After the Indoor Tri I continued working on my bike, run, and strength training, but I didn't step/splash/sink/swim in the pool again. The thought crossed my mind, but I just didn't "Jump Right In" so to speak. It took minimal convincing from Kristine to go on one Saturday morning to Matt's swim class.
I remember being in grade school taking swim lessons. I'd get my suit on at home, put my clothes over it, my mom would drive me to swim lessons and for an hour that was my Saturday morning. Swim lessons didn't last long, I learned the basics and lost interest pretty quickly. I was a lot slower than the other kids and was held back in Station 3 two times, so that's where my swim career ended.
Looking back, maybe I was defeated. I don't sit and wonder what would have happened if I had stuck with it. I don't think now that I would have gotten more laps in during the Indoor Tri if in grade school I had continued. Much like grade school friends that the friendship didn't last; I don't think it really altered later years of my life.
Much like in grade school I suited up at home, put on my gym clothes over my suit and I was off. I nervously paced in the locker room before class. I even went to the pool area, saw people swimming; class was still 10 minutes away. I went back in the locker room and paced some more. It was go time. I went back to the pool. I stood nervously, put my swim cap on, and held my goggles.
Matt greeted me and told me which lane to get in, he even introduced me to the rest of the class. My pace: slow. My form: nonexistent. My breathing: labored, when I'd remember to breath. My kicking: the closest thing to a saving grace, and even that was questionable. I declared myself the worst swimmer ever. Sure, it's possibly over exaggerating, but I was pretty awful.
While it seems obvious that drills would be part of learning to swim, what is less obvious to me is that half way through the drills I would have an epiphany. I'd be midway through the pool, from one end to the next, and I'd understand. It would all make sense. I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. The reason for the drill. And that's when I usually forget to breath. I would get so caught up in the fact that I even remotely understood why I was turning on my side, extending my arm as far as I could, and then I'd forget to breath. I would pop up from the water, grab some air, and try again.
My first swim class was rough. It was. 60 minutes of swimming is a pretty long time. In reality if I weren't horrible at swimming it wouldn't seem so long. But I am self-proclaimed horrible. Matt is way too kind and polite to tell me I'm awful, but I know I am. I tell myself, I can only get better. And that's the thing. I can only get better. Regardless of how awful I am or am not, I can only get better. Well, unless I get worse, then that would just downright suck.
The end of my first swim class brought diving off the edge. Now, I'm not exactly graceful. I'm not. I saw others dive in and thought "I'm going to flop, literally belly flop." Matt guided me from diving off the side into the pool. Sure enough my first attempt, if judged would have been rated an 8 out of 10 on a belly flop scale. It wasn't full blown belly flop, but I'm pretty sure I made a literal splash. My second attempt brought me a tad better result, except I went down deep and almost touched the bottom of the pool with my hands. Less flopping for sure, but a bit too far down too rapidly. My third attempt became my last. Matt changed my stance and form since I was admittedly not comfortable with my body. I felt it happen. I knew instantly it would bruise. I did literally, hit the deck. My head, arms, and chest were already in the water before I had finished launching myself off the edge.
My left shin did not clear the side of the pool. I felt it happen. Matt apologized profusely. It wasn't his fault. I actually laughed and said "That's going to leave a mark". The funny thing? I thought "Badass, I just got the first of probably many injuries from swimming." The reality? That bad boy bruised instantly and was swollen for the next few days.
I swim a few times a week practicing, leading up to swim class on Saturday. I actually am starting to believe I'm getting better. My off the side diving? I haven't tried again, but it's only a matter of time before my shin and I show that side who is boss.
