Why We Do What We Do. part 3

We took a little day trip down to the bay for a practice swim a couple of weeks ago.

We brought the wet suit. And a couple of plastic bags. Which came in handy for carrying things, so I guess they help with wet suits. Kinda.

Our swim was in the area of Fiesta Island, next to a boat ramp.

I was READY.

Goggles. Check.

Swim cap. Check.

Wet Suit...right side out? Check.

My eldest daughter did it with me. She also had no problem what so ever putting on her wet suit. "What's the big deal, mom? You just put it on and pull it up." Ahhhh. Youth.

I still need Doug's help to put mine on, and Brenna added some encouragement.

"O.K.", I thought. "The practice swim. Here we go!" Oh. I was READY. I love water. I can swim now! I've been in the beach water all my life...

I began walking into the water.

A little cold on the feet. A little mushy as well. Don't think about it. Don't even guess what you are stepping on. Maybe it's sea grass. That's mushy. Wet suit is working. Can't really feel how cold the water is, except for my feet. Awesome!

Lauren says, "Come on in, Mom!!"

So, I threw my 48 year old, immuno-suppressed self into the water.

And here is what proceeded to go through my mind:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

COLD.

coldcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldcold.

O.K. Whew! Ready? SWIM.

Uh, the water is brown and mucky.  I like my pool water that is super-chlorinated better. O.K. Swim.

coldcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldcold.

How come I can't think? How come it's so hard to swim? How come I can't BREATH??

coldcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldcoldcold.

Let's think of some other words:

(crisp, frosty, nipping, nippy, snappy.)

This is not working so well. Nope. Not at all. Why can't I swim in a straight line? I can do this. I know I can do this.

(arctic, frigid, gelid, glacial, icy, polar)

Wow. How did this wet suit get so tight? It feels....a little tight. As in I want it off. NOW. 

Where's Lauren? Whaaat? She's going back for her second lap all ready?

O.K. SWIM.

shiverystone-coldunheated, unwarmed
I looked at Doug, who was walking the shore-line while we were swimming."I can't do this." I yell.  "I think I'm done." (I had done one of 4 - l00 yard laps.)

"Nope." Came the reply.  "You can do this! I know you can. Just keep going. Go on your back."
On my back I went. Ahhh. O.K. I can breathe now. All right. Let's try free style.  I would do several strokes, try and breathe and then loose direction. Back to my back. Breathe. Find direction. Free style. Loose direction. Back, breathe, find direction.You get the pattern.
So, I did it. What I didn't realize is this:Salt water swallowed in great quantities while swimming reminds me of a colonoscopy prep.I really have to turn my head to breathe.It is very hard to swim in a straight line in open water.I really, really like my heated pool compared to 60 degree water.I ended up doing something I didn't think I could finish.It takes a LOT of mental toughness. Choppy, cold mucky water does nothing but scramble your brain while trying to swim.When I come out of the water and hit dry land, I can't walk straight. At all. Then I'm supposed to get on a bike. The wet suit came off just fine.I am doing this NOT as a race. I am doing this as a challenge to myself. Right?Let me get back to you on that one.I can take as long as I want to clear my head and put on my tennis shoes.The real race is next Sunday.