The Assumptions We Make

Making assumptions about one another is part of being human, as is crafting a persona that attempts to control the assumptions that others make about us. Some engage in persona-creation more than others, but if you do not do it at all, you may be an alien.

After a spending over a decade of schooling as a less charming version of Hermione, I cultivated a public version of myself that made no reference to any brains that might be lurking behind the blond curls. I embraced covering up my academic past because what my past had shown me was that my academic self was deeply unpopular.

On the whole, I feel the experiment has been a success. There are unanswered questions – How much of my lack of unpopularity can be attributed to being an adult (how often do adults get called a know-it-all… at least to their faces? Or bullied?), and how much is due to my version of a folksy persona? It’s impossible to know for sure. I also have no idea how smart people think I am… but I certainly have seen surprise on a majority of the faces that do learn of my academic chops.

So I sometimes find assumptions useful. But it was interesting to find a different reaction from myself when someone made assumptions about my swimming. Mostly, it amused me, since there is no other area where I am more capable and willing to put my money where my mouth is, and I could give a flying what other people think. But the ever-so-slight irritation it caused made me think about something that has been bothering me about myself. Lately, I can’t seem to shut up and listen.

It’s not unusual for coaches to enjoy the sound of their own voices – to some extent, it goes with the job. But for weeks I have been telling myself to shut up and listen to my swimmers more than I talk. Coaches have many roles, and “listening ear” is high on the list. I have achieved it before, and I strive for it again – when I am coaching, it’s not about me out there. Everyone needs somewhere they can go and be assured that they will be heard.

And asking questions instead of making assumptions… well, how many Shakespearean tragedies could that have prevented?

On to the Open Water Swimming

~ 9000 yards

Had a really enjoyable swim around the loop with Sam, Steve, Kelsey and Elizabeth. Oh, and Joe in the kayak with Kona! Air 75, water 80. Then I took another group up and back down Banks Channel. Lindsay, Susan, Blithe, Barb and Kathleen did awesome. It was great for me as well, as it gave me a chance to practice keeping good form after having been in the water for quite a while. We started at 7:30 AM and I was done around 11:30ish.

Sunday, September 19th – Photo credits to Kelsey’s husband Joe – thanks Joe!

The overall splits clearly tell the story of an outgoing tide – 2-3 minutes per 100 going out, shifting to 45 seconds per 100 on the way home. It was an interesting and fun way to Swim the Loop.

My only regrets are the dozen or so (super itchy!!) bites I came away with – not sure what got me. My guess is either truly epic sea lice or teeny tiny jellyfish.

Joke of the Week

What kind of stroke can you use on toast? 

BUTTER-fly!

The Week at the Pool

Summary

It was my first whole week of training, and I’m satisfied. I kept up, worked on my stroke, didn’t hurt myself, and got in a bunch of yards.

~ 25,000 (I am not tracking every yard)

Gory Details

Monday 9/13 – All drill day hooray! 1600 warm-up and then just a crap ton of freestyle drills. I’m still having trouble keeping my arms up (especially lefty), but at least I’m getting them up.

10×50 swim on 45 at the end and I was easily rockin’ some :36’s – I was pretty happy until I realized that was with a pretty good draft 🙂 But I’ll take what I can get.

Interestingly, 5×50 fly kick on :55 with hands at your sides DESTROYED me right quick. Either my abs still haven’t recovered from last week or there is something wrong with me.

2500 of drill, 250 fly kick, 500 swim, 300 ez – wow – adds up to 5200.

Tuesday 9/14 – 6200 ish that didn’t feel that bad. 1600 w-up, then 10×100’s swim, R arm only, L arm only, swim. I was pretty sore from all of the drill work yesterday (just in the muscle groups that I worked), and I felt really uncoordinated at first. It got better as I went through the set. It was really hard to keep my hips up and really hard to keep a good kick going. Still need work on those. Then we did 10×100 fast on 2:00. I missed one in the bathroom and then went 1:13, 1:13, 1:13, 1:12, XX, 1:10, 1:10, 1:09, 1:09. (The XX’s I ran up against the person in front of me so don’t know what my time would have been). I really strove to keep my new stroke together, so I’d say that this is the fastest I’ve swim with new stroke. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either, and I felt pretty good.

After that was 10×50 R arm down L arm back and then 10×100 kick with fins on 1:30. I destroyed that set and led everyone in the group at the end. Why can’t all swimming be with fins? We finished up with 10×50 back R arm down L arm back and a 400 ez. And there were a couple of 100 and 200 ez’s in there. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow, but I’m good for now.

Wednesday 9/15 –

Yay backstroke day!!

My inability to remember these practices (even one set later) is either a sign of aging or a sign of how hard I’m working 🙂 

1900 w-up (we had to redo the 300 pull with better streamlines off the wall) although I missed some of the 600 while I was putting on sunscreen and vaseline and some of the kick while I was in the bathroom, so it probably worked out to 1600)

Boy did it take me forever to get warmed up. I felt creaky… so creaky. And I felt like I was completely unable to access new stroke. Luckily, I felt way better after the rest I got while we were being yelled at for poor streamlines (absolutely legitimately, in my case). I do feel like there are times when I should just stop, reset, and then go.

1500ish of backstroke drills

10×100 back on 1:45 I was 1:28, 1:27, 1:27, 1:26, 1:21; 1:23; 1:23 1:23 1:21 (I had one that was only a 50 in the middle to switch to going 2nd)

300 cool down

And there were a bunch of 100’s ez and probably some other stuff I forgot in there.

4600?

Thursday 9/16 – 

Cooler water and air temps helped today. Down, baby, down!

1600 w-up

100 ez

12×25 backstroke spin drill

100 ez

10×75 back – r arm; l arm; sprint

100 ez

10×100 back with fins on 2:00; u/w to half way (I had moderate success at this)

100 ez

10×50 stupid br kick (on stomach, touch heels)

100 ez

5×100 on 1:45 50 bk/50 fr working on u/w’s (my turns suck suck suck at Scottish Hills)

300 ez

~5400

Friday 9/17 –

1600 w-up

100 ez

250 tiger IM kick

500 tiger IM drill

1000 tiger IM swim

10×50 dolphin dives

400 smooth working on u/w’s

Water polo… I mean, trash can ball (fun!)

I felt… fine.

England Business

I’m learning what it takes to take a cat to England (and back – equally importantly) and how to access funds and pay for things in the most efficient way. Thank heavens for competent vets and friends who are generous with their time and knowledge! Unfortunately, it turns out that cats cannot travel in-cabin on any airline to England. (The whole island is rabies-free. Although I’m not sure what difference in-cabin vs. cargo travel makes to the spread of rabies.) This will require a more creative solution (hello, France) or the cat living with my parents.

I am spending time each day working on England logistics. So far, it’s a lot of list making, internet searching, and contacting people.