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My back and knees are better, but still not up to snuff. So no leg day
torture today. I switched up to the pool. I am definitely thankful for
having discovered lap swimming. I'm still Slow Poke Rodriguez, but
it's a great alternative when an "active rest day" or a low impact
workout is needed. It will be part of my workout rotation from here on
out.
My swimming experience in training for the sprint triathlon has reinforced for me the lesson about persistence. It took a full year of floundering with lap swimming before I had last week's breakthrough of finally being able to swim freestyle the entire 250 yard distance. This morning, I upped that to 500 yards, all freestyle. And the improvement in my 250 yard time last week is real. Almost matched it by a few seconds this morning. Calvin Coolidge had it right:
"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
IT'S OFFICIAL: I'm now registered for the June 16 sprint T. I'm in the 50-54 age category. I saw a few men registered who are in their 60's, and one gent who is 71. I'm just a kid.
I also tried intervals while swimming. After swimming 500 yards freestyle, I
did alternating intervals of 25 yards freestyle (but going faster),
then 25 yards breaststroke (a slower 'rest interval') to catch my
breath. Repeat for another 500 yards. WHOLE WORKOUT: 34:28.
Plus, my back and knees were happy campers.
WORKOUT THIS MORNING --- LAP SWIMMING (1,000 YARDS):
--- 500 yards freestyle
--- 500 yards of intervals: Alternating freestyle + breaststroke
JUST GETTING TO THE GYM IS A SUCCESSFUL WORKOUT. 
Glad the "old" joints are feeling better! LOL! Great job switching it up with swimming. Sounds like your discovering swimming is analogous to me discovering running. Sounds like you like it enough to stay at it! Keep pushing forward on that training. Looking for a strong showing from you in June! Have a great day!
That's using the old imagination, couple persistance with a little creativity and nothing is out of reach. Good job, hope you are having a good week and the back and knees are good to go tomorrow.
That's a whale of a workout Al, (no pun intended). Hitting the intervals after the distance work in the pool is some good work. The Sprint T is right around the corner, and you're going to have a blast...CUZ U R READY!!!
You're shooting staight about persistence, Al. It's especially true in martial arts. Plenty of people with natural talent go nowhere. Expensive gear and big-talk is all flash and no substance. Those who become warriors aren't born that way, they MAKE themselves that way by training day after day, week after week, month after month, for years and years and years. In a fight, nothing trumps EXPERIENCE born of constant, dedicated practice. Keep swimming strong, Al!
determination is another word one can use to describe you, Al -- way to go!
