There is something decidedly freeing, (or is that freezing?) about swimming in the open water. No walls and no freaking clock. It was only as I was dragging my ass out the door for my scheduled 2000 metres at the Y that I remembered that I had an option. So back for my wetsuit, which I put on before I left the house, knowing I would need help getting into it. I wonder what the cop would have said if I had gotten pulled over for something eh? He'd probably be wondering if I was planning on driving my truck into the lake.
Anyway I went to little beach in Port Stanley and dipped my toes in the water. Environment Canada said that the water temperature was 17 degrees(62F) but it felt a lot colder. But I got started not too badly and other than my feet I adjusted to the water alright. It would take me about 4 minutes to swim across the little inlet and so I did that 8 times. Based on that I would guess that I put in about 1500 metres. The water was not rough by any means but just swimming parallel to the swells caused some difficulty in the form of the occassional unintended swallow of water. Swimming outside was also a reminder of the challenge of swimming in straight lines. There's no line on the bottom of the lake and even if there was you wouldn't be able to see it. The challenge of continually looking ahead is hard on your stroke, as lifting your head tends to drop your hips and slow you down. I'm not too worried about it though as the bright orange buoys at the races are much easier to "peek" at without too much disruption. I was also totally pleased with my goggles. They are the cheapest corrective goggles I've ever bought and yet the best. No leaking and no fogging up. I was smart enough to buy 2 pair when I first got them so I had a brand new pair sitting in the cupboard for race day. Pretty smart eh?
So I figured that was a pretty good start for my first time in the lake, but before I went I thought maybe I would check out the main beach to see if that would work for next time. Much to my surprise the water was flatter there presumably because the shoreline is not so curved. So back in the water for another 20 minutes and the best part of all is that I could swim for as long as I wanted without turning around. If the weather is ok I will do it again on friday. Mission accomplished...the time just flew by compared to swimming in the pool.
I followed the swim as soon as I ot home with a 7 km run including a "pickup" for a couple of kilometres in the middle. I'm still feeling tired however and I hope that my long run goes well tomorrow. I had an idiot moment today at about 4:30 at the grocery store when I suddenly realized that I had forgotten to eat since breakfast. Not too smart eh?
...unike this lady...
I wish to dedicate day 272 to Mrs Moody, who made Colby's first year at a new school practically seamless.
"My mom said she learned how to swim. Someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. That's how she learned how to swim. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim.' "---Paula Poundstone
"I can`t swim. I can`t drive, either. I was going to learn to drive but then I thought, well, what if I crash into a lake?"---Dylan Moran
love
peter
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