It seems longer. . .

More challenges to getting to the pool this week almost convinced me to forget it altogether.  I mean, it’s gotten colder outside, we’re getting up an out later these days, etc.  Cry me a river.  I put the baby back in the crib at 5:30, told my son to listen for her, and took myself to the pool.

I got in and swam a 25 before I checked my watch.  It was 5:54 when I finished my first length.  My strategy today was to swim 1700 yards with as much freestyle as possible.  So. . . I started with breast stroke!  Go me!

The pool was full when I got there, so I found myself swimming down the middle of the slow lane between an older man and a woman.  I got distracted by trying to swim faster than the woman, and I failed miserably.  The man got out of the pool pretty soon, and by the time I was swimming my second IM or so, I noticed I was the only person in the pool.

That was short-lived.  Three young people (swim team kids) started training, and the other lanes filled up as well.  I missed my chance to change lanes–something I used to do a lot when I first started swimming.

I was tired and almost sore starting out.  Did that have to do with the fact that I’d done Tae Bo three times this week?  hmm?  And I finished my second week of the 200 sit-up challenge this week?  (btw, ’2 weeks’ on that challenge has actually taken me 4 weeks to finish, so boo me)

I don’t know, but that might have had something to do with  my muscle fatigue.  I pushed through it, though, thinking of  Dori’s mantra:  (from Finding Nemo):  ‘keep swimming!’

My IM times were more consistent, if unspectacular:  2.53.20, 2.55.88, 2.53.36, and 2.55.20.  My sluggishness showed, I think in those times.

I was at the 1000 yard mark when I finished the IMs.  The rest of the workout consisted of my trying to gain yardage without a lot of elementary back stroke, my relaxing, cooldown type stroke.  I was pretty successful, only adding 50 more elementary back stroke out of 700 yards.

I found a better way to look at swimming freestyle, too.  I concentrated on blowing the air out of my mouth, rather than my nose, and I had an easier time.  I have a hard time trying to work the breathing out of my mouth and blowing out of my nose rhythm every three strokes.  I don’t know.  Must be me.  I’m also working on improving my arm movement during the breast stroke.  I’m sure I have way too much wasted movement there.  It’s fun to refine strokes in the midst of trying to get something done.

In the end, it was 7:02.  I’d swum 1700 yards, and my shoulders and triceps were sore.  I plan to swim again next week.  Goal:  1800 yards, 1 mile!