As a child (age 7-10), I went to the local pool and took swimming lessons through the city. I really didn’t learn how to swim but I learned enough that my mom thought I could be water-safe. I loved the water whether it was the pool or ocean.
At age 16, at Huntington Beach, I got caught in a series of waves and strong tides that I almost drowned. I would not get in the water for another 10 years with the exception of hot tubs.
At age 26, I was convinced to take scuba lessons (another story, another day) and got through the fear part of being in the water. I dog-paddled my way through the swim test to get my diving certification.
At age 36, I started training to do my first triathlon. Oh, did I mention I still didn’t know how to swim? My goal was to complete the the triathlon, and the fact that I didn’t know how to swim was not a factor. I dog paddled the 500 yards and went on to complete the event, coming in 4th from last. I’m ok with this.
I decided that I wanted to do the triathlon again but maybe this time I should learn how to swim. I took lessons at the YMCA. In my 2nd triathlon, I alternated between free-style and breast stroke. I did much better than the previous year and was very happy.
I dropped in at the YMCA master swim class and was the worst one there but got some needed help by the coach. I then joined Moms in Motion and then I really learned how to swim! I got regular coaching every week for 3 months and it was in that 3rd triathlon where I finally could swim the whole way in the ocean using only free-style!
In 4th year of triathlon, my goggles flooded in only the right eye. I could only breathe on the right at that point and the sun was on that side. I was swimming blind. I then decided that I needed to learn how to breathe on both sides. I went back to the YMCA for some concentrated lessons.
So the 5th triathlon was when I can say that I was a fully functional swimmer. It was a long term goal that took years to get to where I wanted to be. It was totally worth the time and effort. I’m not fast and that’s ok. I can always learn more.
