I took swim lessons as a kid. Eventually the instructors at our community pool threw me in the deep end and said, “Swim or drown.” Obviously, I didn’t drown.
However, I don’t know how to breathe at all so I never put my face in the water and I have no idea how to properly do the strokes or kicks. I’m pretty much capable of an unattractive, inefficient dog paddle or some weird looking frog thing. This has served me well enough until now that I could play in a pool, stay afloat while water skiing during drop off and pick up…that kind of thing.
But I want to do a sprint triatholon in August — 1/3 mile swim, 13 mile bike, 5K run — and my dog paddle isn’t going to see me through this. :fryingpan:
So, last night I started swim lessons. Half an hour — which seemed ridiculously short when I signed up. Uh…no. I was glad I could heave myself out of the pool at the end of that half hour. The instructor was very complimentary of my freestyle stroke and my flutter kick…but that breathing business SUCKS. :cursing:
I’ve got to practice. Maybe I’ll run a bathtub full of water and practice. But I WILL DO IT. I will learn to blow out my nose. I can do it. (If I say it often enough and keep saying it…right?) And I’m going to buy a swim cap to keep my hair out of my face. Goggles and a swim cap…now that’s a pretty picture. 
And no, THAT picture will never show up on my website.:mrgreen:
