I've had many days now to reflect on my failure at Tinman. When I look back, I am amazed and somewhat appalled that I didn't complete the swim at that race. Intellectually, the distance was so much shorter than all of my current workouts. Even visually, when I looked over the water, it didn't look daunting.
So, I try to look at it as a learning experience, not that it was the 2nd race I've ever DNF'ed. I went back to Shawnee Mission Park last week and swam with Bea. If was slooooow and steady. I focused on my breathing. And, I was fine.
Thursday, I intended to go to Master's class at Prairie Village pool. With the coming race on Sunday, I thought a pool workout in 50 meter swim lanes would be good practice. Lo and behold, there was a swim meet that night and the pool was closed. Dang! So much for the best laid plans. I then drove down to Leawood pool to just swim in the 50 meter lanes. Can you believe they were doing a swim meet as well? It was too late to go to UMKC, so I was destined to swim at 24-Hour Fitness.
In spite of it all, it was a great 2,000 yard workout. I went down to Joplin and did the Summer Roundup tri, a great beginner's tri with a pool swim. The 500 meters were done before I hardly knew it. The race was great and I even won my age group!
So, that brings me to tonight. Marcela and I went to Kill Creek in Olathe and swam around the 500-yard course they have set up there -- 3 times. Not a single moment of anxiety. Complete control of my breath. I think that my gut has finally caught up with my head in believing that my wetsuit will keep me afloat, which is another huge stroke forward! Now, to start swimming naket (without the wetsuit security blanky, so I can do WIN for KC tri.
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