Getting into the swim of it

My friend Juliet, who will compete in Ironman Arizona in April, does a 4000-meter swim each Saturday. That’s 80 laps, folks. She initially tried using a water-proof radio so she could listen to music to break up the monotony. But she found that she started losing count so that was the end of the music.

Inevitably, after you settle into your rhythm and stop focusing on your kick, your stroke and your breathing, your mind starts to roam. With your head in the water, sound is muted and all you hear is your heartbeat. It’s quiet. Too quiet. This is the perfect environment for “the voice” to chime in. And it does.

“Did I remember to set the VCR for ‘Lost’? I have to find out what happened to Claire  … (Exhale ... inhale ... exhale ... inhale ...) ‘Luuuuuuke, I am your father’ … I can’t believe the A’s traded Mark Mulder. That *&#@$ Billy Beane is losing it. Why do I still care? … God, I hope we can really be friends. He really makes me laugh … I need to give Jen a call tonight … How am I ever going to be able to do this for 2 miles?”

Part of my swim drills is countering the voice. Just as I focus on maintaining my kick, I have to focus on chasing out the negative thoughts with positive ones. When you’ve been conditioned for 40 years to only see the negative, this is the hardest drill of all.

“I can’t do this … Honey, you ARE doing it!”

“I won’t be ready by August … You’ll be ready. You’ll be more than ready.”

“But I … HEY! You’ve dropped two sizes, you are in the best shape of your life, you have great friends who are on your side, a great family, you are genuinely happy. Shut up and swim!”

Ah yes. It is a marathon. Not a sprint.

And before I conclude this installment, I just want to give a special shout out to one of the women in my training group, Linda. She has a morbid fear of water and has had to watch for years as her kids and husband water ski, swim and frolic in the waves. But this year, she decided she wanted to do a triathlon, and to conquer her fear. She started taking swimming lessons a few weeks ago. Last week, she finally got the courage to put her face in the water and float. She’s kicking up a storm now. You are my hero, Linda. Great job.

Next installment: Saddle up! It’s time to buy a road bike.

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