What's with the 21 minutes?

Hi all,

Lately, I have been comparing my swimming performance in terms of how many yards I can swim in 21 minutes. Why such an odd time?? Well, there is a little story. My last swimming workout before the triathlon was 500 yards, and I timed myself to see how long it took for me to go that distance. The triathlon swim was 800 yards, and I was pretty much convinced that I was still going to be out there after two hours or something. It took me 21 minutes, and I was pretty excited about that.

So, since then, I have been comparing my performance to that one, known quantity. After the triathlon, when I got back in the pool and started keeping track of my times again, I could swim 550 yards in 21 minutes. Last week, I made it 600 yards. Today, it was 625 in 21 minutes.

I've been keeping track of my times and distances in a minorly obsessive way. To me, it feels like I really have to hold on to my successes. I have to keep a tight grip on anything that vaguely seems like athletic victory. When I swim in the mornings, I keep my "Road ID" bracelet on all day, just to remind me that I did actually get up early and go swim, and that I did do a good job at it. (get your own Road ID - everyone should have one, especially if you exercise alone - at www.roadid.com. They only cost $20.00. Totally worth it.) I tell people about my little victories, because I know how easy it is to let go of them. I know how quickly things can change from "pretty good" to "horrifically overweight." It's like a sort of talisman. I hang on.

So I apologize if you ever get tired of hearing me tell you about how far I swam this morning (750 yards), or how far I rode last weekend (16 miles), or whatever. I'm trying to hang on, and keep a hold on this tenuous thread that's leading me to improved health.

In a related item, a number of people asked me if there was a "cause" I was doing the triathlon in support of. I finally came up, after many questions, with a response: I am the cause. My health, my longevity, my ability to be around to see my beautiful daughter grow up. I am my cause.

Be your own cause! Get out there and do something, and don't be afraid to tell anyone who is willing to listen about your success!

"Sugar"