Someone asked me..."What the heck have you been doing all this time?" Well, the honest answer is I did a 5K and winter trail program in January, a half marathon in Feb and another in March then a Duathlon in April all while taking swim lessons since Dec.
The Duo was a reality check. It will be on the same course as my first Tri. It provided me the feedback I needed for more focused workouts and seek out help where I need it on the bike. So, I went to work. I sought out two talented women who have complete Half Ironman Distances for guidance on the cycle. The first time we went out for a ride on the Iron Girl course in Columbia, MD. I was scared and shaking, but I was determined to stay on the bike and finish the course. I did. I listened to them closely when they told me to shift and pull the pedals....Who knew! All this time I have been pushing the pedals rather than pulling them-Go figure. I practiced and practiced. Next time I met with them, not only was I stronger and rode faster, but I had more confidence and kept up with them (most of the time). I did not cry or quit. I put my head down and dug deep.
Oh the Swim...Oh the Swim....
Today, I did 10 laps with little breaks on the side of the pool. This is a breakthrough for me. Last year, when I took lessons I just couldn't do it~Mentally. By mentally checking out, I physically checked out and did not go back to the pool until Dec 2012. When I jumped in on my birthday in December, I froze. I just stood there literally, but I was different. I was not the Stacy who mentally checked out. My mental game was on and my willingness to surrender control to the coach was relinquished. I played Pink's song "Try" before every practice and sang in the car on my way to practice-"Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try
Swimming has reminded me that sometimes you have to "step back to go forward" metaphorically and literally. If you want to move forward in life sometimes one must be willingly to go back and re-examine, re-learn, re-adjust and re-mind oneself of the fundamentals (values, attitudes, keys to personal success and life lessons, etc). It is only through this process that true change can come and one can move forward. The alternative is relapse...then you must re-start until you learn the lesson. From a literal perspective; swimming is all about physics and let's just state for the record I don't know anything about Dang Physics except a body in motion stays in motion. What took me a long, long, long time to understand is to swim the water must be pushed back to move forward and to breathe swimmers inhale above the water and exhale beneath it to get rid of CO2. As someone trained in cognitive psychology; I spent months analyzing the swim. It did not seem logical and if something does not make sense for me well all wheels come to a screeching HALT!!!!! Despite what Nike says " Just do it." I can't! I must understand what I am doing. I must understand the rationale. I don't like someone saying without explaining WHY!!!! I suppose this is why it has taken me so long to learn how to swim. Now I have a new saying.." Don't think-Do!" I am practicing being a 40-something kid when it comes to the swim and just jumping in now. My swim "ain't" perfect or pretty, but the process has taught me to say, "Stacy-girl, you may not understand everything or do things perfectly, but just go and do it. Trust how you feel and let your feelings guide you." Swimming is NOT about control (Can you tell I have control issues--lol). It is about "letting go and allowing mind and body to move naturally in the water." It is not like running or cycling when pounding and hammering the pedals can be an asset. Every time I try to control my swimming by over thinking; bad things happen-sinking or swallowing water. Now I understand why it may take some adults longer to learn to swim than children especially if they are thinkers. Perhaps, swim coaches should be more like yoga instructors helping adult swimmers find their inner Chi first.
The journey continues~July 21, 2013-Hagerstown Tri-My first!
I shall float, kick, pull -whatever it takes to get the HELL out of the water-300 meters feels like a long way, but I am sure by then end of the year; I will feel differently. Mash the bike and run,skip, hop, crawl to the finish. At times, I feel a little manic, a little OCD and little anxious even depressed (as a psych/mental health nurse I had to through this in here); but the best "medicine" for me is good nutrition, sleep (a luxury) and the feeling of accomplishment each time I swim a little further or ride the bike a little longer in the clips (and don't fall) or run more than walk during Tri/Brick practice....
Honestly, I feel like kindergartner learning all things Tri....it is fun, exciting and scary all at the same time.
Less than 60 days and counting....59, 58, 57, 56,
Tomorrow is a run day. Yippee then to the pool for drills with fins
Pink will be on for another workout....
Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try
For those who don't know this song...Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdHCec23BKE
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