Good after bad

I admit it, Wednesday's swim sucked. Nothing worked. I should have been wearing water wings, for all I was accomplishing in the pool.

That's what makes today's swim feel so good. I know I'm not fast, in any objective sense, but I also know I can swim. I can get from one end of the pool to the other under my own power. I know this. Sometimes I just need to get out of my own head, and let it happen. Relax, put the skills I've been taught to work, and it won't be such a struggle. This is what I promised myself this morning before we started the session.

And it worked. Once again, everything clicked into place. I wasn't flailing. I felt strong and smooth. I led the workout in my new lane. I had fun. With the holidays almost upon us, we're going to have a lot fewer swims in the coming weeks, and with the marathon trip, I'll actually only be in the pool 3 times between the 22nd and January 17th, and I'll miss it. I won't miss the early wake-ups so much, but I'm really enjoying this swimming thing. Maybe I'll have to splash around in the hotel pool in Florida before it's taken over by munchkins every morning.

My flip turns are only slightly better. I had 2 or 3 that were almost spot on, but the majority were either my twist or an ugly flip, and a few were so bad I'm surprised the lifeguard didn't think I was having a seizure and try to save me.

We finished the day with some sprints. I like these. It's like doing strides on the run. The form has no choice but to smooth out. I couldn't think about 10 different mental cues, so I couldn't trip myself up. I was able to strip it down to, "Keep your head down, reach out in front, push all the way through." I think I'd do a little better during each workout if these were thrown in early.

Complimentary side note: During one of the longer rests, one of my lanemates asked me my swimming background. "I took lessons at the Y about 25 years ago, then started again about six weeks before the class started." She said, "You're picking it up quick, and moving through the lanes." I held back from saying, "Aw shucks, ma'am, t'weren't nothin'." But I may have had a little grin when I pushed off from the wall.

Swim: 2x200m free, ez, w/flip turns, 30"
2x100m (50m 3 kick switch, 50m free), 15"
2x200m free, ez, w/flip turns, 30"
2x100m (50m scull, 50m pull), 15"
2x200m free, ez, w/flip turns, 30"
2x100m fist drill, 15"
2x200m free, ez, w/flip turns, 30"
100m back
4x(25m free sprint, 25m breast, ez), 30"
Total: 2500m

Remember when I was struggling to finish 1200m in a workout? Me too.

Later ...
Upper body
Bear 2x4/75 lbs
Row 2x8,7/110 lbs
Pushup 2x8/30 lbs + 80 lbs tubing
Pullup 2x8,7
Military press 2x6/70 lbs
Prehab circuit x20