Like a Fish out of Water
Lauryn and I have been to many of her father’s tri-althon races. We admire the tenacity of the competitors and their commitment to training for their sport.. However, we prefer to stay dry under an umbrella and our butts on a bench as we watch the race unfold. This past week, I swam with a family member, while thinking about the importance to learn swim for safety, and the additional challenges of learning to lane swim at the pool.
Walking the pool deck with my old blue lift-tote a part of me wished it was a life-jacket. Fellow exercisers splashed by and dipping into my lane, I felt like a fish out of water…
What are the physical activities outside of your comfort zone, or usual routine? In regards to movement and health, what are your instinctual habits?
Over the next two weeks, do the opposite. If you are like me, without the instinct to drift us towards aerobic exercise, slowly dip into a new task that challenges your stamina and spirit. If going for fast laps, a brisk walk, or a quick ride are your go-to strategies for health and wellness — slow things down with a strength session instead.
Emily with her daughter Scarlett at three months old and a few inches deep into following her moms ‘flippery’ footsteps.
Last week, I went l lane swimming with my sister. Her, born with the merits of our fathers aquatic supremacy, and I with the the buoyancy of a kettlebell — it was our first swims in a while. I made it my goal to perform ten laps.
Two at a time, it was busy in the fast lane, so I jumped out of the pool in-between sets to recover with box breathing exercises and tried to stay relaxed. In the end, I lost count of my totals, but thirty five minutes later we were both happy to be done our session.
With her father in the background, Scarlett was in the pool a lot this summer — and I guess last week wasn’t my first time in the water either. Treading water, and cannon balls off the deck with family require the same attire, but lane swimming for me required an attitude adjustment and a slow approach.
In the deep end of the pool, it was hard, and upon returning home — looking pale as the pool water, Lauryn suggested I have a drink, and sit down for a minute to recover. All week, I thought back to my experience in the pool and wondered if I would do it again, next week.
Might the session be easier, physically? Or, by putting my sister’s cues to roll my hips and pull a bent elbow out of the water, continue to challenge the experience. I considered all these things, and know too that showing up, and getting there may be the hardest part. Starting an endeavour without having immediate success presents challenging circumstances to want to do it again… but yesterday afternoon, I sent a text to my new training partner in the pool.
The ask was simple, completed with an emoji of the bent elbow I hoped to integrate into my stroke, Are you up for a swim tomorrow? “Absolutely” was the reply.
Improve your capacity and evolve your exercise habits with something new. Start slow, embrace the suck, and enjoy the benefits of performing little bits, so that you might enjoy the experience — so that you may even do it again.
Take care,
Lauryn and Ian