I’m just back from a 6-day junket in the Allegheny mountains of Pennsylvania to celebrate FIL’s 80th birthday. More on that to come. First a recap of the training week:
Total miles run: 23
Total miles bike: 22
Swim: Still not tracking but trust me it’s plenty
Monday: Masters Swim from hell
Tuesday: Bike/Run brick
Wednesday: Run 6 miles
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 5 mile run with a 400m surge in each mile
Saturday: Outdoor Swim, sweetness and light
Sunday: 9 mile LSD run, half on trails. Very hilly
I sound like a broken record, and I don’t want to dwell on it, but Masters Swim continues to be a struggle. Last week I was SO happy to see another woman in the usually all-male crowd, alas she turned out to be far worse. She flat out yelled at me when I joined her lane in the already packed pool (granted I should have asked her before proceeding, live and learn, but to be fair, I stood there waiting while she swam 200yds without stopping). Then we collided when I was back stroking and she was swimming freestyle. She yelled and swore at me for that, even though the coach assured me I was well over on my side of the lane and it was the freestyle person’s responsibility to sight. I kept my composure and finished out the swim but broke down crying at home, which is something I pretty much never do. It was that stressful.
BUT
As much as Masters Swim sucks, that’s how great my swim was in the sunny, warm, outdoor pool at the resort we stayed at in Pennsylvania. If a swim can be glorious, that one was. I’m far from perfect, but I DO know how to do this thing I’ve worked so hard on all year. I finally came to the realization that my tri training so far, at this very point is ENOUGH. I’m going to be fine. More than fine at my tri on June 14. If the tri were tomorrow, I’d be ready. So there it is. Eff the mean people with issues. They are not my problem and I hate that they cause me stress. Rant over.
Since it’s all about compression at Tuesdays on the Run, I’ll add my two cents. Personally I love compression socks for recovery. I’ve never worn them to race in. I wore calf sleeves when I ran the Marine Corps Marathon when I was recovering from a strained calf muscle and they were great. What I really love though is compression for the hips and booty, aka compression shorts or capris. Being a veteran of piriformis syndrome, ruptured hamstring and various states of buttular distress, I feel like compression (and ice and foam rolling) in those areas works wonders for me.
Do you get to a point where you know your training is enough? Have you experienced “swimtimidation”? Are you a fan of compression?
Runfession Friday happens this week and the last Friday of every month! Get ready to spill your juciest run- gym- and swimfessions and link them up right here.
I’m Linking up with Erika, Patty and April for Tuesdays on the Run.
I am a huge fan of compression when I can make myself shimmy into my full tights! Sometimes it’s a whole ‘nuther workout just to get them on. 🙂
It’s been awhile since I have trained for anything, but I can vividly recall feeling well-prepared for races. Such a delicious feeling. I’m so happy for you – you are going to ROCK your tri!
I totally agree with the saying you posted, there just isn’t any sense in being rude! I hope they felt really bad afterwards and I hope someone was rude right back to them. Karma baby! You are going to do great in your Tri, you’ve put in the training I know you’ll be ready!
Ugh I hate it when people are mean! Sorry that happened:( She must have a miserable life to react that way:/
I also like wear it compression socks for recovery. Never wore them in a race either. I have one pair of compression Capri that I wear for my marathons but I can’t really say that I feel a difference when I wear them.
I too only wear compression socks for recovery. I find that I get too warm wearing them to run, especially during the warmer months.
i do love compression socks for sure! I have compression tights but they can be a bit much after teaching.
I love my compression socks AFTER a long run, although I have worn them during when I was dealing with a strained calf as well. I LOVE my compression tights though, can’t live without them!
I like to sleep in calf sleeves the night of really long runs or races. You HAVE worked very hard all year and I’m excited for you! I think that shark is going to bite rude lady in the butt. Just sayin’. Cute print on your skirt!!
Hee, hee–you are knee deep (waist deep?) in master’s now, baby! I have always been amazed at how much rage can fill a 25-yard space. I’m glad you survived and I agree–you are ready. Looking forward to race day for you!
Can I ask, do you enjoy swimming? It seems like it is causing you a lot of grief…if you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it I say! Life is too short!!
I love compression sleeves for long distance runs, and for recovery. They are awesome!
How rude! Some people just have no manners and should have been left in the wild where they were obviously raised.
I was really intimidated at Master Swim at first, and there were definitely some lane snobs. Drove me nuts. We all have to start somewhere. I hate it when people act like they are the end all be all. So inappropriate. Keep swimming, though — don’t get discouraged!
I’m so shocked by the rudeness of that swimmer–you’re such a rock, and you’ve been working so hard–no wonder you were so upset. There’s no place for that in sport. But you know my theory. Karma will take care of things. Stay the course. Swim in her lane next week…
I am a big fan of compression. I use wraps a lot when doing recovery work. Sorry about your experience at the pool. It’s terrible when people behave that way for no reason.
That made me sad to hear about the mean lady in the pool 🙁 I hope you compete with her in a tri and totally beat her! Great job on all your training and YES, you are ready!!!
Ugh! Rude people suck!
I don’t think I could do a tri: I’m terrified of people swimming over me and almost more terrified of how close the bikers group together. I don’t see overcoming those fears anytime soon 🙁
Sorry to hear about what happened at the pool but glad to hear you are ready! That’s great! I hope to do a tri sometime but I’m just not a strong enough swimmer yet. Hope to work on swimming this summer. I also love compression socks for recovery and wear them after long runs.
I joined a different Masters team today since I am traveling this week. Coach put me in a lane with 6 people and I wound up swimming second in the lane. I felt like I was busting my tail off trying to keep in the lead swimmers’ draft and not slowing the lane down. I did okay, but even for experienced swimmers the Masters sessions can cause anxiety. Got in one heck of a workout, though. Keep at it…you’ll get better and more comfortable in the group setting. And f— the grouchy people.
Oh my gosh, mean people really do suck! I’m glad you’ve realized that you’re ready!
I wear my PC compression socks for recovery (sometimes on long runs). Love them!
Yes… never swim-timidation but TOTALLY run-timidation often.
What a hag. I’m so sorry you had to deal with someone so unhappy and miserable. Aside from the negative crab pot, your week looked amazing- you are so strong. Part of the reason I love running is that if you run into a jackass, you can run away from them– in running you don’t have to share space… another reason I love it.
I love your I am ready attitude! With that, and all of your hard work and commitment, you’re going to rock the tri in June and I can’t wait to hear all about it. Go get it!
My triathlete husband actually encounters “swimintimidation”. They’re the first one’s in the pool and he says she’s just a bully. He’d go at a different time, but has no choice with work. I’ll have to tell him there’s a term for it!!! Have a great time at your tri…
Oh my goodness how rude! I am sorry that lady was ugly to you, but good for you for keeping it up! I love all the focus and determination you put into your training.
Ugh people like that are the worst. I probably would have been crying right then and there lol. When I get so angry and frustrated I end up just breaking down into tears. Why do people have to be so rude? Come on. But at least you finished the workout. Forget her!
You are ready for sure! I cannot believe how rude people are- stressful! Don’t we exercise to relieve stress? She is not working enough then- UGG! I got a pair of sleeves and wore them after the last half- I think it made a big diff and plan on getting another pair. Great week! well other than the swim witch!
Turn around and tell her that her goggles have left permanent marks IN HER SOUL. Swimtimidation, Tracktimidation, it all very much exists. But you have to keep after it, and prove to yourself that it ain’t NOTHING
Seriously these Masters Swim people need to just get over themselves! I’m so glad you’re feeling ready for your Tri and cannot wait to hear how it goes!! I’m also a fan of compression sleeves for recovery and am a recent convert to compression shorts for recovery – really don’t know what took me so long.
I bet PA was lovely 🙂 It’s always fun to run somewhere new.
I can’t believe the rudeness, it would stress me out too. Exercising shouldn’t be stressful. I had to get in the pool while I was injured, it was a good experience for me in may ways, but i will say the “serious” swimmers weren’t social at all, I was like a gnat who landed in their environment, it’s not like group class or running, I was very intimated at times.
I love compression for recovery too, running in it doesn’t seem to suit me best 🙂
Silly question but what’s a run brick?
Yelling at another person while they’re completing any form of exercise seems so cruel. I’m sorry that happened to you! Kudos to you for not returning words back to her.
Never had swimtimidation so far, but maybe yes for runtimidation. Well, rude people are everywhere. When dealing with them, we need to be sometimes calm or sometimes strong. You have been both! Congratulations for being a strong woman!