"Breakthrough!"

That's how I feel about my swim today. As I mentioned yesterday I thought I might try the distance again but I left for the pool with some trepidation. I knew that it would be tougher both physically and mentally today simply because it was my second shot in a row. I still didn't really know what I was going to do when I got there, so I just got in the water and got started. At some point I started to consider the consequences of not completing it, and I tried to make a mental commitment to tough it out. I was pretty sure that I would start to question myself again if i didn't hang in there. So needless to say I managed the 3860 metres, and to top it off I was quite happoy with my time of 1:11:37. The most gratifying part however is that I won the mental battle with myself. I find that much tougher to do in the water than on the bike or running, simply because it is so technical and if you don't focus it just gets harder and harder. it was still very hard today but I did it!!

One of the special challenges I now have swimming is trying to keep from constantly gagging, and/or swallowing water. Because my throat muscles have lost so much flexibility, the water tends to simply run down my throat. That in itself isn't so bad but I have noticed that because of that uncomfortable sensation, I tend to get sloppy in my breathing. I find myself not expelling my air well enough, which is of course the active and most critical part of breathing while swimming. Actually I think it's a good thing that I noticed this the last few days, as now I can focus on it. I actually believe it has been part of the reason for my struggles in the pool.

I say that swallowing water is probably not a bad thing in itself, because believe it or not I lost more than 5 pounds in perspiraton today despite all the intake. Of course you always sweat while swimming in relatively warm water but I'm sure that the wetsuit is the biggest cause of this.

So overall I have had great success this past week and my confidence level is high. On friday I did my long ride followed by a run, on sunday I ran 30 kms, and then today did the distance in the pool. To be able to string these workouts together is very encouraging. I will try to keep working hard through this coming weekend and then take 4 days off next week while travelling.

I will also get a short run in this afternoon and then look forward to travelling to Guelph this evening with Peter and Claudette to listen to a presentation by this guy, http://www.drgabormate.com/ author of, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. (thanks Elly)

Man, I feel good about my swim!! Try not!!

I wish to dedicate day 209 to Anthony Robbins, one of my teachers though he knows it not.

“Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of living in advance through a trauma that prepares you for a future of radical transformation.”---Cherrie Moraga

"The great breakthroughs in our lives generally happen only as a result of the accumulation of small steps and minor achievements."---Gregg Levoy

“All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs.”---Anthony Robbins

love
peter