I forgot how much I love swimming.
When I was 5 my dad taught me the breaststroke. I picked up on it quickly – swimming and diving underwater like a happy little frog (if that frog had arms and a mask).
Every day in the summer I swam. I liked pools better than lakes, because the water was crystal clear and the bottom wasn’t covered in slime. I’d dive deep searching the bottom for treasure. I’d swim all the way across the pool underwater to see how long I could hold my breath. I’d jump off the low diving board and even the 3 meter high dive.
Trips to the lake were fun too. I’d tramp through the forests, skip rocks, eat burgers from the charcoal grill and explore the murky waters. Occasionally I’d spy a fish, but mostly I saw mud and brown water.
From fun to fitness
When I was 18, early into my quest to build a superhero body, I read about the Ironman Triathlon. I thought I might go for it so I decided to start lap swimming.
My first few months were difficult. I could breaststroke forever but my front crawl was a flailing mess.
I’d reach the far side of the pool gasping for air and feeling like my head was about to explode. Meanwhile, the old lady swimming in the lane beside me would effortlessly glide past as she swam lap after lap without taking a break.
My goal was to someday swim as good as the old lady.
After a few months, my technique (and stamina) improved.
I taught myself flip turns. My front crawl became smooth and efficient. My backstroke sliced through the water as I glided like a canoe on top of the water.
By the next summer, I was a match for the energizer old lady.
I swam at least 5 days a week. When I could, I’d swim everyday.
It was cheap and available.
Most of the year I swam indoors because I lived in Pittsburgh (motto “when it’s not winter, it’s overcast and raining”).
My favorite indoor pool was at the University of Pittsburgh. It was an Olympic pool with giant windows, diving platforms and lots of lanes. In between laps, I’d watch the diving team leap gracefully from the 5 story platform. My student ID gave me full access to the pool.
When I couldn’t swim at Pitt, I found a number of substitutes. There was a pool at my community college. There were outdoor county park pools in the summer. There were the pools where I worked as a lifeguard. I was even able to sneak in laps at the college where I worked as a part-time tutor.
Sometimes I would race the swimmers next to me (they never knew). But most of the time I was immersed in my head – gliding, stroking and breathing in my own private water world.
I didn’t really care how fast I went. It was never about speed. My goals were endurance and distance.
Then I stopped.
After college, I stopped swimming. It didn’t fit in with my busy work and family life.
Occasionally, I would jump in our backyard pool but it was too short to do laps. On vacations at the lake or beach I’d snorkel or take quick dips. For the next 3 decades, lap swimming was over.
Until last week.
Inspiration and wistfulness
I read an article recently about Jack Lalanne, who swam everyday. This got me thinking, “I used to swim every day and loved it. I kind of miss it. Maybe I should try it again.”
Swimming is the only time I feel graceful and totally in my element.
So 30 years after swimming my last lap, I jumped back into the pool again.
It was magical.
I was surprised how quickly I got into the zone. I expected to struggle for weeks until I gained my “swimming fitness” back. Instead, although I started out a bit rusty, I quickly found my stroke my first time out.
I’m not ready for flip turns yet, but my front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke felt almost like I had not missed those 30 years. I’m not gasping for air, nor am I sore.
Instead, it’s been so much fun, I’ve swum everyday for a week and plan to continue.
It also forced me back out into the community.
My town has two outdoor Olympic sized pools within 5 miles from me. Since we’re in Florida, they are open year round. The cost for residents is cheap – $84 for 6 months of unlimited swimming.
Instead of working out alone in my garage, I’m surrounded by other swimmers. There are children learning to swim, teens practicing for swim team, lifeguards training and masters swimmers doing laps. There was even a tactical unit (SWAT?) doing hardcore military fitness test prep one day.
Surprisingly, I think I missed the pool camaraderie too. It’s refreshing to be part of it again.
I never did do a triathlon. I stopped running when I was 20. Lifting, biking, walking, and swimming were good enough for me.
Then again, I used to love zoning out when long distance running. Maybe once my feet are fully healed, I’ll give running another shot too.