Last night I took a radical break from the norm and did my exercise in the evening! It’s amazing what you can fit in on a summer’s evening.
Met with a triathlete friend after work and we headed to Centennial Park for a lap. It’s been ages since I ran there and it made me realise how much I miss the Sunday morning runs with Ellie and Lulu and whoever else came along! It’s been too long.
He’s (unsurprisingly) a lot faster than I so he ran with me briefly and then headed off at his own pace. According to Gretel the Garmin I ran a bit faster than usual for some reason (6.18/km) despite the fact I didn’t stop the clock when I stopped at a bubbler for a drink (did this 3 times). I had 30mins on my schedule (as I’d swapped Tuesday’s 30mins for Thursday’s 20mins so that meant I ran a lap plus a bit more then walked back to the vehicle.
Stretched briefly and then the tri guy suggested we go for a swim so we headed to Clovelly. There was a lovely onshore wind which meant it was a bit choppy but the water felt lovely and warm. Took my googles and swimming cap as my hair kept getting in my face last time I swam without it. I planned only to paddle about to relax my leg muscles. BlueBel told me swimming in the ocean after training runs was what had helped her overcome injury problems so I was more than happy just to enjoy the healing effects of the water.
However, once I got in I thought I’d swim to the shore. It took me ages and I had to keep looking up to make sure I wasn’t on a collision course with one of the other swimmers, but eventually the rocks and seaweed gave way to sand and I sat watching the other swimmers briefly. I then headed back out (to the stairs I’d climbed in the water) and found that swimming into the wind is not as much fun. I kept getting small waves wash over my head just as I was taking a breath!
The feeling of rising and falling as I was swimming is something I’m not used to (being a pool swimmer) and it was a bit disconcerting at first. Have to say though, I totally loved it.
This morning I got up and walked to the pool where I swam a total of 500m. I was happy just to concentrate on form this morning as I’d been watching some youtube form drills and tutorials and was keen to put some of it into practise. The main problem I think is that I drag my legs (which would explain why I swim faster using a pool buoy!) so I’ve been trying to focus on keeping my hips high. It feels difficult but I know it’ll get easier the more I practise.
I’m reading John McLean’s biograpy “Sucking the Marrow Out of Life” and it’s so inspiring. John was involved in an accident while riding his pushbike up the M4 into the Blue Mountains and consequently became an incomplete paraplegic. Since becoming paraplegic he participated in 3 Hawaiian Ironmans and swam the English Channel. I’m up to the part in the book where he’s training hard because he wants to get chosen for the Australian Olympic wheelchair racing team.
Every time I think something is hard I think of him and all the other wheelie and amputee athletes and tell myself to HTFU. I have nothing to complain about really. I may be slow but at least I can do it and I am doing it eh?
