Week 2 of Ironman Training: Sink or Swim

Another week down, only 33 more to go!  It's a bit early to start the countdown.  This past week was more of the same regarding the 'building phase'.  I'm running 3 days a week, with the longer run on the weekend.  I actually got outside on Saturday for my 5 miles as I couldn't stand the thought of another minute on the treadmill.  The other 3 days of the week I'm doing the P90X workout videos.  Then twice a week on Tuesday's and Thursday's I'm taking a masters swim course at my gym.

I started to venture into the swimming arena a couple of years ago.  I was running races and felt like I was in pretty good shape but after two laps I was practically drowning.  All the things I read about swimming is that it compares to a golf swing...it's all technique.  What I was doing in the pool at the time would be the equivalent of going to the golf course driving range and swinging as hard as you can at the ball...a lot of fun but just not getting you anywhere.  So I sought out some help from the only swimmer I knew; my mother (this was a humbling experience asking one's mother for athletic advise).  I won't list her age but I will tell you she gets a discounted ticket at the movie theater.  All joking aside her help made all the difference in the world.  She goes to the pool 3+ days a week and swims for over an hour each time, she's obviously doing something right.  She explained the technique to me - the proper way to breath and the timing of each stroke.  With her advice and coaching I was up to swimming a mile last summer.

With the progress I had made I debated whether or not paying for a masters swim course would be worth it. I figured what the hell it can't hurt, so I went out and bought the speedo and hit the pool (in the interest of full disclosure this speedo is more like running spandex in that it covers my quads).  I'm up to my 5th session this week and am starting to notice some differences, mainly how slow I am.  I mean for crying out loud I've got size 15 feet, I should be a damn dolphin!  It is getting better and starting to feel a little more natural with each class.  The key to the swim in the race is 1) don't panic and 2) conserve energy.  You jump into the murky water with 2500 other people and you're bound to get kicked, punched, and pulled a few times, I have to teach myself to stay calm and throw a couple of hay-makers to keep my position.  All the while over the 2.4 mile swim course I have to save my energy for the upcoming bike and swim and that's where the technique comes into play.  Thanks to my Mom, I should be able to stay afloat!