Category Archives: Moving Forward
Swimming Alone is Fine
My team members have been MIA this week. I have been swimming alone. It’s okay because I have a goal and since no one can help me accomplish it, I don’t mind practicing alone. Not that my team is not important to me because they are. They are my biggest supporters and have become an extension of my family. I just have to be careful not to use them as a crutch or an excuse. Every day I come to the pool with a plan and I have to follow that plan no matter what. I just sent an email to everyone asking that they just let me know that they are okay. They’ll be back. I’ll be waiting.
TriWomen hear I come!
September is a ways off but to compete in my first sprint triathlon (The Danskin) I have to begin training now. So far people are either very supportive or they snicker when I tell them my plans. It’s okay the only thing that can stop me is my mind and I’m working on that now. The “quiet riot” in my head got the best of me at first today and I stopped short of swimming fifty yards. Then I thought, not long ago I couldn’t do 25 yards without gasping for air. I have adequate air but I can still talk myself out of success real fast. So every day I continue to work on it. Yesterday my friend Roz sent an email about the 2013 kickoff of the TriWomen group in Scotch Plains – Fanwood, NJ. Wow the commitment is real. I believe that I can do this step by step. Borrowed a bike. Scared to get on it though. Sure I can walk the run (knee issues you know) but the open water still freaks me out. But darn it, I’m gonna do it. Stay tuned!
Spa Night Lessons ….Or My V-8 moment
Yesterday my church had a spa program for the ladies. Among other things I volunteered to do a guided meditation using Young Living Essential Oils my favorite. After having done an hour or two of hand and arm massage, I got everyone quiet and did a short meditation. After we finished people were coming up to me and thanking me for a few minutes of pleasant peace. I felt like I was having a V-8 moment. I wanted to pop myself in the forehead. Why don’t I do as I say? Starting each day appreciating the things that I have and looking forward to a whatever is ahead. Prayer and meditation should be my routine. So I’m happy we did the spa day. It was another reminder of what’s really important.
In The Zone Once Again
Today, Wednesday, the coldest day of the year so far for us and I decide to visit a gym where some of my friends belong. It’s fairly new and has all the requisite equipment. The price is right and so I embarked on a mini-workout. Wow I’m out of shape. Swimming does somethings but my muscles need work. Part of my reason for doing this is to improve my strength in the pool. Anyway I took my ipod and started walking on the treadmill. Like the pool I can get lost in the activity at the gym. Don’t need anyone to go with me. Sorry but I don’t need to chitchat. Today I was appalled at how little stamina I had on the treadmill, bike and elliptical machine. The challenge has been presented and I will slip into my zone tomorrow when I get there. I love it.
In Tough Times Stick With Familiar Activities
Since December several of my friends have dealt with parents with serious health issues. No matter what our ages, we don’t want to deal with our parents mortality. The likelihood is that we will out live them and we just don’t want to see that day come. My Dad died when I was in my mid-twenties and I of course miss him to this day. My Mom is still here at 96 and at least once a week she says “well how long do you think I’m going to be here?” I don’t know and today I don’t want to talk about it. So I can appreciate how they all feel. We can’t do much about these situations. We can be good supportive children and then the rest has to be left to prayer if you pray. I am here to tell you though that we need to do the things that will keep our sanity and give us bits of relief from our worries. For me and some of my friends that happens in the pool.
You all know that I am in the pool as often as I can be. Some days are better than others but all time in the pool is time I am not thinking about anything else. I sputter and choke a bit and still lack the stamina that I need but for sure I am not thinking about bills or ills when I am swimming. You may have something else that takes you away from it all and I encourage you to do that. Take the time for that familiar activity that makes you feel good. You won’t be sorry!
How Many Yards in a 1/2 Mile?
880 yards, rounding up 36 laps of my practice pool. This is important to me because I intend to do the Danskin triathlon in September. Thirty-six laps omg. Right now I am sputtering on two laps wearing my zoomers. Well I just have to keep trying. The last few days I have begun to count my strokes (thanks Yelena) and for the first time I am making a lap without freaking out and thinking that I’m out of air (cause I’m not) So I believe that I will be able to swim more than a half mile by September. We’ll talk about the open water freak out later.
How Do You Eat An Elephant?
Old joke expressing a timeless lesson. Friday is the only day I can get to the pool with my team members. They have stepped up their program and I felt kind of lost today. For a minute I let frustration take over. I was thinking that I won’t be able to catch up and will always be lagging behind in my skills and stamina. Well it is what it is. I thought of the elephant joke and realized that like the elephant my swimming skills will improve one bite at a time. So what can I do on the days that I come to the pool by myself? I can do laps. Several things that I want to do will involve me being able to swim several hundred yards without stopping. So if I do nothing else, I can improve my endurance.
I can work with that. Starting Tuesday I need to swim 300 yds (12 laps) without stopping. Not committing to a particular stroke, just the distance. I’ll keep your informed.
Crazier by the Minute
For the first time probably thirty years I jumped off of the diving board. Notice I said jumped. Not very dignified but I gave it a shot. Making progress every day.
Jumping off the board. Not pretty but I did it
I don’t even remember holding my nose. LOL!
Patience and the Pool
So another valuable piece of information today. Mike told me today that the conventional wisdom is that it takes a year to learn a stroke well. Whew! I can slow down and take my time. Didn’t have my flippers today so I had to push without them. Well I did almost two laps freestyle. I am pumped and now I know that I will be working on it for a while. I have revised my schedule to swim a mile. Hmm maybe next summer? Who cares I’m not in a hurry. I love the pool!!!!
I Am Not A Groupie By Nature
After the Girl Scouts, I can’t remember having the desire to join a group. Didn’t pledge a sorority in college much to the disappointment of some, no ladies clubs (not me) bridge or other. So you get the picture. Anyway at this phase of my life I find myself affiliated with three groups that I couldn’t do without. My Bergen Crafters (they are as crazy as I am about crochet and my knitting love is gaining on some of them), my newest Brick City MasterSwim (they make me see possibilities I hadn’t considered) and my Willing Hearts Weight Watchers group ( cause they feel my pain and my victory). So here’s to groups!
First Steps the Hardest 