I've got a long way to go...

... to get back to my speedy swim times from June! Last night was my second swim lesson and we did time trials - these are supposed to be benchmarks to see how much we improve over the 12 weeks. Unfortunately for me, my times were at least as bad as when I started last September, or at least that's how it felt. Definitely worse than at the end of June. I'm almost too embarrassed to post the new times...

Almost... We did a different trial this time 'round. Instead of 50m, 100m, 200m - we started with 3 separate 100m, followed by 3 x 50m - with a 1min+ rest in between each. I don't remember all the times, so here is what I do remember:

1st 100m - 1:53; 2nd 100m - 1:57; 3rd 100m - 2:03 (just kept getting worse, ugh!)

1st 50m - 0:53 - I think, and I honestly don't remember the last 2. I think I ended up over a minute on the last one...

The 50m were hardest because my thoughts were along the lines of "oh, it's such a short distance, I can just give my all - I survived hard labour, med-free, for 3hrs; I can do ANYTHING for 1 minute!" Yeah, well, even contractions don't last that long before getting a break (except when you don't get the break)... For all three 50m trials, the first 25m up felt amazing, then about 1/2 way back my arms felt like dead-weights and I could barely swing them around for the next stroke. It was an incredibly frustrating feeling. Almost as though my arms had popped out of the socket! Thinking about it now, I can still sense the feeling. Reminds me that I've got a long way to go to get back to my previous, speedy form! Problem is, this time I'm only going once a week. I'll post my end-trial results in about 10 weeks!

Back at it... and lovin' it!

Over the past 72hrs I've participated in my 4 favourite activities - softball, dancing, soccer and swimming - in that order. Talk about shock to the system! Surprisingly, my body feels great, apart from a slightly sore back that I think came from playing 3 softball games on Saturday - nothing that a trip to the chiropractor can't fix.

After a pretty sedentary summer, apart from the weekly soccer game and the odd stroll with my family, I was afraid my body might go on strike! Anyone that plays softball knows it doesn't count as 'exercise' - especially in a coed beer league... We drink more calories than we burn! lol!

Fortunately there is only a brief overlap between activity seasons, so after next weekend, the only scheduled activity in my life will be swimming and a bellyfit aerobics class I signed up for. Our first class was supposed to be last week, but am I ever glad it was postponed! Not sure my body would have ever forgiven me if I had included that in the mix, in the span of 5 days!

Swimming was great. It had been so long since I swam laps (I went once all summer) that I could feel the muscles in my shoulders and hips after the first 500m. Fortunately the instructor went easy on us and let us set our own pace for the first day. 1500m total distance in the first class is still impressive and I hope to have my cardio strength back up to 2km+ distances soon.

I hit a home run!

Last night was the last softball game of the regular season. I was 0 for 3 at bats and approached the plate with 2 outs ahead of me... Just moments before I had listened to my teammate as he coached another player about waiting just two counts (one, two) before swinging the bat. I knew this rule and had used it successfully in the past. So when I went to bat this time, I waited the extra 2 seconds and when I hit that ball, it went soaring into the outfield, over the fielder's head and I got my first home run in many years! WHAT A FABULOUS FEELING!!

Even when we're experienced players, or runners, or parents, or partners, sometimes listening to that extra bit of 'coaching' can make a world of difference in our game, time, children and relationships.

Who can you be coached by today?