Another Saturday morning rolling my butt out of bed at 5:30am. I'm getting used to it and actually prefer it. I feel like I get so much more done getting up early. Besides, I'm starting a new job on Monday and I have to get up at 5am anyway to catch the train.
Today I did my 2nd spin class. My aforementioned butt did better this time around on the seat but I still don't understand why they have to be so damn uncomfortable. Everyone insists I'll get used to it but I'm not so sure. I wear padded bike shorts and use body glide to reduce chafing and I'm still having trouble making it through and entire one hour class. I know...just stand up, right? That works for a while but then my quadriceps start to burn and my heart rate skyrockets and I have to sit back down. Plus the bike ride for this triathlon is 26 miles so I better learn how to deal with the seat fast. I haven't been on my bike in a while but I recall it didn't bother me as much as the seat on a spin bike. Hopefully soon I can get my indoor trainer and start riding. Or just suck it up and ride outside in the cold.
After spin class I headed out to a swimming workshop/clinic/evaluation. This was really interesting. Coach Joe talked about technique and how using our arms and legs to swim is actually a big fat waste of energy. Yeah, I said that too. How do we move forward? This is where I start to re-re-relearn how to swim. Again. We watched a video and it started to make sense. Then the cool part came. We got into a tank about 3 feet deep that had mirrors on the floor, cameras and this really neat current creating machine that we would swim into but not move forward. Holy hell, yes, I want one!!! Great training tool.
I jumped in the pool and then looked up at the video monitor. There in HD in a room with 3 men was my derriere. In my bathing suit of course but no real woman needs to see that. I had jumped in the pool exactly where the main camera was mounted. I made a hasty retreat to a neutral corner and hoped no one had seen. You know, on the 60" screen TV right over the pool.
When it was my turn to swim Coach Joe turned the current machine to where I was comfortable and I started "swimming." I felt like I was doing okay but was still concerned about my right shoulder since I know it's a technique issue that caused the trouble to begin with. The beauty of video is that I saw exactly why my shoulder hurt. Thank you, Roger Neilson. I don't roll my hips enough and my right arm swings way out putting stress on the shoulder plus I'm trying to pull myself through the water, which is a no-no. Wiggle, don't pull.
Another thing I saw that I was doing horribly is something I honestly believed I was doing perfectly. My legs were lower than my head creating what's known as drag. One important component of swimming is being as level as possible so the body glides through the water unimpeded. I thought I was level. I'm actually swimming uphill and had no idea. According to Coach Joe's calculations I go .77 meters every time I stroke, which is about average. Coach Joe goes 2 meters for every stroke. The moral of the story? I'm way slower but some simple corrections in my technique can put me over the 1 meter per stroke goal I now have in my overly competitive mind. I know I can get there with help and practice.
I didn't make it to yoga since I had other errands to run and the last class was at 3pm. I'm planning on going tomorrow instead. It's great to be back on track and training again. I feel good and had a great workout. I think I have a pinched nerve in my back but I'm icing it and taking ibuprofen to hopefully make it better. The tightness in the shoulders has subsided but the one spot to the left of my spine has me concerned. The chiropractor is on standby.
As a triathlete, it seems something always hurts. Shoulders from swimming, legs from running, ass from the saddle, back from everything combined. Put ice on it, get some sleep and get back to it. I always go back to Aubri. Yes, I hurt. But every week she's subjected to needles and poison to fight what's wrong with her. We can't put ice on cancer and make it better. It's a brutal regiment that's difficult on her 3 year old body and on her parents and siblings as well. I think of her and I keep going. For me it's painful and inconvenient. For her, it's another day fighting cancer. It humbles me and I thank her for being such an inspiration.
To make a donation to leukemia research in Aubri's honor, click this link or if you'd like to mail a check email me at bizechick@aol.com for the address.
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