6 months ago today I posted on my workout log "worked on drills, couldn't even go one pool length. How am I ever going to do a tri?" I remember the day very clearly, I was so discouraged. After all you can't really do a triathlon if you don't swim. But I kept doing what was in my training plan. And there were good days and bad days. I started to notice that slowly I seem to have a few more good days than bad. Wendy was patient with me and just told me that I would, indeed, be ready for my tri. To not worry. Gradually, I started to let that worry go. After all, she's been doing this for 20 years, the woman knows triathlon.
Then last month, I did my first triathlon, a sprint. It went well, I didn't freak in the pool, even passed a couple folks. As Wendy had predicted, I had the ability to swim 500 yards. I had a wonderful time and learned a great deal about triathlons and myself.
Then she started to put down my training for my "A" race, an Olympic tri at the end of August, with an open water swim. Of course, I read everything I could about folks experience with open water swims. And they all talked about how a lot of it was mental. Not being able to see, or touch the bottom or swim straight, and of course, about swimming in a "mob". And Wendy, as well, mentioned how much of the OWS is mental. To deal with that I decided to do a couple before the actual race. I did that a couple weeks ago. I could not have picked better conditions. During the week, so not crowded. A place that had lifeguards,a very warm day without a cloud in the sky and someone I trust a great deal, my friend, Jayne. She is an excellent swimmer and I knew she would "push" me but would be watching over me. She knew I was nervous. At first I was, but then I started to have fun! It was a warm day, the water was cool, for the most part (warm patches from the shallow area) and I was fine. I did have some difficulty treading water, because I've never done that before! But when I swam it was fun. I left that little beach area feeling good about my first time in open water.
Then this past Sunday, I took an open water clinic. It was one of the best things I could have done. Bigger lake, with a number of other folks. I learned a tremendous amount. I learned I can have someone swim "over" me and I won't freak. Oh, it's disconcerting, that's for sure, but it's momentary and I'll be fine. I could hardly wait to report back to Wendy how well it went. I left that beach area with a feeling of calm and confidence that I never would have thought would have been possible 6 months ago. I am sure I will have times of struggle in my upcoming open water swims but I know that I can conquer them. It's all part of the journey.
Then I looked at this weeks training and saw "1600 meters for time". 1 mile. My Oly is 1500 meters. And the doubt started to creep in, "you've never done more than 1000", "one mile? too far!" "I'll run out of steam". And this is why I have a coach, and the coach I have. I shot her a text and it was apparent I was looking for some encouragement. Wendy is a woman of few words and her response reflected that. She said "keep it simple, don't worry so much, just swim". So, I went to the pool and started to swim 70 laps (25 yard pool length) and you know what I found out? That at times I can swim faster than I thought and not burn out. That all those things that Erin, Wendy and the other folks teaching me have sunk in. And that my body is capable of swimming a mile without stopping. I finished with lots left in the tank and was just stunned I had just swam that distance. Me, the person who said, only 6 months ago "how am I ever going to do a tri?"
Sometimes, I look at my long term goal of an Ironman and it gets scary to think of completing 140.6 miles. But if I just take it one stroke, one mile, one step at a time, and remain consistent, those steps will add up. And when I look back at where I was and where I am today, I am excited for where I am going to tomorrow.
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