Cove Pier Cove Accomplished

La Jolla Cove

Scripps Pier

La Jolla Cove

Mission Accomplished

Today was the 28th Annual "Sickies of the Sea" Cove Pier Cove swim. When I heard about the swim I asked Coach Sickie if I could do it. He of course said yes and said he wanted me to do it. Later he learned of my race the next day (Tim tattled on me) and suggested I swim a shorter course, use fins, or optimally use an underwater motor scooter. I am to stubborn for any of those options. As Stacy mentions in her blog, "There are no short cuts to anywhere worth going." Besides I'm told I just need to swim more to get better so 3 miles in the ocean has to count for something. More confessions: I am secretly under the influence of Pro Triathlete Bree Wee's blog. She is always swimming in the ocean and loves "mermaiding around".

I was out there swimming for a long time. Longer than most, but less time than others. All and all, I think I am getting better at swimming. Even if I am not, it's way more fun to believe I am. For a while during the swim I thought I was dead last and lagging. Unbeknownst to me there were people far behind me. I started thinking about how it's been a couple years now and I am still a slow mo swimmer. It was a less than pleasant thought, but I had a long way to go and it would be more embarassing to flag a kayak or dive boat. Secretly I was hoping for a school of dolphins to come in and give me a ride. I had no choice but to focus on the positive. With all the carbs I'm burning swimming for three miles, it won't be my foot that requires an amputation secondary to type II diabetes. Right? And that oatmeal, flaxseed, almond butter, chocolate chip cookie I had for dessert last night? Certainly I am burning it off now. (By the way, it was one cookie. It justs sounds like four, but truthfully I ate two of them and it was the second one I was feeling guilty about).

Anyway after that fun Tim and I headed to Solana Beach to sign in for the Solana Beach triathlon. We met Paul , Suzy, and Spencer for lunch. I was great. Spencer says "Alright" everytime his dad passes people. He gets to say alright a lot. I took a look at the surf entry. Once again I delved into my positive thinking so the rip will pull me out, I can ride the waves in so I really only need to use my arms for a short portion of the swim. Just in case my arms don't work from todays swim and I am in the water for a very long time backstroking, I decided to make up for it by shaving time in my transitions. 20 mounts and dismounts with the shoes on the bike done satisfactorily and I am good to go.

True confessions: I am having a wee bit o difficulty typing due to some very heavy arms. Life is tough when you live it up.