Monday Master's

It is much harder to get out of a warm bed with the thought of getting in a cold pool then it is to get out of a warm bed to get in a run. What helps motivate me is looking forward to working with the Coach. This morning he was full of praise, and even when I'm struggling there is something in his coaching that makes me strive that much harder to get better. It's never about being perfect, because I'm just not built to be a perfect swimmer, but it's about the nods of approval he gives for my improvement. I was actually able to participate with the other seasoned swimmers this morning as they did some drills. We started off with a couple 200 yds, with fins. (My birthday gift yesterday was a pair of fins and a mesh bag to haul my wet gear back and forth in). I love swimming with fins, because it takes very little work to get down and back quickly. We practiced pushing off the wall and gliding through the water, which for me was a little tough. To get a good long glide you have to point down towards the bottom of the pool, and I held my breath a little longer than I thought I could. But it certainly helps for a smooth start. The rest of the group worked on speed drills and getting their heartrate up, I just worked on swimming the distance and keeping my head down, looking at the pool floor and side, keeping only one eye out of the water when I breathe, scooping water with my hands on the arm strokes, keeping my elbows up, not kicking too much and keeping my legs floppy. I'm sure I've left somthing out because that list seems too short to be the whole checklist I was working through on every stroke. I'm starting to feel a little more coordinated in the pool, and little more like my whole body wants to cooperate with me instead of each appendage doing it's own thing. I was famished after class, and have got to find a good post swim meal. The Luna bar I had in my bag does not cut the mustard. I was starving all day. Apparently I'm not alone in the post swim starvation club. I have read that swimming burns a lot of calories because it uses so many different muscles in the body, and when the water is cold burns more calories to keep things warm. I just don't need to eat the calories I just burned right after a swim. Going to try a peanut butter sandwhich on Wednesday.