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04 May 2012 4 Comments
I joined the Y again on Monday. I hadn’t been in about 3 years; due to divorce and a lousy-paying job, I couldn’t afford it. I can now, though, and I desperately need the exercise. So, to the pool I went again.
Last time I swam regularly, I weighed about 20 pounds less than I do now. The laps this time are a little more difficult and I get winded pretty quickly, but on Tuesday, I swam 10 laps in the big pool. Today, I did 16. I could have done more but Isobel had an appointment at 7 and I don’t want to push too hard right now. I don’t want to burn out and I don’t want to hurt myself.
With the assistance of the handy-dandy calculator provided by my computer, I figured out that 16 laps is 800 yards. So, 35 laps is a mile. I’d like to do this at least four times a week. More, if I can squeeze it in.
I love swimming. I love how I don’t forget how to do it. Sure, it hurt on Tuesday but today, my arms and legs are just a little noodly. Tuesday they were screaming in pain.
When I swam three years ago, I went during the day. It was great. There were usually a couple of older men there, swimming with far more vigor than I’ve ever had, but it was quiet and I could zone out, watching the ceiling beams glide by and listening to the water slosh in my ears. This time, though, I go at 4:30 and there’s a swim team that meets there and only two open lanes. The swim team director is loud. The kids, who appear to be in high school, are loud. And then they all get out of the pool and do some sort of exercises on the pool deck. Don’t ask me what – I wear glasses and can’t see a thing without them – but today it involved tossing weighted balls at each other. I think. It was something orange, anyway. And the coach is yelling instructions the entire time. And the kids. Well, they’re all long and lean and don’t have an ounce of flab on them anywhere. I was starting to get self-conscious, but then I did that thing I used to do when I was little: if I don’t have my glasses on, then I can’t see them and they can’t see me.
I do think I’m going to buy some goggles and some earplugs, though. And hair ties. I forgot one today. My hair is down to the middle of my back and it makes swimming rather challenging when you keep getting hanks of hair wrapped around your arms.
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May 05, 2012 @ 03:05:21
Hey, 16 laps is nothing to sneeze at. I hope you can work up to your mile quickly!
May 16, 2012 @ 19:17:13
I’m with Sarah–16 laps is quite impressive! I always wanted to learn how to swim but I have an irrational fear of the water I just can’t seem to shake. I should just take swimming lessons one of these days and be done with it.
Good for you for getting back out there and doing what you love. And I totally hear ya–if you can’t see them, they can’t see you either
May 30, 2012 @ 23:21:20
We should be swimming buddies! (Except I go to JFK pool not the Y …) I love the anonymity of swimming. With my goggles on I can’t see anyway, and with my swim cap no one can recognize me. Swimming is seriously my solace and peace of mind. (I haven’t been here in a LONNNG time. I like your (new?) look.
Jul 09, 2012 @ 14:01:56
‘Just keep swimming, just keep swimming’. We’re so glad you’re at our Y. If there’s anything we can do to support you, don’t hesitate to let us know!