I've had several people tell me that reading a swim workout can be like reading a foreign language. Luckily, I'm pretty fluent. Thought I would take the opportunity to share a little of my knowledge.
Here are a few distance related works you might hear when it comes to swimming.
*Your standard pool will be 25 yards. Some are in meters, some are longer or shorter. Just to make sure, ask around at your pool to make sure! These are assuming 25 yard pool:
length - to the other end of the pool, 25 yards
lap - to the other end of the pool and back, 50 yards
50 - the main building block of distance in swimming. equal to one lap, or two lengths.
100 - equal to two laps or four lengths.
a mile - 1650 yards (or 1500 meters). Please read this in case you are a science wiz and know that 1650 yards is not exactly a mile by a walking definition. equal to 66 laps or 112 lengths.
yardage - Just how runners track how many miles they have done as "mileage", swimmer track how many yards they have done/will do as their "yardage". ex: What is the yardage of today's practice?
Hope that gives some of you a jumping off point. I will be posting these during the next couple of weeks on different things swimming related, so if you have questions or words I can include, please let me know! Email me: i*am*faster*in*water@*gmail.com (Just take out the *s!).
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
The Fear of Coming In Last
When pondering signing up for a triathlon, it has been a concern in my mind...what if I come in last?
First thought: That would be totally embarrassing. I don't know if accomplishing a triathlon would even feel very good if I came in last place.
Second thought: But you would finish. A Swim, a bike AND a 5K. Might as well be an Ironman, that is what it will feel like to me!
Our fears can lead our lives down paths that we don't want to go, but are to afraid to face.
I'm reminded of when I first got my bike. "But what if I fall?" Just get back up. It was scary, then it happened, then it wasn't so scary anymore.
I think the same has proven true for coming in last.
Last week there was a 1 mile race (not timed, just for fun) where you run a mile then you get a beer (or choice soda, etc). The proceeds go to charity. I signed up and so did SwimSis, SwimTot and my good friend Ali. So we start running and about a quarter mile in, Ali and I need a walk break. SwimTot did too, so SwimSis asked if she could stay with us while she kept running. We said sure. Granted there was no shade and it was in the upper 80s, but that turned SwimTot into a grump! She would not run for the life of her and whined about being hot for the remaining 3/4ths of a mile. It was not pretty. The whole time I was trying to coax her back to the finish. We rounded the last curve and the volunteer at the corner started chatting with us and walking back with us. Then I looked behind us - no one! As we closed in on the parking lot and the "finisher's chute", I MADE SwimTot run and we clocked in at 19:10 for a mile. The very last people! Was it embarrassing? Ever so slightly. Did it make me want to never race again? No way!
I got my last place in, now anything else shouldn't be such a big deal.
I know I will probably be near the bottom of finishers in my sprint tri, but luckily, I know I won't cross the finish line last as there is also an Olympic distance option :)
I've been putting in some extra workouts lately. Building my confidence right along with increasing my stamina (I'm looking at you, BRICK workouts!). In the past few months, runs were few and far between and my biking was mostly with my Tri training group (once a week). I've been pretty happy with these extra workouts and hope to keep it up so I feel confident on August 10th!
Here are a few pics from the post race festivities:
Yeah, I got pop because I cannot stand beer. I added a lil whiskey to brighten it up and it was wonderful! That is a food truck behind us and I was super sad I didn't bring any cash, it was my fave - Jamaican!!! PS never give a 28 year old (me) caffeine that late in the day. I couldn't fall asleep that night! SwimSis loved it, so we are doing another one tomorrow. I'm not feelin' the whole pop thing again, so I will forfeit my drink and let SwimSis have 2 beers. I'm such a great sister!
What's a fear that you have a hard time facing?
First thought: That would be totally embarrassing. I don't know if accomplishing a triathlon would even feel very good if I came in last place.
Second thought: But you would finish. A Swim, a bike AND a 5K. Might as well be an Ironman, that is what it will feel like to me!
Our fears can lead our lives down paths that we don't want to go, but are to afraid to face.
I'm reminded of when I first got my bike. "But what if I fall?" Just get back up. It was scary, then it happened, then it wasn't so scary anymore.
I think the same has proven true for coming in last.
Last week there was a 1 mile race (not timed, just for fun) where you run a mile then you get a beer (or choice soda, etc). The proceeds go to charity. I signed up and so did SwimSis, SwimTot and my good friend Ali. So we start running and about a quarter mile in, Ali and I need a walk break. SwimTot did too, so SwimSis asked if she could stay with us while she kept running. We said sure. Granted there was no shade and it was in the upper 80s, but that turned SwimTot into a grump! She would not run for the life of her and whined about being hot for the remaining 3/4ths of a mile. It was not pretty. The whole time I was trying to coax her back to the finish. We rounded the last curve and the volunteer at the corner started chatting with us and walking back with us. Then I looked behind us - no one! As we closed in on the parking lot and the "finisher's chute", I MADE SwimTot run and we clocked in at 19:10 for a mile. The very last people! Was it embarrassing? Ever so slightly. Did it make me want to never race again? No way!
I got my last place in, now anything else shouldn't be such a big deal.
I know I will probably be near the bottom of finishers in my sprint tri, but luckily, I know I won't cross the finish line last as there is also an Olympic distance option :)
I've been putting in some extra workouts lately. Building my confidence right along with increasing my stamina (I'm looking at you, BRICK workouts!). In the past few months, runs were few and far between and my biking was mostly with my Tri training group (once a week). I've been pretty happy with these extra workouts and hope to keep it up so I feel confident on August 10th!
Here are a few pics from the post race festivities:
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| SwimSis, SwimTot, me |
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| Me, SwimTot, my dear friend Ali |
What's a fear that you have a hard time facing?
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Uncharted Territory
I'm in the uncharted territory (for me!) of actually training for a race! Until I signed up last week, I was telling people I was "hopefully" going to do a tri this year, and going along with whatever practices we had for my tri group plus some other stuff I like (yoga and pilates). Here is what the past week or so has looked like from a workout point of view:
Thursday (4th of July): 45 min swim, 19 mi bike ride w/tri group (I KNOW!)
Friday: Nada
Saturday: Pilates, 6.82 mi bike ride w/Coach (bro-in-law)
Sunday: Running after my kiddos at the church
Monday: Swim w/tri group
Tuesday: Skip yoga, frolick around the water park with SwimTot, SwimSis and TeenSwimSis.
Wednesay: 1 mile "race" with beer afterwards (more on this later)
Thursday: Nada
Friday: Nada
Saturday: 1 Hr pilates and 3.52 mi walk with the bestie
Sunday: Running after my kiddos at the church
Monday: Swim w/tri group
Tuesay: Yoga, 30 min run/walk
Hmmmm....not so much a training plan in there, but I did enjoy the frolicking around the water park. I had never been there and I live like a mile from it! It is the same rec center that I would often do my walk/runs around in the spring/fall.
I can't believe I did a 19 mi bike ride. And right after 45 mins of swimming! dudes, I was TIRED. It was myself, Tri Coach Jeff, and my teammate Sarah (who has won several tris this season!). Usually we ride for an hour, but they were all "we'll go however far you can". Well, I honestly wanted to quit after the first 2 mi loop with the hills, but I did a second, then we switched hills and did a third. After that we stopped to get more water/potty/refuel, although I didn't have a source of fuel! Newbie. I'm not one to chicken out, but I was listening to my body-ish and I said we could ride more, but I needed flat ground! When all was said and done, we had 19 miles under our belts. Yes, they had to circle back for me a couple of times, but I never stopped and I never gave in. I was pretty proud of myself and that night I had no desire to see fireworks, but I was watching the clock so I could go to bed! Zzzz....
Alternate post title "Hills are a necessary evil". That is such a nice drop in to the state park, isn't it? those first two hills are the same and they start out with a nice, sweet, short and steep climb, but then it turns into a terrible long slow climb - or at least it feels that way. Even though I was going slow, I still made it (vs some people walking their bikes up). I did that third one, which was steep and short and then you can see my longing for flat came true until we rode back into the park and had to climb back out. Don't laugh at me if you actually live somewhere hilly vs me here in the flat midwest!
I also have to say that ride on Saturday with Coach was amusing. I had never ridden with him before. It was overcast and I said I didn't want to get caught in the rain, he assured me the radar looked good. About a mile in, a nice solid summer rain came in and stayed till we got back. LOL It was actually not as bad as I thought. Here is a pic of me (talking while taking a pic). Can't really see how soaked I was. The only scary part was knowing that my break handles were wet so I was very cautious.
Then I will also throw in a pic of me after my 30 min run/walk today. At 7:15pm, 88 degrees, felt like 94 with humidity to boot! Midwest heat wave! This did not capture how red my face was!
Tomorrow I'm planning on doing an hour ride with my tri group and I was already warned yesterday that many hills were in the plan! I had better ask Tri Coach Jeff for a "training plan" so I can make sure I am getting all my stuff in.
Thursday (4th of July): 45 min swim, 19 mi bike ride w/tri group (I KNOW!)
Friday: Nada
Saturday: Pilates, 6.82 mi bike ride w/Coach (bro-in-law)
Sunday: Running after my kiddos at the church
Monday: Swim w/tri group
Tuesday: Skip yoga, frolick around the water park with SwimTot, SwimSis and TeenSwimSis.
Wednesay: 1 mile "race" with beer afterwards (more on this later)
Thursday: Nada
Friday: Nada
Saturday: 1 Hr pilates and 3.52 mi walk with the bestie
Sunday: Running after my kiddos at the church
Monday: Swim w/tri group
Tuesay: Yoga, 30 min run/walk
Hmmmm....not so much a training plan in there, but I did enjoy the frolicking around the water park. I had never been there and I live like a mile from it! It is the same rec center that I would often do my walk/runs around in the spring/fall.
I can't believe I did a 19 mi bike ride. And right after 45 mins of swimming! dudes, I was TIRED. It was myself, Tri Coach Jeff, and my teammate Sarah (who has won several tris this season!). Usually we ride for an hour, but they were all "we'll go however far you can". Well, I honestly wanted to quit after the first 2 mi loop with the hills, but I did a second, then we switched hills and did a third. After that we stopped to get more water/potty/refuel, although I didn't have a source of fuel! Newbie. I'm not one to chicken out, but I was listening to my body-ish and I said we could ride more, but I needed flat ground! When all was said and done, we had 19 miles under our belts. Yes, they had to circle back for me a couple of times, but I never stopped and I never gave in. I was pretty proud of myself and that night I had no desire to see fireworks, but I was watching the clock so I could go to bed! Zzzz....
Alternate post title "Hills are a necessary evil". That is such a nice drop in to the state park, isn't it? those first two hills are the same and they start out with a nice, sweet, short and steep climb, but then it turns into a terrible long slow climb - or at least it feels that way. Even though I was going slow, I still made it (vs some people walking their bikes up). I did that third one, which was steep and short and then you can see my longing for flat came true until we rode back into the park and had to climb back out. Don't laugh at me if you actually live somewhere hilly vs me here in the flat midwest!
I also have to say that ride on Saturday with Coach was amusing. I had never ridden with him before. It was overcast and I said I didn't want to get caught in the rain, he assured me the radar looked good. About a mile in, a nice solid summer rain came in and stayed till we got back. LOL It was actually not as bad as I thought. Here is a pic of me (talking while taking a pic). Can't really see how soaked I was. The only scary part was knowing that my break handles were wet so I was very cautious.
Then I will also throw in a pic of me after my 30 min run/walk today. At 7:15pm, 88 degrees, felt like 94 with humidity to boot! Midwest heat wave! This did not capture how red my face was!
Tomorrow I'm planning on doing an hour ride with my tri group and I was already warned yesterday that many hills were in the plan! I had better ask Tri Coach Jeff for a "training plan" so I can make sure I am getting all my stuff in.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Taking The Plunge
Ah, I can't believe it, but I'm at that place now...
I just signed up for not one, but TWO triathlons!!!
My first one is August 10th and is a women's only tri out in the country in a town I've never heard of. This one is an open water swim. And the logo/mascot is pretty awesome!
The second one will be September 22 at the YMCA/nearby state park that I "train" at every week. To know the course so well, it was kind of a no-brainer! This one is a pool swim.
It was important to me to pick more than 1 race because I wanted to do both a pool and open water swim. And I like that they are so different.
The pool swim make me nervous because you have to swim a lap in each of the 7 lanes (350 yds). So they ask for your estimated time. Holy crap that scares me the most. You don't want to be stuck behind someone and have to try to swim around them, but you also don't want people to try to swim over you. I did my best guess and I really wanted to put a more conservative time, but I don't want to be running into people's feet! The time that I put would put me (compared to the same tri they had there in May) in the top 20 for the swim (out of 170 people). Uh, okay. So maybe I will get in the pool this weekend and have a little time trial to see how close I can get to that time I put down. *Gulp!*
I'm nervous, excited and about $150 poorer - but I'm ready for the ride!
Time to go tackle that 3 week training plan :)
Do you prefer a pool swim or an open water swim? I prefer the "able to see" aspect of the pool, but the "wide, open spaces"aspect of open water!
What was/will be your first triathlon? I've done a tri that each sport was timed, the Super Tri, but I think that you can combine any 3 sports and make a fantastic triathlon. I would love to throw kayaking in there somewhere!
I just signed up for not one, but TWO triathlons!!!
My first one is August 10th and is a women's only tri out in the country in a town I've never heard of. This one is an open water swim. And the logo/mascot is pretty awesome!
 |
| Can I be her when I grow up? |
The second one will be September 22 at the YMCA/nearby state park that I "train" at every week. To know the course so well, it was kind of a no-brainer! This one is a pool swim.
It was important to me to pick more than 1 race because I wanted to do both a pool and open water swim. And I like that they are so different.
The pool swim make me nervous because you have to swim a lap in each of the 7 lanes (350 yds). So they ask for your estimated time. Holy crap that scares me the most. You don't want to be stuck behind someone and have to try to swim around them, but you also don't want people to try to swim over you. I did my best guess and I really wanted to put a more conservative time, but I don't want to be running into people's feet! The time that I put would put me (compared to the same tri they had there in May) in the top 20 for the swim (out of 170 people). Uh, okay. So maybe I will get in the pool this weekend and have a little time trial to see how close I can get to that time I put down. *Gulp!*
I'm nervous, excited and about $150 poorer - but I'm ready for the ride!
Time to go tackle that 3 week training plan :)
Do you prefer a pool swim or an open water swim? I prefer the "able to see" aspect of the pool, but the "wide, open spaces"aspect of open water!
What was/will be your first triathlon? I've done a tri that each sport was timed, the Super Tri, but I think that you can combine any 3 sports and make a fantastic triathlon. I would love to throw kayaking in there somewhere!
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