Little Mermaid Goes Swimming

So, let's rewind back to last Friday, pre-Imported Thumbs. I've been going to the Y every day for lunch. I mean, there's really no reason not to. It's so close to my office that I'm pretty sure one day I'm going to make a wrong turn and end up in the weight room. Part of my workout plan is to do what I want. That's the awesome thing about not marathon training, I can work out the way I want, on whatever days I want. My running goal is a reasonable 15 running miles a week, and I'm easily hitting that with 3-4 days of running. On the other days I do the elliptical, the stairmill, and now that I'm aiming to be the next Little Mermaid - I swim. This has really worked for me - so far this month I've only skipped working out three days, which is awesome considering it's the 26th!

Coworker Blogging David loaned me his Total Immersion DVD that goes along with my book. The DVD really helps put it all in perspective and make sense. I memorized Drill #1 and my goal was to practice that Friday at lunch. I bought goggles and a swim cap the weekend before, so I was all set. I got to the gym and was pleased to see several lanes open. I suited up, picked a lane, realized I forgot my goggles, went back for them, and finally got in the pool. Finding sweet spot was pretty easy, but propelling myself across the pool using my legs only was taking forever. So, I would use my arms a little, but I spent a lot of time focusing on getting that drill right, using my ankles and legs properly, and rolling my hips the way they discuss. It was amazing how much less effort I was using when I properly got all those things going. I decided I would briefly try Drill #2 (where you sort of angle onto your right side) but it just so happened that Greg Luganis and Summer Sanders went flying by on my left and right side at that moment and nearly beached me on the sidelines like a killer whale, so I decided I would stick with Drill #1. I was proud that I only whacked my head on the wall (hard) twice. I'm pretty sure I looked ridiculous, but there was also a woman swimming laps with a snorkel mask on, and surely I looked less goofy than she did. All in all it was a great experience, and I ended up with .3 of a mile, and felt like I could go much further.

But, I needed to get back to work. I swam "until the last minute" and then leaped out the pool and into the shower, stopping to briefly say hi to the women from my office that take lunchtime classes there every day. Once I got out of the shower I took my swim cap off. For some reason something kept dripping on my back. Huh?? I looked up, around - there was no leak in the ceiling. Then I felt the back of my hair. Why was my ponytail wet?? What's the deal?? Then I felt my head. Totally soaked. Can I be so stupid that I have NO CLUE how to properly put a swim cap on??? Seriously. I was so mad. My hair was as wet as if I hadn't worn it at all. I don't get it, I've never once read about a tri-blogger having this issue. I'm not sure what I did wrong, all I know is panic set in. I have a ritual of Aveda hair smoother, blow drying and then straightening iron that just wasn't ready to roll into production at the Y. AND, to top it off at some point while swimming I had taken my goggles off and RUBBED MY EYES. So yeah, mascara and eyeliner were all over my face. I was one step from being a carnival clown. I blowdryed with the free blowdryers they have at the Y and I was a frizzy headed mess. Of course I had no clips in my gym bag so I rocked a ponytail the rest of the afternoon and played the part of Sporty Rachel in my uncasual work environment (we may be the last company in the Northern Hemisphere that doesn't have Jeans Friday. Or Jeans Anyday.)

I told Brent my story and he got a huge laugh out of it. I seriously don't have a clue how to put a swim cap on. Of course I Googled it and read that I should wet it and then put it on, but doesn't that cancel out the whole purpose of ending a swim with dry hair???? I also read you just stuff your hair in it and don't ponytail up first, so I'm going to try that as well. Overall I'm happy with Swim Drill #1, and I'm really hoping the Total Immersion program is going to help me swim efficiently.

And, in other news "wall" has now overtaken "vomit" as the #1 search word for finding my blog. Thank God.

Happy Tuesday!!
Rachel