Stepping out of my comfort zone...

[Running Mommy]

And plunging in to a masters swim class!

So lastnight I was at our community tri club meeting. A guy there mentioned that he does a masters class at the gym I go to. So afterwards I pulled him aside and asked him about this. He said "we workout tues, thurs morning at 9:00 am. Be there"... YES SIR!
I explained to him that I'm a two hour IM swimmer, so I need LOTS of help, but he didn't seem daunted.
So this morning he had me hop in lane 1... Yeah, the slow lane. We did drills, and more drills, then some kickboard sets, ugh, kick board sets, a ton of sets of 100 mixed in, and oh yeah... more drills.
He was VERY helpful in giving me tips on my stroke. Seems I'm not completing my pull at the back end. Also I need to work on balance/ hip roll. I'm a flat swimmer- a barge, when I need to be like the hull of a racing sailboat...
Bottom line, it was TOUGH! But I could feel myself getting a bit faster. It was also tough stepping out of my comfy box and actually DOING something to improve rather than just kibitz about it. Knowing that you are going to be the slowest girl there isn't easy. Walking out to the pool deck I felt very self concious. But I sucked it up and told myself to just worry about me, and improving MY swim- which sometimes means going slower in the begining. Go slow to get fast... Funny but true.

[mtbdarby]

Good for you RM! I know that's not an easy thing to do, yet fear is by far our biggest obstacle. Way to tackle it head on! Barge? I thought that was hilarious, but you are on your way to being a FAST, sleek racing boat. Keep us posted.

[Running Mommy]

Ohh Dar... If you saw my swimming you would say "yep. Barge"

I look at all the sleek thin women there, and here i am... The thick ol stump... sigh... Despite the fact that I've now lost 14 lbs in 6 weeks (1.5 this last week whoo hoo) I'm still just a thick girl. I've tried to come to terms with my inner stumpiness, but it's not easy.
But one funny thing.. The instructor called out to me "hey, Ironwoman. I want you to change lanes....." and the other women all kind of looked at me funny. One of them finally said "have you done an Ironman??" to which I replied "yep, a couple of them". They had this "HUH??? HER??? REALLY???" look on their faces. It was classic. I'm soo used to it.

[csh_01]

That's great Running Mommy! I would love to do a master's swim. Let us know how helpful it is to you.

And I love that the coach calls you Ironwoman. You've EARNED THAT title!

[Starfish]

Hey, this is great! I used to swim masters way back in my twenties, and I loved it. I improved a LOT there, even after having been coached through HS and in college.

One thing I remember about my masters team is that everyone really was nice to everyone...and there was plenty of room for people to start in the slower lane and move up. And, people DO move up!

Also, I can really relate to the comfort zone thing. I have never been thin, even when I was in good shape. I can SOOOoooo remember being the kind of beefy girl on the decks and in the lanes with all these long, thin, tough, athletic women. And, a racing suit hides even less than cycling shorts!

Also, very true about what you said...going slow to go fast. I got MUCH faster after several years of competing when I found a coach who just changed a couple of things about my stroke.

This is exciting!

[KSH]

GOOD FOR YOU!

You have the running down and the cycling is getting better every year (upped that average by 2 mph this year, right?)... now all you have left is to get the swimming where it needs to be.

Look at it this way, you can only improve... right? Even if you take 30 seconds off each 100, that will add up big time come IM time.

Although I am sure with proper coaching and lots of hard work, you can get those 100's down to 2:00!

Keep us posted on your progress. It will be exciting to "watch" you improve.

[Veronica]

I'm still just a thick girl. I've tried to come to terms with my inner stumpiness, but it's not easy.
But one funny thing.. The instructor called out to me "hey, Ironwoman. I want you to change lanes....." and the other women all kind of looked at me funny. One of them finally said "have you done an Ironman??" to which I replied "yep, a couple of them". They had this "HUH??? HER??? REALLY???" look on their faces. It was classic. I'm soo used to it.

You know, this is why you're one of my role models. Genetics didn't give you an Ironman triathlete's body. But you said, "Screw genetics!" Well maybe you didn't really say that. And did it anyway. You're out there demonstrating that ALL women can be fit and athletic, not just the naturally slim ones.

You belong there RM and I bet with your determination you're going to get that swim time where you want it.

V.

[teigyr]

I can relate. I procrastinated in swimming because I think it's out of my comfort zone. The first time I went to the gym to swim, I felt SO awkward especially around the "swimmers". I know that you've swum tons but I still think it's different to get out there with the good people.

I feel it, OH do I

It'll be good for you though. Since I've been coached (one-on-one), I've improved dramatically. The OW coaching I am/was (tri is in less than a week now) using wants me to swim with his Masters group. Talk about insecurity? I'm not thick as some but even when I competed in running, I am not the small lithe type.

I think this will help you next year though, if you can go faster using less effort, that's a good thing. And I think your coach is very impressed by you calling you IronWoman

[Torrilin]

Most of the best swim instructors I've had are short, dumpy, old ladies. 60ish, wearing swimsuits that weren't fashionable. But they could swim, and more importantly, they could teach.

Swimmers don't have to be young. They don't have to be skinny. They just have to get in the water . Most good distance swimmers aren't super skinny... if they were they'd starve on a long swim (or freeze...).

Good on you for going to the master class