I woke up and my first thought was "Why is my alarm going off?" Not a good start to the day. But, a swimming we must go:
Not too far, just 1550, but I was late, swimming slow, and had to get the car into the fixit shop. 212.4 on the scale, though.
Not only was it frigid on the way to the pool (18°F), but the pool must have been just as cold. I think they were pumping in water straight from the lake. I had goose bumps the entire time in the water, and never fully warmed up. So, in response, I just tried to keep moving, and alternated 4-100s and 2-200s until a half an hour went by. My guess is that I got close to 2000 yards total, but it's hard to know since my brain was frozen. The icicles took a while to fall off in the shower.
I also weighed a disappointing 214.2. Must have been all that bean dip. I'd like to say I am going to be eating more healthy, but Thanksgiving is this week, and then it's one holiday party after another until the Alumni meet and Christmas.
After a $20 parking ticket from Wednesday, I made sure I had enough quarters for the meter. This time, the parking enforcement vehicle was making its rounds as I was walking up to the car. I was ready to alert the driver that I was just going to pull out, but luckily it passed my car without stopping. I checked the meter: one minute left. As I got in the car and started it up, the meter flipped to expired, and I pulled away unscathed. Now that's what I call perfect timing.
raining regiment has never been at the frequency that it deserves, as you may have noticed by the lack of workouts. Evenings are just too busy and irregular to maintain a constant schedule. So, I am trying something new. The NAT is open MWF mornings. I wake up a half-hour earlier, and get to work a half-hour later, and get to train an hour inbetween. This morning was my first go. And it was cold. My arms felt so short, I attributed it to shrinkage. I talked to a custodian, who said that it was about 78, and a coil went out two months ago. "Won't be another month 'til I get a new one." But, he must of found an extra one, because halfway through, hot-tub water was pouring out the vents, leaving large regions of warm and cold water throughout the pool.
1950 total. A svelte 211.7 on the scale. (no food)
I arrived at the pool the same time as another swimmer. As he was adjusting his full length trunks, ear plugs, and full cover goggles, I asked if we could share the lane he just set his bag behind. Sighing heavily, it was obvious he didn't want to give up the precious half of the lane. "I'm really not that good," was his reason. Nevermind that it was marked as a "fast lane" while there were openings in the other "medium," and "slow" lanes. I suggested that we just maintain our sides, and everything will be okay. And it was, at least for the parts times he spent on the bottom of the pool or floating after he surfaced from said bottom. When he was swimming, he was right down the middle.
I don't want to come off as snotty, but, if you're not a fast swimmer, then don't swim in the fast lane just because it's open. Anyway...the water was cold and felt good. It kept the muscles tight, and kept me thinking about my stroke mechanics, which really aids in efficiency and speed.
Sometimes getting in the water doesn't feel so good. But, those usually end up being better practices. I haven't been able to go as much as I like, so it hurts every time I get back in. Tonight was like that. The water felt awful, cold and slimey - a lot like my running nose. I just could seem to get a grip. As I forged ahead, I concentrated on longer, efficient strokes. Partly because I wanted to feel good, and mostly because I wanted to upstage the guy next to me giving really bad instructions to a halfway decent swimmer. Who knows what my stroke looks like now that I am fat, but I know it's better than what that guy was saying: "Ummm....You've got to shoot your hand forward, kick three times, breath, rotate your hips....um, I don't know. Just watch me." Ugh.
2100 total 212.9 lbs on the scale.
