Splash!

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Later than I had initially hoped, but with a few problems solved, I made it to town and into the gym.  I had no idea what I was doing.  I had to ask a few questions.  I looked in and found the pool, then the locker room.  I bit the bullet and went on in.  Changed, messed with the locker until I thought I had the technique down (temp. use lockers, you program the lock, very nice touch by the way).  Fine, I didn't wear my t-shirt into the pool.  But I did wear it up until a lane was open.  I spent an half hour in the pool, as I suggested I would, and did what I could.  I didn't hit it hard, I didn't push, I simply did what I felt I could.  I am satisfied with this first step.  My goal, at the moment, is to be back in at least Friday.  If I am up to it I may go Wednesday.  But Friday is the definite.  If I make it Wednesday, though, then Friday becomes... debatable.

After the swim I called my friend.  A bit of shopping and a late lunch went forth.  The pieces I cut for the paint match were too small, so I will have another group of cuttings for the next swim day.  Nothing fancy, and I was slowing down pretty heavily as the day in town came to a close.  Tomorrow will be a rest day.  I don't know that it will need to be, so much, anymore.  It is just that I do not want to push too many things, too hard, right here at the beginning.  Though truth be told I do believe it will be needed.  Maybe, someday, if I can keep this up, it won't be.  At least my friend was glad to see me!  I've let him know that if he needs something, call.  It would add incentive for me to get in.  But too, it is nice to be useful to someone else.

A year to finally get to the pool?  Well, you know by now that I don't do anything fast.  Well, nothing that could be considered work or work-like.  I find a seat like nobody's business.  I also devour food like my life depended on it.  And I do say and write foolish things faster than I have a mind to rethink things.  I run out of speed on those things.  It felt good in there.  Having gotten up to a mile a day, three times a week, a few years ago, helped bring back my older techniques.  I couldn't touch either today, but I did see it.  The first few laps I was all over the place in the lane.  The next few laps I started swimming straighter.  And then, before I became too tired, I just felt some of the old form returning.  The right placement of my hands, the right pull, going as straight as an arrow.  I am pleased.  But this is going to take some time.  I won't mess with the kick-board for now.  But this time I see the need for it right away.  My legs are strong enough, they just aren't used to this sort of thing.  In a few weeks I will begin using my kick-board.  I just want to simply begin the habit at this point.

I also didn't mess with the heart monitor watch.  I want to simply get used to the pool again for a while.  In a month or two, if I can dampen my curiosity, I will begin tinkering with it.  It won't really be useful for some time, not until I pretty much fill the half hour with swim, and actually not even then.  The plan is to stay in the pool for one half hour until I fill that time with pretty constant swimming.  At that point I then move to a full hour.  When, or if, I can fill that hour, or at least when I get to some regular serious swimming, then the heart monitor will begin to be useful, to  maximize caloric burn, or some other variables such as speed, and be sure to do it safely.

I am feeling good.  A little tired, of course, but... not in the worst of ways.  A bit of reading, I suppose.  Some blog reading too.  I may be heading to bed reasonably early tonight.  Good afternoon, perhaps good night.