I came, I dove, I conquered...the Ultra Pool!

No, that's not me in the picture. :-)

Yesterday, after an early morning run training of 4x1000, 2x500, 2K warm-up and 3K cool down ( 10K total ), I didn't have the desire to go to work. I just wanted  to stay at home and relax a bit. Too much work just stresses me up, and I thought I needed a breather and what would be a better way than spending it at home with my family.

After having breakfast and taking a shower, I took a nap. 15 minutes were all I needed to re-energize for the day.

At around 10 a.m., I was feeling restless. I just couldn't stay sedentary for more than an hour. My wife noticed it and asked me what I wanted to do. I said I wanted to swim. She said no problem, I just had to drop them off at Tiendesitas and pick them up after my swim. It sounded like a good way for both of us to get our fixes for the day...me with my swim and she, on her window shopping wants. :-)

So at exactly 1 p.m., we got into the car, and sped off to our destinations.

Got at the Ultra around 1:30 p.m., changed clothes and dove into the pool.

Coming from a good swim workout last Saturday, I wanted to cross the 50-meter pool without a pull buoy or a kickboard this time around. So, without any delay, I tried.

Got short by around 10 meters on my first attempt and almost the same distance on my 2nd try. In resting, I tried to analyze my swim. 

"I am not relaxed!" I thought. That's why I struggled upon hitting the 30-meter mark.

I readied myself for my 3rd attempt. I visualized the other end of the pool and went off.

I relaxed my kick, and pulled with my arms with more force so I'd have a good pace. I was breathing welland relaxed this time around and before I knew it, I could see the "T" at the swimming pool floor...yes! I crossed it, finally!

I was so happy to have done it and wondered if it was pure luck or just a  one-time achievement. I tried again going back...and crossed it again.

It became easier for me to cross the 50-meter pool in the succeeding laps. I adjusted my breathing, stroking and kicking to my most comfortable level and was able to decrease my intervals from one-minute rests to 30 seconds in between laps. I was so happy that I did 40 50-meter laps in the duration of the work out, the last 4 laps of which were with only 15-second rests in between.

I did it, I conquered the Ultra Pool, and I'm so damn happy about it. :-)

Deo P.