Have I mentioned that I'm learning to swim? Yes, I know that is funny. Everyone thinks so. It's not that I don't know how to swim. I'm not at all afraid to jump into a pool, I never minded having to take a swimming test at camp, and I wouldn't hesitate to water ski or do something like that where I could theoretically need to swim some small amount. It's more that I've never been able to progress in my swimming ability because of one minor impediment. That would be my uncontrollable impulse to swallow large amounts of water when I swim.
Basically, what happens is this: (1) I get in the pool; everything's good. (2) I prepare to begin swimming; still good, no anxiety, ready to go. (3) I put my head in the water to begin swimming, and briefly everything is okay, as I either hold my breath or breathe out. (4) Then I try to take a breath like they taught me when I was little in swimming class, and it all starts to go down hill. (5) It is hard to pinpoint when the problem starts, but within a few seconds of beginning to "swim," I begin to inhale large quantities of water.
It's like my lips perceive the water I can't help but open my mouth and swallow instantly, and it isn't even directly related to needing air. This makes swimming kind of miserable in many ways. You know how when you work out and then drink too much water too quickly you feel sick? That's how I always feel after swimming. Plus my throat hurts from all the chlorine I've swallowed.
So, anyway, I figured if I'm going to keep up the rowing, I probably should feel more comfortable swimming. Just in case. I finally got up the nerve to talk to my trainer about it (well, email him actually, because I am a wuss in all contexts), and last week we started working on my swimming skills. I completely embarrass myself by simply getting in the pool, and when I choke and cough and appear to be lacking in basic breathing and swallowing skills I reconsider if I should have brought this upon myself. I hate to do anything I'm not good at, and I am definitely not good at this. On top of everything, focusing on breathing properly makes me forget how to do everything else. Like kick. And of course the lifeguard was kind enough to point that out.
One exciting thing is that I wore goggles and opened my eyes underwater for the first time, and that helped dramatically with not running into things. Although somehow, the bottom of my left big toe is very bruised and painful, the inside of my left knee is bruised and it kind of hurts to walk because of it, and my left elbow is bruised and feels like I just hit it on something really hard. Not only can I not figure out how swimming could have possibly caused any of these injuries, but there is no way they could be related despite the fact that they are all my left side. This whole swimming experiment is actually quite stressful and hard work, but I am enjoying myself so far, and I'm excited about being a little less likely to die should my boat ever flip, and maybe some day even feeling comfortable enough to make swimming part of my regular routine.
But if I ever say I'm taking up tennis, someone should stop me.
Good luck. :)
Posted by: Marina | Jan 19, 2008 at 01:06 AM