Finally!

I started "swimming" with a Masters Swim club in my local area December 2021. My goal is to learn to swim so I can finally accomplish my goal of being a triathlete. The first day I was "thrown to the wolves" as some would say. My first task on my very first day with the club was to dolphin kick down the length of the pool on my back. But what a minute, I thought. I do NOT know how to do that. Nonetheless, in the next few seconds I was on my back wading down the length of the pool. I surprised myself. The coach continued to throw drills and swim techniques at me that I had no clue how to do. He even had me (us) swimming the length of the pool in timed drills. Huh? lol This is my first day I thought. But he did NOT come to play. AnyWho, to say the least, the first day was hard. The last assignment was to swim the length of the pool freestyle without stopping. Now, freestyle is my struggle. I'm still working on my breathing and this usually has me stopping midway the length of the pool. With this drill came extra pressure. If anyone stopped during the swim, everyone would have to do the drill again. Oh no.!! I did not want to be THAT girl who was the reason everyone had to do more work. I started swimming. I was doing good. Was I going to surprise myself again? Nope. lol I couldn't catch my breathe so instead of stopping, I turned over on my back and floated a bit before he yelled at me to turn back over. Luckily, after catching my breathe I was able to make it the end and not be the reason why everyone had to do it again. The coach said, "you didn't break the rules, you bent the rules so I guess it's okay". Talk about a big relief.

Now, the good part. I believe it was my 5th night swimming with the group when the moment I had been waiting for finally happened. The day was December 15, 2021 (I'm so dramatic, right lol). AnyWho, let me be dramatic because this was a long time coming. After doing a few drills, the time came again to swim the length of the pool. I had on fins so I felt a little more confident. I started swimming and the next thing I know, I had made it to the other end WITHOUT STOPPING. Cheers and applause please. lol I couldn't believe it, Somehow I managed to swim the length of the pool without stopping. A whole 25 yards. The first time ever. It was hard to believe, so I had to do it again. I did it a total of three times that night and I could not let the evening go by without capturing the monumental moment with a picture. So disregard how my eye is looking super crazy and focus on the joy on my face. I did it. I swam the length of the pool.

I was proud of myself. Now on to the next challenge. Swimming the length of the pool freestyle WITHOUT the fins. I'm halfway there. To end this on a successful note, I am swimming backstroke the length (without fins). I'm seeing progress all around because I definitely did not know who to do the backstroke PERIOD at the start of these classes.

Until next time.