Goals keep me focused. And energized. Especially since they always include a plan and show up with with their partner in crime, the to do list. My nirvana. Each year, I blissfully complete an item from my life list, and this year I set my sights on completing a triathlon. Not the Ironman, nor the sprint distance, but the “Goldilocks” of the triathlon, the Olympic distance.
{photo credit: triathlon swim start}
Now a lot of people avoid the triathlon because of the swimming leg. Probably with good reason. Though not a strong swimmer, I figured heck, I have been swimming my entire life. From the choppy, post thaw waters of Canadian lakes to avoiding near collisions with whale sharks, I’m sure I have swum for my life on more than one occasion. So off I set for the pool, to kick some chlorinated ass.
{photo credit: whale shark}
Who knew that breathing underwater doesn’t come naturally? Not fish. Cue flashbacks to being the last kid in swim class to finish lengths, splashing, spluttering and choking my way towards a desperate grab for the pool edge every 50 meters. Who is going to let a pesky thing like air get in the way of triathlon success? Not this gal.
I delve into the repository for all learning and knowledge (aka internet) for guidance on freestyle swimming techniques. Lo and behold, there seems to be a new swimming movement underfoot. Total immersion swimming – check it out:
As much as I research this topic, I keep landing on variations of the same video. Could it be that simple? No multi step mastery of the technique? Impossible. I did find a local pool giving a weekend course on the subject for a meager $450, but at 4x the registration fee I can’t quite wrap my head (or wallet) around that one. Armed with 3:46s of youtube inspiration, I am on my way towards Total Immersion greatness…
… and I’m back. Well that was pretty amazing!! Up until this point, I have only been able to swim 2-3 laps without changing strokes. Today I completed way more than that with the TI technique, and it felt fantastic. Where were you when I was 8 months pregnant and sinking like a battleship? Streamlining has a much nicer ring to it.
And just like that, she committed to her first triathlon.