Y members are elitists too?

I went to swim at the Y this morning for the first time in a looong time. Let's say months. (I won't admit how many.) As I was swimming a woman asked to share my lane since it was busy. Sure. I have no problem with that. She asked what I was doing (in a nice, interested way) which is understandable. I was doing drills - the current one had me swimming back and forth on my side - so I didn't actually look like I was swimming laps. Seemed she was wanting to learn a new drill - that or make sure she wasn't jumping into a lane with a pure nut.

We started chatting about tri's because she was training for her first one too - but apparently had extensive running, swimming abd cycling experience. She asked me about my training and, since she seemed very nice and not a snotty athlete I said "I'll admit this winter's been tough for me and I've sat my ass on the sofa most of it... I'm just getting back into the swing of things!" Her response was a weird "Oh..."

I apparently assumed - incorrectly - that anyone else living in this godforsaken town (ok, to be fair the town is not godforsaken, just the winter weather...) would at least empathize if someone was severely affected by a tough winter- even if they personally were able to push through it. She reacted like I had openly admitted to being a hooker, having contracted the clap in November and therfore was unable to work during the busy holiday season.

Really? I didn't dump a 30 minute personal 6 month history on her. It was a one sentence statement. I was just merely honest that I haven't been working out because the winter had me down and I'm back in the game. C'mon - $100 80% of people in this town suffer from the same thing and I bet only 5 - 10% do any exercise about it.

Soooo - one reason I joined the Y was to get away from atheletic elitists. And yet this woman inadvertantly (hopefully) made me feel like a HUGE loser in 2 minutes flat. Thanks Robin!! (Yes. That's her name. Not even going to bother to give her a nickname.)

Note: yes, I'm totally aware that it is my own personal insecurities that really is at issue here. But it's just easier to blame Robin. So I am. : P

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I didn't drown

Last night I had my first tri training session with TriMommy.  TM ROCKS!! 

The first thing I noticed before we even got in the pool was how comfortable she was about her body and being in a swim suit.  Don't get me wrong, she's quite an accomplished athlete, but she's not one of those rail-thin, oh-my-god-please-eat-something kinda gals.  And I admire that.  And her being relaxed about the whole situation made me relaxed (ok, maybe I wasn't exactly "relaxed"...) or at least not as self-conscious as I would have been had I gone to the pool by myself. 

And  it occurred to me that I also forgot the about "The Locker Room".  I forgot the "locker room" mentality that accompanies a gym.  I realized this most severely when I got out of the shower after my lesson all decked out with my towel wrapped myself, trying to get a dry pair of undies on my still-slightly-damp body all the while taking great pains not to accidentally drop my towel from around myself.  Geesh!!! 

When did I become so modest?? 

So I did as the "natives" and just forwent (is that a word??) the towel and just got dressed. 

We all have the same parts and pieces, right?? 

And the truth is I remember being a little kid in the locker room and seeing all the naked "old" women.  The ones that had shucked modesty to the wind.  Thinking "why do all the old women walk around naked?!?!?!  Why don't they care?!?!?" 

Yeah, well, I'm one of those "old" women now.  As a kid I thought anyone out of high school was "old".... that's not entirely true...   any woman that had mostly completed puberty was "old".  I didn't know any better!  Well now I know.  'Cuz it's too frickin' hard to keep that damp towel wrapped around you while trying to stuff one's self into dry clothes, worrying that you're going to accidentally drop the towel on the floor.  As I get older I just want life to be easier.  And chucking the towel is easier.

TM was great in not being (or at least acting) surprised as my complete ignorance of lap swimming  protocol.  She showed my how to put on my swim cap. (man those things really yank on the hair!!  ouch!)  And she didn't hesitate to move my cap off my forehead to be sure my goggles were a good fit.  (I didn't do any of this in front of a mirror and had no idea the my goggles were sitting across my cap edge.  And even if I had seen it I wouldn't have know that's a no-no.)  Of course her having 2 kids might also explain why she was patient with my fumbling...

Once in the pool she watched me swim and then proceeded to show me drills that would improve my stroke.  Once I told her I had coached rowing she even tried to explain "stuff" in rowing terms!  That's a sign of a good coach - they can relate to you the same material in many different ways, especially if they can do so while relating it to a one of your other experiences.

Now all I need is some time in the pool to work everything she taught me out on my own.  I believe they call this "practice".....

Well, I'm going to be visiting our "neighbors to the north" next week and wasn't sure how I was going to swim since our hotel doesn't have a pool.  Never fear!!  I'm now a member of the YMCA!!!  And the Y in the town I'll be in is across the street from my hotel!!!  How lucky can one girl be?!?!?!

The biggest trick will be wearing the same suit several days straight.  'cuz I only have one suit at the moment.....  I'll make a note to remedy this ASAP......

After all that I DIDN'T DROWN!!!  Well, I got water up my nose a few times...  but I needed those sinuses cleaned out anyway....

Try to Tri

My brain has been all over the place these last few weeks.  I just realized I never posted pictures from the family wedding.  And now I feel it just wouldn't be funny anymore.  One of those you-had-to-be-there kind of things....

And I've been posting random things on the blog...  I realized I posted the oh-so-flattering picture of me in the goggles.  Did I even mention that I'm going to start training for a triathlon??  I can't even remember.  If I didn't tell you I'm tell you know.  If I already told you I'm sorry for repeating myself.  (ok, I'm not really sorry...)

(and think - I'm losing my mind and I don't have kids!!  Clearly a sign that I could not function with them...  I'll leave it to you fabulous multi-taksers to keep the world populated for the rest of humanity.)

I have purchased 3 one-on-one sessions with the tri-training at our Y.  (this is sounding very familiar.  I'm going to go back in my blog just to make sure I haven't already told you this....) 

A-HA!  I have told you.  Back on Sept. 3rd.  I wasn't completely committal on it at that point, though. 

So I will tell you that I DID join the YMCA.  And I DID sign up for 3 session with the tri-trainer, Kelly.  Those session will be spent in the pool teaching me the proper and safest way to swim laps in order to prepare for a triathlon.  (I just noticed in spell check that I've been spelling it triathalon and apparently the correct way is just triathlon....  I really think it's missing a syllable...)

Anyhoo... 

I was talking to "This Is It" - (ha!  for a second there I thought her acronym would be TIT!  wouldn't have that been a hoot!!  Too bad - it cracks me up so that's it.  I'm using it.) - and she's a crazy Canook that is participating a weight lose contest at her gym(and blogging about it.  I added her to the other blogs).  I say kudos to her!  She is a swimmer and I was relaying - no, lamenting - my swim suit purchase experience this past weekend.  She was very sympathetic.  I appreciated that. 

So once I get in the pool and learn what in the heck I'm supposed to do my plan is to do the 6am spinning class M/W/F and swim in the mornings on T/Th.  We'll see how that goes.  The spinning classes might get slimmed down to only once or twice a week.  Or maybe I should ease into them slowly so I don't kill myself.  Anyone who's been to a spinning class knows that can really kick your arse!  Although TIT loves them!! (but does concede they wear her out too.)

Hopefully by the end of winter I'll feel more comfortable about this swimming thing and will be confident enough to pick a tri to do. 

Speaking of tris - we actually have a 70.s here this weekend.  That is a half Ironman.  It consists of 1.2 mi swim, 50 mi bike, and 13.1 run.  These people must be nuts!  (not say anything of those that do full Ironmans!!!)  And of course my tri-trainer is participating in the 70.3!!  Which means she's going to totally kill me in training!  I just know it!

All I have to say is BRING IT ON, KELLY!!

I'm ready!

I have purchased my swimsuit, goggles and cap for swimming. All I'll say is that trying on suits was a VERY humbling experience. And according to the proper way to fit goggles these fit me quite nicely.

I'm ready for this tri thing!

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Go big or go home!

As a kid (I define "kid" as me prior to 30...) I was a perfectionist.  So much so that I was afraid of failing.  I was afraid I'd let people down.  Whether it was coming in 4th in the 100m sprint in 9th grade or not going into a more demanding field because I was afraid I wouldnt' be good at it.

Some of you may be familiar with these sentiments.  Some of you aren't.  There are people out there who never really worry about failing.  Ok, they might worry about it but they don't let it stop them from doing something.  Therein lies the difference.  If i was afraid of failing I usually wouldn't even give it a try to start.  Or I'd make excuses.  Or something to make my failure, or my perceived eminent failure, not look "so bad".

In case you're wondering - this way of life has not worked out the best for me.  I can look back and see lots of missed opportunities that now, at 34, would kill for.  But I won't dwell on the past.  Can't change it anyway, right??

But now I'm finding that I'm starting to swing the opposite direction.  If I'm going to try it, dammit I'm going to do it up BIG!

- Start riding a road bike??  Why not buy a brand-new bike and train for a century ride??
- Want to start running more?  Book myself for a 5K?  HELL NO!  Sign me up or an out-of-town half marathon!!
- Rollerblade just around the lake for exercise??  Well, yeah.  That's all I do on my Rollerblades.... for now!  ; ) Although I wouldn't rule out a roller derby stint at some point....

So I've had several people ask me if I do triathlons since I already run and bike.  I don't.  But maybe not for long.  I'm going to join the Y (since it has a pool) and I've already been in touch with the gal that organizes the tri-training.  I'm putting together a plan.  Because why bother to learn to swim fast if all I'm going to do it do laps in a pool??

So I'll try and keep you in the loop with the "training" thing. 

BTW - I have not forgotten about the wedding pictures.  I'll try and get those up this weekend. 

Also - I'm still working on the Murphy bed - just haven't injured myself beyond a little 'ol bruise.
  But fear not - surely I'll do something to hurt myself!