Ready, Set....

I know this is not what you want to read but if I don't write it down I won't remember it and then I'll not realize that I'm improving.

If you've been reading my blog you know that I started swimming in preparation for a sprint triathlon. (come join me!) The first two times I went swimming I was slow, sore and had to stop and rest every lap.

But then something clicked and now I like swimming and have been getting steadily better, with fewer rests, more laps and now even faster!

Thursday night I swam my longest: 70 laps! I was sore, so very sore, because not only was it the most laps I've ever done, I also was pretty consistently around 1:15.

The really odd thing is: even when I relax I tend to go about this pace.

Today I went to the pool and tried to really swim fast. My first lap was 56 seconds! But I suffered for it. I inhaled water, was coughing and sputtering.... I was so tired already! And here I was feeling smug that I did 70 laps just the other day and now I was struggling with just a few! But as usual, I finally settled down to my own pace, a "rhythm", and relaxed and enjoyed swimming. Again, I was surprised to see my numbers pretty consistent, except this time I started getting a more consistent lower numbers: 1:10, 1:08, 1:12. I did a total of 22 laps (44) and felt I had to get out if I wanted to take a quick shower before the gym closed.

Here's my times: 56, 1:12, .58, 1:14, 1:12, 1:08, 1:10, 1:19, 1:15, 1:14, 1:15, 1:11, 1:20, 1:11, 1:15, 1:12,
1:12, 1:11, 1:10, 1:13, 1:16, 1:14.

I was so disappointed that the gym closes early on Saturday nights! I really think I could have done another 20 laps.

I'm really amazed I am enjoying this as much as I am.