SwimKat

My athletic goal for 2017 was to immerse myself into swimming, to shift from being a marathon runner to becoming a beginner marathon swimmer.  Lofty goal.  I wanted to improve my stroke technique (be more efficient) so that I would be more confident in the pool as well as the open water.  I wanted to fall in love with swimming, as I loved running (something that I can't do anymore cuz of my knee).  I started to swim with a masters swim group at our gym 3 to 4 times a week,  took a swim lesson in February to fix my stroke, and practiced all of the corrections.  In late summer, I took an open water swim and VASA lesson with Eric Nielson (FAST coach) and practiced with his corrections for the rest of year.  I do think my stroke is more efficient, hopefully I am dropping my elbows a little less than I used to.  I think I catch the water with my forearms better too.  I am still trying to fix my timing, breathing, and lifting my head so much wh...

As any other skill in life, it's something we have to prepare for, learn the skills (research research research) and then practice them.  I didn't realize that I was doing some of these intuitively, and I found that they worked for me at my last open water swim in the Union Reservoir.  I occupied my mind with acclimating to the cold water, swimming as an itty bitty spec in the water, letting the panic come and pass, This is what I have figured out so far: 1.  Arrive early for a race - at least 1 1/2 before a triathlon to allow enough time to check in, set up your bike in the transition area, listen to the announcements and then FUTZ.   Futzing is the most important thing to do...it seems to calm me down some...I check and recheck my bike, my sunglasses, helmet, bike gloves and any other equipment that I have.  It's comforting too I think.  One thing I know about myself is that if I cut it too close to the start of the race, my ...

Not too long ago, Bob and I decided to sign up for the 1.2 mile swim at the Kinetics Summer Solstice Happening #Kineticists  in Longmont Colorado (at the Union Reservoir)...to prepare for our triathlons in late June and July.  Realizing that 1.2 miles was a little much, I emailed the organizer of the swim requesting to swim just the 1/2 mile swim that day.  I was assured that that change wasn't a problem. Selfie at Union Reservoir!   When we got there, it was windy, the water was choppy and wavy...and we were still signed up for the 1.2 mile swim...um no! So we requested to "downgrade" to the 1/2 mile swim.  We were still anxious, but at least it wasn't a full mile!  So 1/2 mile swim...1.2 miles swim...what's the big deal you ask? It's huge...open water swimming is scary if you're not experienced at it.  We can do pool swimming no problem...but open water swimming is a whole different thing. In the reservoir (or lake or ocean) you ...

I have read that some elite athlete or coach likened doing an endurance race to a Hero's Journey...it is so true.  The elements are there.  We somehow choose to go on this nearly impossible trip to somewhere in search of something.  We always end up finding ourselves, transformed in some way, and we encounter angels who help along the way.   When I was running the Into the Wild Carnivore Classic half marathon #Intothewild  #Carnivoreclassic at the Wild Animal Sanctuary, I had to do a lot of positive self talk to get me thru the tough spots. It was hot: I was hurting and my hip flexors were really screaming.  I was getting close to starting to giving in to my inner whiner.  She was saying things like "holy crap I hurt" and "why did I sign up and pay for this race?" and "this sucks and I don't wanna do this anymore" and a new one... "I pay for inflicting pain on myself I think that's a definition of insanity".  I s...

I bought my wetsuit probably a month ago.  It is a beautiful piece of neoprene and whatever else that helps the triathlete be warmer and more buoyant, which I will appreciate this Saturday during the swim leg of the tri!  I LOVE my wetsuit for so many reasons, and it's funny how that piece of neoprene makes me feel legit - I look like a real triathlete!  So fun!! A basic rule of racing is don't do any "firsts" on your race day.  That's a rule that I'm going to break I guess. It's been too cold or rainy... or something... to swim in open water (in my wetsuit) so far...so I will be swimming in my wetsuit in open water for the first time this Saturday.  Yikes! This morning I practiced getting my wetsuit on and off, which is harder than it sounds.  It's like pulling on and attaching a tight, thick second skin and peeling it off.  Theoretically it's going to be a fast peel-off in the transition from the...