I spent my childhood in the pool and LOVED being in the water. My cousins and I would BEG to stay longer at the pool in the summer. We spent hours jumping off the diving board, racing from one end to the other, doing underwater flips, and doing cannonball jumps to see who could make the biggest splash! My grandma would watch us swim and sit in the hot sun to make sure we didn't drown. (In hindsight, I feel pretty bad about begging a woman in her 70's to spend more time in the hot Oklahoma summer sun just so we could swim).
So I haven't really been in the water except to float around for a few minutes in about a dozen years. Reasons:
- The thought of putting on a swimsuit for God and everyone to see ranks right up there with a trip to the dentist.
- Pools kind of gross me out. Little kids + public pool = Tasha OCD freak out.
- I usually prefer running or biking and feel like it's a better workout for me.
- Sometimes I am intimidated by new things and I'm a creature of habit.
- I am the whitest, palest, glow in the dark person you can imagine. No one wants to see this in a swimsuit. Four hundred applications of self tanner can not cover the blinding whiteness.
But I overlooked all of this last night and thought, if those fat men with the jungle of back hair aren't embarrassed to swim at the gym, I guess I shouldn't be either.
So I swam.
I'm sure my "form" was a lot like someone who was having a seizure in the water but I kept going anyway. I did my 10 laps in 15:30. Apparently, this is not very fast. That's a shocker, yes? SWIMMING IS SO HARD!!! I definitely don't remember feeling like I was dragging 50 lb weights through the water when I was a kid! I have a lot of work to do to get ready for the open water swim part of a triathlon!
7 comments:
I know it sucks, but it is SUCH an amazing workout!!
And I don't know...I think I might beat you in the Casper Contest :) I glow in the dark!!
The next time I put on a swim suit I am going to remember this post. You are right! If the big bellied, hairy men aren't embarrassed to swim, then I shouldn't be either! Best wishes as you train for your triathlon!!!!
You sound like you could have been me as a kid. I was that little girl begging to stay in my uncle’s pool for 5 more minutes. Then those 5 minutes would be up and I would ask for another 5. I’m sure you can relate.
We belong to a swim club in the summer and spend most of our days on the weekend there and even some weeknights. I’ve gotten over myself in a bathing suit, just because I tell myself that there will always be someone there that looks better than me and also those that look worse.
I know what you mean about swimming laps. I go to do that at the pool and feel like I’m dragging a car with me. Certainly not as easy as it seemed when I was a kiddo.
Keep it up, friend! I know it will get better and easier.
I'm proud of you! Don't forget how hard it was when you first started running...if you are like me it felt awkward and uncoordinated but after a while began to feel natural...i bet swimming will be the same.
First off pale is pretty ...second off you are lovely and 3rd off you will do fine just try some more...I ran tonight! only 1.25 miles but I ran even with a migraine
P.S. I tagged you! Please don't feel obligated. I know these things go around all of the time.
You will love swimming once you get back in the groove. If you want to see maximum results and to aid with tri training, get a pair of fins and a pull buoy. The fins will cause you to use more of your leg muscles and build strength in the backs of your legs and work your abs. The pull buoy will help build arm strength so you don't use all of your leg energy up on the swim. You basically want to do as much work as possible with your arms on the swim since you will be relying on your legs the rest of the race. Swimoutlet.com has awesome gear. I bet you will be a pro before your tri gets here!
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