Well I had another training day today, and no, it's not day 3. I'm not sure exactly what day it is, but I've been working hard, if a little aimlessly. From what I've been reading I need to do less "I'm riding hilly today" and more dedicated drills. The same goes for my running.
For me (and most runners I know) running is an escape. I may dread it for hours before hand, but not because of any physical discomfort, but more because I can never remember how cleansing it is, I just remember that I have an hour or two to drop from my day. Biking is the same: the idea of adding structure to the one thing the frees and clears my mind is scary. I don't mind the work or pain (I climb any hill I can and keep a pace that is never comfortable by any stretch of the imagination), but the fact that my biking and running abilities seem to be so clear to me right now, and this new rigidity might blur that leaves me sweating.
The swim is a whole different ballgame. I finally took my swim lesson. It came relatively early on fathers day and I had been looking forward to it since..well...my last post. Unfortunately Saturday night I came home from work ravenously hungry (having forgotten my food for the day) and pounded down a half quart of ice cream (sure it was NSA Doublechurned, but it's something meant to be eaten a half cup at a time...) and this was before making a couple of rounds of grad parties. I woke up early with a gut full of bad food and a conscience full of guilt. I laced up the running shoes and suffered through a quick four miler before my lesson. Unfortunately my tank was about empty for the swim, and my instructor was able to poop me out quick.
When I got to the pool, Ken - a short thin guy in his late twenties, early thirties - gave me a comfortable smile and told me to swim a lap. I agreed to be polite but was already scared. He was literally there to judge me and my juvenile splashes. As I pulled up the wall sputtering after one lap, fidgeting with the goggles I had owned for a day, and filling them stupidly with water, Ken explained how poorly I had done. He wasn't harsh, but down to business, which was awesome. I didn't want to be made fun of, and I most definitely didn't want someone leaving things out to keep my ego from bruising. I swam that first lap tense, like I was lifting weights. My feet sunk and I barely moved.
Fast forward 45 minutes and Ken had me lengthened out and a lot more comfortable in the water. I still had a LOT to work on, but I had my start.
I've only been able to swim again once more since then, and it was in my uncle's 10 meter pool, which I will be using until I can find a cheap lap pool to swim in. Even there I felt things beginning to click. I still have miles to go before I'm ready, but I'm excited at the quick progress.
My biggest concern right now is my nutrition. Between the weights and the three sports, I've been even hungrier than I normally am. I still haven't figured how to pack a nutritious enough day for work, and every time I leave starving. I get home and stuff myself until I get sick, and continue the next day. All will power seems to go out the window. I had a longer break a few days ago and was able to eat right, being at home, and I found myself far more energized.
I have so much to learn. Every time I calm down about something, another gets me riled. This experience is a roller coaster, and I'm loving every singly loop.
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