New Challenges: Swim Team

As you know, I am training for my 1st 70.3 half Ironman in October. Looking back on my sprint triathlon I did last May, the biggest challenge for me was the open water swim. I just didn't feel like natural in the water.

Which is funny. Because I am "the water girl". I could spend all day in the water. This was the case as a child, and I never really outgrew that.

I have a few friends who are on the Masters Swim team, and have brought me to a few workouts. The aquatic center is right by my house.....

And let me tell you about this Aquatic Center. It is the "Taj Mahal" of swimming pools. Our city spent big bucks to have the best aquatic center in the city (it's one of the best in the state). The water is perfect. Best part? -- surrounded by mountains!

And it's only 4 miles from my house!

So after trying out a few practices, I am hooked! So Monday is my 1st official practice on the Oro Valley Masters' Team: "The Flying Fish".

It's Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 5am-6am. All interval training and drills with very knowledgeable coaches! It is unreal how much these swimming workouts get my heart rate up!

What's the best part?:

The workouts absolutely kick my a$$. However, I get out of that pool - and nothing hurts. There are no blisters on my feet or sore muscles. No overheating. No GI issues. I feel taller, stronger, and just so healthy after swim practice.

Another perk? (this is kind of dorky...)

I'm living a dream that I never got growing up. I was never a jock. Let me repeat. I was never a jock. I hated exercise - because sports made me feel like a slow, awkward, lame goat. But at Masters' swim - I'm not the slow one. And if I am the last to hit the wall? -- My coach just simply gives me advice on what to do next time. (instead of the approach of high school sports, where they humiliate you in front of the group or ignore you because you're not worth their energy)

It's an investment in my health - and I think it will make me a stronger runner!

My joints will thank me when I'm 50.

What is your color?

Green My favorite color ever! I have to control myself to not purchase too many green things. If I had no control, my house would be green. My kitchen would be lime-themed. With greenery everywhere. My bathrooms would be green. My bedroom would be green. You would all feel nauseated-green after entering my home. (So I don't have a green-themed home) Many things I love are green, such as: Spinach (I eat it a minimum twice a day usually) My weding color was green. (clover green) Limes (I have at least one time a day) Grass. I love the feel of grass, especially since I see it so rarely in AZ (except in my neighborhood that has amazing landscapers with grass-galore) Palm trees. Any tree. Christmas trees. I love Christmas Green Beer. I think the green beer on St. Patty's Day tastes better. My favorite color of eyes. When I was in 9th grade, I so badly wanted to get green contacts. But they made me keep my brown eyes. Diet Mountain Dew (my guilty pleasure) Granny Smith

8 Months

Well, I missed month 1-8. But it is never too late to begin, right? Here is a recap of Maddy at 8 months. (I'm totally stealing this idea from my sister, Lisa. I thought it was so neat that she recaps her son's favorites and happenings every month) How am I sleeping? Better than I was - but not as good as my peers. It also depends on if I'm teething. Last week, her 2nd tooth was poking through - so she was awake 3 times. No matter how much I let her cry it out, I cannot seem to cut down her feedings. When I go in there - she is literally pulling at my shirt with her mouth wide open. So clearly she's hungry. She eats 2 times/night and luckily goes right back to sleep. It is what it is. What am I eating? While we have had breastfeeding and bottle refusal struggles - I am so glad that taking to food as been relatively smooth. We are doing baby led weaning, and Maddy really enjoys most every food I've given her. Her favorite foods are scrambled eggs, apples, and c

Currently - May edition

I haven't blogged much - but the last time I did one of these, Maddy was 9 months old. It's really fun looking back on the things that were "stressors" to me at that time. Prior to that - my currently post was a pregnancy edition. So here goes May 2022. Maddy is almost a 15-month old and summer has set ablaze here in Tucson. Reading : I really wish I had a better answer for this one, but I have not been the best about reading lately. The only book I'm reading is "How to talk to your kids so they'll listen and listen so they'll talk". It is really good. Most of the book is geared more to school-aged kids, in my opinion. But it highlights some great communication skills with children to help them trust you as a parent to be open and honest. Eating: All the smoothies. It has been getting really hot here - and every day when we get home from our stroller run I make a smoothie for Maddy with whole milk, Fage, and fruit - and then a smoothie for

Rants, Recipes, and Running

Search This Blog