Category Archives: renewal
Swim Clinic with Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen
Well today I attended my first all day swim clinic. So we spent about an hour in the classroom and then we headed to the pool for two hours of free style stroke instruction.
The talk before the swim
Karlyn watching her video
Then we went to lunch, some people left and the rest of us returned to the pool for about an hour and a half more (thirty minutes per stroke) of in water instruction. Wow! I learned a lot and I have never been so tired in my life. It was worth it though! I’ll keep you informed of my improved strokes.
Tri bound
Second doctors visit in two days. The price of aging. This was the cardiologist and I told him instead of seeing him the end of August I want to come after my triathlon in September. He agreed but cautioned me to be sure that I have trained sufficiently. Okay I was pumped. After leaving however the cold hard reality hit me. I have to train aggressively to be ready. I have trained in my mind but not actually if you get my drift. I go to the pool four times a week but some days I hardly get anything done. That has to stop. Lack of training will not be the cause of me not completing this thing. More to come.
Triathlon Bound
I had to miss my workout today due to Dr.’s appointment. I am diabetic and on a mission to take good care of myself. I told the Doctor of my intention to do a Tri in September and she said by all means go for it. Since 2009 when I began to see her I have lost over forty pounds and am no doubt in better physical shape than I was in my forties. Having said that I know that I will have a long training road. Several people have visited my blog in the last few days and I will be following their journey’s this year as well. I hope to do at least one run/walk a month as part of my training. I will also be raising money for different organizations at the same time. It’s all good. We will make this trip together.
Triwomen rule
Last night I attended my first Triwomen meeting. I am really going to do a triathlon and these ladies are going to hold my hand through the whole thing. I have a long way to go to get ready but they assure me that it is doable. There were young women there and seasoned women like myself. They were small and petite and my size too (LOL!) and what they all had in common was the desire that I have, to do this. Stay tuned!
I Go To Sleep Thinking About My Freestyle Stroke
I actually go to sleep thinking about my freestyle stroke. I still don’t have the best stroke but I have visions of a much faster and certainly better stroke. I am going to my first swim clinic with Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen next Saturday and I couldn’t be more excited. My coach is great and has taught me a lot and I figure that anything I learn from the clinic will enhance what he has taught me. Execution and thought are not always in sync and there is so much to remember. Well anyway when I think about swimming, I’m not thinking about anything else. My journey continues.
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.
Resisting the Urge to Hibernate
It’s winter and I believe that I’m not alone when I say that it’s tough to get the work out in. I wear this little gadget called and Activelink which I purchased from Weight Watchers. It syncs with your computer and registers all of your daily activities. Fits into my lifestyle and unlike other gadgets of this type I can wear it in the pool. Anyway during the summer and fall I was working out at least six days a week and the effort was showing. Now it’s winter and even though I am in the pool 3-4 days a week even there I’m not putting forth the effort I did earlier in the year. This week I’m going to add an at home workout and up my efforts in the pool. I know I need it but sitting on the couch knitting with a fire in the fireplace seems pretty neat. Any suggestions out there?
Wow! I Did It!!!
Today only Tony and I were at the pool. This time of year is rough and everybody can’t make it every day. Anyway I told him what Corey suggested to increase my freestyle distance and proceeded to show him. I made it down the pool turned around and headed to the second line. After a couple of times Tony said see how far you can go. Well I did a bit more than the second line but that was it. So he said can you get a song in your head and sing it to yourself. I said yes. So he said okay we’re going to swim a lap slowly and you concentrate on the song in your head. Turn at the end and just see how far you can come. So we did and I made it about 3/4 ‘s of the way back before I felt like I was out of breath. Next Tony said okay swim slowly and when you turn just keep singing. Well I’ll be darned. Two laps, 50 yds. done!!! We talked for a while and I said I have to leave and Tony said okay let’s do two more laps. I did it a second time. I love my team & coach!!!
Pool Fun
Our pool is open Tuesday through Saturday and we practice Tuesday through Friday. With the holidays, closures due to “Sandy” and other storm damage, personal issues, this is the first day that more than three or four of us have been in the pool at the same time. I think there were ten of us this morning. There was some swimming, some racing and a lot of talking. I’m not sure I did eight laps. I did however get to catch up with everyone. It was so much fun. I felt guilty for a minute that I didn’t use my pool time wisely but what the heck. It was really nice. The pool was warm in spite of the hole in the roof. The locker room and the shower was toasty and I sure felt better afterward. Sometimes I just wanna have fun!
Sunday’s Are For Renewal
So let me start out by saying that I teach for a total of six hours a week. So don’t cry for me. Still I guard Sundays with a ferocity that may surprise some. Church is my choice so I go every Sunday with few exceptions. In nicer weather church is preceded by a walk in the park. Afterwards though I try to do as little as possible. Since I teach on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. some school work is involved. My husband and I usually watch something that we DVR’d earlier in the week and I usually prepare dinner. What I really avoid is anything that causes stress and since I retired from my former career six years ago I have little stress about work.
I know that many of you have family and other responsibilities that occupy your Sundays. Some of you have to work. So your Sunday may be Wednesday. The point is that we all need a day that we can live stress free. It’s the day that we start the clock over and hopefully find that sense of renewal. Church triggers the renewal for me. So press on and enjoy the moments that you have. Tomorrow it starts again!
First Steps the Hardest 