I ended up
sitting on my sick, lasy ass taking a recovery day yesterday. I had weird, lingering sinus trouble after the migraine. Does anyone else have trouble making themselves swim through that? I know, I know. A lot of people have trouble making themselves swim, period. But I have a confession: I love the water. And not just pool water. I love being in the open ocean, too.** That makes me a freak in most tri-circles. Sadly, even among the the triathletes who
do admit to a love of swimming, I'm out of place . Have you seen them? They're built like triangular, human Gumbies! Veritable dolphins, they thread in and out of the water, legs like rubber hoses propelling them swiftly through a 3200 meter workout. Meanwhile, over in the "SLOW" lane, I'm churning and splashing my way through a painful and choppy 600. But not even that yesterday. Yesterday, breathing like Darth Vader, my chances of drowning due to asphyxiation in middle of the first 100 were unacceptably high. So I bagged my swim in favor of continued existence. Which brings us to today's two workouts to make up for it. Again. That's twice in two weeks I've had to double book myself with remedial work. As a fledgling athlete, I worry a lot about being able to navigate the difference between commitment and convenience, self-care and slacking. Some
Sage advice helped! Me? I'm now confidently off to the trail and the pool. Happy Training y'all!
**Lakes, on the other hand, completely squick me out. Sea water is clean and buoyant while lake water feels skanky and engulfing. Also, I am waaaaaay more afraid of mutant catfish than I am of sharks. Give me the ocean any day (and twice on Sundays!)
***Edited to add:
Swim report - did you know it's possible to sneeze while swimming?! Possible, but not advisable. Or fun. Just saying.
Run report - negative split baby! I ran the return route 40 seconds faster than the out leg! Either I piddled along at the beginning or I hustled on the way back. Or maybe some of both?
I ended up 
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3 comments:
Choosing existing over swimming was a good choice. You shouldn't worry about the double workouts, in fact I think it shows a great dedication that you feel the need to make up a workout. Nothing wrong with that at all in my book.
You also need to stop calling yourself a newbie! You are an athelete already. Look at you, out there working out and making sacrifices for something you really want! That makes you an athelete already.
I 10000% agree about lakes. They have always bothered me. Way to small to dilute all the crap that goes in them. Since I don't live by the ocean I try not to think about it though.
I often get PMS headaches and I dread swimming because it seems to get much worse afterwards and there's nothing I can do but take some Excedrin or something, lie down and hope it's not there later. But I've really missed it the past month and am anxious to get back into regularly. I prefer ocean to lakes too, esp. FL lakes which could always have you-know-whats lurking about 8-O
PS - Especially with something like swimming, which involves a lot of technique, I've been told it's better to focus on quality rather than quantity. Don't be too hard on yourself if you have a bad day. We all do and sometimes it's just our body's way of simply saying it needs a break. I think a lot of athletes sometimes underestimate the importance of rest, esp. when sick.
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