Raleigh and I started the drive out to Denver on Christmas Eve 2020. He was starting his next adventure. I was riding out with him for the company and to meet Cheryl who was flying in from Australia to see us for a couple of weeks. Her and I would fly back to our homes after we celebrated his birthday.
On the way out he and I had many discussions and long talks. It seemed as if we had gone full circle. He was the one that was worrying. We had been in COVID lock down for almost a year and he was concerned that I was going to become a hermit or just a lonely old woman who did not take care of my physical or mental health. Throughout our many discussions I made the promise that I would faithfully get out out of the house and go to the YMCA and swim. I absolutely refused to agree to any formal classes or group activities, but felt as if I could swim a couple of times a week.
I had not done any swimming since I was a child, but was confident enough in the water to know I could float and get up and down the lane in a pool. When I returned from Denver I did start swimming and I was able to do 8 Laps. I started going three (3) times a week. My next goal was 13, then 17, then 25 Laps then on and on. I discovered I loved being in the water.
I found myself getting up daily to go to the pool. I needed another swimsuit. I was swimming so much I decided to invest in an underwater music player with headphones. Now I have all the gear; the extra swimsuits, extra goggles, flippers, special shampoo. I’m beginning to think I must be a real swimmer.
My mental health has improved by the day. The pounds have come off and my body has seemed to change shape. I no longer feel as old. I now swim 3 hours without stopping. I am up to 111 Laps. 108 Laps is the equivalent of a runner doing a 1/2 Marathon! My confidence that I can do more has lead me to believe that maybe – just maybe – I can swim the English Channel.
When I started swimming I read that if I could swim 25 Laps I could swim 50. I equated this same scenario to “if I could swim 1 hour I could swim 2 hours”. Now I can swim 3 hours so surely I can swim 6 hours. After I can swim 6 hours I can swim 12 and then I will be ready! I think I can …..
The medical benefits have been amazing. My blood pressure has not been this low in 20 years. I still smoke but nothing like I used to. My eating habits are much healthier.
However, I will say that the mental benefits have been the best.. without swimming I am not sure what might have happened to me this past year. The scare and lock downs associated with COVID, the loss of some very close friends, the first year of not being employed at all: it has all been so much to do handle. I have been fortunate to be able to get up every morning and go to the Y, put on my headphones, plug into my own thoughts and just swim.
Tomorrow I will get up and go to the pool; I will swim somewhere between 50 and 70 Laps. Wednesday or Thursday I will swim my long distance. Not sure how far, but it will be further than 111 and longer than 3 hours! I am in training. England to France .. hopefully. But if not the benefits have been more than worth it.