Remember my January goal?
It was to swim one mile (1600 m).
Guess what I did on Monday?
I swam one full mile without stopping 🙂 This was the proudest mile of my life.
I honestly cannot recall what it feels like to be unable to run one mile, or even ten miles for that matter. So accomplishing running distances hasn’t made me feel that hardcore lately. Reaching new running speeds and setting PRs is another story 😉
But it wasn’t too long ago when I couldn’t swim at all. Sure I could stay afloat, but I had no clue how to swim with proper form. Last May I hopped in the pool with my hubby and he taught me how to swim. It was hard. I thought I was wasting my time. I constantly felt sea sick, dizzy, and slow. I thought there was no way I’d be able to swim the 800m distance for my first triathlon.
But here we are 8 months later, and I can swim double my target distance 🙂 Meeting this goal makes me really proud. I know it sounds cliché, but you can do anything you put your mind to (I will get pregnant, I will get pregnant, I will get pregnant 😉 ).
For the longest time, I thought I was “just” a runner. Triathlons seemed like something for other people. But now I know better. Now I’m a runner who swims, bikes, and yogas. Maybe one day I’ll call myself a swimmer, cyclist, or yogi. But we’ll save that for another challenge 😉
What’s your most recent fitness accomplishment? As you know, my current goal for my body is not exercise-related. But I have another, short-term fitness challenge in mind 😉
What a great goal — and congratulations on conquering it! I can’t imagine swimming one mile (I’m a doggy paddler) so that’s just beyond impressive to me. Got a February goal in mind?! 😉
Congratulations! I don’t remember the last time I got in water, let alone swam.
Not a concrete goal, but I’m always impressed every time I got to strength train and it gets easier so I can add more weights. It’s great to see progress like that.
Obviously my next big goal is the National Marathon. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it across the finish line but it won’t be from a lack of trying.
That is really impressive!
I’ve been wanting to work on my swimming technique for ages, I guess I really just need to start…
Thanks for the inspiration!
Last January, I couldn’t swim from one end of the pool to the other (not up and back just up!!!) and Last week I swam a total of 5000 yards! I will never be a “swimmer” but I amazed at how far I have come….hopefully far enough to finish my first halfironman race in June?!?
Awesome accomplishment Jen!
Any tips for getting stronger in the water? I still struggle a lot with swimming – I always need to take a break (or switch to breast stroke or back stroke) after only 2 laps! I just can’t get the hang of breathing in sync with the stroke since I’m so used to breathing naturally/whenever I need to while running and cycling. I’ve done 2 tri’s so far (longest swim of 1000 yards) but I can’t make the whole distance doing freestyle!
Hey Theresa. I swim really slowly b/c I have breathing problems too. I always count 1 (stroke), 2 (stroke), 3 (stroke), breathe. So I guess it doesn’t come naturally to me either 😦 Good luck!
Wow! How awesome that you already accomplished that goal!! I would absolutely love to get into swimming (maybe after marathon training) but right now I don’t have access to a pool.
My most recent fitness accomplishment is actually sticking to my stretching, yoga and strength training plan so far – usually I let it slide.
Can’t wait to hear your short-term fitness challenge, Jen!
That is awesome! Congrats on reaching that milestone! I need to get my ass back in the pool, but I find it so boring mentally staring at the bottom of the pool. Do you have any tips?
It is boring! I’m just really good at zoning out, hence the running without music. Sorry, I know that doesn’t help.
As someone that used to be a swimmer (albeit a sprinter), I know the monotony of long swims. So that’s an awesome accomplishment! I used to dread practices during college where we would do 3 x 1000 yards (as just the first main set) – I often times found myself crying in my goggles. I really should try and find a gym or Y nearby where I can hop back in the pool… I miss it, but only sometimes 🙂
Congratulations on a huge accomplishment! I can’t even begin to imagine swimming a mile.
Awesome! I can’t even remember the last time I swam.
That’s so awesome!!! You seriously give some of us hope. I just got back in the pool after years away and it’s pretty tough. Accomplishments – seriously, every time I feel like stopping while running, but I push myself a few more minutes or a few more miles, I count as an accomplishment 🙂
Great job!! I need to try this whole swimming/tri thing huh? Maybe at some point, but my goals are more along the same lines as yours right now, as you know…
Yay congrats on your accomplishment!
I am not a swimmer so to me swimming a mile is awesome!
I’ve been using the “I can’t swim” (you know like a real swimmer) for years. I’m happy to read that you overcame this obstacle.
Yay! A mile nonstop in the POOL is really long (not sure I’VE ever done that, and I’ve done nearly 2 miles in open water)
Let me know if you ever want some good swim workouts 🙂
Wow. Swimming makes me feel uncoordinated. I’m a good swimmer I think I just don’t like it. I’m a land mammal. Triathlons are insane. I’m so loving reading about your experiences. Keep sharing!
Congratulations!! You are on a roll! At this rate, you’ll be pregnant in no time 😉
I am an extremely slow swimmer. It’s just something I’ve never completely felt comfortable doing. Funny thing is that at one point I was a Red Cross certified lifeguard. I never ended up actually working as a lifeguard though, and it’s probably a good thing, because if anyone was struggling they’d probably drown before I got all the way out to them…
That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be better though!! Doing a triathlon is still one of those distant “maybe someday” goals for me. The swimming part is so intimidating, but honestly your swimming accomplishment is inspirational!
wow, congratulations on accomplishing your goal! in high school gym we had to swim a mile to pass that section. i don’t think i’ve done it since then, though. i want to try again! 🙂
way to go girl thats awesome!!! I can’t even swim a lap!
That’s amazing. I cannot even imagine! I doggy paddle 🙂
Congrats on your great accomplishement! Swimming is tough work.
As for me, I recently ran a marathon, which 18 months ago I thought was the most insane, unattainable goal ever.
That is AMAZING Jen!! When I did my triathlon, I struggled so much because I’m not a great swimmer. One mile is such a huge accomplishment! Congrats!!! I think my biggest accomplishment is finishing my first half since I never thought I’d ever run that far!
Congrats, Jen! Running a marathon was my most recent accomplishment, but I consider all training runs an accomplishment at this point. The weather is truly unbearable up here, so each week that I get all my miles in, I’m proud. I am also really happy to say that I’m keeping up with strength training and stretching this time around.
That’s awesome, Jen! Way to go!! :0)
YEESH swimming is HARD. congratulations!
we had to do a mile swim test in high school. not.cool.
it took 2-3 class periods to swim the whole thing (over the course of 2-3 days). ridiculousss. i overheated and dehydrated and had to be pulled out of the pool. truth.
Congratulations! That’s a big milestone! I’m the same way with swimming: it has just never felt like “my” sport in the same way as running. I only recently got up to swimming a mile myself. Maybe one day…2.4 miles?
i’m still back at the “dizzy seasick” stage as far as swimming goes. i can’t IMAGINE swimming a whole mile without stopping. it must have been so nice to have someone there that could help you and teach you how to have good form.
Great job on the swim!!! That is one area where I’m seriously lacking.
Good for you!
My husband was bitten by the Tri bug last year when we did a relay. He was our biker. Like you, he had to learn to perfect his swimming stroke and now he’s working on getting the distance. I’m not sure if he can go a mile yet or not.
As for me, I get too freezing cold in swimming pools! I go with him for a lesson every other week but I’m so uncomfortable, I’ll stick to distance running. It’s so much more fun.
Good luck starting a family. When it’s the right time, it will happen.
Congrats!! My most recent fitness accomplishment was running 6 miles straight. It was the longest I’d run since my half marathon in September and I was so nervous about it, and now that’s behind me and I’m looking forward to 7!
This is so inspiring to me. I am not a good swimmer…at.all. But I’m working on it with a goal of completing my first sprint tri this year. I feel discouraged a lot at the pool because it is hard to get all of the cylinders firing at the same time. So, thank you for posting this..it’s great motivation to keep working and trying. I want to someday swim with ease and enjoy the workouts.
HOLLLLLAAAAAA on the swimming! I know how you feel…I used to *hate* swimming and after my first tri I kinda sorta might like it now. And whoa whoa whoa what a great workout, yes? Great job, I’m so proud for you!
~Laura
Nice job, Jen! I can barely swim without getting water up my nose! I think I’ll just stick to running for now.
YAY! Congrats! And, after the first mile, it’s all easy after that! 🙂
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Congratulations!! I’m trying to get in to swimming… Any tips?!