1/22/2010

Last night I had a good swim session. I was kind of nervous about going because I didn't have a good session last time. I managed to get there early (I know for those of you who know me that's really an earth shattering event) and of course I was the last one to get there. We did a warm up of 200 yards then did some 4 sets of 2oo yards alternating between leg buoys and freestyle. Then we did some more freestyle then some drills and I can't remember the rest. I've been having some issues with cramping that I just can't figure out. I've been hydrating well. I eat a banana every day and have started drinking some Gatorade every day to try to boost the electrolytes/ potassium in my system. Tim says my swimming has improved 1000% and I have noticed a big difference from 2 weeks ago which is encouraging but I realize I have a long long way to go before I'll really feel comfortable attempting to swim 1.2 miles freestyle.

We swim at the rec center in Macedonia and it's a beautiful facility. I swear that pool is longer than the one at Bally's. It might be an optical illusion but it seems like the rec center is about 5 yards longer than Bally's. I'm going to have to ask the next time I'm at the gym. That would be a dirty trick. The facility is much larger and it might just be a trick of the mind. We'll see. I was happily swimming trying to baby the cramping in my legs but getting by just the same and wouldn't you know it? Only I can manage to injure myself in a swimming pool. OK minor injury at best but still irritating. I was swimming along and I hit the plastic lane marker with my hand and managed to split the fingernail of my ring finger on my right hand. It didn't really hurt too much. Granted it was bleeding. But my hands were water logged. I had been in the pool for an hour already. So I had to be very careful with it once I got out of the pool. Definitely didn't want to snag it on anything. I managed to cut most of it off with some nail clippers when I got home. It's still jagged and is still split but now I have a band aid to keep from snagging it on something so I'm good to go. :)

Doing this event has been an eye opener for me. I've noticed all sorts of aches and pains. My knees, my ankles, my shoulders, my foot, (now my finger! lol), my back, my chest, my knees (yes I know I mentioned them before but they hurt in various different places). I'm not sure if it's just because I'm 42 or if it's because I've never tried to do something like this before or if it's because I'm 42 AND I've never tried to do something like this before! Regardless I'm finding out new things about myself and I just keep an eye on the real reason I do this. I added a new person to my In Memory Of list yesterday. David Ponce. He was a member of my church, in college and had his whole life ahead of him only to be cut short by leukemia. I met his mother last Sunday. I do this to one day find a cure and no longer have stories like my grandfather, David Ponce, Dan Kelsey and David Flarsheim.