- why my ice cubes never come of the tray perfectly
- the fact that I have over 20 spoons and only 6 knives in my silverware drawer
- how non-generic chicken breast cooks much better than generic chicken breast on the George Foreman
- how I discovered that I have been growing mold in water bottles
- the difference between unsalted and salted butter (and my strong preference toward the latter)
Obviously, all very important topics, that I will touch on at a later date :o).
I had an interesting conversation with Kate over the weekend about "doing what you love." She told me that she had taken two sewing classes because she had found that she really liked to sew. We started to discuss how we [our swimming class] are starting to discover "hobbies" and are realizing that our interests vary quite a bit. In a way, we are rediscovering ourselves.
When I was in high school (and in college) and was filling out applications, the "hobbies/interest" line item always tripped me up. I could never articulate an appropriate answer other than swimming. Sure, there was always the generic reading or music answer, but like I said...generic. At the same time, writing "swimming" seemed incorrect. At that point in my life, swimming was not just a hobby or interest, I was much too serious about it for that. It was who I was, almost like a job or a responsibility, and also something that I had sacrificed quite a bit for.
Like Kate, I am starting to realize what I really enjoy doing and am rediscovering my hobbies and interests. I am realizing that when I have a free weekend, I will most likely be outside. I am also realizing that I am very attached to that "get the heart rate up" feeling. "Training" is something I enjoy.
I have this great memory of eating pb crackers, in a navy blue swimsuit, while on our porch in Madison. My navy blue swim suit would absorb the sunlight, dry my suit, and warm me up so much that the heat would eventually force me inside. In high school I loved the three hour Saturdays in the summer when I would get the "post work-out chills." We always seemed to end 3 hour Saturdays with 175's, or 75's, or some other variation that left us in the middle of the pool after every other repeat. It is the middle of the pool that I remember best. The sun would be incredibly warm, and my arms and legs would feel heavy like weights, but the water would feel perfect and cool against my skin. I would bob up in down between repeats just to experience the temperature difference. In college there were very few time when I had that "this is why I love this" feeling about swimming. Hawaii, however, would always remind me. The majority of the people on the team seemed to dread Hawaii training trips. I lived for the feeling of exhaustion and swimming "on empty." I don't think you can ever fully appreciate a beach until you have laid on it feeling exhausted. Your body will thank you.
This whole discussion on "doing what you love" made me realize why I refuse to consider triathlon as anything more than a hobby, even despite the number of hours I dedicate toward it. At some unknown point (somewhere in high school) swimming moved out of the hobby/interest genre and into the job/responsibility genre. I used to live for swim practice and training in high school, but once I started to sacrificing anything and everything for it, it became a burden. I am afraid to lose the that edge with triathlon - that love of sport that allows you to push yourself a little bit further. I want my enjoyment of this sport to last my lifetime - not just the next five years.
People I bike with and others have suggested that I join a bike team for interval training or that I run hills (or run more in general ...hahaha). What is the rush and why now? I know what I could to do become faster and to become "more successful." In fact, this is one of the main reasons, I don't think that I take the sport seriously. If I took it seriously, there are several things I would change about my training plan. Right now, I am enjoying my program the way it is and where I am at in life.
In fact, I believe that I am "doing what I love." :o)
