I was all set to do my long swim yesterday. My swim bag was packed, I had an hour-plus to spare, and Steve was heading out on his long run. I had just enough time before the thunderstorms forecast for yesterday afternoon to get in a good workout, I figured.
At least, that’s what I thought before walking down to the Bay, which was already roiling with storm-induced currents, and which looked a little too ominous even for me (I’m normally dumb enough to want to jump right in and play in the waves/rip currents). This is stupid, I thought. Even for me. As I turned around to head home, I heard the first rumble of thunder.
I spent about 20 minutes back home searching for a pool nearby in Virginia Beach where I could swim during the storm, which was expected to last all afternoon. No luck. So I headed to the gym and did a quick workout, fighting feelings of low-grade panic as I tried to figure out when I’d squeeze in the swim later this week.
When I got back home, I looked at my calendar, and almost laughed out loud. I have weeks to prepare for the Daiquiri Deck Tropical Splash 5K open-water swim on Oct. 6. Weeks! I could skip swimming for the rest of the week without really screwing up my training cycle. Oh, the freedom!
I’m so accustomed to packing seven-week training schedules into four-week training periods (or some other variation of this), I automatically panicked when I missed a scheduled long swim. Does the rest of the world live like this, training with enough time to accommodate bad weather, schedule conflicts and unexpected soreness? Is it possible that this marks a return to careful, well-planned training for me? And is it equally possible that I can return to careful, well-planned training without going all OCD about things and planning each workout like a rocket launch, as I’m inclined to do? That I can approach an entire training cycle with a balance of discipline and flexibility? Only time will tell. But for now, I’m motivated by the idea that I’m headed in that direction.
What’s motivating you this week?
Amy Reinink 
Planning ahead. I keep meaning to try that!
Flexibility is key! You tried your best to get that swim in, but there was really nothing you could do. What more can you expect from yourself! 🙂
Ha! This makes me laugh because I never thought about it but you DO tend to cram. 🙂
I tend to plan ahead (perhaps too much) and in the past have been sucked into the trap of getting frustrated when I can’t complete every single workout on the detailed, mapped out training plan (exactly as scheduled, of course). I’m getting better better about being flexible and adding additional unplanned breaks when necessary!