I don't usually post Mondays but thought it would be a nice change. I just had to share how much I like Mondays.
Although not a formal rest day from training Monday's are almost a rest day. Of the six days I train per week this is the only day with one activity. It is an hour swim. For the past two months Mondays have been comprised of 500M swim in 15 minutes max with a 2 min rest after repeat until the hour is up.
If you have been following the blog in one of my old posts I mentioned at some point the story around swimming would be told. I guess today is that day.
When I was a child I lived in the country in a village called Blakeney. I would say at the most 25 homes and I might be exaggerating. In the village one family had a swimming pool, at least when I was young, and the girls who lived here were my babysitters. During one very hot summer day one of the girls decided we needed to leave my house and go to hers as a dip in the pool was needed. I'm sure I was excited about this little adventure but don't remember going there. What I remember is being told to sit on the second step of the pool. I was not one of those children that would stay quite and had to move around all the time. Mom always referred to me as a "can of angle worms". As I type this I now remember seeing that big bright coin molded in the bottom step. It signified the date the pool was installed. I wonder if that bright shiny coin is what peeked my interest and I just had to have it. Somehow I remember grabbing for the side of the pool and then seeing the bottom of the pool and then being on the ground facing up and being resuscitated by my babysitters. Someone was watching over me as one of the girls was a life guard.
Mom was a lifeguard, taught swimming and would take me once a week to the pool with my cousins. I never felt comfortable in the pool and I spent most of my time in the shallow end. Mom even sent me for private lessons but again I was never comfortable. Once Mom stopped forcing me to swim I stopped and increasingly the uneasiness in the pool increased. It was not my happy place and I avoided it as much as I could.
In 2010 my tri-buddy Ron suggested I reach out to Coach Paul for some private lessons. Giselle, another tri-buddy, told me about how Coach Paul had helped her husband to conquer his fear. I did call Paul and our first class together was October 2010. Instead of suggesting I get in the water right away we started with baby steps. How do you feel on the pool deck, how do you feel when we walk down the ramp into the pool, just float and feel comfortable, sit on the bottom of the pool and many other suggestions to get me over the fear. Before I knew it was I was learning the front crawl and was in the beginners tri swim class in Whitby. Then in 2011 I signed up for three triathlons. Both Paul and Ron were there for my first. Ron and I actually waded into the lake together. Colburg was a challenge as the water was so cold I swam the 750M on my back but I did it. Then the year finished up in Wasaga and that lake was like swimming in Pefferlaw which resulted in a very good swim. I should mention as a member of the Durham Triathlon Club we have open water swims on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Holmes Point in Pefferlaw. This is a great benefit of our club as open water is so different than the pool. (A commercial break if you are looking for a great club to train with)
I won't say that I am comfortable swimming yet but its getting better. Today it was a walk around the block however my face was in the water and feet at the surface (I hope). Now to get that same feeling in the lake.
I am so grateful Ron and Giselle suggested I go see Coach Paul. Learning to swim has opened the door to so many new adventures. And to top it off I received my first ever sports plaque at our club banquet - the most improved swimmer (another great benefit of the club).
So if you don't swim consider giving it a try and my advice is take it slow and find someone who is patient and helps you understand the fear and to face it rather than just jumping in. No matter how shallow it is it can seem very deep when you are fearful of it. I know oh so well. With baby steps we can all get over our fear of swimming.
I might be back before the big run on Sunday.
Have a wonderful week.
This is the Colburg Race and the water was so cold it was mandatory for wet suits. I was last or second from last but that is okay. That is Coach John giving me the high five. John coached us on track night in the summers (bike & run).
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