Today, I ROCK!

I am on cloud 9 right now! I can't stop smiling. Why? Cuz i just completed my first open water swim and it felt AMAZING!!!

I have "struggled" with biking. I tend to be in the back of the pack especially on the hills. I huff and I puff and my legs burn. But today, I got to see what it felt like to run (or in this case swim) with the big boys.

My tri group met at Cottage Lake in Woodinville. We talked about what supplies you need and how to "site" while swimming when you can't see beneath you and then hopped in the lake for a "little swim." Once in the water, a few of the members decided to stay close to shore and practice while other of us started out swimming across the lake (about 1/3 of a mile one way). I started of slow and steady per the training advice. Per coach Marc, your first 100 yards should be the same speed as you last 100 yards. (Let me mention it was his voice I kept hearing the whole way Reach, glide, pull all the way through, don't kick so much. Such a warm, encouraging voice to swim to) I found myself a good rhythm but only to look up and find I was swimming off course! I redirected my elf and started swimming. One stroke after another. Look up every 8th breath to see where I was going. When I made it to the other side, I was SHOCKED!!! Not only had a made it, I was the only one from my beginning Tri group to make it! The rest stayed near shore or turned back shortly after starting. I had kept up with "seasoned" tri guys and gals who had volunteered to help us newbies. I was blown away!!!

So we started back. This time I found it easier to stay straight and keep a consistent pace. I have no idea how fast I swam but I am proud of the distant I covered and NO BREASTSTROKING!

When we made it back to the other side, I felt fabulous, so much so that I actually didn't want to stop swimming!!! So I kindly asked Ironmen Joel (he's completed 3 ironmen!) to swim another lap with me. This time we swam straight across and back (round trip about 1/3 of a mile). I felt so strong and smooth in the water. I was livin' it up.

All said and done, I swam just under a mile. I ROCK!!! OMG! It felt so good to complete something and complete is well.

This gives me so much motivation to keep going. I mean who would have guessed Id be able to swim across a lake 6 months a go. But to day I did it...TWICE!!! If I can rock the water, those hills of Bothell better beware! I'm coming to get you!