I have not been in a pool to swim laps in almost 5 years. Back in 2003 I spent the summer training for my first 10K. In order to give my body a break from the pounding, I alternated swimming days with running days. My goal for the summer was to swim 1 mile continuously. I worked my way up slowly and finished off the summer with a 1 mile swim.
The funny thing is, I remember really enjoying the swimming. On days that were running days I'd get up and begrudgingly head off to the gym. But on swimming days I got up raring to go and couldn't wait to get to the pool. The swimming was just so calming and meditative. I remember thinking that eventually one day I'd swim for exercise instead of all of the funny running stuff.
Of course, since then I've definitely fallen in love with running so I'm curious to see how this swimming thing will pan out.
Not too shabby!
6 comments:
My problem is that I really hate swimming. It's the cold water that gets me. I know I need to get back into it though, and I even got some new goggles. Now I just need to take myself and those new goggles to the pool. Ugh. Always a catch.
Well, by gosh, just even getting the gear ready and going and starting and doing the planning ... that is WAY more than almost anybody else does!
There was an interesting article in the New York Times about cross training and the different muscular groups sometimes working at cross purposes (oops, no pun intended). But you may have read that one....there have been several articles in the the NYT on training.. 2 rabbits send Mario greetings from down the coast in Santa Cruz.
I love to swim! Except I absolutely dread public pools and the disgusting locker rooms. And...I know it sounds vain...but being in the water several times a week ruins my hair. Sad to say, this is what has prevented me from swimming laps.
Swimming will come back really fast. I recently got in some laps after 10 or 12 year hiatus. I absolutely love it and I am actually decent at it (as opposed to running.) I really should do it more! Good luck with it!
Congrats on getting that swim in! If you keep at it, things will start to come back to you. I've been reading Total Immersion and it is really interesting. Their theory is that swimming isn't all about upper body strength, but about being efficient in the water. I would highly recommend it.
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