The highlight of IMLP week 5 prep was my long swim in the pool on Thursday. I treated myself to ONLY a 5,000yrd. swim partially because I wanted to save my legs for the next 3x big days, but also because I did not have time for anything else. Therefore, I let myself relish in the one on one time I was devoting to my weakness, swimming.

I have been swimming consistently for triathlons for eleven years, but I have never called myself a swimmer. Trust me, that won’t start now. What I will profess proudly is that I love to swim, and appreciate all of the magic that goes on underwater when I am tugging myself up and down the lane for hours. I know my legs appreciate the break from the constant pounding of running, and the incessant pressure of pedaling, because while in the pool, my legs can relax. A real swimmer would never say that. However, I am a triathlete, I pull my body through water on race day and only kick hard while rounding buoys. Will that behavior propel me to be first out of the water? Probably not, but I know my strengths, so the goal for me is to build swim endurance so that I will be less fatigued when I do start to ride and run. A solid, yet imperfect plan that has gotten me from 28th place after T1, up to 5th place running across the finish line. So, I'm sticking to it.

Per usual, before I climbed into the water on Thursday I had an intricate work out planned and written out on an index card propped up on my kick board like a dictator staring above his prisoners, drooling with power driven pain-inducing anticipation. Suddenly overwhelmed by the pull of the nearing torture, something snapped once I felt the water rush over me. I escaped my plan. I just wanted to swim. So, I did. I swam a continuous 3,000 yards freestyle, which took just under an hour, (I don’t know how to flip turn), then broke up the remaining 2,000 yards with other shorter specific pull laps, either with a buoy and band only, or with a buoy, band, and paddles. It was all marvelous. I could have stayed in the water swimming another hour or two, but duty called, so I dried off and drove to work. All the while grinning a sly wannabe swimmer’s smile. I earned it.

Another amazing, yet non-physical part of my training week was when a co-worker of mine, a gentleman who is overweight by his own admission, and ten years my senior, popped his head into my office to state that he read my book, and thought it was impressive. This fabulous fellow is a Trump supporter, an NRA proponent, and ex-corrections officer, clearly not a typical member of my demographic, which is what made his review so special.

We connected a couple of months ago because he respected my lifestyle as a triathlete. As we started talking he opened up about his days as a runner when he was younger, and how he packed on weight over the years because of stress, and kept it on because of poor decisions, and more stress. I shared with him how important training is for my sanity as much as competitive goals, and naturally plugged my book.

Cut to two months later, and his glowing review, “impressive.” Moreover, I am thrilled that he enjoyed my yarns, but what was most important to me, is that he took the time out of his daily life to read my book. Wow.

Speaking of books, a friend of mine from high school, Evelyn Skye, published her first novel this week, The Crown’s Game, and I predict it will be the next big blockbuster franchise. It is available everywhere, but I suggest learning about her through her wildly impressive website: http://www.evelynskye.com/the-crowns-game/

In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy the long Memorial Holiday weekend, especially all of you amazing members of the armed forces. THANK YOU!

Taryn