Swimming!

[cjsmith]

I did it. I finally went out and got in a pool.

I take back about 45% of the things I said about cold. A properly heated pool, once I get in it, really isn't too bad. If I were in shape enough to get warmed up it would be downright comfortable. The pool also looks nifty sitting there steaming in the early morning light! (Getting OUT of the pool, on the other hand... outdoors... brr.)

I am very out of shape. Two years without any cardio exercise whatsoever, plus I've never done much with my upper body in my life. (Except when I was in the Army. I could knock out those pushups then.) This is humbling.

I was very thankful that it wasn't crowded. I had a lane to myself. There are benefits to going to an outdoor pool shortly after the rainstorm stops! (Or is it that it's January?) Maybe by summer, when it'll be crowded again, I'll be able to swim at a decent pace.

I have water in both my ears. Despite arms like noodles, I would have continued swimming longer this morning except that both ears were hurting. I need help on this!

And now for the bad news. My feet are KILLING ME. It seems there's a certain amount of standing up that happens. There's probably more for me than for most, because I haven't been swimming in twenty years. In between laps, arms hooked over the edge, panting -- those feet are down and they've got the toes bent back (the worst). Rats! I can NOT be doing that! Grrr! I sure hope this isn't yet one more form of exercise that I shouldn't do because of my feet. That would leave one last fitness option: just generally being tense.

I've found a wonderful image to use as a swim icon. I've written for permission. It is a CAT! Swimming! Is that me or what? :-) Check out this page. I hope I'm allowed to use it.

Comments

[kimatha.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you will adjust with the standing issue. I second the suggestions in the comments, and have a couple of my own: rest at the deep end if you can, so your feet will stay all floaty, while you hang on with your arms. Or, when you rest, pull yourself up until you're hanging off the side of the pool by your elbows, so that your feet dangle instead of resting.

I totally want that cat.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you're right. It'll just take time. I feel guilty for not babying my feet, though. Grr! I'm trying to, but I'm still learning what not to do!

There's no deep end in these lap lanes -- it's an Olympic pool divided widthwise, with diving boards on the deep side and little cones marking "Slow People Can Swim Here" in the four-foot-deep area. The laps still wind up being 25 meters, which is respectable.

That cat is awesome. I want a Turkish Van cat next. I think it would be wonderful to have a cat that liked water!

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

You could get a tiger!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

When I am a multimillionaire I'll build enclosures and hire people with clue and keep big cats that need rehab. wist wist