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.

[rocknrollgirl]

We do not have a master's group around here, but late this winter I was in the pool one afternoon, and in comes the remnants of our swim time. By remnants, I mean the kids left still swimming and on their way to states. The really good swimmers.

So I say hi, and try to disappear and do my thing. Finish, go home. The next day I am in homeroom, and one of the girls that was at the pool says...hey, we critiqued your stroke last night...

Great....I KNEW it.....

She says...I think we can help you. Great...I KNEW it.....

So the coach emails me and says...come to practice with us. ARE YOU CRAZY????? Come to practice with the boys and girls swim team? NO WAY!

I was horrified at the thought. But then I said, well, free coaching....

Well, my desire to improve outweighed my modesty and I went. It was really hard for me to do, but in the space of an hour, they made some subtle adjustments that made a huge difference.

So yes RM...I feel your pain, but stepping out of the box and in to the pool helped me. I am now getting out of the water at the front of the pack. So soak it all up( no pun intented)

And let your inner sloop emerge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Running Mommy]

RNR- I think I remember you posting about that.. And yeah, it's HARD to put yourself out there like that. Esp. with the kids wanting to help YOU.. Your like hmmpphh.. Shouldn't -I- be the one training YOU?? How did this happen?? ha ha

Oh and KSH- my 100 time today was a whopping 2:25!! I have a LOONNNGGG way to go! But I'll get there dang it!

Over the last year I've steadily been improving. As Natascha Badman has said "I'm taking little tiles (training tid bits) and making a mosaic." I hope to have a beautiful mosaic by race day in 08.

My goals that I'm working towards...
Get at least 35 lbs off. I'm down 14, so 21 more to go..

Vastly improve my swim time- working on that

Get to a 17 mph average for the 112 mi distance. - May be a lofty goal, but I'm close. Tho I haven't held that over the long haul yet.

Be able to RUN at least 90% of the marathon. - That is going to be more mental for me than anything. I always run FINE in training, then rce day I get on the marathon and my stomach goes and I just wuss out. This year I will have my husband with me, and my running coach is racing as well. With a 3 loop course you run into people a lot! So I know I'll have them keeping an eye on me. Wont be as easy to wimp out and walk..

[KSH]

Oh and KSH- my 100 time today was a whopping 2:25!! I have a LOONNNGGG way to go! But I'll get there dang it!

Hey,that's good!

Now, I think I recall your per 100 yard pace around 3:00 on the IM? Or am I way off on that? My memory isn't that great.

Keep working on it,that time will come down. If you can get to a 2:00 per 100, you will be a solid MOPer in the water.

[knapplaura]

Hey,
Way to go joining the master's group. My swim time was about like yours last year, and I have started working with a Total Immersion coach in Atlanta once a month to get my technique corrected. For us it is really about technique most importantly.

If I can offer you a little more advice, based on what you have told me in the past about doing all your rides alone....you really need to do on group rides. Yes, they are fast and sometimes you get dropped (me too) but you push so much harder and you 'redefine your concept of fast'. I think that is why my biking is continuing to improve; I moved here and inherited a faster group!

Congrats on your progress with the weight, stay positive! I have found that lifting weights about 4 times per week is helping me drop weight / improve body composition (just a tip).

I will be looking for you in Phoenix '08!

all the best,
Laura

[Running Mommy]

Hey Laura-
Odd.. I have been lifting weights with a personal trainer- and yes the weight is dropping.
As for the group rides, well the group around here stops too much. I actually get the best workout when I ride with Tony. He's just that much faster to make me work. He wants to average 18-19 at IMAZ
I've got my work cut out for me!! But yeah, if you want to get fast- train with fast people.
And yes, the masters class is going to bring down my time. I ran into Claudio the instructor and he told me that one of the girls there was swimming a 2:50 when she started, and now she's swimming a 1:40 (for 100). He said "and your faster than that! So your gonna get fast girl!" Ahhh I don't need fast, just respectible!

[Wahine]

Way to go on joining masters Denise!! It really does help. Nothing like a little push from a group.

Let's watch those times drop.

[Tri Girl]

It's tough to tackle something new- especially when you feel like the odd man out. I've been really wanting to try the masters swim class, too- but I've been chicken. But here's the thing- the coach knows you're an incredible athlete and even commented on how fast your'e gonna get. And you know those women were secretly impressed and awed of your IM accomplishments. Hee hee- don't you just love it?
We're all proud of you for tackling something new. Tough to get out of our zone sometimes...

[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