2013 is done

So I finished 2013 better than the middle of 2013. Dear reader(s) know I had an interesting 2013, if by interesting you understand I mean DNF.  I’ve learned a lot in 2013.

For one, I learned that if my wife accompanies me on a marathon swim, I DNF. I attempted two marathons in the last year, year and a half (Swim for the Potomac 10K and Ocean City 9-miler), and both times my wife came with me and I didn’t finish. Granted, it was because I was ill-prepared. But still…she’s the variable.  😉

I also learned that I shouldn’t let little things bug me so much that I drop swimming. I had my swim bag stolen out of my van in the summer, and from then for about 3-4 months I was in a funk, where I rarely swam. That was a mistake, and most likely the reason for my DNF in Ocean City, all joking about the spousal unit aside.

But the year was positive, as well. I learned that I love coaching, and I think I’m good at it. I coach for DC Tri Club in their Master Swimming Program. My triathletes are great, if a bit whiny. But they listen, they try out what I suggest, and in a few instances, they come back to me and thank me for helping them decrease their swim times in triathlons. That is worth the pain that is driving from Old Town Alexandria to northwest DC every Friday.

I’ve gotten a little more relaxed about my swimming. If I don’t make a workout, meh! I also started swimming with my daughters’ team, the Sea Dragons of Alexandria YMCA. The coach there told me he loves having me (and one of the swim-moms) swimming with them because he can use us. Example: “If Mr Tyson beats any of you on this 100 free, you’re reswimming it.” I don’t mind that. In fact, it makes me swim faster!

I learned that even if I miss some swimming, including missing weeks of swimming, I can go back and still swim comfortably. I termed this kind of swimming “swimming horizontal.”  I learned in Swim for the Potomac 10K that my lower back is the most important muscle of my body. If that hurts, I don’t finish. So I concentrate on “time horizontal.” I try to swim a long swim once a month. I’m talking 9-10K at a time. More important: 3 hours horizontal. I’ve learned that if I do that, then I succeed. After Swim for the Potomac, I concentrated on simply swimming horizontal for as long as possible. Result? I swam Swim the Suck (OMG, I love that swim so much. I wish I could do it every year. This year I’ll be deployed, so I won’t be able to make it…but I just learned that the USMS 1-3 mile OW championships is being sponsored by COWS.  Hmmm…) in 4:44. Not bad for a fat old guy for 10 miles.

So, I ended the year missing my goal of 300 miles. Just shy of 250 miles. I did 5500 meters yesterday in 91 minutes, which I thought was AWESOME for me. That’s about 3626m per hour. Today I did 9100 meters in 2:53. That’s just under 3200 meters per hour. I’m happy with that! And you know what? I felt strong at the end, able to really push hard. And my lower back? Do I even have a lower back? I can’t feel it! It doesn’t hurt!  Hurrah!

So 2013. Love it and hate it. But I wouldn’t change it. (Well, maybe I would have finished Ocean City.)

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