Triathlon Training: My First Day of Lap Swimming in 15 Years
Holy macaroni... what an exciting day this Monday is already! I know it might not seem all that eventful, but for me, my first day of lap swimming again, after nearly 15 years of doing it, was incredible.
Yes, I headed down to the local gym and snuck some freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and flip-turns into my little exercise regimen. As you may recall from my birthday video, I have set a goal to complete my first triathlon by this time next year (hopefully, by next summer), which will just so happen to be around my 40th birthday; and swimming was the last of the three disciplines to incorporate into the equation.
So Steve and I switched our routine around a bit this morning and rose at 4:00 am, were out for our 4-mile walk/run by 4:15 am. By 5:25 I was on my bike and pedaled to the 18-mile mark. At which time I hurried, changed, got in the car and headed down to the gym to meet the pool face-to-face.
I had trepidation about this part, let me tell you.
Now swimming isn't new to me by any means. In what almost seems like another lifetime, I was a competitive swimmer. From the age of 7 all the way through my sophomore year of college (when a nasty little injury cut my dreams short). I was a high school All-American, US National record holder, qualified for the Olympic Trials and even earned a full-ride swimming scholarship to college; so indeed, my years in the pool and the endless amount of laps, meets, best times and big goals were a huge part of my childhood.
Me in 1981. Don't you just love the dangling goggle strip. Ha ha!
But the last time I swam (other than just for fun in the summer) was just about 15 years ago. Right after Brynn was born, I got a different gym membership where the pool was outdoors and not heated many mornings (brrrrrrr). I loved it then, but I was in my early-to-mid 20s at that time and hey, a decade-and-a-half can kick your ass sometimes when it comes to surviving workouts; so suffice to say, I was just hoping that my arms and legs remembered what to do this morning.
That's me...many years ago.
Lo-and-behold, they actually DID! My feet started kicking, my arms started pulling, I remembered how to turn my head to breathe; I even retained the same funky rhythm I always stroked as a youngster. It was crazy (and SO cool)! I don't know why it was so invigorating for me, but it just felt so amazing to be gliding through the water once again.
Perhaps it was memories of a time long ago that I loved (and struggled with a love/hate relationship from time-to-time as well). Or maybe it was just that my 39 year-old body could still fight its way through things and that my bike riding and running had earned me some stamina. Maybe it was just the peaceful and quiet swoosh of the water and seeing those black tile lines run along the bottom below me once again. It was most likely a combination of it all. But the bottom line is that it was fantastic and I can't wait to do it again.
I hope to squeak in swimming three times a week at this point and increase my yardage and frequency as the triathlon approaches. I swam 2,200 yards this morning; which is about 1.25 miles.
My ensemble is much more chromatic these days. My black swimsuit now sits between colorfully-decorated ink; and I don't even need to wear a cap to keep the hair (ha ha) out of my eyes.
Yay for my first swimming day. I'm so stoked.
Monday, November 30, 2009 at 10:20AM
Reader Comments (10)
YAY!!! YOU GO GIRL!!! too cool that you jumped right back in and kicked ass, rootin for you all the way!!!! love ya xo
Jinxi,
I am so excited for you. The happiness in your voice in your post swimming call to me was great. I can only imagine how all the memories from your thousands of hours of swimming practice came rushing back the second you took your first stroke.
I am very proud of you. Love you lots.
Steve
Wow Jinxi! We are so so proud of you-you are INCREDIBLE. It's is so rad you were able to find your old rhythm again in the water-and made it for 1 1/4 miles! That is great for your first time back in! Love you-keep up all your good work :)
p.s. Oh my word-your pictures are adorable!! :)
what an amazing story! I can't wait to see you in the newspaper again next summer. Right? Right.
I'm sitting here with tears running down my cheeks as I read your words and remember all the precious memories of your years of swimming. I doubt that anyone reading your blog will have any idea how good you actually were -- number 1 in the nation so many times -- still holding many records from different teams that will probably hold forever -- the serious rotator cuff injury that you got in a race you never should have been in -- I could go on and on. The main thing is just picturing you in the pool once again. I am so proud of you, my beautiful daughter!!! What a success at life you are!!!!!
CONGRATS! That is awesome.
First off, I still can't believe you are going to turn 40. You look AH-MAZING!
But that definitely makes sense with your clarity on life.
I am so rooting for you in your triathlon training. Definitely keep us updated. :)
YAYAY J-BOOM YAYAY!!!
I love that picture of you from your competitive days. That goggle strap hanging down in your face is just too cute for words!
Wow, I am shocked and in awe to know what an incredibly good and competitive a swimmer you were. Another amazing facet of Jinxi that I did not know and probably would have never imagined in a million years. :) I am very happy to hear that it all came back to you so naturally too.
I just read the post from your mother. She doubted that anyone reading your post will remember how good you really were. I remember. I swam on Redlands Swim team during the years that you were a swimmer. I'm a bit older than you, but remember your accomplishments. I think it is fantastic that you are able to get yourself back in the water after all of these years. Keep it up and good luck. Please keep us all posted on how you are doing.
this is coool!
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