Still got it….
Swimming is a vital part of any triathlon…. swim, bike then run..
When I did my Ironman racing training I had to master the swim… 2.4 miles..
Granted that was a few years ago, and since then I have been quite busy with doing marathons and ultramarathon running.. so swimming was put to the wayside
So after work driving to the gym I had a thought.
Do I still have it in me to do an ironman distance swim?
Let’s find out I said to myself, as I got in to the water…
Now 4 years ago I swam 2.4 miles just under the limit requirement of about 2 hours and 20min.
I was new to the sport and had to learn how to swim as an adult (after signing up for the race!! ) so back of the pack was where I was to be expected, taking the entire time for the swim length
Well yesterday I surprised myself
4250 yards
170 lengths (25 yard pool)
2.4 miles
1hour and 37 min
Shaved off almost 42 minutes from when I started to endurance swim.. !!!
Felt great after….
So why did I do that on a whim? I mean I do plenty of running and barely any swim so why jump in and do a huge distance?
Because I can.
Because it’s hard. And doing hard things consistently builds strength. Not just physical, but emotional and enhances psychological fortitude.
It was about saying I would do something and then committing to it..
it builds resiliency.
Confidence grows when you prove to yourself that you are reliable enough to show up and do what needs to be done.
In any walk of life.. work, relationships, health, wealth, learning…
Each time we push through the resistance we create new pathways in our brain. We enforce the belief that we are worthy to do hard things….we are capable do what needs to be done to achieve a goal.
I am not training for any race… i am training for life.
When you can prove to yourself that you can handle the discomfort, you forge a new direction, a reinforcement of your will to act.
Swimming is a beautiful analogy for being in the flow of life…
That’s what I was doing.. being in the flow.. the flow of my life…
Building a nervous system through repetition of each stroke…lap after lap.. till all were DONE.
Lots of fun mental math and conversations with myself as I negotiated my excuses…
1000 yards done… OK just do that again 4 more times
2100 yards done….bro just do that whole swim one more time
3000 yards…come on man just like a 1000ish to go
3500 yards…..hey its like only 500 to 4000 and the 250 well thats like a little tail at the end…
3700 yards…come on bro 300 to to go
4000 yards….look how far you have come.. the remaining 250 is like nothing.. it’s just out and back 5 times….you been doing that whole swim..
4200 yards.. really ? You are at the end and you want to take a break… just get it done and then eat your food
4250 yards…. wow what did I just do? I STILL GOT IT !!
No matter what you do in life, remember that you are just experiencing it.. as life itself in motion….
Stay in the flow, enjoy the breath… and there is nothing that you cannot accomplish….
2.4 miles of swim. Yes I still can do it 4 years later.
How? Because I have that belief that I can despite.it being uncomfortable.
I choose to live uncomfortable, for that is where growth lies..
I choose to do hard things…. that is where I meet life.
…………
I love you
