Tri Training: Swimming Part 1- What did I get myself into?

I'm planning on doing a Sprint Triathlon in San Diego with my cousin Erica and sister Jess. I don't know how they convinced me to do it. Actually, I love these ladies so much, they could convince to do almost anything! I wish you could all hear my inner voice during all of my attempts to be athletic... I really find me quite humorous, but since you can't, I figure I'll give you the jest of it in this blog.

Swimming, Part I:

I have a very real, but very irrational fear of jumping into water. Recently I have realized (within this last week, and confirmed tonight) that I associate the pain of water up my nose to putting my head underwater. Similarly, I do not swim with my head in the water, that was, until today.

My friend Amy (a swimmer) took me to the pool at her condo complex tonight to give me pointers, general breathing advise, etc.

Within the first 5 minutes in the pool-
-Oh look, I can put my head underwater and not drown or feel like my nose, lungs, and throat are burning!
-I made it across the pool!!! It only took me 2 minutes and 3 breaks!
-Now I just have to do this 40 more times, in open water, in a big crowd, in the ocean

Yeah, it was pretty bad for the first 30 minutes. I'd make it halfway across and would take in some water, freak out and stop. It definitely had one of those, 'What the Crap was I thinking' moments. After a while I moved to a different part of the pool where it was shallower and half a pool length. I figured it gave me an easier goal. Get to the other side without stopping using 2-3 breaths. Soon I moved onto taking a breath every other stroke, getting used to where my head should be and making fishy lips to avoid getting water in my mouth.

I finally took it as a success when I could go a half length of the pool without stopping. Not much, but I figure its the most I've every done considering I've really never been swimming with my head under. Learning breathing I guess is like riding a bike. If I can keep building on it, I might have a chance.

Other successes- swimming down along the bottom of the pool for extended amounts of time.

Swimming is quite a workout- different than biking or hiking... I was getting tired by the time I was done!

Well, I've rambled way more than I wanted. A few quick things though- If I can keep building on this start, I think it might be possible to be ready in Oct. Amy said I had good form, just need to work on the breathing. Next issue to tackle... running??? AHHH, that's worth it's own blog. I'll let you know how that goes... still building up from a 2 minute jog.

If you didn't notice, this is pretty much my brain spewing out random thoughts. Feel no obligation to read all of this Tri stuff. I figure it is a good way of seeing my progress, keeping my thoughts in one spot, and working to verbalize any challenges I might come across.

Booyah!