So we have a "swim rant" thread, but I wanted to post my "swim happy" moment today, probably brought on by being out of the water for over a week.
Pool reopened after maintenance + clear, fresh perfect temp water + 6 lap lanes between 4 lap swimmers = 4200yd :bliss:
Former Member
After some rough patches (cellulitis, travel, kidney infection) I got in a good swim at the lake yesterday and split the mile (6 laps of the swimming area) in two segments (3 laps) instead of three for the first time. Felt pretty good after both. Less than a month til my next two races.
Okay so this isn't exactly swim happy, but it's tied to it. I was so excited to get to spend some time with fellow forum-ite, Elaine K, and her hubby when they passed through Memphis the other day before a trip. We had a fantastic dinner and got to really get to know each other a bit more. Wonderful conversation, not only about swimming, but travel and life in general. It's great to put faces behind the names we chatter with all the time.
Thanks, Fly, likewise! Bruce and I enjoyed getting to know you, too! I have made so many wonderful friends through USMS, and I am happy you are my newest one. Thanks for meeting up with us at the Blues City Cafe! :chug:
Enjoying the glorious lake access. The lake is set up so there are shallow areas for nonswimmers, a "deep end" for kids who pass the test, and a very large area for "adults only". It gives everyone plenty of space to enjoy the water. 6 rounds of the large area is a mile, and last year I'd do 3 sets of 2 laps. Now I can easily do 2 sets of 3, and with a slightly longer break an additional 3. I'm going to try doing a 4-2-2, nudging up until I can hit a continuous mile. I feel pretty good about my two upcoming races, so much so that I've signed up for the 1.4 mile Provincetown Swim for Life in September. 😱 I'm nervous about that, but they stress it's not a race, no time limit, the swim is done when the last person crosses the finish line.
I'm thrilled with my new 200m PR of 3:01.5 today, down from 3:04.
But wait: 3:04 was a few weeks ago in a pool with beautiful lane dividers. Since the end of June I have mostly endured high sea-states in pools with no lane dividers. There was 4 other swimmers (wave makers) today, to my left and right. I'm convinced that my 3:01.5 in these turbulent conditions really means 2:57.5 in my "fast" pool. (I honestly believe this accounts for 1sec per 50m. I made a thread about it.) :)
Sub 3min 200m is very significant. I'm halfway to my big 400m goal in April 2020. (See my sig!) I have 9 months to figure out how to double what I did today. :)
This is only tangentially related to swimming. I start a new job on Monday! But here’s how it relates: I’ve been driving an hour to work (each way) for 5 years now, so my new job is less than 5 miles from home. Guess who’s gonna get more time in the water!!! Woo hoo! (That would be ME!)
Yes!!! My new 100m PR is 1:22 (in a laneropeless turbulent pool), down from 1:23 (in a pristine roped pool). I'm convinced that I can do 1:20 with the ropes now.
And I'm doing flips at both ends in most of the swimming now. Many of these flips are terrible, but some show promise. I just have to keep at it.
There is so much for me to learn!! Sometimes this fact freaks me out, but the flipside is....there's so much I can do to get faster.
God I love this!!! :)
Swam a full continuous mile in the lake for the first time today! Great success, and now feeling slightly less terrified about the Swim 4 Life in September.
Yes!!! My new 100m PR is 1:22 (in a laneropeless turbulent pool), down from 1:23 (in a pristine roped pool).
That’s a good time, especially on your first year swimming:applaud:. Going under 80 seconds can also happen with a decent start from a block, and another 1-2 seconds with a shave and tech suit.
