Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2 for Tues: Let's Get This Over With

ONE
My Wisconsin Badgers put out a good fight yesterday but lost the 2012 Rose Bowl to Oregon.  It was a high-scoring game, 45-38 final score, where a last minute fumble sealed the coffin for the Badgers.  Not the way I wanted to end the season, but I still love my Badgers!  Staying true to my friendly wager here with (Just) Trying is for Little Girls, let's get this over with...



TWO
It was packed at the gym yesterday (surprise!).  While it's slightly annoying because I have to arrive early to secure pool space or a spin bike, I like to see the new faces of hope and old friendly ones back for another round.  I put in my first swim yesterday.  I have a newfound respect for triathletes... swimming is freakin' hard!  Holy cow!  Two laps and I was huffing harder than a run sprint.  I looked at the water thinking, "What the hell did I get myself into?"  But I continued on... alternating laps between free-style, breast stroke and water jogging.  Finished the 35 minute workout with a total of 500 yds swam (15 laps) and 500 yds water jogging.  Exhausted, I quickly changed for Spinning class.

I need to approach swimming the same way I started running... learn the basics and start slow.  Alternating laps is a perfect start for me.  I can totally feel the workout in my arms, shoulders/back and core this morning.  Last night, I watched a bunch of videos on You Tube on breathing exercises and swim form.  I'm back to the pool today, but this time combined with a run.  I going to do this... thankfully I have until August for my Tri.

18 comments:

  1. you look soooooo cute! :) OOOOOOOOO! Great job on the swimming. I have such a hard time with it myself but you are making me wanna get back in water for crosstraining! Have a great day.

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  2. Oh my goodness, you rocked my world this morning! What a good sport you are. And what an amazing football game. You are the best!

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  3. Is your pool 25 yards? And by "laps" do you mean down and back (2 lengths of the pool)? If so, you actually did more than a 500, since a 500 is 20 lengths of the pool! So you would have actually done 750, if I'm understanding you right.

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  4. Hey Jess, have you checked out www.swimsmooth.com? It's really helping me.

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  5. You are a good sport! I love the duck. :)

    And Jamie is right--once you figure out laps vs. lengths. Either way, good job!

    As a bonus--once I added swimming into my routine, I lost weight fairly quickly. :)

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  6. hey that green looks good on you! Great game.

    One of my goals for this year is to start swimming - I'm so not a good swimmer, but I think it will be good for me! Great idea with the alternating laps...

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  7. Great job on starting to swim! I love swimming, it's my first love really, there is just no good place to swim around here, so sad! Sorry about the loss, but you're a good sport!

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  8. I love love love swimming!! Wish we had a public pool nearby that had a decent schedule or that I actually had more time (and $) in my day to join a gym and do the pool thing, but there is only one gym in town with a pool. Wishing you much luck and learning all the basics!!! Great job so far!!!

    MO-tivated

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  9. awesome swim and yes, I know it's hard! Ugh, the crowded gyms...give it a few more weeks and it'll be back to normal, sad but true :(

    You are SO motivating me to sign up and complete a tri! IT's something I've wanted to do for a LONG time and I've been terrified of the swim! can't wait to see how your training comes along!

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  10. you are so motivating me and inspiring me that i could go for a tri some day! i have tried swimming in the past and it was seriously the toughest thing ever so I gave it up. i have been wanting to give it another try but have been anxious...keep it up!!!

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  11. Good job! Swimming is rough. I thought that because I grew up on a swim team, it'd be easy. WRONG!

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  12. LOL at the picture. And yes - swimming is so tough! When Jay was training for his tri last summer, he wore his HR monitor in the pool and saw exactly how hard he was working... and he thought he was exerting so much more energy than he really was. He thought his HR was up near 150 but it was actually 120. So.... it is DEFINITELY much harder than you think!

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  13. i'm a swimmer by heart, my husband is not! he compares a 50 in the pool to running a mile. it is all about technique. go slow and get that down then work on endurance and speed! good luck! ;)

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  14. Swimming is a SLOW process. Seems like it take longer to get swim fitness than running or biking, but you will totally get there. Once you do you'll suddenly realize how much you love it. Good luck!!

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  15. Sorry your team lost. Lol at your pic! I'm hoping to try a tri- too but I haven't gotten the nerve to sign up for a swim class yet. I did hear it is hard and you have to be patient and start slow. Good luck, Jess!

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  16. Have to tell ya - saw the Duck Truck on Tuesday driving home from the game...thought of you, their newest fan!!! (you are such a good sport for wearing the colors). Hope your week is going well.

    MO

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  17. I used to swim competitively when I was young, and I was awesome at it! LOL I LOVED it. I envy you getting into it right now. My bleached hair and schedule totally crosses it out for me. Enjoy it for the both of us!

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  18. Favorite thing while reading blogs: when I realize they are Badgers too!
    Happy Day.

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