Swim Clinic Website

I've been doing swim clinics with my Westminster Masters swim coach, Tim Storsteen, for 2 years. Working with Stor is soooo fun!! We keep the clinics lively and routinely tease each other to help alleviate any anxiety a participant may feel about anything related to "swimming". Some of those clinics have been FUNNY with everyone laughing. I love that.

The feedback we get is predictably positive. Participants continue to be not just pleased with the clinic, but overwhelming so; our clinics are now SO successful that Storsteen and I decided some sort of website was in order for folks to check on upcoming dates, refer the link to others, etc.

Clinics are small (we cap at 8 people per clinic) and they are extensive. 2.5-3 hours in length to include individual video tape analysis and lots of pool time to work on the drills designed to improve the stroke. I am proud of these clinics because they have become so popular, and we have really helped people with their swimming! I love that! 3 hours is a lot of time, but people seem to get so much out of them.

www.swimfastnow.com

Enjoy and keep swimming!

Atlanta is the windy city?

"Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hittin."
--Yogi Berra

What a crazy weekend, eh? A tornado in downtown Atlanta? CRAZY. I live about 6 miles from downtown so my house was unscathed, but the winds were pretty fierce that night. It's amazing how much damage mother nature can do in literally 7 minutes. I feel so sorry for the people who's homes were destroyed...

It's 9:30pm and I am finishing up my last round of ice then heat before bed.

Yesterday I went against orders and ran for 30:00 just to see what would happen. It seemed ok during the run but afterwards, my back felt like I was walking with a 2-ton truck mounted on me. Argh.

Annoyed by yesterday, today I rode for 45:00 on an indoor bike. I'm not sure what it is about my personality that seems to need punishment. I was so mad at my body for hurting after the run yesterday that I thought to myself, 'I'll show you! See how you like a ride today!' I seriously need A LOT of therapy. :)

To my surprise, I didn't feel excessive soreness when I dismounted. This was encouraging. I stretched right away and tried to keep moving in solid lateral movements so I wouldn't tighten up. (This seems to help?)

Later, when I tried to do my PT exercises, my back was all tight and icky, and I couldn't stand well. So much for the good ride.

Everything seems hit or miss. Some days a random activity will be ok... most days it doesn't seem to matter what I do... the result is the same.
*sigh*

I am not one for resolutions per annum. But this year, I decided I would resolve to stretch my ideals and practices beyond what I knew. If I were to be presented in a context where I had not been, I would choose it over the comforts of the familiar. I battle constantly my fear of the unknown, my fear of change. For me, this fear can be debilitating. I can only confront one internal demon at a time: for now, it's trying to walk into the cave of unfamiliar, my deepest fear, and do so with courage.

I'd say I am certainly getting my chance to walk into unknowns.... and despite my veneer of bravado, I am just as terrified...

Updates

Once again, when I need it most, I cannot sleep.

I wish I had copious updates. I really have none. I've been fastidious with my rehab and exercises, and haven't missed one day or one exercise planned. I'd not say that's much with which to be impressed - it is barely a fraction of the time investment and commitment I am used to.

I'm uncertain WHAT I am supposed to feel, what improvements are to be expected, or how much better I should be feeling. Some days I think the back is feeling better, but most days everything is status quo. I guess that's good - but when I realize how little I'm doing it begs the question: "What would happen if I did more?"
If barely nothing = status quo... would more movement = worse?
Likely so. *sigh*

Harder still isn't my inability to train for triathlon. Mostly I hate being unable to participate in anything which requires motion. My friend Doreen invited me to join her flag football team. Of course, doctors prohibited my play. Yet another thing I cannot do.

It is what it is. Truly. All I can do is work to improve it, manage the things that are in my control, and try to find some purpose to the other 23 hours of the day when not doing rehabilitation exercises. I don't mean earn a living - I mean find purpose. I've learned this distinct difference. When you have no purpose, even wealth makes no difference.

My friend, Rachel Sears (rachelsears.blogspot.com), has been battling such worse back issues than I will ever know. I do not complain around her. A recent entry in her blog caught my eye and i called her to chat about it:
"If you run, race, do triathlons etc, I would encourage you to censor your whining. As I tell myself, 'get over yourself.' Be happy you can ambulate. If you choose to do so, be happy you can train. Be grateful you can race. Don't minimize, compare or diminish your athletic pursuits because you think you can do better. If that is the case, do better. Don't talk about it what you should do, could do or would do. Just do and do it quietly. Be sensitive to those around you who might not be able to do what you do..."

Triathlon is certainly NOT the end all, be all. I would like to return to the sport because I don't think I am done yet. I think this old bod still has one last good shot in her. My sadness in this case is because I also cannot enjoy basic activity. Any souls who cherish physical movement as a part of mental and physical wellness can appreciate what a sedate lifestyle would do. In basic physics we all learned: "A body at rest stays at rest." A body at rest will remain in the same state unless unbalanced forces act upon it. This lack of change is also known as inertia. Or, the hamster wheel.

At the end of each day, I compose a list of duties I must accomplish for the following day. And now at the conclusion of this brief list is simply “Be Happy.”

Until my next entry, I will vest in my ethic of perseverance.