I Knew It...or More Stuff People Say to Me

Me: I strain to hear the teacher.

Opal: Honey, I don't even try that anymore. I just look at Dana and follow her; she's been doing yoga for a long time.

Me to Lifeguard: So, what are your tips for front crawling breathing?

Lifeguard demonstrates then: I think you just need to make a goofy face.

You're running kind of late, aren't you?

Lifeguard to me as I arrived at the pool at 8:30 p.m.

You still have time to get your workout in.

Gentlemen to me. I got to the pool at about 7:15; it closed at 8

I knew it.

A response from a friend at work who asked me if I was going to have Papa John's pizza -- provided by work during preparations for a special event. I said no.

What's your name? That's my sister.

Someone would climb then belay then someone would hold Keri's baby. When it was my turn, Celeste's big sister approached me -- probably wondering who the stranger was holding her infant sister.

I like how when she's taking it easy, she does routes that we find challenging.

Leah's Mike on how Leah was taking it easy by top rope climbing but still rocking 5.9's and 5.10's while nursing her shoulder.

Gratuitous Picture of Leah When She Wasn't Nursing Anything

No one wants to be up front...Even the instructor falls and he tells us not to base our practice on someone else's.

Dana re: her crowded Sunday yoga class and how everyone wants to be in the back of the class.

Lisa: You make interesting moves when you climb. I just hop to the next hold. Hop like a bunny.

Me: What's your Chinese zodiac sign?

Lisa: I don't know: Bunny. Asshole...

Me: (Lots of laughing)...

Interesting First Move or Interesting Composition -- You Decide

I did a century both days.

An Upper Limits staff member who was having a conversation with Patti and me after spotting Patti's MS T-shirt

(More) Stuff People Say To Me

We all have something going on. I just try to keep my face off the floor., Onetime play mother that I unexpectedly ran into.

It's always good. If it's not good, I'll make it good., A colleague

My friend (Lori): Why do you have a bottle of cooking wine in your bedroom?

Me: Because it didn't make it to the pantry????????

Cousin: Are you still working out seven days a week?

Me: I rest on Friday.

Cousin: So this has become a way of life?

Me: Yes.

Bosnian one: I feel bad that you are not taking anything (sweet).

Bosnian two: See what you're doing to these Bosnians?

You got them in and that's what counts.

Swimming lane neighbor about my 20 slow laps.

I was waiting for you., Lifeguard

The last time I had seen the guard, my quiet entrance made her jump about three feet in the air.

Anonymous: I had a therapeutic massage.

Me: Silent but wondering about the emphasis on therapeutic...

Colleague: I would love to take a couple of weeks off.

Me: What would you do?

Colleague: I would clean, play with my dog, read, make yogurt.

Me: I have news for you; everyone wants those same two weeks off. I would skip the yogurt part though.

Your back is bigger. Is that from swimming? Rock climbing?, My Mother

Did anyone see Please Give? There's this one character who makes snide remarks about her ex's girlfriend and she's fond of mentioning that the new girlfriend has a big back which caught my attention because I've always had a big back and it is probably bigger now. But who cares? It works fabulously...

Looking Like A Pusher

As I was walking down the hall at work, I ran into the complimentary colleague again and she said, Really, I almost didn't recognize you yesterday. You're doing such a good job...

I heard through the grapevine that The Wreck Center had evening open swim again. The Wreck Center is my nickname for one of St. Louis city's recreation centers and it's a wreck because the information on the website is outdated, the lifeguards like to rough house with the kids and water might get slammed in your face by a kid displacing water with a kick board. There are other reasons it's a wreck but I still like the joint.

I called before I headed out today and, sure enough, The Wreck Center was open until 6 p.m. When I got there, some kids from the MO School For The Blind were already in the pool. I waited until they got out because that's what I had been told was the rule before. So, I swam from about 5 to 5:55 p.m.

I practiced on my front crawl breathing and was surprised when the lifeguard asked me if I was a teacher.

Me: No, I've been swimming for about a year and a half.

Lifeguard: I would have never guessed. You have a graceful stroke.

Me: Thanks.

Internally, I was saying wow. I had actually been feeling self-conscious -- thinking that I was looking clumsy and awkward.

I remember watching an episode of Dr. Phil and he said that we think we have a target on our backs, but we don't...

As I was leaving, the same lifeguard told me that she was looking for someone to train with and wants someone that will push her. Ha, ha. She wants to train for some triathlon in Naperville, IL.

I must look like a pusher.

The Water Is

One of my coworkers, who is an exclusive front crawler, checked in with me today. She wanted to know how swimming was going.

I told her I was pretty much resorting to the back crawl and sidestroke while practicing the front crawl in between. She believes that the sidestroke is much more labor intensive and that I am thinking about the front crawl too much. What can I say? I do have a penchant for details.

Although I don't really look at them anymore, I still have notes taped to my bookshelf:

long legs, floppy ankles
kick from the hip -- not the knee -- use your whole leg

keep your legs straight but not rigid, with your toes pointed out and kick up and down, continue kicking the entire time

I heard the lifeguard as he was giving a lesson to one of the kids which made me remember this quote from Natalie Coughlin on swimming faster and gliding:

Simply reach as far forward as you can, even if it means temporarily reducing your stroke frequency. Stay focused by imagining there's a mail slot in front of each shoulder and slide your hand into it each time.

I don't know why Coughlin's advice struck a chord with me but it did and as I used this tactic today, it actually helped. I also asked the lifeguard if he breathed through his nose or mouth during the front crawl and he said that it was easier for him to breathe through his nose.

There was a new student at the pool today. Once he got in the water, he kept saying "this is tight." He was amazed by the tricks he could do with a kickboard and I was thinking even when I'm uptight the water is tight.

As I was getting out of the pool, newbie asked me how he could do that -- gesturing by moving his arm backwards. I told him that he would have to learn to float first. But I can't go down there, I might get carried away. That's what the lifeguard told him and, although eager to learn, he was satisfied to explore the shallow end for the time being.