Friday, September 9, 2011

The Deep End

Believe it or not, the last time that I swam the front crawl from the shallow end to the deep end was in a swimming class several years ago -- when I had an escort, my swimming teacher, who pushed and pushed and knew my game.

The game? I would always agree to try the front crawl if I were going from the deep end to the shallow end. Why? Because I knew that my breathing would sustain me until, at least, the black line where, if I got of sync with breathing, I could put my feet on solid ground again. Buoyancy and treading water never even entered the equation but drowning was certainly on my mind.

I've been trying to get myself to swim from the shallow end to the deep end for some time now and I usually get to the deep end but using a variety of strokes.

The water in the pool that I usually go to is quite chilly. I stand around for a while until I convince myself to submerge and, since I'm submerged, it's makes since to start off doing the front crawl which I do until I get to the black line then I pull up and resort to the back crawl, side stroke or elementary back crawl.

I think that I felt relaxed enough and confident enough after yoga that I just decided that I was going to "finish what I started" and get from one end to the other and I did it. It felt so great and huge to make it across that black line doing the front crawl and I feel freer in the water now. My sidestroke (from left side) is also getting better.

If I can tap into that feeling of achievement and happiness right now, it would be great because I am in one foul mood for a Friday. Not even sure where it came from and what it's about but I could definitely benefit from getting in a pool and working this out...

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Gratuitous quote:

You listen to me you mook. You’re in the deep end of the pool at least act like you can swim.
from Epi 14, Season 4 of Prison Break, Scylla buyer to Don Self (24:00)

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