Personal Space
It's 2:30am, the five-lane lap pool is otherwise vacant, and you just had to choose the lane next to mine. You're probably the same guy who picks the urinal beside the only other person in the bathroom.
Topic
swimming
A collection of 12 posts
The Economy of Hair Cuts
My new barbershop costs twice what my old Manhattan one did and peddles no porn, but the straight razor, hot lather and steamed towel are worth every penny. Now I'm wondering if cutting my hair more often would actually save on anti-chlorine shampoo.
Swimming: Day 10
A new best mile at 40:17, but I can feel a plateau coming on. Now I'm working on swimming farther underwater, trying to convince my body it doesn't really need oxygen all the time.
Swimming: Day 9
A mile in 41:46, slightly slower, which I'm blaming squarely on the whole chicken I ate beforehand. Also: I attempt hard-boiled eggs and nearly boil the pot dry. This is what happens when you live without a microwave timer.
Swimming: Day 8
A rest day paid off: the mile dropped almost nine minutes to 40:49, with better reach on each stroke and far fewer breaths. I could probably shave off five more if I ever learned to do a flip turn.
Swimming: Day 7
A mile in 49:42, a 38-second gain, despite a cranky wrist from yesterday's weights and sore tendons in my shins. I've ordered a waterproof stopwatch, since counting laps and remembering my start time from the wall clock keeps tripping me up.
Swimming: Day 6
Thirty-two laps, with a little forgiving rounding: that's a mile. It took a humbling 50:20, but now I can chart progress in time instead of distance. The goal is one mile in thirty minutes. Let the graphing begin.
Swimming: Day 5
Twenty laps in thirty-seven minutes, and I felt good enough to keep going. To hit the goal I need twelve more laps, seven minutes faster. Still a ways to go, but soon I get my first two data points to graph.
Swimming: Day 4
Wine with dinner put me to sleep on the couch, but vanity woke me at 3am and I made it to the pool. Sixteen laps, officially the halfway distance mark, though at half the speed I need. Not bad for the fourth trip.
Swimming: Day 3
Eleven laps before my right side gave out (it's always the right side; I may end up lopsided). The goal is now official: a mile in thirty minutes. And what are goals without presents? I've got my eye on a bone-conduction swimming mp3 player.
