Well one actually and a few small bends!
I discovered a great place for open water swimming today. Well I didn't really discover it because someone showed it to me, but the bottom line is that now I know. It is a nice 25 minute, country drive away.
It is a small man made lake fed by several little creeks, and called Sharon Creek conversation area.
It is long and skinny and almost exactly 1500 metres long. While you can't quite see in a straight line from end to end, the jog in the middle is so minor as to be irrelevant.
At some point it struck me that I was having quite a nice time, even though I was way slower than the two guys I was with. With that came the realization that it is not swimming that gives me anxiety, but the stupid pool. The pool with the lane ropes, and the turns, and the aquafit, and the ever present clock looming over your shoulder.
I could just relax, focus on my technique, and get my mileage in. I got lots of good advice from the triathlon guy as to how to improve my stroke including dry land drills, and I am hoping that the combination of that, and more open water swimming will make me a little faster.
Game on!
Big day tomorrow. The first serious test of my new bike. The plan calls for 160 kms, followed by a 7 km run, and I am particularly nervous about my saddle. I will wear all the gear I plan on using on race day including my new shoes, and my funny helmet. I think I will stay a little closer to home this time just in case I get in trouble. I have to get going at a decent time as they promise fairly warm conditions as the day wears on. Fortunately they are also predicting reasonably light winds. Update tomorrow.
Oh and I have been assured by people that know that red is the fastest colour. My new racing shoes for your viewing pleasure.
The cycling shoes are heat molded to my feet and the running shoes weigh 7.5 ozs each, compared to 12 ozs for my every day shoes. Oh, and in case you were wondering the last new "race" shoes I bought are so comfortable that I now wear them for my interval and transition runs.
(swim, 3000 metres open water)
"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength."---Charles Spurgeon
I discovered a great place for open water swimming today. Well I didn't really discover it because someone showed it to me, but the bottom line is that now I know. It is a nice 25 minute, country drive away.
It is a small man made lake fed by several little creeks, and called Sharon Creek conversation area.
It is long and skinny and almost exactly 1500 metres long. While you can't quite see in a straight line from end to end, the jog in the middle is so minor as to be irrelevant.
At some point it struck me that I was having quite a nice time, even though I was way slower than the two guys I was with. With that came the realization that it is not swimming that gives me anxiety, but the stupid pool. The pool with the lane ropes, and the turns, and the aquafit, and the ever present clock looming over your shoulder.
I could just relax, focus on my technique, and get my mileage in. I got lots of good advice from the triathlon guy as to how to improve my stroke including dry land drills, and I am hoping that the combination of that, and more open water swimming will make me a little faster.
Game on!
Big day tomorrow. The first serious test of my new bike. The plan calls for 160 kms, followed by a 7 km run, and I am particularly nervous about my saddle. I will wear all the gear I plan on using on race day including my new shoes, and my funny helmet. I think I will stay a little closer to home this time just in case I get in trouble. I have to get going at a decent time as they promise fairly warm conditions as the day wears on. Fortunately they are also predicting reasonably light winds. Update tomorrow.
Oh and I have been assured by people that know that red is the fastest colour. My new racing shoes for your viewing pleasure.
The cycling shoes are heat molded to my feet and the running shoes weigh 7.5 ozs each, compared to 12 ozs for my every day shoes. Oh, and in case you were wondering the last new "race" shoes I bought are so comfortable that I now wear them for my interval and transition runs.
(swim, 3000 metres open water)
"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength."---Charles Spurgeon
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Love the post, but I'm pretty sure purple is the fastest!!
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