I did it! My first aquatic mile! Which means 72 laps in a 25 meter pool. Actually I did 76 just to be sure. But, damn, what a way to start my 38th year!
I did it in just over an hour, so the next step is to shave that down to say 45 minutes or so, then down from there. I'm still having problems with breathing. So I'm trying to find a combination of technique and speed that will allow me to swim without taking a break to catch my breath at each turn. Of course, I could just use a kickboard and fins, but I'd rather do the front crawl.
Anywho, I am psyched. If you would have asked me just a couple of months ago if I could swim 72 laps I would have thought you were crazy. Now, I did it. Goal achieved.
Posted by jherr at July 19, 2006 07:44 AMCongratulations! I have to admit, I am a bit jealous.
Posted by: bsaz at July 19, 2006 09:56 AMThanks!
However, it's nothing to be jealous of. It was really an excerise in how many laps I could struggle through with bad stroke and hyperventilation while avoiding drowning. I'm a horrible swimmer, but I'm getting better.
Posted by: jherr at July 19, 2006 10:39 AMWhen I worked at the Y, lots of non-swim team and master folks used a snorkle when they had troubles with the breathing. With your asthma, it might be a good solution for exercise and then work on the breathing part in time.
Posted by: eigga49 at July 20, 2006 07:50 AMI've been thinking about a snorkel. But two things I want to try before that. First, my allergist tells me that his patients use albuterol right before swimming they do better. I haven't tried that yet, and I think I might, maybe tomorrow.
Second, my breathing has been steadily improving as my form has gotten better. A couple of days ago Lori and I were doing laps and she was blown away by how much I was panting at the side of the pool. I was struck by that because it was so much better at that point from when I started. It used to take about 30 seconds to go from 180 BPM to about 130 BPM after each lap, now it takes about 5.
So I'll keep riding that trend until in bottoms out, and if that doesn't work I'll do the snorkel thing.
Posted by: jherr at July 20, 2006 08:26 AMThanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
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