My Own Michael Phelps~

5:15 – I realize immediately from the vibration of Keri's nightstand that this was an earlier wake-up time than I had anticipated. My night lying in bed watching reruns of Law and Order SVU was already cursing my ability to surprise Keri with my guest appearance in the pool this morning. Nonetheless, I dart out of bed, turn on the light and say encouraging morning pleasantries to Keri like "where the heck do we keep the beach towels in this house?" and "where are those professional lifeguard swimshorts Jeremy forgot at our house? I want to look the part today." We evidently don't own those beach towels and Keri says it's tacky and embarrassing to try to match the life guards when you don't even know how to swim - and I don't (still wore the shorts though).

We promptly dodge Georgia, the fearless Aussie who was evidently convinced that we got up early to play with her and her half-eaten mallard toy. Off we go, speeding towards the gym. The parking lot is packed, yet Keri manoeuvres us to an open spot and informs me we are there for business this morning. 92 laps in less than one hour. What did I volunteer for?

5:40 – we sprint inside and pay the 10 dollar day pass for me (seems a little steep; but any price is a steal in order to support my wife ;-)). As luck would have it, we are stuck in the kids pool again and have to share the only available lane left in the entire KROC Center. Poor Keri, with my skill-level, I would require two lanes to zig zag up and down the pool. Anywho, I stretch for 5 minutes and try to study the other swimmers for last-second techniques and pointers. Keri immerses herself in the water and begins to lightly tread, warming up.

5:42 – Keri darts off, swimming strongly and confidently, carving up water and working on her breathing and rhythm. I say a quick prayer that I don't drown or run into Keri or do both, and I'm off too. Just as an aside, despite Mom and Dad being licensed lifeguards, and the fact we Murphy children have always been strong in certain sports, somehow swimming, basketball and snow sports have always greatly eluded us. I quickly remember why. Despite matching the lifeguards in apparel (literally the same shorts), my form mostly resembles what a deer that had fallen into the deep end would resemble: knees, elbows and head bobbing, lunging more than gliding and probably consistently using 50% more energy than necessary to swim. I probably displaced more water in one lap than my graceful wife did all morning. While I swam in one direction resembling a water tornado, Keri strategically and artfully glides thru the water moving in the other direction. She - a thing of beauty, me - resembling an angry butcher trying to beat the water into submission.

I was promised that we would take periodic breaks. And after our first 15 or 20 laps, I stopped Keri and told her it must be getting close to 6:35; we should really think about getting out of the pool. Keri checked her watch and said, “Will, it isn’t 6 yet.” I should have known; time evidently stands still when you are swimming. Keri doesn’t ever quit something that she starts, and seemed to breeze through this morning’s workout without ever considering quitting a little early, much to my chagrin. However, I really admired that trait this morning. On the other side of the spectrum, I probably consumed 2 litres of chlorinated water by the time this morning was complete. I have to give it up to Keri and Julie – swimming for that long takes a lot of mental stamina and is a heck of a workout, and now you turn around and bike an hour and a half tonight??? I really respect that!

Regretfully, I wouldn’t say that my presence provided any pragmatic benefit to my beautiful wife, however I know how much it must ease the pain of this daunting task to have someone who cherishes her by her side. Hopefully that plus the Michael-Phelps-esque summersault-kick manoeuvre I showed her during our first break will be of later benefit. Only time will tell. Way to go Keri, you are an inspiration!

What a Kroc

We waited and waited to get a call back from CDA Athletic the gym both Will and I thought was a better fit for us. However, they thought differently and we never heard from them. So with no time left to spare (last night at 7:00pm) we officially became members of the Kroc Center (much like a YMCA). Lying in bed we discussed what an adventure this would be. Will brought up some interesting points such as the need for goggles (should get some), a swim cap (that would help), a swim suit (check). I knew somewhere buried in a drawer I had an old one piece so I dug. Oh boy did I ever have one. Interesting, no one talked to me at the gym...correlation??
I must say I do love the ability to hear the alarm go off and within 13 minutes I am jumping in the pool. But those 13 minutes had some eye opening moments. As we toured the facility on Sunday I tried to make it clear I would really only be using the pool and it would be between 5:30am and 6:30am. The very kind lady continued to assure me that is the best time to use their center. It is very "quiet" and "available”. Well at 5:42 when I pulled into the parking lot it was full! The pool packed. Oh silly sweet lady forgot to mention there is a swim team that works out there every morning! To the kiddy pool I went. It worked out great, though the pool is shorter. The lifeguard kept his eye on me and every time I looked up he was sorta giggling. I am still trying to figure out if it was the swimsuit, the lack of appropriate swimming gear, or just simply my inability to swim. I had myself convinced I probably looked pretty good…maybe not.
Two days in one run and swim down. I have a bike tonight and actually am looking forward to it. Now if the weather would cooperate.

And it Begins...

Well sort of. Today is the first day of training, however Mondays are rest days. So the goal today is to get a bike helmet, sign up at gym and mentally prepare for tomorrows swim and bike.
So what’s this all about...back in September my mom talked me into doing The Vineman half ironman in Sanoma, CA this July. She is in and I am currently #444 on the waitlist. Kind of hard to train not knowing if you are actually in the race, though everyone tells me not to think like that. Hard not to, it is reality! But regardless I am so looking forward to getting back into shape. We were emailed the training schedule for the first 4 weeks, overwhelming doesn’t even begin to explain how I felt. 6 days a week, 3 of those days are double workout days and it goes on like this for three months. Luckily for me I am married to an amazing man who constantly reminds me we will take this one day at a time. He has also volunteered to roll me out of bed at 5:30am when the alarm clock goes off. My mom will also be a good source of energy she has already been training hard and is far ahead of me. A challenge this will be but I am up for it!
As for the motherhood part of this blog coming soon, one challenge at a time.