I forgot....this challenge requires a swim

[Neal Oseland]

I heard about the challenge on the Ironmantalk Podcast one day and it sounded like something to keep me going through the month of May (my bday is May 29th). My priority race for the season is Ironman Arizona in late November so I thought this would be a great motivator this "early" in my season. I thought this would be a breeze...just another training day. Well, I took on a challenge to swim 50k for the month of May. Swimming is my weakness so I put a big focus there and have some people holding me accountable. This volume I'm putting in so far is really showing me how hard swimming is for me having done very little work in the water over the first 4 months of the year. This directly ties in to the B-Fit B-Day challenge because I just realized how much that 3 mile pool swim is going to suck.

Let's see...

1. I play catch up in every race due to the swim.
2. The swim single handedly cost me a Kona slot at IM Coeur d'Alene last year. I was 15 minutes slower than I had anticipated with the conditions that I was NOT prepared for.
3. I get wicked pool allergies to the point where I have troubles sleeping after too many consecutive days in the pool.

Now.... you expect me to swim 6/10's of a mile further than what I have to do in IM?!!!?

Way to think it through Neal.

[romanmica]

Neal, I was at IMCD last year and I have to disagree with you. I say the wind and the waves cost you your slot. It was one of the more difficult IM swims I've seen and made for a challenging morning for anybody uncomfortable in the water.

Good Luck with your Challenge and I'll see you in Arizona in the fall!