IMAZ Day 44: Waterlogged

Not unlike a century ride, a 4000yd straight swim is (for me) a daunting task. However, I know I have to get in some number of loooooong swims, so what the hell -- today was the day. It was supposed to be rainy anyway, so why not get the bulk of the workout in the water? I rode my bike in the drizzle to the Y (thus being both green and trying to loosen my legs up) and tried to get my head into the prospect of 160 laps. I swam in the "warm pool" as the good pool was overcrowded, but what the heck. I started off swimming pretty slowly, though I didn't care much about the pace as long as it wasn't egregiously slow. I was swimming 3:05s-3:10s for my 200s continuously, and while I couldn't really pick up the pace (a bit crowded but also no zip), I didn't slow much either. I actually hit the 2nd 1000 faster than the first but slowed the last 2 thousands. I tried to go by 100s in my head, though not from 40 down to zero -- I split it into groups of 10 (oh, the mental games we play). Finally, the last few 100, my form deteriorating but thrilled to finish! 61:38 for the swim, not fantastic, but not awful and felt not too wiped; swam another 4:00 warm down. However, when I got back on the bike (after waiting out some pouring rain at Starbucks, I was bushed. I stretched the ride out a bit as the weather cleared but was anxious to get home and curl up into a fetal position or something. But bottom line, the swim is DONE and in the books.