![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I swam over a mile.
Wait, let me say that again. I swam over a mile!
Now, let me explain how the 'over' came to be... and let this be a lesson on why it's important to study (and remember) the basics. Can't let machines do everything for you, or you end up over-swimming.
Okay, who knows how many feet there are in a mile, off the top of your head? Raise your hands. Notice that my hand isn't raised, and wouldn't be even if I could move my arms. Well, technically I know now, fat lot of good that does me. I mean, I had a ballpark estimate. I thought it was 5,460, or something close. I think I was mangling the fact that there are 43,560 square feet in an acre, a number I use quite often in my job.
So. Swimming along, and I hit 1,200 yards. This is now a new record for me. And I think... hey, I promised myself $50 for yarn when I swam a mile, and I'm in debt to the yarn kitty, it'd be nice to get myself in the black... and I can do it! Never mind I've had a horrible, horrible week, what with getting 3 hours of sleep Sunday night due to medication side-effects, and 4 hours of sleep Monday night due to waking up with cramps in the middle of the night. Tuesday night I'd hit some wall and couldn't sleep for being exhausted, and had a headache all day today. But what's sleep deprivation, intense cramping, and muscle fatigue in the face of determination? Nothing, I tell you. Nothing
At 1500 yards I began to feel numbness creeping in. I just kept going, even though I was feeling heavy and floppy. I was also frantically trying to keep count of my laps and figure out how far I had to go (I'd lost count early on, so I may have gone an extra 50 yards). This is where not remembering simple conversions bit me in the ass. I figured... 5,400-ish, Round up to 5,500 to be on the safe side (it really would have sucked to have gotten out of the pool and been 50 yards short...). 5,500 divided by 3... that's 1... crap, 25 divided by three... uh... three times eight is twenty-four, so... just over 1,800. Let's go 1,900 to be safe. (Also, please note I did manage to do this math in my head while also managing not to drown, an accomplishment on my part, if I do say so)
1,900 yards. Which, I'm sure all of you smart people know, because there are 5,280 feet in a mile, is almost 150 yards further than I had to go. Three extra laps! (maybe four, considering that one possible lost lap)
End tally:
1,900 total yards (1,200 yards backstroke, 700 yards crawl)
65 minutes
Also: projects '100 push-ups' and '200 sit-ups' have been put on hold for the week.
Wait, let me say that again. I swam over a mile!
Now, let me explain how the 'over' came to be... and let this be a lesson on why it's important to study (and remember) the basics. Can't let machines do everything for you, or you end up over-swimming.
Okay, who knows how many feet there are in a mile, off the top of your head? Raise your hands. Notice that my hand isn't raised, and wouldn't be even if I could move my arms. Well, technically I know now, fat lot of good that does me. I mean, I had a ballpark estimate. I thought it was 5,460, or something close. I think I was mangling the fact that there are 43,560 square feet in an acre, a number I use quite often in my job.
So. Swimming along, and I hit 1,200 yards. This is now a new record for me. And I think... hey, I promised myself $50 for yarn when I swam a mile, and I'm in debt to the yarn kitty, it'd be nice to get myself in the black... and I can do it! Never mind I've had a horrible, horrible week, what with getting 3 hours of sleep Sunday night due to medication side-effects, and 4 hours of sleep Monday night due to waking up with cramps in the middle of the night. Tuesday night I'd hit some wall and couldn't sleep for being exhausted, and had a headache all day today. But what's sleep deprivation, intense cramping, and muscle fatigue in the face of determination? Nothing, I tell you. Nothing
At 1500 yards I began to feel numbness creeping in. I just kept going, even though I was feeling heavy and floppy. I was also frantically trying to keep count of my laps and figure out how far I had to go (I'd lost count early on, so I may have gone an extra 50 yards). This is where not remembering simple conversions bit me in the ass. I figured... 5,400-ish, Round up to 5,500 to be on the safe side (it really would have sucked to have gotten out of the pool and been 50 yards short...). 5,500 divided by 3... that's 1... crap, 25 divided by three... uh... three times eight is twenty-four, so... just over 1,800. Let's go 1,900 to be safe. (Also, please note I did manage to do this math in my head while also managing not to drown, an accomplishment on my part, if I do say so)
1,900 yards. Which, I'm sure all of you smart people know, because there are 5,280 feet in a mile, is almost 150 yards further than I had to go. Three extra laps! (maybe four, considering that one possible lost lap)
End tally:
1,900 total yards (1,200 yards backstroke, 700 yards crawl)
65 minutes
Also: projects '100 push-ups' and '200 sit-ups' have been put on hold for the week.