Friday, March 29, 2013

Swimming my heart out


I read those words above and something deep within becomes ignited. When I was younger, whilst I was (most mornings) coaxed into the water by my Mum because I was a whinger, once there I felt such a sense of freedom. I looked forward to getting in the lane with my brothers and trying to keep up. I loved the fact that I was given the opportunity to try and prove what I was capable of everytime I got in the water for a race. And whilst the hours and kilometres of training were sometimes (most times) more than I wanted as a kid, now as an adult I am loving it and look forward to getting down to the pool and proving to myself yet again - that I have what it takes.

Now when I say "have what it takes"....... it's not to try and win BUT it is to try and tell myself that no matter how I go or what the outcome ..... I gave it my all and I worked my toosh off for the best possible outcome for me. This is for me and no-one else. For every goal that I conquer regardless of it's size, I have gone one step forward to feeling proud of the person I am. 

Now when I get in the water I feel such a sense of freedom. It really does feel so beautiful for me to just go up and down a lane at the pool. Whether it be a nice easy recovery swim or some flat out hard sessions - I find something about each and everyone of those sessions to be thankful for. Whether it be the fact that my stroke count is improving, times are getting faster, stroke is getting longer and more effective or just that for that very moment I got to do something that I love - for me - swimming at this point has become my life (aside from family and friends of course).

Every week I have been challenged since getting the boot from physio. Which has meant that all of my swim sets have been with pullbouy and band. And whilst it's been tough to say the least I have been really excited at finishing each of my sets. I have perfected the art of doing fly, backstroke and breatsroke completely leg free and I can feel my arms getting heaps stronger. Now when I do a stroke I can feel it has intention. Love it. Last week I even clocked up 16kms worth of swimming. Havent done anything like that - SINCE FOREVER. And I feel really proud of myself.

Ive even signed up for the Aussi Masters in Geelong in October. Ive signed up for 6 races - 50 & 100 Frs, 50 & 100 & 200 Bks and the 800m Frs. How exciting. It's going to feel like the good old days when I was doing Metrops, State and Nationals. So it's time to get my training face on and go conquer my goal. Time to work hard in the water and smash my strength and conditioning sets. Time to get focused and have tunnel vision. I want to try and hit a sub 30 secs for my 50 Frs and try to beat my time of 34 secs for my 50 Back. Here's to giving it a good hard crack. Yeeha.

Im going to swim for me, for the little swimmer inside of me. For the girl who gave up on herself many years ago. Im going to make me proud.



5 comments:

  1. Wow - I envy your love for and skill in the pool. I'm making the move from marathons and ultras into triathlons, and the pool has become a very humbling place for me. It's getting better (I think), but I've got a long way to go with my technique and creating a friendly relationship with the water. Everything in time I suppose. Keep crushing it in the pool!

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  2. Your feelings for swimming, depict my feelings for running. It's a home for me, its a passionate lifestyle that I'll never leave behind. I am breaking into tri's this year, so I have been swimming and biking more, but running is still my passion and my home. Nothing can take the place of it, as it has been a huge part of my life for so long

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  3. Evolving through running: I envy your ability in the running department. The thought of running a marathon (let alone an Ultra) scares me.I find being on land really doing activities really hard. But I guess everything that we are not a natural at takes practice :) Hope all your swim training goes well. Practice makes perfect :)

    Laura: I am often taken back by how one single sport can give us so much joy. And how even when we are hurting so much we still look at it with such affection.I hope to one day feel a little something like this when I run but so far running has caused me many an injury.But I have a never say die attitude. When is your first race?

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  4. Two enthusiastic thumbs up - go for it!

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"The path to a dream is paved with sacrifices and lined with determination. And though it has many stumbling blocks along the way, and may go in more than one direction, it is travelled by belief and courage and conquered with a willingness to face challenges and take chances" Barbara Cage