Yesterday, in lieu of roller skating, we decided to hit the pool, because it was beyond 5000 degrees outside and remember, I put the clause of “doing whatever I damn well please” this week so it was still part of the plan!\u00a0 We biked past this neighborhood pool yesterday (and even then I was tempted to get in, fully clothed) and decided to return and partake of it.\u00a0 We did bring the car, just because we had planned to go to dinner right after and biking soggy didn’t sound like fun.<\/p>\n
We paid our 3 dollars (hi, inflation – I remember paying a buck as a kid, and even after college 1.50-2 bucks to go swim laps) and got in – the pool was super clean, there was a seperate kiddie pool, and a huge, huge deep end so we had space to ourselves.\u00a0 Zliten got in the normal way, but I eyed the diving board and decided that was the perfect way to enter the water.\u00a0 It was the first time in 10 years I’d been up on a diving board, and I was a little nervous.\u00a0 But, being the way I am, I ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/tutudiver.jpg\")
decided it was go big or go home, and I went for a jacknife dive (jump up, fold in half into a pike, and then enter the water straight up and down, head first).\u00a0 It wasn’t very good, but I also remembered I used to crank the board way back to 6 so it was tighter (and they had it locked on 1, which is suuuuuper springy), so it was a matter of getting used to the board.<\/p>\n
Next time, I did a much better jacknife, and then I decided to pretend I was back in high school diving again and rock a front flip, first in tuck, then pike, then layout (which was kind of a failure).\u00a0 I spent time swimming between each one so it took about an hour and 15 minutes, and Zliten was ready to leave.\u00a0 I had considered considered chickening out, but I got up for one more dive.\u00a0 I wanted to conquer the one and a half<\/a>.\u00a0 Was going to see how I felt, and I got just the right bounce so I went for it.\u00a0 One front flip around, stay_in_just_a_bit_longer…KICKOUT and hey – I was up and down and even able to rip the entry<\/a> with my hands semi-properly.<\/p>\n So, what does this have to do with what’s next?\u00a0 Well, this was one of my goals this summer – to get up on a diving board (now that I’m not afraid I’ll break it) and see what I can do.\u00a0 More specifically, I wanted to complete a one and a half.\u00a0 The dive that generally separates the “I’m goofing off on the diving board” people and “I kind of know what I’m doing” people.\u00a0 I still have it after 10 years (and actually 12 years since diving with any regularity).\u00a0 Now, to find a pool that will let me try backwards stuff, reverses, and inwards!<\/p>\n Also on the list of fitness-y things to do by the end of summer:<\/p>\n -Run a mile in under 7 minutes.\u00a0 I know I’m shooting for the moon here, but my best 400 sprint was 1:41, which works out to about a 6:44 pace.\u00a0 I think I can do it if I go to the track intending to do one and only one mile (and not have to save myself for 4 more miles of sprints).\u00a0 My first goal is to beat 7:50, my best mile time ever from middle school, but I really think I can conquer 7.<\/p>\n -Go for a really, really long run.\u00a0 Pick a day I’m feeling great and pick a course I know the mileage, and see how far I can go.\u00a0 Take like 3 hours, don’t push the pace at all, and see how far I can go not training for anything.<\/p>\n -Go roller skating.\u00a0 At least once.<\/p>\n -Go ice skating again.\u00a0 At least once.\u00a0 Attempt at least one move that makes me worry that I might fall on my ass and\/or break my face.\u00a0 Maybe like this<\/a>, or this<\/a>.\u00a0 Haven’t done either of those in about 20 years!<\/p>\n -Go climb again.\u00a0 At least once.\u00a0 Attempt the big-kid wall.<\/p>\n -Do my own unofficial triathlon one day, maybe in reverse order though – run a 5k, bike 12 miles, get to the pool and swim half a mile (and then just relax there, don’t really want to pay 3 bucks to swim laps and leave).<\/p>\n -Attempt a back walkover<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/farm1.static.flickr.com\/99\/305136431_88581988cd.jpg?v=0\")
-Run a 5k in under 25.\u00a0 Same principle.\u00a0 I think if I plan properly for it, run it like a race, and give it my all, I can do it.<\/p>\n