Alphabet Swimming

As I've started doing longer swims I've found it hard to count the laps without hitting the split button on my watch. A friend of mine recently ran her first marathon and she found it easier to pass the miles by going through the alphabet. One letter for every mile.

What a novel idea....

I started doing this to help me count laps during my longer intervals for example:

500yds = 10 laps
A to J

1500yds = 30 laps
A to Z then A to D

Initially I started off thinking of cities that started with a particular letter or foods or things but the more I swam the more I realized this was a perfect opportunity to think of inspirational words that I could call on later in my training.

Last night I did my longest swim ever - 3000 yds which is 1.7 miles or A through T three times :)

Here are some of my favorites from last nights swim:

A is for Accomplishment, Activity, Athletic
B is for Breathe, Bike, Bring it on!
C is for Choices, Challenge, Coeur d'Alene
D is for Drive, Dedication, Dilligence
E is for Energy, Enthusiasm, Excitement
F is for Family & Friends, Fun, Finish
G is for Goal, Great, Gift
H is for Hot, Happy, Healthy
I is for Imagination, Inspiration and of course Ironman
J is for Just Do it!
K is for Kick Ass :)
L is for Learn, Lead, Long
M is for Motivation, Midnight, Mantra
N is for Never Give Up
O is for Outstanding
P is for Preston, Persistance and Pride
Q is for Quality versus Quantity
R is for Rest, Recovery and Relaxation
S is for Strength, Sacrifice, Slow is smooth
T is for Trust your Training!