Training Log Archive: pfc

After work. I'm a little out of practice on the bike.

PQ swimming cert at Lifetime Plymouth. Did 2/3 mile with a couple different strokes and tread water for 10 minutes. Felt tired and stiff this time around. Probably the pressure.

PQ climbing cert at the Brickyards. Mike McCay checked us out. Practiced ascending while passing a knot in the rope, which was pretty fun since I had my ascenders properly adjusted for once and was able to fly up the rope. Also practiced passing a knot going down, using a prussik and a lobster claw. Had a few problems with rope management that I need to be more careful about in the future.

Also took about an hour of video for future use.

St. Croix near Arcola. There was a hiking trail near the high bridge that I'd never seen before, so of course I had to go explore and ended up out on the river hopping from island to island.

Not that much to take pictures of, but tried out my new lightweight tripod. It's compact enough to fit in my pack, and works quite well.

Lake-Ford loop with Brian, Corey and Sam. Cold but not as windy as I thought it would be. Two MG shirts were plenty to stay warm.

I was all ready to do the figure 8 but started to chafe (wet socks) and cut it short to avoid getting a blister. Resolved to stop at the "hole" for the rest of the day's workout.

At Lifetime Highland (the "hole")

Getting sick of working late over the past couple weeks and being tired when I get home. Finally got out at a reasonable time today and did a 1/2 mile in the pool @ Lifetime - first time in a few months I've done that. I'm still not very fast (all breast stroke), but haven't forgotten anything. There were also two positive signs today:

1. I've mentioned my long-standing aversion to water before, and the reasons for it. I'll jump in, but it's not my first choice of what to do. As I result, I tend to subconsciously tense up which is generally not a very good thing (my swim instructor first brought this to my attention.) But today, about 20 minutes in, I had a "perspective shift". For probably the first time, it felt like the water was something that could (would) support me, instead of something I could sink into - not a conscious thought but a physical understanding. It was very calming (for a half a lap, at least.)

2. That experience started me thinking. A couple laps later, I caught myself working out something else in my head, and don't remember the mechanics of the stroke. Of course, that just implies that the motions are becoming internalized through repetition - nothing out of the ordinary,but an advance in any case. Maybe not having practiced in a long time was what kept me from overthinking it.

Too bad I can't listen to the iPod in the pool ;)

Next step is to finally learn how to keep my feet from sinking during freestyle. If I use a float, I can get across the pool pretty well, but without it I don't really know how to stay trim and my feet head for the bottom. I'm a bit worried this was a crutch left over from when I took lessons.

C • being at one with the water 2

MNOC Lake Maria

C • O meet 1

River road figure 8 with Brian, Dave, and Rick for the 1st half.