Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Back to the pool
So, after getting back from Tahoe, I seemed to have a fairly major headache - maybe from tweaking my neck during a fall, or maybe from dehydration, I wasn't sure. In any case, I took it easy on Sunday and Monday, and was hoping that I'd feel up for the pool today.
I felt okay going into the pool and started on the elite workout. Unfortunately, I got a few laps in and the headache returned. After another lap or two it was all I could think about... it was pounding and very distracting. I got out the pool and over then 10 minutes, drank an enormous amount of water... did some stretching, sat in the jacuzzi for a while and finally convinced myself that I could finish the workout.
There were lots of people in the pool and almost every lane was circle swimming (see below for an explanation). As a result I was getting a fair bit of water in my mouth as a result of splashes from other people. I figured it was good training for the event. I even found that I was able to use a cough as a breath out to get some water out of my lungs. After a serious struggle, I was able to complete the workout, though I can't say I did it exactly, as it certainly didn't include a 10-minute break. But given my headache, and feeling extra fatigued, I think I did well. It definitely reminded me just how tough and humbling swimming is going to be for me.
Swimming Etiquette Note: When there are two people in a single swim lane, it is customary to "split" the lane. This means that one person swims on the right side and one on the left side. However, when there are more than two people, you have to swim in a circle (typically going counter clockwise). The downside of circle swimming is that if you are too slow people pass you, if you are too fast you have to pass other people. Ideally everyone in a particular lane is swimming at roughly the same pace.
I felt okay going into the pool and started on the elite workout. Unfortunately, I got a few laps in and the headache returned. After another lap or two it was all I could think about... it was pounding and very distracting. I got out the pool and over then 10 minutes, drank an enormous amount of water... did some stretching, sat in the jacuzzi for a while and finally convinced myself that I could finish the workout.
There were lots of people in the pool and almost every lane was circle swimming (see below for an explanation). As a result I was getting a fair bit of water in my mouth as a result of splashes from other people. I figured it was good training for the event. I even found that I was able to use a cough as a breath out to get some water out of my lungs. After a serious struggle, I was able to complete the workout, though I can't say I did it exactly, as it certainly didn't include a 10-minute break. But given my headache, and feeling extra fatigued, I think I did well. It definitely reminded me just how tough and humbling swimming is going to be for me.
Swimming Etiquette Note: When there are two people in a single swim lane, it is customary to "split" the lane. This means that one person swims on the right side and one on the left side. However, when there are more than two people, you have to swim in a circle (typically going counter clockwise). The downside of circle swimming is that if you are too slow people pass you, if you are too fast you have to pass other people. Ideally everyone in a particular lane is swimming at roughly the same pace.
// posted by Zack @ 8:55 PM 
