Let the training begin!

Today was my first official training day for the half ironman on June 1st. I say first "official" day because I've been running now and then, but today I swam. For the first time in--YIKES--several months, at least. I stuck to the goal on my training plan, which was to consistently swim 750 meters (.47 miles) for the rest of January (I'll move up to 3/4 mile in February). Swimming half a mile today was definitely a stretch, but I'm glad I did it. I was able to push through the moments of fear and the ridiculous parade of thoughts like, "What if you drowned right now?" and "The half ironman is going to be a lot harder than this. Just the swim alone might be too much." (I also couldn't help but think about the recent in-flight magazine article I read about the hoards of people who died last year doing the swimming portion of triathlons because of some swimming-induced heart condition no one knew they had--yikes). I think I was able to reassure myself because I've trained before, and I know how much easier training--particularly the swimming-- gets once I've done it a few times. The first time is always a little scary, though. Glad it's done!