Still spinning

It’s been almost exactly 24 hours since my flip induced spinning started.  I have been thinking:  I got dizzy and disoriented when I went surfing in Peru too.  I also got dizzy when I tried diving way back when I was a kid.  I’m definitely going to try ear plug on my next swim.

Flip turn hell

I made it to swim class last night.  It was the last one.  Until March.  The director of the swim center is going into the military, and the facility has cancelled all swim related activities until he comes back.  Nevermind that the director wasn’t my teacher or anything.  It just seems a bit odd to close all lessons until he comes back.

Last night I learned the flip turn.  And I learned the definition of hell.  At least for me.  The turn itself is not that difficult, and I can do it well.  The problem is after flipping I am completely disoriented. And nauseous. I only did 3.  It was all I could manage, and even  with only doing 3, I was at the point where I had to get out of the pool and lie on the benches before even trying to get up, get dressed, leave the pool area.  I made it out to my car, and had to lie down again before even trying to drive.  I drove 25 mph all the way home and made it up the stairs and crashed into my bed.  Even lying in bed the room was still spinning.  It took all that I had NOT to vomit.  Even this morning I still don’t feel great.  I skipped sunrise yoga, and still haven’t managed to leave the house.  I did manage soup this morning, but that’s all.

I did some research this morning and apparently this isn’t a completely unheard of phenomenon.  Something about the cold water entering the ear canals causing disorientation. It recommended wax ear plugs.  I don’t have any, but I’m definitely going to get some before I try the flip turn again.  It will be a few day though before I try that again.  That disorientation and nauseous feeling is not something I want to experience again, if I can help it.

Tomorrow is Syndi’s birthday party.  She’ll be 4 on September 4th.  It’s a pirate-themed party.  Kid birthday parties are so fancy today.  While I don’t remember my 4th birthday, I have seen pictures.  My 2 cousins,an aunt and an uncle, my friend across the street, and my parents were there. There was a cake shaped like a tree with fruit on it and Cheetos.  That about it.  No fancy themed party for me.  Not ever.  I had a party at McDonald’s once, and a skating ring party once.  As a pre-teen/teenager, I always had sleep-overs..  I may have mentioned this before, but my best birthday was the year I turned 5 and 1/2.

Sunrise Yoga

On Monday I went to Sunrise Yoga for the first time.  It starts at 5:45am, and I guess during the summer [although technically it is still summer] the sun does rise during class, but not anymore. We are officially at sunrise after 7:00am.  Anyway…back to yoga.  The last time I did yoga was in Huanchaco library with Corinna as the leader, Emily, Emilee, Cameron, and a few others at the class.  It was great.  Yoga was at 6p.  It lasted about an hour, and then we all went out afterwards.  Good times.  This class, while similar to Corinna’s, seems much more difficult.  Maybe my mind is not just into it.  After all, it is at 5:45am in the morning.  I just think the whole ‘think about your intention…think about what your body needs’ is a bit hokey.  Maybe I am not cut out for yoga.  I like the stretching, and doing push-ups.  I think it is a really good workout.  I know my muscles are more sore today than they are after lifting weights or riding the bike.

I went swimming after yoga…100m kicking and then 800m of actual swimming. 4 laps of each of the 4 strokes 2 times.  I am getting so much better.  Swimming class is over–at least for me–there is one more class on Thursday, but I have to work.  I think I might sign up for part 2 which is swimming techniquein order to perfect my stroke.  I realize I suck at the breaststoke.  I really like the butterfly.  It is hard-a real challenge, but I like it.  I am so much better at freestyle.  I still need to work on a few things mainly breathing every 3rd stroke instead of every 4th.  Breathing on every 3rd stoke allows me to see both sides of the pool while breathing on every 4th on lets me see only one side.

Today is my last real day off.  August has been great [for the most part].  I have work some [not too much] and I have exercised a lot.  I feel really good.  Tomorrow I start a 5 day stretch of work, and after that MCAT studying.  I am either taking the test in January or March.  March will allow me to submit the application for the fee waiver–which is awesome.  It reduces the fee to $85 from $210 which is a lot more affordable.

Last day of freedom.  I will enjoy it as much as possible.  Let’s hope the weather cooperates.

 

It just clicked..

I have been swimming a fair amount lately.  I have class 2 days a week, and I try to get at least another 2 days in with me practicing on my own, and yesterday it clicked.  I swam. Properly. Doing bi-lateral breathing correctly.  Concentrating on streamlining.  It was a thing of beauty.  While I won’t say that I am an expert by any means, I can now do 3 of the 4 strokes properly.  I am relaxed.  It is not effortless, but I am making tremendous progress.  I am so proud of my self.

Different Strokes

I’ve been working on my swimming efficiency lately.   I am one of those who doesn’t remember learning how to swim.  I’ve just always “known” how to swim.  I am not afraid of the water [I know it can kill me; I respect that], but as I have been training for my triathlon, I realized that I don’t really know how to swim properly.  Upon further reflection, I realize it has been years YEARS! since I have even tried to swim [actual strokes].  I play in the ocean at the beach.  I jump in a lake on a dare.  I tried to learn to surf.  I kayak.  I’ve been white water rafting.  All of those things are called water sports, yet actual swimming is not required in any of them. [OK, paddling is required in surfing, but there is a giant floating device under your body helping you out].  So  imagine my surprise when I hop into the pool, begin swimming, and discover that I don’t actually know how to swim or breathe well enough to swim more than one lap at a time [I usually swim the entire length of the pool holding my breath].

So to combat my ineptitude, I have signed up for Adult Swim Class.  I am the youngest and the most advanced in my class.  I had my first lesson last night and was pleasantly surprised that I actually learned something.  Heather, the swim instructor, is quite good.  I’d say there are 3 levels in the class of 8.  True beginners [those truly afraid of the water], beginners [people not afraid of the water, but unable to swim], and me [one who knows the strokes, but not how to breathe.]  So I got my first  lesson on breathing yesterday, and practiced more today.  I am getting better, but I still can’t do it properly.  It the head turning thing that gets me.  I keep wanting to lift my head out of the water when taking breaths.  I know this is improper technique, but I keep doing it. Hopefully, I will improve as today, really, was only my first day practicing.

I also rode 15 km today.  I am finally getting the hang of riding a bike.  True story:  I got my first bike when I went off to college.  I had a lot of wrecks.  It kinda made me not want to ride so much, but here I am, riding again.  I do OK as long as the terrain is not crazy. 6 weeks to go…

 

I’m so awesome, I am scary….

Popular Psychology Personality Quizzes

I am a sucker for pop-psych quizzes.  I’ll even take those called “What is the first letter of the name of  man you will marry”  just for the hell of it.  However, I found one unlike any I had ever seen before.  It is a right-brain vs left brain quiz, and according to the quiz results–I am definitely right-brained.  I remember coming across  a saying something like “If the left side of the body is controlled by the right brain, then left handed people are the only ones in their right mind.”  I am not left-handed, but I have always wanted to be left handed.  I can write with my left hand (slowly, but legibly), I have always eaten with my left hand, and I sometimes brush my teeth with my left hand…you know, it case I break an arm or something.

As a right-brained individual, I should consider careers as a forest ranger, athlete, beautician, actor/actress, craftsman, or artist.  Nowhere does it say anything about me being a physician or pilot which are two of my goals in life.  Although it may explain some of my hobbies:  photography, fencing, swimming, hiking, and  my goals of competing in a triathlon and buying an old house and restoring it (as much as possible) on my own.

I also am an expert procrastinator.  Instead of doing these pop-psych quizzes, I should be studying instead of goofing off on the computer–which is what I am going to do.  In just a few minutes.  I promise.  I have promised myself that if I do well on this next test, I can go see Harry Potter in the theater on Tuesday.  If not, I’ll have to wait until it comes out on video.