90% Mental and 10% Physical

...that is one of my favorite things a coach once told me about swimming. It is so true, as proved once again today as I took advantage of the pool at the free fitness facility at Toyota. Through positive thinking and determination, plus a tiny bit of physical ability, I took myself through a modest version of the master's swim practice they had posted on the pool's white board. (Editor's note: Tune out now if you don't want all the details of the practice sets!) Sure, I modified it to 6 x 100 on 3:00 instead of 6 x 200 on 3:00 and skipped the 5 x 100 pull set, but I swam for 45 minutes and completed a pretty full workout! All in all, I swam a 600 warm-up, 600 set, and 100 cool-down. Not too bad for my first time back in the pool in a long time. (Editor's note: You can tune back in now!) I'm planning on swimming after work 2-3 times a week (again, taking advantage of the free pool!). It was great because there was only one other guy when I got there, and 3 by the time I left in a 4-lane pool. It was like having my own private pool. Plus, one of the staff members posts a master's swim workout on a white board, so it keeps me in line instead of giving up because I'm bored with long distance lap swimming. I was always more of a short-distance gal myself.