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Post Challenge Thoughts: The Swim
Now that I have had time to sit back, relax, and reflect on the challenge, I have realized a few things.
1) A 3 mile swim isn't as scary as it sounded
Actually, a 3 mile POOL swim isn't that bad. Open water would kill me. Sure, it took me through 3 separate lifeguard shifts, and I had tile marks pressed into my arms from leaning against the side, but with enough time and taking breaks, 3 miles is easily doable.
2) Technique is HUGE
As I was training for this swim, I read all the triathlon books, read the magazines, and checked out tri and swimming websites. I thought I had my technique down pretty good. And then one of the lifeguards walked by and gave me a few pointers. He didn't even stick around to see if I was doing it the way he explained it, but I felt an immidiate difference. While my arms seemed to get a little more tired per length when compared to my old technique, the new way seemed to leave me alot less winded. This made me happy.
3) Some people really have no understanding of courtesy
I am swimming in the three lanes set aside for lengths, with one lane marker in the outermost lane. There are also signs at each end of those three lanes stating they are for lengths only. I am halfway through a length, past the 2 mile mark, when I see legs thrashing in the lane in front of me. I panic stop (good thing it was shallow water) in time to see a kid, about 10, followed by his dad, enter the water directly in my path to swim across to the other side of the pool. I continue, get to the end, and as I am turning back, the kid throws a ball back across my lane, swims through to get it, climbs out of the pool, throws the ball back across, jumps back in, and swims back across in front of me. I took this as my cue for another wall break.
I don't think they could see my evil eyes through my blue goggles though...
4) Ironman might need to install floating halfway saunas
I do want to finish an Ironman sometime (specifically Ironman Canada). However, after my halfway rest break in the sauna during this challenge, I may never be able to do a distance swim without expecting a sauna part way through ever again. It's like icecream. Icecream is good, but once you have had icecream with chocolate on it, why would you ever want plain icecream again?
5) Icecream makes a great post-challenge treat
... for the week and a half afterwards. Freezer is almost empty though, so then I can start eating better again.
I do have pictures, and some videos, but they are on my wifes camera which I have not got ahold of yet. Soon, and then you can all critique my swim technique and try to figure out of the video is from pre- or post-tips.
1) A 3 mile swim isn't as scary as it sounded
Actually, a 3 mile POOL swim isn't that bad. Open water would kill me. Sure, it took me through 3 separate lifeguard shifts, and I had tile marks pressed into my arms from leaning against the side, but with enough time and taking breaks, 3 miles is easily doable.
2) Technique is HUGE
As I was training for this swim, I read all the triathlon books, read the magazines, and checked out tri and swimming websites. I thought I had my technique down pretty good. And then one of the lifeguards walked by and gave me a few pointers. He didn't even stick around to see if I was doing it the way he explained it, but I felt an immidiate difference. While my arms seemed to get a little more tired per length when compared to my old technique, the new way seemed to leave me alot less winded. This made me happy.
3) Some people really have no understanding of courtesy
I am swimming in the three lanes set aside for lengths, with one lane marker in the outermost lane. There are also signs at each end of those three lanes stating they are for lengths only. I am halfway through a length, past the 2 mile mark, when I see legs thrashing in the lane in front of me. I panic stop (good thing it was shallow water) in time to see a kid, about 10, followed by his dad, enter the water directly in my path to swim across to the other side of the pool. I continue, get to the end, and as I am turning back, the kid throws a ball back across my lane, swims through to get it, climbs out of the pool, throws the ball back across, jumps back in, and swims back across in front of me. I took this as my cue for another wall break.
I don't think they could see my evil eyes through my blue goggles though...
4) Ironman might need to install floating halfway saunas
I do want to finish an Ironman sometime (specifically Ironman Canada). However, after my halfway rest break in the sauna during this challenge, I may never be able to do a distance swim without expecting a sauna part way through ever again. It's like icecream. Icecream is good, but once you have had icecream with chocolate on it, why would you ever want plain icecream again?
5) Icecream makes a great post-challenge treat
... for the week and a half afterwards. Freezer is almost empty though, so then I can start eating better again.
I do have pictures, and some videos, but they are on my wifes camera which I have not got ahold of yet. Soon, and then you can all critique my swim technique and try to figure out of the video is from pre- or post-tips.
Comment
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Comment by romanmica on May 12, 2008 at 8:58am -
I'm with you Skinny, I'm amazed at the complete and utter lack of swim courtesy by non-swimmers. I think that they just don't get how easy it is to get distracted and how hard you are working and concentrating when swimming laps.
They look at you just like a jogger that can just scoot out of their way. But it doesn't work that way in water.
Anyway congrats on a great swim. Here's my longest swim (10K) in case you are interested:
http://www.everymantri.com/everyman_triathlon/2006/04/my_first_and_on.html
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