Progress Is...I'm so tired from my swim I can't be clever

Apparently I swam over 1/2 mile tonight. That's 40 lengths, 20 "down & backs" - and I am so proud of myself I can hardly stand it. I could have kept going, but my training buddies, Iz, Margs & Madi Moos had to get home. I got into a great rhythm and my stroke was really strong. Finally! I have made amazing progress in endurance, stroke and breathing. Especially breathing! My coach suggested closing my eyes when my head is in the water to simulate being in the ocean where you can't see anything even with goggles - so I've been trying to do that in the pool - it is surprisingly HARD and it makes me dizzy. I'm glad to get that advice though, as I don't think I would have considered that particular difference between the pool & open water.

I ordered my wetsuit on Monday - hoping it's here by Friday 'cause I have been invited to an open water swim at SMCC with a nice group of gals. The group is actually doing the whole course, start to finish, but I'm a little unsure. I like to train solo, I always have. I have a huge hang up about holding people back. I am very slow....slow & steady. Anyway, if I can get an ocean swim in Saturday and 2 bike rides over the weekend and 1 run I will be feeling really good.

So, real quick, the wetsuit story. Based on a recommendation from a friend - Thanks Ann! - I ordered my wetsuit from XTERRA WETSUITS at xterrawetsuits.com. I've been looking and thinking about what to order, and all the while, listening to my husband complain about how we have no money, so I decided to be good and go with the value meal version wetsuit and get the $99.00 Sleeveless "Volt". So my receipt looks like this:

Product - VOLT Women's Large (VLTJ WL) $99.00 x 1 = $99.00
Shipping: UPS - UPS Ground $18.71
Total: $117.71

4 hours later I get this email from my buddy at Xterra, Jonathan, (I did actually talk to by phone about sizes):

Hi Elizabeth,
Please see changes to your invoice.

VORTEX 3 SLEEVELESS SKU: V3J WL $300.00
Group Discount (BT / $129.00)
-$171.00
Sub-Total
$129.00
Discount free upgrade
-$30.00

Shipping (UPS / UPS Ground)
$16.38

Total
$115.38

So for $2.00 less, I am getting a better (and cuter) suit. I'm convinced this is going to cut some serious time off my swim :-)
I've been anxiously tracking the progress of the VORTEX making it's way from California to Maine. This a.m. it was still on the West coast.

Ok, so to sum things up, I ran a little, swam a lot, now I gotta get some sleep. I'm gonna read a little bit of "Slow Fat Triathlete" and I'm sure after a couple of pages I'll be snoring.

Happy Training. B