In the Swim

For those of you who read my initial blog on my attempts to learn to swim, I have some news.

I wasn’t really feeling too keen about going to my swimming class on Saturday morning. Not sure why. I guess I just hadn’t psyched myself up for it – and I’ve been feeling a bit frustrated with not being able to get on top of the “breathing” issues. Would I EVER be able to swim a full lap without stopping?

On the way to the pool (Darren drives me there on the way to taking the girls to ballet – no point wearing oneself out before the class, is there? Tee hee!), I said to Darren, “What if I’m never able to get over the breathing thing? What if I am only ever capable of taking four or five breaths before losing my rhythm?”. Normally, I don’t get so down about these things, but this whole swimming thing has really been challenging me.

The instructor told us to do a warm-up lap and a half of freestyle, and I thought, “I’ll just see how I go.” So, I took off, and everything seemed surprisingly easy. I knew how to do the strokes and kicking properly, I timed my breath well and lifted my head at the correct angle (most times) to take the breaths. Before I knew it, I realised I was actually going OK, and that I had some sort of chance of making it to the end, as I hadn’t choked on water or nearly burst my lungs. Normally, this feeling would result in me panicking a bit, but I just kept going, pumping those strokes and gliding through the water. I saw the end of the line on the floor of the pool, and looked up slightly to see that the end of the pool wasn’t far away. I gave it all I had, nearly gasping as I took in the last breath, and striving to reach the pool wall. I ACTUALLY DID IT! A full lap without stopping!

I bobbed around in shock at the end of the pool, and I excitedly told my good news to the lady who followed me. The class then did half laps and went on to practice breastroke kicks, so I didn’t get another chance to go for a full lap (mind you, the first one plum wore me out!).

So, at the end of the lesson, one of the other ladies in the class joined me in the MEDIUM lane (no, not the slow lane for us!) of the pool, and we decided to have a go at doing a full lap. And I did it! And so did she! We gave ourselves ample recovery and chat time at the other end of the pool, and then took off for a third go – this time, I nearly crashed into another swimmer and choked on the last breath, so I didn’t quite make the full lap (only about two strokes short). But hey, I can claim two full laps. Before this I had never, ever, in my whole entire life, completed one lap without stopping. This is one proud mama.

My goodness – what a feeling! As I walked home the Flashdance ‘What a Feeling’ tune (annoyingly) hummed in my ears – although, no, I didn’t do the manic dance that features in the movie. When Darren and the girls arrived home I told them the great news and we had a huge group hug and happy dance. The girls were so excited – I just hope that they (and you, if you’re a fearful non-swimmer) are inspired by my achievement, and know that they, too, can overcome their fears and swim, swim, swim!

Although I think my success was due to weeks of practice, concentration, courage, and determination (and watching The Miracle Swimmer – more on that in another blog), I also think that a green smoothie can take some of the credit. Normally, before I head to the pool in the morning I usually drink orange-lemon juice (juice of two oranges and one lemon, topped with water) and eat a banana an hour or so before I leave. But on that day I got up earlier and had a green smoothie of bananas, apple, spinach and rocket (arugula). Maybe that helped fuel my near-Olympic success?

Oh, happy days.