Training Swim #1

Background

Today was my first session swimming for my Triathlon training.  The event is 500 yards long, and I like to train for atleast 600 yards, just in case I zigzag in the water and add extra distance unknowingly.

For those who don't know, June 2010 I decided I wanted to do a triathlon.  I had recently finished the Fairfax Days 5k, and ran the entire thing without stopping, which for the few months before that had been my #1 goal.  In my Fairfax Days 5k race bag was a flier for the Trihawks Sprint Triathlon to be held September 17th... it seemed like a logical step for my next goal.  There was just one small problem... I knew I could do the run part, it was a 5k, and I figured I could ride a bike 16 miles even if I hadn't been on one in 10+ years, the problem was that I didnt' know how to swim...

Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't like being told I CANT do something... especially by myself.  So I set out to figure out how I COULD swim.  I enrolled in swimming lessons, and slowly introduced myself to the water.  I trained doing mostly side stroke because it was easy and I felt comfortable doing it, and I had limited time to figure out how to go the 500yrd distance.  I had tried to learn freestyle but just wasn't picking it up fast enough.  I did the entire swim portion of the triathlon side stroke... and it took me 19 minutes.  This year with 10 weeks to train, I want to do as much of the swim portion as I can in crawl (freestyle) and I am really hoping to get closer to the 15 minute mark so I'm not last out of the water again (OK, I wasn't last, but close!).

Today's Swim

So, like I said today was swim #1, after 9 months of no swimming... I planned out my swim training and assumed I'd be unable to swim longer then 50yrds doing any stroke, as that was hard to start at last year during training.  So today I wanted to just get to one end of the 25yrd pool and back without stopping doing any stroke I could muster, and throwing some crawl into the mix as well.

Right off the bat I felt silly in my 2 piece swimsuit, and noted that I would invest in a 1 piece for training.  Last year I trained in this suit, but then wore shorts and a sports bra to the event.  I couldn't find my goggles before I left the house and was in a hurry to get to Pilate's class so I grabbed a pair Josh had and was on my way... within the first 2 seconds of being in the water I realized these goggles weren't going to be my friend, they leaked, and they leaked badly, but I pushed on.

I started off with side stroke and then attempted some crawl... I was gasping for air after just 4 arm strokes, so I switched back to side stroke and finished my 50 yards.  Those 50 yards seemed very easy so I continued.  During my several attempts at crawl I noticed each time I was gasping for air, and seemed very rushed.  I FINALLY figured out how to rotate my body, not just my head, but it still didn't feel right.  After awhile more doing side stroke I came to the conclusion that because when I run I breath slow and long maybe I should try to slow down my stroke and that might allow me enough time to breath without feeling rushed and later down the road I could work on speed if needed...

That was an amazing conclusion and it really worked.  I pushed it to 300 yards and for the last 4 laps I did half a lap of crawl at a slower pace, followed by 1.5 laps of side stroke for recovery.  My last lap I did 3/4 a lap of crawl and quickly realized that soon I'll be doing lap after lap of crawl with no problems.  And with 10 weeks left to train, I should be in good shape for the triathlon!

When I got home I ordered new goggles, and a one piece swimsuit.  And I'm considering jumping my swim training up to twice a week :-)

Happy Training everyone!