Swimming and me! Hahaha!

Well, I have always compared my swimming to look just about as bad as the way Phoebe ran thru the park on an episode of Friends! Not pretty and just bad enough to make you want to continue watching to see what's next.
Apparently, according to my new swim instructor, I don't "suck" near as much as I think I do.
He actually said that he wouldn't even consider me a baseline beginner but more of someone who needs to hone in on the skill I have, learn to be comfortable in the water and gain endurance.
Mr. D watched me "swim", assessed and then went to work. He put me through a few drills - specifically abs - yes, abs in the water. Then had me just start swimming. I have only ever known how to breath during Freestyle on my right. He insists that I try breathing on the left. SO breathe ever 3 strokes! Hmmm, ok, I will try most anything once.
It was awkward, I swallowed water, but I can do it...not perfectly, but that will come in time.
About 40 minutes in, I am tired and probably resemble a drowned rat in need of rescue...

Yep, that is how I felt. But E and C were swimming two lanes over and I couldn't let them see me stop. Of course my swim was also being helped along by the artificial "open water swim" in lane 1...8 large women doing water aerobics and creating quite an amount of waves. They did not help me during the back stroke, definitely took in extra water thanks to the "hateful 8" as I dubbed them.

So we came to the end of the workout and Mr. D said I would be finished if I accomplished one last task...

I was listening because I had NOTHING left. "Swim 5 laps without touching bottom, holding the wall and if you mess up or panic, collect yourself and get back in...5 laps, Freestyle, breathing every 3 strokes and you are done!"

UGH!

Double UGH!

I have NEVER swam 5 laps Freestyle non-stop.

Then it comes to me...I swam 1.2 miles non-stop in Gator water in a binding wetsuit and I was fine.

I am an IronWoman. And although E had left for Zumba, the thought of her reminding me of this echoed loudly in my head. I can do this!

And, guess what? I DID! Yes it was tough, yes it was hard but YES, I DID IT!

I swam today at the Y... the only one in the pool to entertain the lifeguard, worked on breathing every 3...

This ain't gonna be easy but I will get it...eventually!

Run safe, run happy and breathe every three!

-d