The countdown is on ... 6 days until my race!
I am not at all nervous, somehow I have been born with out that emotion, but I am anxious!
This afternoon I went to the pool to do laps and practice my bilateral breathing and Total Immersion technique. I am happy to report that today was my strongest swimming day in months! I did the first 20 laps (500 yards) focused on alternating breathing every 5 and 3 strokes. So my cadence was like this: 5 underwater strokes - Breath, 3 underwater strokes - Breath, 5 underwater strokes -Breath ...repeat .... I would normally take me about 17 strokes to per lap so I was breathing an average of 4 times per lap. And by breathing on odd numbers it has me alternating on the left and right while taking my breaths
The next 20 laps I just breathed every 5 strokes. This went much better than the last few times I have done it. The best apart about this is that you can really work on your freestyle technique when breathing doesn't get in the way and I was moving like a fish through the water! By far the best my TI stroke has felt since I began swimming a few month back. I am pretty pumped about this development more importantly confident.
The next 20 laps I did a pyramid. 6 laps (30 sec break), 5 laps (break), 4 laps ...etc. I stopped at 2 laps because it was the side of the pool I started on and I had to grab my towel and locker key! The last 4 laps of the pyramid I did the backstroke. I decided that if something went wrong (cramp, muscle pull, elbow to nose...) with my freestyle stroke at the Tri I better have a back-up. I was surprised at how well the backstroke went for me considering I had no idea how to do it. But if something does go wrong I'd be cool with doing this for a little bit.
I have started to lay the supplies out that are going to be needed for the race. I bought myself a bag that is made for Triathlons. It has a ton of compartments and a little chair/bench that comes off so I can sit down in the transition area to put on my shoes. It also has a compartment that is water proof to put your swim gear in after the race - very cool. And it comes with nylon mat that can be used to stand on in the transition area. Yeah, I took that out because a towel will be fine! Anyways, my dining room table has become my staging area and will continue this way until Thursday night when I pack everything I need in the bag.
Tomorrow is a running day. Will try and do 4 miles on the treadmill.
Thanks for Reading,
Jeff
Wow, you are really getting you bilateral breathing down. Today at the Tin Man I was breathing only on one side. It was rough out there today. Waves were crashing over our heads and I ended up with water in my mouth during breathing. Lifeguards had to pull a couple people out of the water.
ReplyDeleteNow that the Tin Man is over I have time to re-group and practice my bilateral breathing.
Getting your supplies ready is a good strategy. I kept going over my checklist multiple times.
Which bad did you get?
Jeff, it sounds like you're getting it down to a routine where you won't have to think about what to do next in the transition area. Having never done a tri, it's obvious that's the one place where timing can make or break you.
ReplyDeleteI hope your training goes well this week
Had to stop by and say HEY again, I'm back in blogland with a new started blog lol (coachjocd.blogspot.com). You're doing a tri this weekend, AWESOME! I hate running too much LOL. You will rock it! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks guys - the bilateral breathing is going well. Hopefully it goes well on race day!
ReplyDeleteBoomer - I will have to go check the name of the bag. I is pretty cool.
Joc - Nice to see you are back up online. It is good to hear from you and I hope all is going well!
ReplyDelete