So, a couple of posts ago, I mentioned that I was going to attempt swimming. How is it going? Well, not so hot. I have been to the pool twice and watched one swimming video on YouTube. Swimming is hard. It is really, really hard. And I am seriously NOT good at it. Good news? It does make me really tired and when I swim, I sleep like a baby.
After my first disastrous trip to the pool (I can't even call it "swimming'), I decided that I needed to do some research to make my swimming trials more effective. I typed in "freestyle" in the search bar of YouTube and tapped my fingernails as I waited for the results. Several videos popped up by JimmyDShea. I clicked open the video on the top of my screen. It was a young marine with a series of swimming "how to's" who likes to use old school rap as his background music. Can you guess the song for this first video? Yep - it's not only tricky to rock a rhyme that's right on time, it's also tricky to swim freestyle. No kidding. First of all, calling it "freestyle" leads you to believe that it's swimmer's choice: hey, swim however you want! Have fun! Free choice! Wohoo! But, that is NOT the case. There is NOTHING "free" about freestyle. There are all kinds of methods and rules to follow. At one point in the video, the guy reminds you in a lackadaisical way - hey, if you don't breathe right, you know what happens? You DROWN. Sheesh! So, I watch this video - which is actually pretty entertaining even if you're not trying to swim freestyle - and I realize that I am basically doing every single thing about freestyle....wrong. I'm essentially swimming the opposite of freestyle - which is just steps away from drowning. YouTube guy reminds me that I can't focus on working on all of these things at once. I have to take one thing at a time. So, I decide I'll focus on breathing. After all, if I can't get that, I'm in serious trouble.
So, I hit the pool for a second time. This time, I go to a new gym where I'm a proud new owner of a 30-day free membership. I'm excited to see that the pool is 4 feet deep the entire length. For some reason, this gives me a sense of calm, knowing that I can stand up at any point in the exercise. Even though I know how to survive in the water, deep water makes me panic, which doesn't make the breathing challenge any easier. I'm not excited to see that the pool has windows for anyone on a machine to watch my trials and tribulations with the sport. I'm also not real excited to learn that the locker room is not connected to the pool, which means that I have to walk through the treadmills/bikes/ellipticals in order to get to the pool....in my bathing suit. I say a little prayer, thankful that I have brought a huge towel to cover myself, and get to it.
It was a little better. But, it was still ugly. I was able to get a few more laps of freestyle in than last time AND I didn't drown, so that's something, right? I'll try again tomorrow and maybe it will get a little better. The good news is it can't get much worse.
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4 comments:
I want you to post a sample schedule of a typical "day in the life". I think that would be motivating to me!
Will do it! Have a feeling you don't need any motivation though - you're doing great! :)
Court this is too funny. I just took up swimming recently too but I have been sticking to breast stroke. I have never been a good swimmer and it's literally been since summer camp that I have attempted laps. But I'm afraid of people laughing at my attempt to try freestyle so I haven't yet. I want to check out your video though so you will have to send me the link. I still have been getting a good workout though with breast stroke. It's tough! They are really into swimming out here so my whole mom's group goes twice a week and that's why I started going. Good luck. Maybe hurting yourself was a blessing in disguise?
Man, I wish you weren't literally halfway across the world and we could swim together. It is really embarrassing. I went last night and was schooled by a lady twice my age. I tried breast stroke for the first time last night and that's not so easy either. Swimming is definitely not my thing, but it's "interesting" to try something new! Here's the link - he has a host of lessons for all strokes. It's quite entertaining. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYuSMumlUk4
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