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DAY 1 of my swimming exploration... It's hard to be cool at the pool when your leg turns blue.

May 25, 2009 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Swim

Comments:
But first the good news...

My leg really didn't rebel that badly AT ALL from yesterday's bike workout!! My leg pain was not that much different than it has been.

Other things to note:
- I can feel in my arms and chest soreness from Friday's weight sets. Nothing too bad.
- different leg pain, the good kind that sometimes follows a good workout. My muscles are waking up.
- EVERY SINGLE POINT OF IMPACT with a weight machine, ie: both sides of my back where the recumbent bike seat met and several other places are bruised. That is my Coumadin talking. I am going to look like an abuse victim. I bruise so easily now, and being so fair skinned doesn't help!

I don't know if this is related to yesterday's workout, but I COULD NOT GET TO SLEEP LAST NIGHT... I was up until nearly 4:30 AM... just feeling revitalized and refreshed. Makes me wonder if yesterday's cardio woke up my body.

I planned on taking the water aerobics class at another location of my gym (the pools at mine are being remodelled). That class was to begin at 9am. When I finally went to bed I decided not to set my alarm, and not push it. I could swim later. That is not my norm, but I am REALLY trying to pace myself and not over do it... I just want to get better... I am not giving up on running again. I am a runner.

I woke at 7:30 am... when I called the gym they said all the classes were still happening even on the holiday so I downed a quick banana and booked it down their to see how I could keep up w/ my more mature sisters. It's probably a good thing there actually was no class. I have never really used a pool at a gym and am learning the protocol. I am completely new to swimming, don't particularly enjoy it, and probably wouldn't pursue it if not for my rehab.

There were 3 other ladies in the pool. I found an empty lane and got a board. I don't know proper form and technique, at least not for an efficient workout but I have to start somewhere so I did. I worked on length on lower body and then switched to upper body for the rest of the lap doing different strokes. I got tired pretty fast (3 hours of sleep might have helped that) ... instantly on my first lap my leg felt strange... like it was filling up. My doc said swimming is actually good for me so I pushed through the pain figuring it was just new muscle memory being learned and tried to focus on my breathing but my leg was slowing down, refusing to sync with the other, like a dead weight. When I finally looked down after the 8th length it was blue and swollen and in a lot of pain!!! Wasn't quite expecting THAT!

I caught my clue, grabbed my towel to hide my leg as I limped back to the lockerroom. Getting dressed I had a really hard time putting on my magic sock, it was that swollen. I am resting and elevating it now. It's color and size has improved.