Swimming is. . .

Swimming has been a favorite part of my life for as long as I can remember. My family wanted me to be active and at a very young age my mom took me to a swim meet and I just knew that this would be the sport for me.

There is something magical about swimming, a wonderment about the way the water molds to my body, rippling over and massaging my flesh that has been beaten down by the elements in the day. It fascinates me how quickly I can move through it as I push off the wall in a streamlined position; yet if I were to put my arms out like the wings on an airplane, I slow down tremendously. And I am amazed at the ability to build such magnificent muscle tone, just by pushing and pulling through it. It is almost as if it passes its strength and majesty off onto us if we are willing to take the time to master its secrets and respect those secrets about it that we will never know. Swimming is a peaceful silence amongst the chaos of the day - immediately after diving in all I can hear is my own breathing and the movement of the water that I create as it moves around me.

Swimming to me is more than just foggy goggles, swim caps, wetsuits, pull buoys and kick boards. It is the eerie silence of the water while submerged. It is about feeling powerful and yet so small in a substance that is so unpredictable. Swimming is a brilliant piece of the Ironman. There is no controlling the water that I will swim through and knowing this, I will respect it and prepare as best I can for all of its unpredictability and hope that it will be kind to me on the morning of the race.

(Top left photo: me at age 12 - waiting to race. Bottom right photo: Senior Year, diving off the blocks)

April 5 - April 11

• 4-5-10 - Swim 4,000 yards/Run 1:15 - Today I went on a 1:15:00 run as part of my attempt to "run better" and hopefully faster by the end of May. I felt terrible the first 10 minutes, but broke through a wall and felt better shortly after the 10-minute mark. I did enjoy running outside after my swim today - the water in my hair cooled me off and instead of smelling sweat, I smelled the chlorine seeping through my pores.
• 4-6-10 - Bike 1:30/Run :35 - I have made a decision to attack the wind. If its going to be a part of Spring, I may as well use it to my advantage in order to make myself stronger. The run was difficult this time. I think my legs were over-worked from the bike. But, I did it. OK, honestly, how much can I say "I did it" and have it really matter until I prove it to myself on race day?
• 4-7-10 - Bike 1:44/Swim 4,000 - The bike felt good today - although that screeching wind isn't exactly my favorite thing. I am still staring the wind in the eye and trying to kick its butt while using it to help me. The swim felt a little odd at first since I have not done the bike to swim for quite awhile. But, I really do enjoy the feel of the water on my body after a ride.
• 4-8-10 - Swim 4,000 yards - Still feeling marvelous during the swim.
• 4-9-10 - DAY OFF
• 4-10-10 - Bike 3 hours/Run :30 - What goes through my mind the day I head out for a ride: "I hope I can do this". "Its going to be fine". "Each day you are are getting stronger and you can only improve". I hope my mind is right. I have brief doubts as I shift gears, huffing and puffing up a hill. I have fears as I can barely keep my eyes open after a long ride and run where I end up falling asleep on the couch by 9:00 P.M. I know I can do this and all of these thoughts will continue only as I continue to improve.
• 4-11-10 - Bike 2:16/Run :30 - Very little wind starting out - I am excited - completed 37 miles in 2:16 (stopping at intersections and all) - ran the dam for :30. Its pretty miraculous how my legs can feel exhausted during the bike and feel "OK" during the run. SIDE NOTE: On the ride today, I think I was hit by at least 200 bugs (on the lips, in the ear, on my forehead) so many bugs and they were all really big ones too - where did they come from? HA! Oh my!