Swimming-driven week provides great workout, severely fatigued muscles

By Michelle Martinelli

Created:
01/26/12 6:49pm

Last updated:
01/26/12 6:52pm

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After three weeks enrolled in seven kinesiology classes, I’m doing OK.

The first week consisted of some workouts, but most of it was simply syllabus week to the extreme. (It’s not like we have textbooks to review or materials to turn in.) The second week got a bit more challenging, as all of the classes began workouts.

To summarize: triathlon training did a number on my quads, I realized general conditioning includes a decent amount of running, I love my aerobics classes, and I’m the world’s worst bowler.

I’ve been a competitive swimmer most of my life, so starting the day throwing down a few laps is one of the things I enjoy most about this ridiculous schedule.

Last week in tri training, we worked out in the weight room running circuits. It’s not that I don’t enjoy doing circuits more than most things, but when I found out Tuesday and Thursday this week were going to start with two hours of swimming, I was ecstatic.

In the same way some like to start their days with a couple-mile jog or a yoga class, I’m convinced that for me personally, there’s nothing I’d rather do first thing in the morning than put in some quality time in the pool — and subsequently working every muscle in my body.

I put in 2,000 yards in my actual swimming class and added another 1,700 in triathlon training. Not too shabby for someone who hasn’t had a two-hour practice on her own team in a couple years.

Yes, I’m sore, but it’s that amazing sore feeling in my shoulders that constantly reminds me of the good workout I had. Maybe it’s a swimmer thing — as there were countless times in my swimming career when I was so sore I could hardly move — but it’s a feeling of accomplishment.

And 7,200 total yards and two trips to the pool later, I’d say this was a pretty feel-good week. And I know it’s definitely a swimmer thing, but I love carrying around a chlorine aroma.

So that was the best part of the week. Bowling was the worst.

Sure, general conditioning is a solid workout even if it’s only for 50 minutes. And yeah, they’re aerobics classes, but going to them every day Monday through Thursday can be tiring when combined with everything else. But nothing gets to me like bowling — probably because it’s the only activity in my schedule that I hadn’t really put effort toward prior to the class.

Tuesday, I bowled a pathetic 51, which actually should be lower since my instructor informed my lane that we’ve been misinformed about how to keep score. I don’t even want to know what it should be.

Thursday, I bowled a 42. This time, our scoring was correct. Turns out it’s pretty easy to do when I spent most of my time in the gutter. Enough said.

Some days I’ll be knocking out strikes and spares like it’s my job, and others the gutter is my best friend. Conclusion so far: I’m inconsistent, and bowling success is the luck of the draw, but this crazy class schedule made for a great week in the pool.

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About TaKIN' It Easy

Desperately still needing credits after countless electives, sports editor Michelle Martinelli is taking a break from academic classes and is enrolled in seven one-credit kinesiology classes for the second semester of her senior year. Two days a week, she plays volleyball and has an aerobics class, and for another two days, she has swimming, triathlon training, general conditioning, bowling and step aerobics.

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