I did something today I haven't done in 14 years

I swam in a swim meet. That might not sound like anything special, but it was for me.  I used to swim all the time.  I started competitive swimming when I was five years old and I remember falling in love with the sport immediately.  I swam for seventeen years after that. All the way through four years at the University of Utah.  When I swam my last race in 1998, I was done with competitive swimming.  Completely burned out mentally and physically including a few shoulder surgeries along the way. 

Back to the Gym

Eight months ago I started working out for the first time in many years.  The focus wasn't swimming though, it was weight lifting.  I came across the book The New Rules of Lifting.  And my life partner and I decided to hit the gym and lift our way into shape.  I also added some swimming to my routine, not much mind you.  500 meters three times a week.  Compared to the tens of thousands of yards I used to swim in a week, this isn't even a warm up.  But time constraints are real and I choose to lift with the time I have and whatever is left swimming gets.  It is perfect, reminds me of why I love swimming without reminding me of why I burned out. 

Masters Swimming

I found out last week that the Life Time Fitness I work out at was hosting a Masters Swimming meet.  I am a swimmer for life and a registered Masters swimmer.  This meet gave my life partner a chance to see me swim (she didn't know me in college) and I have two boys that I want to model some competitive behavior for.  Three events was about all I figured I could handle so I signed up to swim the 50m free, 100m back and 50m fly.  Thanks to all the volunteers of officials and timers and everyone else it takes to put on a meet.  Without them we all swim alone.

50m Freestyle

Because I had no idea what I could swim a 50 meter freestyle in I had to guess. I used what I was doing in the pool during workouts minus five seconds for a start. There was enough people to have two heats, because of my guess I ended up in the first heat which is also coed. My goggles fell of on the start and ended up around my mouth for the race. This caused me to choke and gag when I took a breath but I made. This race really hurt. It made me realize I am really out of shape. I am in lane three, between the women.

100m Backstroke

I was hurting after the 50 meter free and had to turn around and swim the backstroke. There was only one heat this time. My legs were shot after this event. I had to limp home.  I miss my first turn and that hurt to get back to the wall.  Bit out of practice. I am in lane two. You can hear my boy saying hi in this one.

50m Butterfly

Right after the backstroke I was on the block for the 50 meter fly. I can't explain how bad my legs hurt when I got back on the block.  Wednesday we did the dead lift and my thighs were still feeling it. I didn't think I was going to make it and it was only two laps. And you can see it in the video, I die on the way home. I probably should have been disqualified. When I got out of the pool I thought I was going to pass out or throw up. The whole way home I felt that way. I am in lane one for this event.

More Training Needed

I have been lifting weights hard for 8 months now and swimming a little bit.  I lifted all week going into this meet including the day before.  I am in the Hypertrophy II workout in NROL and me and my partner are lifting hard right now. But I need to increase my swimming intensity to prepare me for these events. I was not ready to swim those events that close together, my body still needs more training.  I plan to keep on training for swim meets using the weights to build strength and the little time I do have in the pool to do HIIT with swimming.  It will be interesting to see if I can improve on these races.

Accomplished Goal, Great Day

I am completely happy with how I did. My weight training has helped me lose enough weight that I don't have to pull it all through the water. Strength has also come back into my body. I had a goal to swim again and I accomplished that. My life partner got to see me swim and my boys saw me model behavior I would like to see them repeat. It felt so great to race again that I have decided I am going to keep on racing.  Look for me in November.  Thanks to my life partner, the cheering section, for her support in all areas.  I am lucky to have her on this journey.  It was a great day.