Learning to Swim

So, I decided against the nutritionist. 

I do know what I should be eating.

I know the foods that my body feels best with.

I now need to focus on eating those foods, and staying on track.

Instead, I decided to spend the money on swimming lessons.

My friends have been laughing at me,

"Don't you know how to swim?"

I do, but I want to swim better. I read the total immersion book, but since I can't watch myself swim, I had no clue what I needed to work on, so I found a total immersion coach who is located literally 5 minutes from my house.

She started by videotaping me underwater and on the surface. I discovered that my legs go a little crazy trying to keep my stability in the water. She said my stroke is a little disconnected, but I should pick it up easily. We went through a few drills to work on, and we'll follow up with another lesson soon.

check out one of my videos....

I think my money is much better spent here.

Have you ever taken swim lessons?

or running or cycling lessons?

h2o Audio Review

You know I've been having trouble getting myself motivated to swim this season. For some reason, my drive to dress in a speedo and swim lap after lap, bores me. So I started looking for some motivation & stumbled across h2o Audio...

I found out that among many waterproof cases and headphones, they make a unit that is specifically designed for lap swimming, the interval.

The interval holds a 4g ipod shuffle, and has built in surge 2g headphones. It attaches to the back strap of your goggles, and has easy button controls to change songs, and play with the volume. It comes with 5 sets of earplugs, to get a perfect fit & is 100% waterproof for up to 12ft.

After touching base with Dana at h2o Audio, she offered to send me one to review, all I had to do was buy the ipod. So I placed an order for a new pink one on Amazon & waited for both to arrive.

My new toys!

When it came, I made sure to read the directions twice through. I was so nervous I would mess it up and  ruin my new ipod! In the directions, it said to test out the seal in a bowl of water with the ipod inside. I crossed my fingers, and gave it a try...

Soaking in a bowl of water

Next up, we were off to the pool! It was easy to slide the interval onto the straps of my goggles, and rest it in place on the back of my head. The earbuds seemed like a good fit, but I brought the extras to the pool just in case I needed to swap them out.

Self pictures of the back of your head at 5am don't come out great!

Off I went. I swam a couple laps with Rhianna singing in my ear. Fun, I could see how this could make time go faster. But then the left ear bud started shifting loose, and falling out. Apparently I picked the wrong size. At the edge of the pool, I tried to change out the earbuds but was having a hell of a time. My wet fingers, coupled with the low lighting at 5am was making it impossible. I swam the rest of my laps without.

After talking with Dana, she told me that finding the right earbud would make a big difference and that it can be tough to change them mid swim. So later that week, I worked on it in the comfort of my living room, and felt like I had a great fit.

Then I lost my goggles at my last tri, and waited for new ones to come in, and slacked on swimming. FINALLY last friday I got back in the pool to try out the new buds. 

Inside bubble is up at the pool!

Much better.

I felt it coming a little lose at times, but with a quick adjustment they stayed in place. For this product, finding the right ear piece is key, so be patient. You may have many trials, in fact I may try another next time.

Another thing I think I need to work on it with? My song selection. I think some of the songs made my strokes a little choppy, and uncontrolled. I wonder if I went with an all John Mayer mix if it would be better (<3). 

All in all, I was glad to have it. I think that it will be good to keep me entertained during the lonely lap swims (like the one I'm planning on tomorrow). I mean afterall, if this helps out the olympians to get their training in, maybe it can rub some mojo off on me too.

Check out the interval HERE & h2o Audio on facebook HERE.

Thanks h2o Audio for letting me try out a great product!

Much needed day off!

Today, I had a much needed mental health day from work. A day to de-stress, work out and get my head in the game, and get things done.  After watching the Biggest Loser season finale from my DVR (how skinny were Hannah & Olivia!!??), I went to the pool.

My first swim since the triathlon on May 1st. I went around 8ish, and once I got there I remembered how much I hate the old pool ladies. Luckily as I was getting in, another lap swimmer was starting out & was willing to split the lane. In the far lane was the old lady with her earplugs, headband, hat, & shirt doing a weird kind of crawl & sidestroke. I overheard another girl ask to share her lane later, but ohhh no, she had a medical condition and can't. I remembered her from last spring. Then ironically I heard the old lady talking to a friend, and her friend was complaining about no-one sharing a lane with her yesterday. hypocrite?

I came home, and decided to start cleaning out my flower beds, and got on a roll. I dug up the tulips, cleaned the junk. It was looking so good, I decided to head over to the local farm and hardware store to get some planting supplies. Then I came home to plant. I wasn't planning on it, but the weather was so gorgeous, I just had to be outside instead of cleaning the bathroom.

My front flower bed. Geraniums & Dalhias

My veggie garden. String beans, zucchini, eggplant, cucumber,  basil, & green peppers.

Porch tomato plant.

After a few hours of gardening, I came in to get cleaned up. Then I had to get out for a ride. Off I went for an easy one since I was pretty tired from the day's activities. A few hiccups along the way, like me misplacing my water bottle after a drink and it falling into the road. I had to stop to pick it up. Then I almost got swiped by 2 cars who were not paying attention later on. Plus, my gears were not changing right, I think I need a tune up. desperately.

So now, after my super productive day, I am heading to Chilis for dinner with the roomie, possibly followed by a splurge of ice cream for dessert.

What did you do for the gorgeous day?

ALO is done TONIGHT HERE

This is how my weekend is going so far..... (plus a giveaway winner!)

After many of your words and encouragement, I have decided to register as an Athena.

To those of you who are not sure what that means, Athena is a category for women 150 pounds or over. I've only been able to enter the Hartford Half Marathon & 5K as an Athena (I won 1st place once!) for running events, but it seems like the sport of triathlon cares about us heavier girls. So my plan is to register Athena, train hard, and try to take first place!

I mapped out some training for the next 14 weeks or so, and I will be spending a lot of time in the pool, which I have only been in once since my triathlon last fall. I recently bought the book Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier. Now I just need to read it... hmm maybe while I spend time on the bike trainer. Which reminds me I did get in a nice 60 min ride after work today! Tomorrow is a long awaited long run outdoors with Shelley & Tutu making our St. Pattys day 10K next weekend!

I almost forgot to draw a winner for my raffle for this week!

Jess @ Running Between the Lines!

Please email me your choice of prize!

There are still TONS of fabulous prizes to win! Please check out my Run to Home Base Raffle HERE to make a donation to a great cause and win some great stuff in the meantime!

Also, have you checked out my Arctic Ease giveaway yet (HERE)? Entry is easy & you have until 3/16!

Now.... I was literally writing this blog post, when Kevin went down to the basement to hide girl scout cookies on my roomate. I hear, "Stephanie, you need to come down here.."

Shit.

Not again.

Last year, Easter weekend, my brand new home (constructed Sept 2009, 2 months before I moved in), only 6 months after being built had the basement flood. It ruined many of my christmas decorations and boxes. My house was still under warranty and they told me that the water wasn't from outside, it was from the furnace condensator. Despite the water marks along the edge of the basement, and water stained cracks. They put in window wells and gutter tubes "just in case." With all this snow melting, and rain we've been having, I went down to check the basement thursday. Nothing. Not a drop. Now it looks like this....

1/4" deep!

See my soaked bottom boxes?

So Kevin just left for home depot to buy a wet vac because towels are just floating in the water, and not even making a dent in the amount. I am pissed because they *promised* me that this would never happen again. And I'm pissed because my home is no longer under warranty, although my mom thinks that since this was a problem they claimed to take care of while it was under warranty and clearly failed to do so, that they should be responsible. My mom says we will hire a lawyer if we need to. damn, lawyers are expensive.

So Monday I guess I will either be calling "Mike" the horrible contractor who built my house whose number I found, or the real estate lawyer I used to see what I am entitled to. Needless to say my good mood, and healthy habit went out the window and I have worked my way through 1/3 of a 6 pack of beer, and have a pizza on the way. YUCK!

DC here I come!! (and new inperspire towel winner!)

I just got an email that my credit card was charged, and I double checked  my online banking... it looks like I made the lottery for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler!! Which means my brother will be coming too, since we had started a group. I'm not sure if any of my other friends had signed up, but I am WICKED excited!!

Today is disgusting out. I had already decided that I would run outside if it were snowing, but it was raining. I hate rain. So I went to the gym since long run this week was only 8 miles. Knee started hurting around mile 5 or so. I did have the new shoes on, I just know the IT band is to blame (mental note to roll it after posting this). 

Almost done with christmas shopping, just a couple things to pick up, and waiting for a few more to arrive by mail. I've also ordered myself a couple things. 

Strength Training for Triathletes

and....

Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier

and....

Speedo Pull Buoy Charcoal/Pink

and....

Speedo Tye Dye Kickboard (Rainbow)

I need to not only be thinking about the half marathons in february, but for the triathlon season ahead of me! I didn't take swimming as seriously as I could have for my first Tri. I'm a fairly strong swimmer to begin with, I placed in the top 10% of the swim, so I imagine how kick ass I could be with some practice. And with my dreams of an olympic tri this summer and a 70.3 somewhere down the line, I need to be making the best use of the off season now. Strength training is something that I always neglect, so I am hoping for this to jump start things as well.

Eating has been sub par, I haven't been tracking my weight watchers points. I am really going to try tomorrow. I made a delicious acorn squash soup for dinner tonight. Im craving something sweet, but I think I'll settle for a popsicle. 

Since miszippy didn't email me with her Inperspire towel choice, I picked a new winner. The Running Green Girl! hooray email me at sgrigely at hotmail dot com with your address and towel choice!

Laying low...

It's been a busy couple of days, so I'm glad to be home relaxing tonight, and preparing for my long run tomorrow. 11 miles on the schedule, which will be my longest post surgery run so far. S is meeting me at 8am, with starbucks to follow the run. I have been charging my Garmin, and hoping that I can figure out how to make it work in time for tomorrow's run.

Last night, Kevin took me out for my birthday. Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, followed by a hot tub & massage, which was sooooo relaxing. So well needed, I almost fell asleep during the session! I worked this morning, then hit the gym because today is the first day of.....

I logged 6 points for the contest today. 6 mile ride (at the gym) = 2, 30 min elliptical = 2, 20 min strength = 1, and 7 servings fruits/veggies = 1.

I also signed up for.....

A Journey to Thin is hosting a sort of online Turkey Trot! I'm doing the Manchester, CT road race, which I think is about 4.5 miles on thanksgiving morning, so I will count that. That is the last scheduled race I have until New Orleans in february, and I'm a little disappointed. Maybe I need to start searching for more?

My mom asked me for a christmas list. So far I know I want giftcards to Road Runner Sports, either a bike attachment for my Garmin or a bike computer (any input on that?), a triathlon bag (in pink of course! looking for recommendations), a new running skirt from RunningSkirts.com, maybe a USAT membership, running clothes, some floating shelves for my living room (or other decorations), not sure what else. She likes a big list to have plenty to choose from. Any other suggestions?

I also just sent a couple emails to learn more about a couple of master's swim groups in my area. I really want to work on improving my swimming over the winter, but I know the snow and cold weather will keep me avoiding the pool. I figure if I have somewhere I'm expected, I'll me more likely to go, not to mention, I'd really like someone to give me some feedback past my swim lessons over 23 years ago.

Back to the DVR lineup & Garmin play!