A cool perk, the IronTeam includes a swim video analysis by the coaching staff. On Saturday, we swam for the cameras. A camera above and a camera below water filmed from the side and then from the front to give the coaches plenty of views to every element of one’s swim.
I felt nervous about the day.
I told people, “I don’t want to be filmed in my swimsuit.” That was certainly a part of it. Getting in and out of the pool and walking about on the deck in my suit and flip-flops requires a very determined and purposeful “shutting off” of my body-consciousness. It’s like not making eye contact with an annoying acquaintance at the coffee shop. If I don’t acknowledge her, we won’t have to chat.
But it can be hard to flip that switch when video cameras are poised to document every inch of me. Ack!
Luckily, in the moment, I only thought about my stroke. Until my foot cramped halfway down the lane. Then I really just focused on not sinking. On the second take, I managed to get the job done.
But body-consciousness does not explain all my nerves about this day. I realized that much of it was about perfectionism and approval-seeking.
I’m the kid at the front of the class desperately waving my hand in the air to get the teacher’s attention. When I’ve chosen a task, I want to do it well, and I crave the validation of the “experts.” I’m a perfectionist and I struggle with criticism. As much as I acknowledge that I have plenty to work on, I still have an urgent need to be “surprised” with the news that I was PERFECT ALL ALONG! Bringing me to Saturday, where I would be shown, in digital clarity, that I’m not perfect. Yep, I had reason to be nervous.
Luckily, I had a chance to reflect on these nerves for the last few weeks and recognized where these feelings were coming from. I sat down next to the coach after my swim for a brief overview of what he saw in my swim (the full analysis with video and voice-over will come in a few weeks).
Surprise – I was not actually perfect. It’s true, I have things I need to work on.
I turn my head too far out of the water to breath, and I tend to cross my left arm inward a bit on entry. There may be more issues when I get the full analysis. This lack of perfection did not cause the world to end. It just gave me new goals. Goals are great.
Also, I could see for myself, in full digital clarity, that my swim form is generally pretty decent. Once I add a little strength to my arms (I can already see more definition in just a few weeks!), I have the potential for a good 2.4-mile swim.
Onward!
I felt nervous about the day.
I told people, “I don’t want to be filmed in my swimsuit.” That was certainly a part of it. Getting in and out of the pool and walking about on the deck in my suit and flip-flops requires a very determined and purposeful “shutting off” of my body-consciousness. It’s like not making eye contact with an annoying acquaintance at the coffee shop. If I don’t acknowledge her, we won’t have to chat.
But it can be hard to flip that switch when video cameras are poised to document every inch of me. Ack!
Luckily, in the moment, I only thought about my stroke. Until my foot cramped halfway down the lane. Then I really just focused on not sinking. On the second take, I managed to get the job done.
But body-consciousness does not explain all my nerves about this day. I realized that much of it was about perfectionism and approval-seeking.
I’m the kid at the front of the class desperately waving my hand in the air to get the teacher’s attention. When I’ve chosen a task, I want to do it well, and I crave the validation of the “experts.” I’m a perfectionist and I struggle with criticism. As much as I acknowledge that I have plenty to work on, I still have an urgent need to be “surprised” with the news that I was PERFECT ALL ALONG! Bringing me to Saturday, where I would be shown, in digital clarity, that I’m not perfect. Yep, I had reason to be nervous.
Luckily, I had a chance to reflect on these nerves for the last few weeks and recognized where these feelings were coming from. I sat down next to the coach after my swim for a brief overview of what he saw in my swim (the full analysis with video and voice-over will come in a few weeks).
Surprise – I was not actually perfect. It’s true, I have things I need to work on.
I turn my head too far out of the water to breath, and I tend to cross my left arm inward a bit on entry. There may be more issues when I get the full analysis. This lack of perfection did not cause the world to end. It just gave me new goals. Goals are great.
Also, I could see for myself, in full digital clarity, that my swim form is generally pretty decent. Once I add a little strength to my arms (I can already see more definition in just a few weeks!), I have the potential for a good 2.4-mile swim.
Onward!
Week 3 Mileage
Tuesday, November 27 Swim – 45 minutes, 1850 yards (managed the complexity of mapping my 25-yard drill sheet with my 33.3-yard pool - then I bought a lap counter!) Wednesday, November 28 Run – 30 minutes, 3+ miles Core – 30 minutes Elliptical – 30 minutes Thursday, November 29 Spin – 60 minutes (using my new trainer!) Friday, November 30 Impromptu happy hour! Saturday, December 1 Swim – 45 minutes (light) Run – 54 minutes, 6.1 miles Core – 30 minutes Sunday, December 2 Spin – 90 minutes (28 miles, according to the stationary bike computer) Run – 20 minutes, 2.2 miles (brick) Core – 20 minutes | Totals: Swim - 1 hour 30 minutes Bike - 2 hours 30 minutes, 28 miles Run - 2 hours 15 minutes, 11+ miles Core - 1 hour 20 minutes |