I know, I know, I started this thread whining about swimming. And I was SO MAD that day about my stupid goggles. But the tri is in 8 days, and I needed to SWIM! So I threw all my running and swimming clothes in the car before work, remembered to stop and buy a new padlock (how do you lose a padlock?!?), did come home to get my IPOD and post all over TE land, then went to the Y. I ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill, not bad. Got in the pool with my smaller goggles, which leaked and fogged just a smidge bit, but it was bearable. My swim distance in the tri is 400m = 8 laps in the race pool = 10 laps in my Y's pool. Last year in the same race, my swim time was 11:38. Today I swam that distance in 12 min, more or less. Including stopping and panting for 6 breaths after each length.

What's so cool is that by lap 7, it started to feel easy. I couldn't believe it. I was focusing on my form, and it just wasn't so hard any more. My right shoulder was the only thing that didn't feel fine. Oh, yeah, and panting as soon as I stopped. But it was kind of cool. I never, ever felt that way swimming laps before. I know some of you were/are competitive swimmers, so this must sound slow and strange to you, but I feel great.

In complete contrast to tlkiwi's swim from h*ll, when I got to the pool, family swim was still going on, but it was just two moms with three little kids. Two lanes were roped off for laps, and I was the only one swimming. Heaven. tlkiwi, I am so sorry you had to endure that BS at your pool. "women only" should not mean "feel free to be inconsiderate and irresponsible".

I feel much, much better about doing this tri in 8 days. If I could swim that well (for me) after a hard week of lots of work and little sleep, and a 2.5 mile run, then I'll do just fine in the tri. YAHOO! Wow, do I wish I'd known you women last year. It would've been much more fun. L.