Yesterday my workout plan included a long(er) swim.  So I packed up my wetsuit and swim gear and loaded them up in the panniers and went to work.  During the day it came to my attention that their were rip current warnings in effect.  The beaches were not closed but people have been warned that it could be dangerous and were given instructions on what to do should you get caught in one. Rip currents are caused by excessively strong winds and waves.  I found this helpful blog on what to do should you get caught in one:http://david-benjamin.blogspot.com/2012/07/flip-float-and-follow.html .  Anyhow, I wavered back and forth on whether or not I should do the swim in the lake or in the pool. It was killing me to think of doing all those boring laps in the pool so I decided to go check out Ohio Street Beach location for my swim.  It is generally more protected since it has a sea wall surrounding the area. You can’t really see the wall from this picture but for those of you who are not from around here what a backdrop! The alternative is what we call Ladder 1 or L1 which starts not from a beach but in a deeper area just north of here where you just jump in and there is no sea wall. I arrived and assessed the water there were other swimmers and I thought it looked doable.  So I put the wetsuit on (a little difficult this day because it had rained slightly and I was a little wet!).  I started off with the thought that if I at least get a mile in I could mange another mile in the pool if need be.  It was pretty tough,  I was being tossed, slapped and pummeled by the waves.  I made it to the half mile mark and swam back.  I got out of the water then decided I’d swim out to the quarter-mile buoy to get another half mile in but once there I carried on to the 1/2 mile buoy.  All in all it was a little over two miles per my garmin.  I wondered if swimming two miles in rough water really equated to more in calm water.  I have swam in the lake when it was like glass and it certainly was much easier.  So in my head at least, I’m counting this as a longer swim.  My goal last night was to test myself and my endurance before I sign up for a triathlon which involves a three-mile swim!  I think I passed the test. I didn’t do three miles but I did two in rough water.  From a diabetes standpoint I nailed it! Went in the water with about .5 IOB and about 160 BG I reduced my basil to 60% and ate a chocolate gu prior to going in.  I came out at 185.  I had my pump and dexcom packed in my waterproof aquapac. The dexcom showed a pretty steady line!!! OH yeah!

Similarly I rode home from the swim on my commuter bike.  My panniers were packed to the gills.  In case, you wondered what a bike packed with: work clothes; a wetsuit; shoes; a laptop; about 5 or 6 pieces of tupperware;  a rain jacket; and other useful(less) things looks like- here it is.  It was also windy and my brakes in this old bike are misbehaving and keep rubbing on the wheel rim.  This 6 mile ride felt like 12! My legs and arms were also beat from the swim.

So, I guess my point being, even although you are not purposely adding resistance or weight to your body while working out like in this picture it is sort of the same idea. Right?