What Has Two Thumbs and Is Ready to Swim?

That's SwimmerNephew.  

Me?  Not so much.

But, I have a triathlon coming up in June so I gotta get back on the horse.

So, I finally went swimming for the first time since August.  I felt a little trepidation about my stamina, knowing that running is one thing, but swimming is a whole 'nother beast.

I got to the pool and sat on the edge of the grandma lane.

I slid into the 82.5 degree water and joined a lady who was alternating a hybrid breast stroke/doggie paddle with water walking.

I started out nice and easy, unsure of how my back and shoulder would perform post PT.  I felt pretty good after the first 50 yards.  I even swam in a pretty straight line.  I rested for a minute or so, and then did another lap.  By the end of it my heart was pounding.

Who knew your goggles could pound in unison with your heart?

At that point I decided it would be a good idea to work on "technical" stuff.  I slunk out of the pool and grabbed a buoy and a kick board.

I started out with the buoy because historically that had been easier for me.

Don't even ask.  I don't know how.

Then it got a little worse.

I wasn't even using my feet.

After that, I decided to work on my kicking. It was painfully slow.

I'm pretty sure at one point I was moving backwards.

By that time an actual swimmer was in my lane and I decided to take my cue from her.  She was doing single arm work.

She did not look like that.

I think it was a good first time back, as it helped me sort out a few things. Mostly, it helped me sort out that from now on, I'll stick to front crawl.


I'm back on the Yeah Write grid this week! Come check out some great writers with me! (And look for my 'Thumbs Up' badge on their site!)

UPCOMING POSTS:  RACE RECAP, GUEST POSTING, MORE RUNNING

THUMBS UP!

Hello everyone!

Several weeks ago, I was lucky enough to win a personalized badge from the wonderful Erica M at Yeah Write in celebration of their 100th writing grid!

I was totally excited to win (who doesn't like to win??) but I had absolutely no idea what I would need a badge for.  I hemmed and hawed and almost considered an alternate prize, but then it hit me!

Have you noticed nobody says that anymore?  Why is that?

I decided I would get a Thumbs Up badge!  I'm going to start giving out this badge to blogs I find inspirational for a variety of reasons:

• creativity
• fostering a sense of community with their readers
• amazing athletes

Basically, the things I admire and aspire to.  In this first installation, I'm giving out my Thumbs Up badge to the very same Yeah Write site that gave me this prize.  

Seriously, how awesome is this badge??

Now it may seem a bit seedy to give my first badge to the site that created it, but they truly deserve it.  Since joining their writing grids I have become an even more conscientious storyteller, have discovered some amazingly written blogs, and a great community that is supportive and fun!

Thanks Yeah Write, for making me a better blogger!

I will give this badge out every once in a while, so stay tuned...you just might find yourself with a thumbs up of your own to put on your blog!


*If the picture in the badge looks familiar, you may be thinking of last week's post.

UPCOMING POSTS:  SWIMMING, A HALF MARATHON RECAP, ANOTHER 'RANDOM THOUGHTS WHILE RUNNING' POST, AND I WILL BE GUEST POSTING AGAIN SOON!