Wednesday Workout Update

 My pink pool bag with all my workout goodies - aqua gloves, water shoes so I can "run" up and down the pool without hurting my tender toes, goggles, swimcap - all that is missing is a kick board, and that's because I just borrow one at the gym.  Oh, and please note the giant purple towel to match my swim suit!  Not as entertaining as coordinating running outfits, but it's all I have for now.

So this is my life:  Wake up and roll out of bed.  Drink a few sips of coffee.  Brush teeth.  Shimmy into swimsuit - not easy when you're only half awake.  Throw on shorts and t-shirt over suit, slip feet into flip flops.  Grab swim bag and hop in car for 15 minute drive to gym.  (and no, you didn't miss the part where I brush my hair or wash my face...no need, as I'll be jumping into the pool soon!) 

Get to pool, find an open lane (whew - I've never had to share a lane with a stranger so far), dump all of my workout accessories on side.  Grab yellow kick board from the locker - never the blue or pale pink one, always the yellow.  No idea why, but it must be that color.  Pull hair into ponytail; jam swimcap on.  Slip into water - it's usually around 83 degrees; not always easy to get right in...however, I'd rather be in the water quickly so as to not flash my pale jiggly thighs to the world.  Begin Shelley Swimming™ routine.

One hour later, haul self from pool (still can't perform the graceful lift-and-twist move to get out).  Rinse off in warm pool shower.  Dry off, brush hair (see, now it's important as this is it for the day).  Pull shorts and t-shirt back on; squeak in flip flops out to car.  Drive home, trying not to gnaw right arm off from extreme hunger.  Arrive home, have breakfast.  Next day?  Do it all again.

The one interesting thing about swimming is that while I do feel I'm getting a pretty decent workout (keep in mind I'm mixing it up quite a bit, not just doing the crawl up and down the lane ever lap after lap), I'm not painfully sore afterward, like I was almost all the time when I did my group workouts.  And, I'm able to swim as often as I want should can - I don't have to rest my muscles in between workouts.  Now, I am tired from swimming, but I'm not hurting.  I can feel my muscles toning up; however, it's weird to see that without having the T-Rex arms or dreading the act of sitting down (and standing back up) - is it really possible to get into shape without painfully sore muscles?  This is uncharted territory for me...but I have to admit, I like not being so sore after a workout.  Maybe I'm just being a lazy baby, but this is a nice change.  And it's enough that when I'm able to resume running (please, soon?), I'll be able to keep swimming.  Who knew???