Swim Training & The Houston Marathon

The past two weeks of training have been very difficult, not because of the training itself, but because my schedule has had some interference. I have been trying my best to accommodate my schedule and get in my daily workouts when I can, so that is why I have not been able to post an update. I have found it very difficult with my current schedule. Fortunately, I have fallen into a routine, and I have one of the most understanding wife’s a man can have.


If there is anything that I have a tendency to cheat on when it comes to my workouts, it would definitely be my swim workouts, which I know I shouldn’t. I have always been a decent swimmer from the time I was little. My sister, who is older than I am, had a job as a lifeguard at pool in the nearby small town. My mother was single fulltime student/employee, so I spent most of my summers swimming at the pool while my sister worked. I pretty much became a fish at 2 years old. My father and mother got back together after they initially went through a divorce when I was around 10 years old. He decided that he was going to take his tractor and dig a pool in our back yard. It was really a great experience with an obvious reward after our job was done. I spent a lot of the summers and late springs swimming. At 15 I attend lifeguard classes and soon would follow in the footsteps of my older sister. I really hope that Shawn shares the same interest in swimming as I did at his age.

In Lifeguard Class I was the youngest, but still one of the strongest swimmers. Eventually, I got a job as a lifeguard then later became certified as a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, and then I became a Red Cross Lifeguard instructor. I had all the strength in the world, and I was always a pretty good swimmer, but the freestyle stroke was never my best stroke. I was never efficient, but my mom would argue with anyone that it was still pretty. Unfortunately, pretty only last for short distance, so would wear out after a few hundred yards. My breaststroke on the other hand was a much stronger stroke, and I often dreamed of going to the 1996 Olympics as a swimmer. Living in a small town, our local school did not offer a swim team, so I was limited on developing my stroke. Eventually that dream died and life took over. In reality, I had not done any swimming since I was about 19 years old until last year.

When I first started swimming for triathlons, I remember wearing out after about 200 yards. I know, that is a far cry from the 2.4 mile swim that you have to accomplish in an Ironman, but you have to start somewhere right? I knew that I would eventually have to face my demons of not being a good freestyle swimmer and learn how to get an efficient stroke. I first started out by researching online, attended a few swim practices with the UH Masters Program, and eventually buying a book that had swim drills that I could incorporate into my workouts. I have come a long way, but I still struggle with swimming. If any of you out there have experience in swim technique or a coach looking to get some name recognition, I would really appreciate your help.

This past Sunday I was privileged to watch a very close friend, Tash, complete the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon. I was truly inspired by her achievement and the 30,000+ other runners that attempted the full and half-marathon. I decided to get my bike and see her in several areas of the race. She ran with determination and always with a smile on her face. It has given me so much encouragement toward my endeavor. I would like to publically congratulate Tash and all of the other runners who fought through the rain to cross the finish line. You may never know how much your accomplishment is motivating me every time I think about that experience.


Start of Houston Marathon



Mile 4