Reporter Paul Tenorio rests in the pool during a recent practice. (Photo by Jeff King/Curl-Burke)
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Me and my big mouth.
Stupidly I wrote on here yesterday about doing a breaststroke set. I did it because I knew it was coming, I did. I just had a feeling. But what if it wasn’t? What if Coach Jeff King read my blog and DECIDED, ‘Hey, a breaststroke set. Not a bad idea.’
Either way, that’s what I got to do this morning. A wonderful, wonderful breaststroke set. It was exactly 40 50s of breaststroke to be exact. Yes, 2000 yards of my least favorite stroke. E-VIL. EVIL. I hate breaststroke.
Of course, that means Jeff was smiling when he told me what we were doing today. I had done the 100s and the sprint set, I had gone through the mental anguish of the butterfly set yesterday. It was the natural progression to swim breaststroke today.
The 40 50s broke down into sets of 10, and on the even ones I wore fins and did a butterfly kick as I sprinted — or tried to.
For me, breaststroke is horrible mostly because I stink at it. I really do. I mean, the chances of me ending up at the bottom of the pool are more likely than anyone ever contending that I am “good” at breaststroke. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to do it right, or fast. Two months ago, I couldn’t even swim breaststroke legally, let alone swim it well.
So I guess it’s an accomplishment to have done 2000-plus yards of it today. An accomplishment I could have lived my life happily without, but I guess I’ll take it since I’m done with it now.
This week has been very interesting, that’s for sure. A ton of work. I’m leaving practice every day having had my butt thoroughly kicked. Let’s put it this way: I don’t have ANY trouble falling asleep every night.
Tomorrow will bring another challenge and most importantly another new experience. Here’s how I figured out what’s in store:
Jeff: We did the 100s on Monday, the 50s on Tuesday, butterfly on Wednesday and breaststroke today…so what could be left to do?
Me: Hm, well, it seems that all that is left is 25s.
Jeff: Ha.
Pat Sullivan butting in: 200s.
Jeff: There you go.
Thank you, Pat.
Okay, so I knew the answer was 200s, but I didn’t want to say it. I mean, 25s sounds like so much more fun.
It should probably be good for me. I’m not any good at finishing up the 100, let alone a 200. I guess it goes under the same category as when you’re training for the mile you run a lot of three- and four-milers so that you don’t tire as much at the end of the mile. So hopefully this ends up helping me get closer to where I should be in the 100.
We’ll see how it goes.
Washington Post reporter Paul Tenorio will train with a swim club over the next few months and chronicle his journey as he attempts to transform from regular guy/sports reporter to competitive swimmer — everything from his waistline to his best times.
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