swimming has to be one of the most relaxing things in the world. in late july, the water has warmed up enough that you never have to be afraid of jumping right in.
one of my favorite things to do in a pool is to put some goggles on, sink down to rest on my back on the bottom, and watch the underside of the water’s surface. sometimes i blow bubbles, liking the way they bob and spin as they float up before breaking on the surface. swimming in the rain is even better, watching the drops sploosh into the pool and listening to the sound of water on water. it sounds sort of like the ocean.
last night it wasn’t raining, but i did have a good swim. i was tired, and didn’t want to run, or bike, or use the elliptical machine. the pool, however, was perfect. i swam 20 laps for exercise and 5 more just to play. for once, i was the only one there.
i like swimming laps. i always feel strong and powerful in a pool. stroke, stroke, kick, kick. i tend to breathe by turning my head to the right, because i’m more comfortable that way, but i’ve started working on breathing to the left as well. i count strokes as i swim each length, trying to stay consistent, making sure i don’t slow down, even though it feels like i am. the harder i have to breathe, and the more my hair starts to fall into my face (despite my best efforts with the clips), the slower i feel like i’m going. but it turns out i’m actually not slowing. i maintain the same speed, or at least stroke count, even as i tire.
at the end of a good swimming workout, i notice two things. first, my cheeks burn. every other part of my body is cool, because of the water, but my cheeks are always on fire. i’m sure my face gets quite red. second, my fingers and knuckles ache. i can only assume that this is from squeezing my fingers tightly together, and cupping my hands just so as i pull myself through the water. when i can really feel the weight of the water against my palms, i feel like i’m doing well.
i never do flip turns anymore. i’m sure i can still do them, but i wonder how effective they’d be. i haven’t practiced them since i was 15-years-old and finishing my mediocre career on the ol’ swim team. i never could get the rhythm of butterfly just right, and dreaded being asked to swim IM. but i could hold my own in the freestyle and backstroke, and often won the breaststroke. my favorite event was the IM relay; i always swam breaststroke.
i climbed out of the pool last night tired and smiling. i read a few chapters in my book as the sun went down and dusk settled in. debbie came over for a swim. soon it was too dark to read, and i headed home, happy.