Keep swimming!

   I started swimming in 2010. No, not the fun in the pool or lake kind of swim but actually lap swimming back and forth, freestyle, or also called the crawl. I learned at the YMCA when I was a kid but have not done that since grade school. I was going to do my first triathlon late summer 2010 and it was only a couple of months, if that, away. I went to the pool to "train" and barely made it across the pool the first couple of times. I watched videos and they made it look soooo easy! Ha!  Lake Stevens high school pool has a shallow end and the other end of the pool is twelve feet down! Scary deep! At least it was to me then. I took a lesson. Yes, one lesson from an instructor mainly to help me with sighting and for someone to tell me I won't drown.

   Half a mile was along way to swim in Lake Washington with your head up the whole time. I could not put my head in the water. Trying to do side breathing while panic set in was not happening. The lake was so dark. No clear water or line to follow like in the pool. And I had no wet suit! I was told before the start that I was "brave" by some of the other athletes.  Yeah right! I have other words I could use now. I started questioning this race. Well, I did it! One of the last ones out.  I could see my husband at the swim exit and all I kept thinking was that I needed to swim to him. Later he told me that he was so scared for me as he kept looking for me and I was not showing up. Poor thing.
I'm now on my fifth year swimming. With great coaching and support and a lot of time in that pool I am getting more and more comfortable in the water. There are days that I feel like a cat thrown in the water though.

   There are also days that I still have fear in the water but it's getting better. Not so much now with indoor swimming but with open water swimming. I taught myself to do flip turns last year, with encouragement from Sharon and lots of video viewing. It was scary because as you turn you have to hold your breath longer. Lots of water up the nose, learning timing, and practice I can now confidently do my flip turns. It has actually helped my breathing and conditioning in general. And its fun!!

   Last year I was to do a 1 mile open water swim (OWS) race in Martha Lake with Finish Strong Events. I think I had done one other OWS that summer prior to the race. Well, I didn't even make it to the first buoy, there were four, when panic set in then my asthma started. I got pulled back to shore by one of the nice people in the rescue kayaks. My first Did Not Finish (DNF)! I vowed that would not happen again, and so did my friend Sharon B. who is an awesome swimmer. The next OWS race was July 4th and Sharon signed up the day of and swam right next to me the whole mile to make sure I made it to the finish line! Love her!

2014 July 4th. Finishing Strong Together!

  http://finishstrongevents.com/swimming-events/martha-lake/

   I did several OWS prior to my fourth 70.3 at Lake Stevens Ironman. Felt really comfortable and confident this year, finally. I positioned myself to the left of everyone and not in the line that everyone else seemed to be following. I was not going to get swam over this year! Start position is critical. My time was ok this year (38.16)  and I was happy with it. More experience and great coaching will get me a good time at Whistler. I'm shooting for sub 1:20.

   I remember everyone who gave me advise and encouraged me with my swimming. From Ursula who told me to roll onto my back if my goggles get knocked off to Eric T. swim coach teaching about arm position at the catch. Really miss the Swim Spa and coach Marys instruction.

   Getting better every year! Can't wait for May and those cold lake swims. Anyone want to join me for a mile or two?