10k on New Year's Day!
A month or so ago, a friend encouraged me to join their 10k swim wayyyy down in Centralia. I had reservations, it being on New Year's Day, being a hell of a lot of yards, and all in a pool I'd never seen before. I have a habit of quickly overheating in pools. I was leary. I went anyway.
The southern half of the island was cloaked in a blackout from winds knocking out power. It was a creepy load onto the ferry with the first made waving us on in silhouette, back lighted by the boat. By the crossing's end, daylight was breaking. Off I went to a pool, really knowing only a couple people.
Once at the facility, I checked in and met my lane mates; two of five I knew...one I just met already had profiled my mile time from my one and only recorded pool event last year. Egads! Pressure was on. I learned that the pool was actual meters but for some reason I had it in my mind it was yards. This meant having to swim faster than my cruiser pace.
I learned a few things:
1- At 7k, my body needs food. The stomach pain was crazy and sudden. A piece of banana helped almost immediately.
2- In salt water, I hardly kick! I ended up using my shorty Zoomer fins as an insurance policy. My glutes hurt for days after. This is not bad, just a lesson on how much I lean on my pull.
3- In close quarters, you hand crash others! Hand paddles from the neighbor, OUCH. Still bruised.
4- Chlorine is very drying. Especially 3 hours and 20 minutes in a pool face down.
5- I felt really good in my arms, lats and shoulders the next day. Thank you coach Allen for staying on me about good form and rotation! Tougher than we think when tested like this.
6- I am NOT a marathon swimmer! I mean, if we weren't forced to a time limit I would honestly go further, but to stay 100m on 1:45 for 10k (100 times leaving the wall every 2mins) was not happening....the last 1000m I was back to the wall with almost no break at all 5 seconds tops. Got tired. I will stick to relays and middle distance racing thank you!
The southern half of the island was cloaked in a blackout from winds knocking out power. It was a creepy load onto the ferry with the first made waving us on in silhouette, back lighted by the boat. By the crossing's end, daylight was breaking. Off I went to a pool, really knowing only a couple people.
Once at the facility, I checked in and met my lane mates; two of five I knew...one I just met already had profiled my mile time from my one and only recorded pool event last year. Egads! Pressure was on. I learned that the pool was actual meters but for some reason I had it in my mind it was yards. This meant having to swim faster than my cruiser pace.
I learned a few things:
1- At 7k, my body needs food. The stomach pain was crazy and sudden. A piece of banana helped almost immediately.
2- In salt water, I hardly kick! I ended up using my shorty Zoomer fins as an insurance policy. My glutes hurt for days after. This is not bad, just a lesson on how much I lean on my pull.
3- In close quarters, you hand crash others! Hand paddles from the neighbor, OUCH. Still bruised.
4- Chlorine is very drying. Especially 3 hours and 20 minutes in a pool face down.
5- I felt really good in my arms, lats and shoulders the next day. Thank you coach Allen for staying on me about good form and rotation! Tougher than we think when tested like this.
6- I am NOT a marathon swimmer! I mean, if we weren't forced to a time limit I would honestly go further, but to stay 100m on 1:45 for 10k (100 times leaving the wall every 2mins) was not happening....the last 1000m I was back to the wall with almost no break at all 5 seconds tops. Got tired. I will stick to relays and middle distance racing thank you!
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