Saturday, June 21, 2008

Water Warming Up in Lake Coeur d'Alene

A day of warm sunshine has helped Lake Coeur d'Alene to warm up a bit, and my swim this morning was pleasant. Either I am acclimating or else the water is definitely much warmer than Aquatic Park. I felt comfortable and had just a little regret that I was only supposed to go out for 8 minutes. The course is a 2-loop rectangle, with 9 buoys out and 9 buoys back. I'm trying to figure out a strategy that will help me pass the time, similar to a structured pool workout (vs. swimming a million laps for an hour). Maybe I will think of the way out as a 1-buoy warmup then 2 sets of 4 out, a crossover set, and then 2 sets of 4 on the way back + beach finish. Then repeat. Mentally I get in this mode where the swim seems to last forever! I think it's partly because it's hard to really mark distance out there unlike on the bike or running.

Okay, time to get my bike + transition bags ready! I call this T0 and it tends to be a lengthy "transition" for me!

4 comments:

Liz Findlay said...

IRon ANNE. Iron Anne!

Michelle said...

This is a great warm up for IM Wisconsin - the course here is two loops of the rectangle. But I never use my brain like you to count the buoys. It was near white caps last time and all I kept thinking was, "People! Turn off your damn boat motors, all I can taste is fuel and fish!" Yes, for two hours straight. Oh and I also heard the announcer say that Frank Farrar was almost out of the water - AHEAD of me for pete's sake! (If you don't know who Frank is, google.) Motivation.

Michael said...

Hey Anne -- We're watching the results as they come in online. Looks like you smoked last year's times for the swim and bike. Nicely done!! Keeping our eyes on the run now... :-)

-Michael and Libby

Wingman said...

Alright!!!!!! Great race Anne!!!!