Today's Workout

I've noticed that I've completely dropped training for my half marathon. I'm not disappointed in this development. I've been fighting off a couple of recurring injuries. My knee, feet, and hip all need special attention these days.

Today, I had to participate in a battalion run. I'm not in favor of formation runs, or in punishing people for falling out of formation runs. We never do formation swims or group bicycle rides. Hell, we never even do close-order drill as a battalion. If you think that's not physically demanding, go to boot camp and watch those kids marching. Sweat pours. I don't know how far we ran. I don't know the pace. All I know is that it was a formation run, and I therefore despised the entire experience. It's nice and motivational if everyone can keep up, which means some runners will be hurting from the slow pace. I hate when important people lead PT. They always forget that some Marines will never be able to keep in formation with faster runners. It's mentally disabling to be forced into these situations.

Then I went to the pool to practice everything I learned in my swimming lesson on Wednesday. Mostly that was my butterfly stroke and my backstroke. The fly is one of the most fun swimming strokes I've ever learned. I think I did 5 or 6 laps. I lost track because I was working on several different things. I did a lot of kicking with little flippers on. I tried to really master the dolphin kick for the fly. Sometimes I got it right, other times I didn't.

I like swimming a lot. Eventually I hope to be able to swim well in open water, like the ocean, and maybe do some sort of crazy endurance swim, like the English Channel or across Lake Erie. I'd like to be able to be a lifeguard as well. Then I would like to teach others how to swim well. My mom could never do more than doggie paddle, and my dad's older sister drowned at a young age, so water skills have been very important in my family. I'm glad, because I've always been drawn to water, swimming, boating, fishing, and just about everything else that involves the water.