I kind of take training as it becomes available. For example, that’s me doing some heavy lifting with a local tree. All part of the natural regimen I keep.

But seriously…

We got to the pool this morning at 6:00 a.m. Usually the lanes are filled then, but swimmers pile out of there like crazy after that.

Lane three was open toward the shallow end. I tossed my pool float and flippers next to the water and stretched my shoulders a bit.

Another fellow showed up at the same time. He looked a bit distracted and I told him, “You’re welcome to share my lane. I’ll stay to the right.”

He was a decent swimmer, but the kind that makes big waves. Which is actually good practice to get tossed around by waves from another swimmer. We’re coming up on open water season and now’s the time to get ready.

Plus we finally found my wetsuit in our house. It had been hanging on my wife’s side of the closet the last few months and I’ve been digging through every corner of our home looking for it. She walked down holding it up, and asked, “Is this what you’re looking for?”

Now that the lost wetsuit is found, I can turn my attention in earnest to building swim fitness. I missed some swim time due to a hand injury from a bike accident and then tripped on a root and smacked my chest on the ground a couple weeks ago. The bone under my right tit still hurts.

That said, it felt good to get into the water and have at it. I averaged 1:47 per 100 which is good for me. Granted, some of that was swum with a pool buoy between the leg. But I reason that’s just like swimming in a wetsuit.

Which I’ll also do next week to see where I really stand. My plan is to do a Sprint distance Tri or two and a couple Olympics this summer. We may also do one crazy race at an odd distance up in Wisconsin.

I’ll admit that I don’t plan too heavy or too far ahead. It’s a product of the life I lead that things need to remain flexible. My goal is to always be in good enough shape to race when I feel like it. Then dial it up the best I can, and have fun.

I like it that way.