I bought a pull buoy. I did not know what this was five weeks ago. I wrote the name on both sides of it in permanent marker, like summer camp.
Maybe you don't know what a pull buoy is either. It's a piece of styrofoam that costs $13 when Speedo makes it and stamps their name on it. You put it between your legs so the back of you floats and you can pull yourself through the water using only your arms. Your legs are stuck holding the styrofoam. If you've been struggling to swim for four weeks, it makes you feel like you can actually swim.
What can I say about the last five weeks. I may be the only person to gain weight while training for a triathlon. Cookies, ice cream, the eating and the eating of sweets doesn't stop. Maybe I've mentioned this in a past entry. I'll move on lest you discover my obsession with food.
I feel strong, like I have a good base. When I flex my hamstrings against my desk chair, I think they got bigger, more solid. The prospect of running five miles on Saturday is not making my stomach pulse with anxiety. The brakes on my bike no longer make the sound of an animal in a dryer. (I had to pay to make that happen.)
My brand new running sneakers have scuffs. This means I've used them.
Pretending like there is a string pulling my hips forward has helped me to run. I read that there are swim angels during the swim in case you panic. Sometimes when I'm swimming in the morning, I panic thinking about not being able to put my feet down and the water being dark, the buoy being far away and the crowds being thick. My friend told me that I'll probably get my goggles knocked off. Then he looked at my goggles and said, no, that kind is okay. Maybe he was just trying to make me feel better.
I can't predict when I'll have a good workout. Last night I slept only a few hours because I couldn't fall asleep. This morning I had a great swim.
After next week I'm halfway to the race.
