to me. (Which is why another friend I have who swims, PJ, dislikes men swimming around her -- because they are so competitive -- although I never race her.

Will try and swim tomorrow during the day.

Sunday Swim

I have no idea how cold the water was in the pool outdoors but it took me 12 laps to get warm. Last weekend it took between 2 and 4 laps. I am betting the water is under 80. It was just a but chilly at first.

The pool was officially closed last week, on October 1, so I snuck in, and was surprised when another man and his young daughter joined me: they also climbed over the fence.

I swam for 30 minutes, at a pretty fast clip, as I wanted to swim faster than the other guy in the pool. Which I did, but not by much.

I made the decision to stay off the bike for a month and also not walk, so swimming is it for the next month. I am planning on swimming every other day for the next month.

Saturday Bike

Did an easy 50 on Saturday but my knee bothered me off and on so clearly it hasn't healed in the 2 weeks that I was off the bike and walking -- so regretfully I am shutting down the bike for a month and see if that works, as 2 weeks didn't work, and maybe the walking didn't help either; so it's back to the pool!

It's suppose to hit 90 today so I will swim outdoors, and switch to indoors near the office during the free lunchtime swim. I'm at 158 as of yesterday.

Thursday Walk

First walk of the season at 6AM, and I suppose first walk of the year at 6AM. It's pitch black out there and too dangerous to text while I walk as I am dodging sprinklers running as well as garbage and recycling. In short, it's a danger zone out there. Did see a number of runners out that early, all with the same schedule issues as I, I suppose.

Was done in 50 minutes, as I walk faster when it's brisk out and I am not preoccupied with texting or talking on the phone, although my daughter was texting me that early.

Am undecided on what time to go out tomorrow, 6AM or afterwork.

Tough decisions! Right!

Wednesday Walk

Well, out walking, having blown off the idea of walking this morning at 6, although I did get up and go to work at that time.

And since I am doing my Italian class tomorrow I really need to exercise in the morning.

And all ready on this walk I had to take a call from my former client in Korea, calling from Seoul, and a person at my company and my mom. They always find me. I am too accessable. Not that I can spell it!

I can see why Lance once threw his away when on his bike.

I still have not committed yet to the marathon, but leaning in that direction. I am afraid that after the ny marathon it will be a let down.

The entry list is capped at 17,000. The ny m has 40,000 entries and probably a million spectators.

Will get back to the bike this weekend. It will have been 2 weeks. Hopefully no knee pain. Need to walk 4 times this week too.

Well that's it from here. Almost finished exercising and home is in sight!