I just couldn't wait until post baby. I couldn't. I
have conquered the fear of standing on my hands and on my head and I could tell
you a horrific story of conquering one of my greatest fears (roaches), but I'll
spare you the Creep Show-esqueness of that story. I probably just really dated
myself by even mentioning that movie, didn't I? Anyway, my most recent
(and my husband would say, ridiculous) fear has been traversing the pool sans
snorkel. I guess I've built it up SO much and used the darn thing as a
crutch during the pregnancy that the idea of not having it started
becoming...well, scary.
Last night, I went to the pool and did a
swim workout that I modified from one I found on the web. I wanted to
focus on my legs so I figured a kick workout would cover it. It looked
like this:
Swim
Workout #15
Category: Intermediate
Workout Goal:Improve kicks and timing
Total Distance:1800 yards
·
400
yards freestyle warmup
(choice
of strokes)
·
(on
the first 25 pull only, on the second 25 kick only, repeat -- do not use a kick
board)
·
(one
length each of kicking on stomach, left side, right side and back -- ok to use
kick board)
·
(count
3 kicks per arm stroke)
·
(with
or without kickboard)
·
(swim
choice of strokes slowly)
On the 200
yards alternating pull and kicks, do not usse a kickboard. Instead hook your
thumbs together and hold them out in front of you wilth face in the water. Lift
face out of the water to breath as needed.
This workout is a total of 1800 yards and 700 of those
yards are kicking. With the exception of the IM kick drill, it is ok to use
swim fins if you like. Swim fins can help to strengthen your leg muscles by
adding resistance and making your muscles work harder. You do not have to use
swim fins though and the swim drills are sequenced so that you alternate some
swimming with kicking.
I modified it by changing the warm up to 600M at 200/200/200
EZ/Kick/Pull. I also swam the first 200 kick drills with my head down in the
water working on bilateral breathing (because one day I'll need that!). The
unexpected and completely unplanned thing I did was that at cool down...I
ditched the snorkel!! I should be using all CAPS for that! (Considering how I
mentioned it here and here)
I figured I would just swim an EZ 200 but I hung there by the side of the pool,
I thought...what the heck. Let's tear this thing off and see how it feels. I
have been working on breathing intervals the last couple of weeks and I just
did the whole bilateral thing so I just figured I'd work off of that. Aaaand it
also helps that there weren't many people at the pool.
The first 25 were horrific. I barely made it to end of the pool
without gasping or swallowing water. The second 25 were a little better but my
breathing was hurried and my timing was off. By the time I got to the end of
the pool, I was just pissed off at myself. I was way over thinking this thing.
So I went again. This time I used the same pattern as with the
snorkel...one big breath in, hold, 3 arm strokes, blow all the air out and THEN
go out for a big breath. Shaky at first but I got the hang of it. The next 25 I
started alternating sides to which I would take a breath. It required a lot of
mechanical thought which I am guessing was nerve induced and because that first
50 was a mess, I was worn out.
I decided to call it a day...a successful day at that!
So the lesson here I guess is: Don't wait until tomorrow, er, I
mean, until after you're cleared to exercise POST-baby to do what you can do
today, at 31 1/2 weeks pregnant. Anxiety levels about this have started to
diminish which means that I will keep working on that every week until the baby
comes so that when I do come back...I can put it in total beast mode. Lol!
Happy Friday all and get out there and stay active!
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