Day 35~ Go big or go home

Day 35

I attended an open water swim clinic in Lake Washington yesterday. It was interesting and I am really glad that I went.  I learned some valuable information that I would like to share with you.

1. Parking anywhere near Madison beach is just about as easy as touching your nose to your elbow.  I drove around for 25 minutes looking for a spot.  Finally I found one, and was only 10 minutes late. 
2. Open water swim clinics start on time even if half of the class is late due to parking difficulties. 
3. The instructor is going to ask everyone to tell what they are training for and if this is their first open water swim.  This is done in the first 3 minutes of the class. 
4. If arriving late the instructor will ask you what you are training for and if this is your first open swim. When you tell the class that it is your first swim and it will be a 2.5 mile swim across the lake, everyone will gasp and stare at you like you are insane
5.  The participants will begin to talk to the person next to them quietly all while smiling politely at you and nodding as if to say "poor girl doesn't stand a chance" 
6. The tips that are given during the clinic are very helpful but do not need to be heard more than once. 
7. You will only swim about 300 yds in the open water during your clinic. 
8. At the end of the clinic the instructor is available to talk to you about your chance of actually surviving the swim that you are attempting.  

I have to admit that, although I believe that life is too short to waste on mediocrity, (which may be why I've always liked the phrase 'Go big or go home')  I had no clue that a 2.5 mile swim was considered an extensive swim and not a good starting point for a newbie to open waters.  Everyone else in the class was doing either a a .5  or .75 mile swim with the exception of two girls who were doing a 1 mile swim.   

At the end of the class the instructor told me that I was in good shape and should be just fine.  He gave me a couple of tips on working with the wake of boats and sent me on my way.   He also told me that I did not need to attend another clinic.  

So, now what do I do?   #1 goal is to attend 3 open water clinics?   I would like to replace it with something in the category of Health and fitness, I am open for suggestions about what to replace this with.  

I guess I could always change it to  #1- Attend 3 open water clinics, or attend 1 and realize that 2 more are unnecessary, and call it good.