Talking Smack--Put up or shut up!

So I have been talking smack for awhile about doing a sprint triathlon. I finally decided to bite the bullet and sign up for a race this weekend. It's a warm fuzzy one, women only, in Vermont. I am pretty excited about it.

Yesterday I went on my first training swim. Few points to note: 1. I don't swim. 2. I can float, and move in the water, but my signature move is currently the doggie paddle. 3. I don't enjoy the sensation of water in my nose. Or my ears. 4. I did two laps in the pool in Colorado this past winter on my vacation and almost died. 5. two years ago I swam at the gym at Rutgers once and almost died. 6. I was hoping my running/cardio ability would somehow make swimming so much better this time. 7. I have no clue how to do a real swim stroke, and no clue how to do the head in the water, turn to breath thing.

So, I went to the pool and jumped on in. Um, wow. It was rough. Apparently I had all kinds of issues--forgetting to kick (how does that happen?), swallowing gallons of nasty pool water, having a hard time staying in my half of the lane, thinking for the first time in a long time I am actually signing up for an activity that I could die while doing it, etc. Humbling? Yes. Motivating? Not sure. But I am committed and am going to give it a try.

Wish me luck, blog world!