What a Drag

on February 23, 2012

My The Naked Face Project will have to wait until tomorrow (Iâ€™m still gathering my thoughts), but I do have one little observation: Swimming with leg hair feels SO strange. Thereâ€™s so much drag! Training with extra water resistance means I will be extra fast on April 1 when the Project ends, right?

Right?!

I did 750 meters â€“ I wouldâ€™ve loved to do more but the Husband was grocery shopping while I was swimming, and I had to pick him up from the store. Either I am a slow swimmer (solely due to leg hair, of course) or he is a fast shopperâ€¦

And before work began, I did my long walk with James. So that means I can checkie-check off my exercise goals for the day.

Eats, Eats, Eats

Pre-swim, I had a big spoonful of sunflower butter, and afterwards, this lovely lunch.

Mmm. Veggie burger.

With chips and pineapple salsa (which, by the way, is insanely delicious).

GOTR Kick Off

Today is our first Girls on the Run session for the spring season! This is my fourth season volunteering as as coach and the Husbandâ€™s third.

Here are some oldies but goodies about Girls on the Run. Itâ€™s definitely one of my FAVORITE experiences of all time.

How to Get Involved with GOTR

Tips and Tricks for Coaches

Off to give out lots of high-fives and do many cheers and chants.

{ 38 comments }

Jess@atasteofconfidence February 23, 2012, 2:07 pm
You’re right! I swam for years and we always grew out our leg hair to help with training. 🙂
Victoria (District Chocoholic) February 23, 2012, 2:10 pm
When I swam in college, we were expected to stop shaving Nov. 1 and not shave again until championships in late February.

Eventually it doesn’t get longer.
- Caitlin February 23, 2012, 2:11 pm
  Thank god for small miracles.
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat February 23, 2012, 2:10 pm
I agree on the leg hair drag! I totally noticed it when I was swimming competitively and at first I thought the guys were a little extreme for shaving theirs off, but having had experienced it for myself, I don’t blame them!
Sara February 23, 2012, 2:13 pm
I scrolled fast at first and thought James’s legs were yours! I think I am losing my mind this week!
- Caitlin February 23, 2012, 2:14 pm
  Hahah they aren’t THAT hairy yet
  - Callie @ The Wannabe Athlete February 23, 2012, 2:40 pm
    Hehe. I was about to ask, “Are those really James’ legs or yours?” 🙂
Carolyn @ Eat.Live.Be Well February 23, 2012, 2:14 pm
YES! As a young swimmer, we would not shave during swim season, and then shave before our championship meet.
Janene February 23, 2012, 2:15 pm
Yay! Our season starts the second week of March, and it will be my second. I’m so excited!! 🙂
- CaitlinHTP February 24, 2012, 11:07 am
  Yay! i hope you have fun!
Stephanie @ Legally Blinde February 23, 2012, 2:15 pm
Congrats on achieving your exercise goal for today! I remember that in high school the swim team wouldn’t shave during the time leading up to a big competition, and then they’d shave down right before in order to “shave off” some time 🙂 So I think it’s safe to say that you’ll definitely be super fast when the Naked Face Project ends. That’s such a great picture with the GOTR group – the girls obviously adore you!
Catalina @ Cake with Love February 23, 2012, 2:17 pm
LOL Intentioning again? Yes, you will be faster, but probably not from the hair that you will shave, even if it has an impact I dont think is that big! Looking forward to your updates on the Naked Project! Today morning I woke up with such bad breakouts on my face, I looked in the mirror and thought too good I am not doing the Naked Project, I had a presentation at work (I work in Finance in NY) and a few other meeting, had to put on minimal make up just to cover them, usually I dont wear make up at all, but it is nice to have the potions when you need it!
Megan February 23, 2012, 2:21 pm
I was CRACKING UP reading about the hairy leg drag. I was a competitive swimmer as a child (when I had hairy legs) and I remember in middle school shaving my legs for the first time and feeling so slimy in the pool. Fast forward 10 odd years to a lazy week (ok two) when I didn’t shave and I experienced the same “drag” sensation as you while swimming! Too funny.

And congrats on meeting your workout goals for today! I’m not quite there yet… I’ve still got 9 good exercising hours to get it done. 😉
Joss February 23, 2012, 2:28 pm
I’m curious to read about your naked face project 🙂 it’s something that is so foreign to me..cuz I wake up every day and don’t put on make up (I have make up..i just don’t wear it)..I also don’t blowdry my hair and if i don’t feel like shaving…i don’t (the perks of being in a long distance relationship lol)

I also don’t really wear high heels or overly fem clothes like that (unless I’m on a vacation or cruise where it calls for formal attire) (the perks of working in recreation and leisure!)

so really…your naked face project is just an average day for me. I think it would be awesome for young girls to grow up and just not think twice about getting up and not putting on the make up or not freaking out over not being able to blow dry their hair. Being comfortable with their God-Given/natural beauty is what it’s all about 😀

p.s
When I’m feeling sassy once every few months…I’ll stick on mascara :O
Nina February 23, 2012, 2:34 pm
Your lunch makes me hungry 😉 looks soooo good!
Kaitlin @4loveofcarrots February 23, 2012, 2:40 pm
Leg hair will create drag and you will feel soo much faster when you shave it off. The hair will stop growing and if your the chlorine is really strong in your pool your hair will sort of burn off. I had less arm hair during swimming season b.c. the chlorine was soo strong at my college pool!
Ali February 23, 2012, 2:44 pm
Hi Caitlin! I’m just wondering what your thoughts are on the following subject as this should relate closely to your Naked Face Project.

I am a female science lecturer at a university and have several female friends in similar positions. We were all talking the other day about the lack of respect that we are receiving from some of the students as compared to the respect the men were receiving. Someone sent us this article which more or less talks about how women get more respect, appear more competent, etc. if they wear more makeup: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/fashion/makeup-makes-women-appear-more-competent-study.html?_r=1

I am wondering if you are finding you get less respect now that you go out fresh faced? I do not wear a lot of makeup (just some powder to even out acne scars and mascara because I have very dark hair and very blond eyelashes) and I do not wish to change how I do things. I do not feel differently if I wear more, except I sometimes I don’t feel like myself. I am just curious if this is something that you have experienced with this project.
- CaitlinHTP February 24, 2012, 11:07 am
  I don’t think I get less respect but i also think I work in a field where my appearance isn’t important (or is actually part of the point). I’m going to explore this topic more on today’s post!
kathleen @ the daily crumb February 23, 2012, 2:50 pm
in high school/college (i was a competitive swimmer), we would abstain from shaving all season long to create the drag and then you shave for your last meet — it really does make a huge difference in the end!! not as much time wise, but the difference you will feel physically in the water is insane.
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats February 23, 2012, 2:51 pm
Have fun with GOTR!!!! And that lunch looks so good… I’m craving chips now!
Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed February 23, 2012, 2:54 pm
Where do you get your veggie burgers? Which brand are they???
- CaitlinHTP February 24, 2012, 11:06 am
  Dr. Prager’s. They are very tasty!
Sneakers2sandals February 23, 2012, 3:55 pm
Have so much fun!! I could never get into a baths unit wo shaving! You go girl!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife February 23, 2012, 4:03 pm
Have fun!!

And yes, veggie burgers are so darn delicious! P.s. love that you guys do errands together and such….so do me and my husband!
Abby February 23, 2012, 4:37 pm
I’m starting to coach a GOTR team in two weeks thanks to your blog. I am soooo excited, I can’t wait! Have fun 🙂
- CaitlinHTP February 24, 2012, 11:05 am
  I hope you really enjoy it!
Sara February 23, 2012, 4:51 pm
Your leg hair comment was funny as I was a swimmer and we did not shave our legs the ENTIRE season, until the day before our big state meet. The reasoning was that with our newly smooth legs our times would be faster (and just in time for the most important races). haha! Congrats on getting your exercise in!
Lauren February 23, 2012, 6:05 pm
Leg hair really does create drag! When I swam competitively, we weren’t allowed to shave our legs for the whole season (November – March)!! When we could finally shave for the championship meet, the difference in the water is INCREDIBLE! I am excited for you to have the experience 🙂
Ginger February 23, 2012, 6:21 pm
I’m another high school swimmer who wasn’t allowed to shave until the end of the season. 🙂 In Wisconsin our swim team season ran from August to the end of the November, right through Homecoming. Yeah, that was fun getting all dressed up and not being able to shave. 😉 But perhaps that weighs in with the whole point of your project!
Amy S. February 23, 2012, 7:42 pm
Haha, my husband actually IS a fast shopper so I couldn’t do that arrangement with him. He’d be done in 200 meters or less.
Amy D February 23, 2012, 8:03 pm
I started as a GOTR coach a couple weeks ago. I’m loving it. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
- CaitlinHTP February 24, 2012, 11:05 am
  I am so glad you are coaching!!!
Ellen February 23, 2012, 8:32 pm
I was a competitive swimmer when I was younger and we had to let our leg hair grow for months and then save it before big meets. Your legs will feel lighter and sleeker in the water when you shave, it’s weird! (I don’t think it makes you faster though!)
Wendy Heath February 23, 2012, 8:59 pm
The leg hair thing- you will feel SO MUCH FASTER! We actually used to intentionally do that in high school, we’d stop shaving after the first 2 weeks of the season and then not shave until just before City meet. Hairylicious… but that first swim with clean shaven legs (and arms) felt sooo smooth! 🙂
Emily February 23, 2012, 10:15 pm
I’m just trying to picture how you were able to get that unusual ant’s eye view of Jame’s little doggy paws!! Great shot!
- CaitlinHTP February 24, 2012, 11:02 am
  Thanks! I was belly-flat on the ground LOL
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin February 24, 2012, 8:00 am
That’s so funny about the leg hair – I’ve never noticed a difference! Now I want to do an experiment and compare haha!
Caroline Leigh February 25, 2012, 10:08 am
i don’t know which type of peach salsa you’re eating, but i get the mango-peach salsa from whole foods (the whole foods brand), and it is deeeelicious on scrambled eggs!!

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