My first swimming lesson!

On Tuesday night was my first swimming lesson. I was very nervous and didn't know what to expect at all. Well, I was very pleased with what I got!!!

My friend seems to know exactly what he is doing, and he sure knows a lot about swimming and the mistakes everybody makes when they learn. He said my arms were strong! (thank you personal trainer for designing me great programs!)

We didn't do any arm work tonight though. We focused on the legs and breathing. I was using a kick board, so I wasn't scared of drowning and I could concentrate on my legs. It took me some time to be able to move my legs in an acceptable way, but I did it. The breathing was more difficult. I took too much air in and I couldn't get a right rythm of breathing in and out. I practiced for a while and finally got it, but when I tried to do it while swimming with the kick board, it didn't work...

My friend left, but I decided to practice a little bit more. And I was able to do almost 2 complete lenghts of the pool while breathing corectly!!! I think the last time that I was as proud was when I was able to run for 3 minutes for the first time!!! It was a great feeling! I couldn't wait to tell my friend the day after that I was able to do that, but he saw me on his way out. When he left, it didn't look like I would be able that night, but I was!

Walking back home, I realized that it's now official: I'm a triathlete in training!

29...

It's my birthday today! :-)

I'm 29, my last year before I turn 30. Most of the time, I don't really mind getting older, because I look back at all that I have accomplished in the past years and I expect that I'll be accomplishing even more great things in my 30s. However, this morning, I woke up with a little bit of anxiety, thinking that this year was my last year in my 20s and that I would soon be considered "a real adult". I should be happy that I'm soon going to be out of what I call "the troubled times" and into what I call "the shining years" and I'm sure I'll be happy in time.

In the meantime, here is a list of all I plan to do before I turn 30:

- Run my first 10K
- Learn to swim
- Do my first triathlon (Try-a-tri)
- Improve my eating habits
- Buy my first house (with JF!)
- Get a new job

Cheers to my last year as a 20-something!

BRAVO JF!!!

Aujourd'hui, JF a couru le demi-marathon au Festival de la Santé à Montréal et il a atteint avec brio l'objectif qu'il s'était fixé: terminer en moins de 2 heures. Il a traversé la ligne d'arrivée en 1:57:34!!! Durant toute la course, il a eu un grand sourire dans le visage et il semble avoir énormément apprécié son expérience.

Bravo JF! Tu es l'exemple parfait qu'avec un peu (beaucoup) de travail et de discipline (beaucoup de discipline), on peut atteindre nos objectifs! Je suis très fière de toi! :-)

Félicitations à Eric qui a terminé son propre demi-marathon en 1:57:57! C'est un résultat incroyable, compte tenu de l'été occupé qu'Eric vient de vivre avec la naissance de son premier enfant. Bravo Eric!

I think I can do this!

This morning, I went to cheer on the Canadian Triathlon participants. I got a chance to look at people's transitions, clothes and gear. It was a great idea to go down there this morning and take a look. I particularly enjoyed watching the try-a-tri participants during their swim. It doesn't look easy, but I think I can do this! :-)

Congratulations to Andre and Bob, who finished a Sprint Duathlon this morning and to Andy, who is in the process of completing his first Iron distance Duathlon as I type!