May 24th

4th week of training started.  The more I swim the more comfortable I become.  I guess I should have realized it would come with time.  The more you practice the better you get right?  Anxious to get into the open water and get the feel for that as well.  Having trouble with my goggles fogging up and I hate it when I can't see where I am going and I am still swimming in a pool.  Probably going to have to get something to put on them. 
Got a new pair of shoes yesterday.  Will try them out tomorrow on my 30 minute run.  I have groaned my way through the 20 and 25 minute runs without resting.  We shall see tomorrow on the 30 min run.  I find that I run better on the dirt than on the pavement.  I also know that its hard to breathe when the humidity is 88% and that I make lots of noises when I run.  Good thing I run alone.  Going to need to see the chiropractor again maybe next week.  Hip is still kinda sore.  Other than that the body seems to be holding up ok.  I am hungry all the time.  I could eat non stop.  Some days I do. 

Got my Groove?

Ok, screw the whole swimming with the face in the water.  I can't worry about getting that right.  It was causing me to panic and not be able to swim confidently.  So now I have my way.  I swim some with my head immersed other times its in the water up to my nose.  I feel like I need to be able to see where I am going or I panic.  The minute that I couldn't breathe comfortably I panicked and then would get out of breath and lose everything.  It may not be pretty, but I just need to finish the swim without drowning.  My stroke is strong and so is my body.  If I decide after this to do other tri's then maybe I can work with someone on swimming but for now, I do it how I know it.  Actually didn't want to  stop this morning but I did my 400 yards like the training said so as not to overdo it.  Left the pool feeling like I accomplished something.

Week 3

Start of week three.  Tired this morning.  Still drug my butt out of bed and to the gym for 6:00 am spin class.  Went to the chiropractor on Friday, but I feel worse now than before.  My shoulder is really tender today and so is my hip.  I am going to give it a day and see what happens.  My run yesterday was positive.   20 min run no stopping.  I never thought I could do that.  Wait til the 55 min run comes up.  OH boy.  Should be getting my bike in the next couple of weeks.  Can't wait for that.  Anxious to hit the road.
Watched some more video over the weekend on Triathlons.  Hopefully picked up a few swimming tips.  Also found a great website for 1st time Triathletes.  Some great stories from 1st timers.  Back to the pool tomorrow.  Hopefully my new nose plugs will be in today.

Week 2

I'm tired today.  Got plenty of sleep but still just tired.  Swam Tuesday night after work cause the power was out in the morning.  It was miserable.  My nose plugs leaked and I am assuming its cause the pool was so cold.  So I ordered 2 new pairs.  It was like my first time in the pool and the Thursday before I felt so confident.  Today was a little better.  I ran last night, in the rain, which went well.  25 minute run with about 2 minutes of walking in there somewhere just to rest my legs.  My knees were hurting so I think I need new shoes.  My legs are a little sore today.
Swimming is just not my strong area and that worries me.  I hate leaving the pool feeling defeated.  I guess I have only been in the pool 4 times I have 12 weeks to go. 
Heading to the chiropractor tomorrow morning to get my hip and shoulder worked on.  Hopefully my body holds out. 

Swimming day 2

Today was 2nd day in the pool.  Sore arms this morning when I got up.  Did a 25 minute run last night directly after work, which wasn't too bad.  Legs were a little tight.  After about 14 laps in this morning I may have finally figured out my breathing.  The key just might be making sure your lungs are empty when you are ready to come up for that breath.  It seemed to flow better if i did that.  Now granted I had to spit and sputter a couple of times but I am learning.  I am doing the bi-lateral breathing so its every 3 strokes and then a breath.  If I keep my head in the water there really is a trough to take a breath in.  You just have to find it.  My fear of breathing in water was stopping me from finding it Tuesday morning.  So this morning I wasn't as nervous.  The one older guy next to me swam laps, literally, around me.  He didn't have to rest.  My resting wasn't because my arms or legs were fatigued but just to catch my breath so I could find a rhythm again when I continued to swim.  I found myself doing a mental check right before going into a lap.  My breath had to be just right.  Hopefully this all gets easier, which I am sure it will cause this morning was a bit easier than Tuesday.  So can't wait to see what my arms feel like tomorrow.  Saturday is a rest day.

First day of swimming (May 3, 2011)

So I decided to start training 2 weeks early cause I couldn't stand waiting anymore.  Up at 6:30, bags packed the night before, and ready to roll.  Got to the pool about 7:15.  Goggles on, nose plugs on and off we go?  Yeah right.  Do you really have any idea how hard it is to get your breathing right if you are going to do a total immersion swim?  Its not, unless of course you have been doing it your whole life, easy.  If I really concentrated I was able to get up to my nose in the water and still be able to turn my head to take a breath in.  Seriously if you have never attempted this you will have no idea what I am talking about.  My heart was beating so fast it amazed me.  400 yards accomplished with resting.   Gosh by the time this triathlon is over I will be mentally exhausted.  I have to get this breathing thing under control.

My arms are kinda tender today.  Right on the back of the shoulder.  Yesterday they were like jello.  I suppose that's to be expected for someone who swims leisurely maybe 4 times a year.  So here we go.  Facing my fears head on.  No other way to do it right? 

Tonight is a 25 minute run, which I will tackle directly after work.  Brought my stuff with me so there will be no excuses about getting it done.  Back to the pool tomorrow with some hopeful improvement by the time I have another 500 yards under my belt.

YOU ARE CAPABLE OF MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE!