Swimming-Just Like Riding a Bike

Photo credit:  Olivia Locher; found HERE

A week ago Monday I was cleared by the doctor to do "anything I want".  I know, he then had to go and add "within reason" but my mind heard "anything I want" and replays it over and over again.  I'm having to very consciously protect myself against the big bad wolf.  On Monday I was telling some athletes from my Spin class about what I had done since being cleared; one of them looked at me and rolled her eyes saying, "and you call that reasonable?" (or something to that effect).  It made me stop and think for a minute.  Well...yes...I think so.

You're wondering now what I have done, aren't you?  (If not, skip this paragraph!)  Wednesday I taught Spin for an hour long (fairly tough) class and did PT (stretching and about 75 minutes of upper body work).  Thursday I taught a 45 minute (not so tough) Spin class and did about 40ish minutes upper body strength training.  Friday I taught a 45 minute Spin class (I'd call it fairly tough) and did PT.  Saturday I ran/walked 3.5 miles (run 5 walk 1) and did some of my PT stretches.  Sunday I ONLY did at home PT stuff (not as much upper body strength).  Monday I taught Spin class (I'd call it moderately tough) and did PT (including 75ish minutes of upper body strength).  Then Yesterday

I SWAM!!!

I'm pretty sure that was the first time in the water since IMLT!!  ((I could be wrong about that, but I'm almost certain.))  I was really nervous about going.  My daughter was laughing at me and said, "okay, just tell the lifeguards to watch you closely since you haven't swam since your IRONMAN".  That made me laugh at myself.  Swimming is like riding a bike...it's not like I would have forgotten how!

However, I knew it wasn't going to be totally great when I had a lot of trouble even doing the dynamic warm up.  I was shocked at the difference in the left shoulder/arm.  The really good news is that when I got in and started swimming, other than the pain it felt really good to be back in the water.  My form wasn't 100% spot on, but it really was like riding a bike.  My body got right into the catch/pull groove.  Even better, I haven't lost a lot of speed.  Endurance is nonexistent, but that's to be expected.  I think the best news is that I don't think I feel any more pain today than usual!!

On tap for today is Spin and PT.  Tomorrow is Spin and possibly another swim!  I don't think that's unreasonable at all.

Until next time.  :D

*Did you know it's apparently illegal to ride a bike in a swimming pool in California?!  I found that out here when I was searching for a picture to use for this post.  By the way, the picture used is copy written by Olivia Locher.