So if I am going to do the Ironman, I better learn to swim.  Here’s how I know:

My son is taking swimming lessons at the local Terrace View pool.  After practice I ask his coach, a local high schooler, if he would be willing to give me some pointers in order for me to get ready for the Ironman.  He agrees so I stop by later on that week.  As I swim my first lap, other coaches stop by in fascination and with helpful suggestions.  (Each of them is obviously thinking that I am completely nuts to even dream of swimming in the Ironman – and so do I.)  After various suggestions, I get to the point of holding a kick board to practice my breathing.  So, there I am, kicking and breathing furiously and what does my “coach” say,

“Fascinating, your going backwards.”

Yup, I Mark Michaelis, who has now signed up for the Ironman, does such a great job with kicking, that he goes backwards, in reverse, the wrong direction.  True story!

Yikes!

Thursday, July 26, 2007 12:08:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Headlines | Personal | My Sports