That's SwimmerNephew.
Me? Not so much.
But, I have a triathlon coming up in June so I gotta get back on the horse.
So, I finally went swimming for the first time since August. I felt a little trepidation about my stamina, knowing that running is one thing, but swimming is a whole 'nother beast.
I got to the pool and sat on the edge of the grandma lane.
I slid into the 82.5 degree water and joined a lady who was alternating a hybrid breast stroke/doggie paddle with water walking.
I started out nice and easy, unsure of how my back and shoulder would perform post PT. I felt pretty good after the first 50 yards. I even swam in a pretty straight line. I rested for a minute or so, and then did another lap. By the end of it my heart was pounding.
Who knew your goggles could pound in unison with your heart?
At that point I decided it would be a good idea to work on "technical" stuff. I slunk out of the pool and grabbed a buoy and a kick board.
I started out with the buoy because historically that had been easier for me.
Then it got a little worse.
I wasn't even using my feet.
After that, I decided to work on my kicking. It was painfully slow.
I'm pretty sure at one point I was moving backwards.
By that time an actual swimmer was in my lane and I decided to take my cue from her. She was doing single arm work.
She did not look like that.
I think it was a good first time back, as it helped me sort out a few things. Mostly, it helped me sort out that from now on, I'll stick to front crawl.
I'm back on the Yeah Write grid this week! Come check out some great writers with me! (And look for my 'Thumbs Up' badge on their site!)
UPCOMING POSTS: RACE RECAP, GUEST POSTING, MORE RUNNING
OMGOSH I ADORE YOU.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the book :-)
Thanks MIZ! No word yet :)
DeleteThis post made my crack up. I hope that your next swim session goes better. :-)
ReplyDeleteAt least you can swim, I can't swim very good to save my life.
Hehe--Thanks Tasha! Swimming will be good...eventually.
DeleteSigh!!! I can't stop laughing. :)
ReplyDeleteI can not wait to go swimming with you! Please bring the seahorse.
ReplyDeleteI will do my best, but it must be reserved.
Deleteoh no, that is just like me. I actually just flail my arms around in wild panic. I learned how to swim I swear, I even made the bronze medal thingy....it is a German thing
ReplyDeleteNext time you will be better.
Oh yes, I did the bronze medallion thingy...didn't pass though because I couldn't swim the required distance.
Deletehahaha I think you have predicted what my swim will be like when I head back into the pool. Haven't been in since August as well and have been working on rehabbing as well. At least now when I go, I'll have some visuals to think about while I perform my own. Thanks for the giggles
ReplyDeleteWell, best of luck! At least we keep truckin' right? ;) Let me know how that first swim back turns out!
DeleteI used to LOVE swimming but haven't had access to a pool not half-filled with child urine in years. That said, I've never been able to swim in a straight line when I start really going after it.
ReplyDeleteYour seahorse drawing is really great!
Are you suggesting there are pools that are NOT half-filled with child urine? The seahorse drawing was on a whim but I'm happy with how it turned out :D
DeleteHaha! Looking at your pictures of you I now know how I must look when I swim. FUNNY! I get it though, I am so not a swimmer.
ReplyDeleteTeehee. I'm glad there are so many of us non-swimmers :)
DeleteHahaha. I think you should go drown your sorrows (but not yourself).
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the caveat :P
DeleteOf course I have to ask. How did you end up with the board between your legs and bent back in a U turn position? Make it good even if it's not true.
ReplyDeleteOk. So...(big breath, cue music and back up singers)
Delete*Da-doo!* I was swimming through the grandma swimming lane that Sunday,
*Shoop da-doo!* And I passed by this lane marker where this sweet old lady,
*Chang da-doo!* She sometimes performed strange and exotic stretches,
*Om da-doo!" Cause she knows, you see, that strange exercise is my hobby,
She wasn't doing any unusual strokes that day,
*Nope da-doo!* So I was just about to, you know, doggie paddle on by,
*Good for you* When suddenly, and without warning, there was this
*TO-TAL E-CLIPSE OF THE SUN!*
...and then next thing I knew, my legs and buoy popped up by my elbow.
Also, I need to work some more on my core strength.
(I sure hope you're familiar with Little Shop of Horrors)
Oh!! I thought of another one! Ready?
DeleteNow, this is a story all about how, my legs got flipped, turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there,
I'll tell you how I became the swimmer with my legs in the air....
OMG and to think most women have to give birth to enjoy incontinence. I peed my pants just reading your reply. Yes I did recognize the song right away. I am master of all musicals, though my real focus is on Broadway musicals. For real! Pretty sure you could go video viral with footage of you training - feet in air means head underwater.
DeleteI LOVE MUSICALS TOO!! (Very sorry I made you pee.)
DeleteThis is awesome. Love this post and the illustrations are brilliant, as always.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Christine!
DeleteSO funny! I love your illustrations, it makes your story come to life! LOL
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks Lisa!
DeleteOOh I love the seahorse!! I am terrified to get back in the water. I think it's been almost two years since I did any tri swim training, and I am still set on never doing a triathlon again if it means I have to train for and participate in the swim portion. Duathlons for me ;) Good job getting back in the pool, scary as it is!
ReplyDeleteYou're not doing tris anymore? How did I not know this? You could always do relays too :D
Deleteyou're so funny. it's not easy getting back in the water. :)
ReplyDeleteNo it's not. But it's a must :)
DeleteWay to get back on the horse! Holy crap I love the goggle pounding picture. And I swear the floor comes up to find you, not the other way around. So clearly, not your fault!
ReplyDeleteHehehe, the floor absolutely is an animate moving object! So glad you understand.
DeleteI always laugh when I see your art. The one with your heart pounding out is great!!
ReplyDeleteKevin
HalfTRIing.blogspot.com
Thanks so much Kevin!
DeleteFirst I am visiting your blog the first time but your pictures will definitely bring me back more often now. I have been mustering all the will I can for a few weeks to finally go swimming putting an end to my winter-mode. I am making excuses for not going and still at the same time wish I could. Probably after reading your post today, I'll just tell myself that I haven't forgotten how to swim yet and will go. Very cool post! :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome! I know exactly how you feel; it's so hard to drag yourself back that first time, and you spend time feeling guilty for not going :P
DeleteI love your sense of humor. Your writing, and the pictures, really made me laugh. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!!
DeleteSuch a fun post with illustrations & all!!! I know you will do it fine - thx for the huge smile this morn!
ReplyDeleteThank *you* Jody! Yup, I'll get there--just found out my tri is only 400 m...super short!
DeleteAbsolutely LOVE the seahorse!! Can I borrow him next time I swim, too? And pull buoys are the devil.
ReplyDeleteThe seahorse is all yours :) And personally, I find the flutter board worse.
DeleteOh, TriGirl -- so glad to see you on the grid again and I am seriously impressed with your return attempt in the pool. I am clumsy enough on land that trying to be graceful in water is forbidden.
ReplyDeleteThanks SoupMama! It's probably a good idea to stay on land, but I'm not always the best at following good ideas!
DeleteOne of my ULTIMATE goals is to ride a SEA HORSE!!!!! how did you get this AMAZING opportunity! :P
ReplyDeleteI had to special order a shrinking machine from the other side of the world, to make myself the right size. It was quite simple, really. Better than enlarging a seahorse, because omg, can you imagine?? Scary.
DeleteWow! I didn't know they use horses in triathlons.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you're not doing the right races ;)
Deletehilarious!
ReplyDeleteWhere oh where can I buy pink, sparkly goggles of my very own?
ReplyDeleteThey're by a company called Aqua Sphere! Just beware, they will take up most of your face :)
DeleteYou know who wants to know when you got back on a horse(after your last experience) and learned to ride bare back. Also what's the horsie's name?
ReplyDeleteFirst time...horsie's was named after his famous uncle of course: Seabiscuit.
DeleteThis post is awesome in so many ways: 1.That you are a triathlete, 2.The super cute story, 3.The totally amazing drawings. I especially dig the one where her heart is popping out of her chest (and I adore the goggles)!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you so much psychochef!
DeleteI will visit your blog, repeatedly, solely for those awesome drawings. Absolutely LOVE them.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Hope you enjoy!
DeleteHappy to see you back at yeah write. And that seahorse is perfection. I have to get me one of those. Great job with the illustrations - always!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you! Happy to be back!
DeleteYour swimming posts crack me up. Love the pictures!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michelle :)
DeleteBahahahha I love the seahorse one!
ReplyDeleteThanksk Gia!
DeleteOmgosh! This was so cute! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteThis was so funny! You and that buoy will keep me laughing all day!
ReplyDeleteLaugh, laugh away!
DeleteHey, that's cool. This was a good one, and it's great to see someone who isn't afraid to admit they go at their own speed.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter used to do swim competitions and she hated it. Always wanted to go swim ("...but REAL swimming!") after the meets. Finally, I figured out she wasn't competitive.
Either way, it was hilarious. Your blog, I mean, not my daughter. I'm not going to laugh at a kid.
Probably smart, not laughing at a kid. Luckily, I'm all grown up so laugh away!
DeleteWay to get back on the seahorse--nice drawing.
ReplyDeleteHehe. Thanks Marcy :)
DeleteBaby strokes, right? ;) Love your stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda! Teeny, tiny, baby strokes :D
DeleteSwimming is sooo hard. Nothing like it. You have to start somewhere though. Easier from this point forward, right? 'Tis the season for tri's.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. Got a tri in June.
DeleteYou are too cool! I love your drawings and your humour. Don't worry you'll get there and give everyone else in the pool a run for their money. Looking forward to further updates and as part of the Fit Trio we're here to support you :)
ReplyDeleteFitnessbuster Supporting you in getting your fitness and nutrition back on track
Aww, thanks so much for the comment Gillian! Now if we could run in the pool that might be something :)
DeleteSo...I don't actually know what most of those strokes should look like. Or what the buoy is/does. I am so ashamed and probably shouldn't be reading triathlon blogs. So yeah, you totally beat me on the whole swimming thing!
ReplyDeleteThere's really just the one, right? I very recently learned that there are drills you can do that work on different things (the kicking, arm stuff, etc...) So I wouldn't feel bad at all!
Delete