Training Journal #3

Cold. Water. Training. Sucks.

I've treated myself to exactly 2 luke-warm showers in the last 2 weeks. On average I think I spend about 4 minutes in the shower now. And by in the shower, I mean huddled in the corner trying to give myself a pep-talk to endure the 14-17 degree stream of water. 17 is manageable for a few minutes, 14 is really unpleasant. Somewhere between 30 secs and a minute at 14 degrees I start to get a raging headache. I don't get headaches, so I'm being a baby about them.

While in Arizona I jumped into a 59 F degree pool (15 C) three times, and had Laurel time me for 3 minutes. With my head out of the water I survived, but they were really long minutes. I don't know how I'll ever manage 11 degrees.

I did some pretty good hiking in Arizona, so although I didn't bank any swimming km, I'm hoping I was still making some group of muscles stronger.

I decided I'm going to tell my family this week. I wrote it in my calendar so that it has to happen. I'm going away on a ski trip that I sort of wasn't expecting to be going on anymore, and I don't want to wait until I get back from that. I have never felt so anxious about anything. I need to be able to sleep, I need to be able to concentrate on other things in my life, and I think the sooner I have the important people in on my secret the sooner I can get back to the emotionally-stable place my mind calls home.