Swimming is hard

My training for the Vancouver Triathalon has begun,

One thing I have already learnt, which I imagine many other triathletes discover, is that the swimming section can often be the most daunting.

The run and bike sections are very achievable, but the swim scares me.

I have started doing lengths at the local swimming pool.  I can do a length no problem but need to catch my breath before I do the next. 

It is either my technique or lack of fitness that are holding me back.

Looking at the swim map, the most I need to swim between buoys is 200 meters.  That's eight lengths at the local pool.

Lotsa laps ahead of me methinks,

Focus

A challenge should be scary.  it should be attainable but push yourself at the same time.

My 100km run was just that.  It was hard and required day to day slog, but I got it done.

Time for a new challenge.

I have decided to do the Vancouver Triathalon.

That'd be a 1.5km swim, a 37.6km bike, and a 10km run.

That is very scary for me.  Especially the open water (!) swim.

Time to get the bike tuned up and renew my pool subscription.

Crunches

As stated previously, I have started going up and down the Coquitlam Crunch.

So far so good, but it has reminded me how incredibly out of shape I am now.

I used to run up the damn thing and now I am huffing and puffing all the way out.

A lot of small steps ahead to get back to where I was.

Up and down and up and down

Having regular exercise is important.  Making it part of your routine can help this as it is just "what I do".

I had excellent routines when I trained for my 100km race.

In that spirit, I have started walking the kids up to school every day followed immediately after by the Coquitlam Crunch