Step One.

Turns out getting out of bed early and waking up early are two completely separate issues.

The BYU pool is only open to students from 6 to 8 am and 7 to 9 pm. I decided to swim in the mornings before class. Initially, this didn't sound too challenging to a girl who use to wake up at 4:44 for practice. Anyway, I set my alarm to 5:38 am for just the right amount of time to wake up and get to the pool. I packed my TYR swim bag with my trusty ol' fins, snorkel, and pool buoy then went to bed confident that I would make it to the pool as easily as I use to.

5:38

"Luau! If you're hungry for hunk of fat and juicy meat,

Eat my buddie Pumbaa here cuz he is a treat-"

My hand slipped out from the covers just long enough to turn off my alarm. The bitter cold sent it right back under the covers warning the rest of my body to stay covered. I laid there wide awake thinking of the set I wanted to do in the water. But I wasn't moving. My body refused to cooperate. It didn't mind being woken up, but getting out in the cold was apparently too much to ask. I laid there counting down from ten with the intent of leaping out of my bed on zero.

Ten. Nine. Eight.. I snuggled up a little bit to enjoy my last few minutes of warmth.

Seven. Six. Five...my hand inched towards the edge of the covers preparing to rip them off so I can leap out of bed.

Four. Three. Two...I took a deep breath and braced myself for the cold.

One...zero!

No action. My body knew if it consented to leave the comfort of my blanket-infested bed that it would shortly be walking to pool in 0 degree weather, shivering like those massage chairs--except this wouldn't be pleasant! So I started bargaining.

I'll make hot chocolate if it goes to the kitchen! No movement.

I'll dress up like Ralphie on The Christmas Story so it won't be cold! Nothin'.

I'll take a nice, long, steamy, soothing, cleansing, rejuvenating, alleviating, refreshing, shower after I swim! Pause...still nothing.

Next thing I know I'm counting down for the thousandth time and it's 7:00. Too late to get in a decent workout by the time I walked to the pool. Fail. My body may have won this battle, but the war will continue tomorrow morning. And, I have a few old tricks in store.