Swim fishy swim

8 Sleeps to go before I climb into a wet suit for the 2nd time with the express purpose of swimming in it!

Yes that's right out door swimming.

One mile.

In the out doors.

Did I mention that I'll be in a wet suit?




For plenty of people the idea of swimming doesn't really present any level of anxiety but I have always been a bit nervous about the whole thing. Don't get me wrong I can swim but to the untrained eye it appears more like a fight against the water that results in a very gradual forward momentum. In other words it doesn't really come all that naturally to me!!

                                              






When I was little I remember being held under the water for a fraction too long and feeling that my lungs were about to explode right out my tiny chest. I came up like a bullet out of a gun with tears and snot pouring from my face.


I can breast stroke like the best of them and it is my favourite- there is no questioning the bobbing up, out of the water that leads to lung fulls of fresh air. It is front crawl that I struggle with.

It's optional as to when you tilt your head to one side and gasp that breath of all essential air.

2 strokes.

breathe

3 strokes.

breathe.

4 strokes.

BREATHE.

Then the water slides into my ear and with each tilt to breathe it moves further in towards my brain. Like I am being punished for breathing. 

I hate it when stuff gets in my ears- I once had a perforated ear drum and I can't stand it when I get water in them. 

It reminds me of standing in my Granny's kitchen feeling small and in a lot of invisible pain. Mum standing soothing and reassuring telling me to be a brave little girl for a little while longer as Granny poured warm oil into my ears. 

Not a good time. The scars are still clearly there in writing this!!

So, swimming front stroke with water going into my ears and struggling to breathe is no easy challenge. I only ended up in this position because I can talk a good game. A really good game. Too good!

Last year I was signed up for the Great Scottish Swim, that was taking place in Strathclyde Country Park and thankfully in the 11th hour it was cancelled (blue green algae). I had however talked a REALLY good game. So good in fact that one of my friends, who had listened to me witter on about this huge swim, suggested we go for the Great North Swim instead.

Less likely to be called off for blue green algae. . .

. . .

I found out last night when 3 months ago we were logging on separately to register for this swim. We were both having the same thoughts:

1. Please let all the spaces be filled.

2. I can't let my friend down.

Pretty much being repeated over and over as the login details were first registered and then as the payment details were taken and then as the payments left our accounts. 

And now, as my information pack still hasn't arrived*, the thoughts are still repeating themselves. 

My friends pack has arrived. 

Our hotel is booked and paid for. 

I am still getting into the pool on virtually a daily basis.

And I am still quietly hoping for blue green to appear. 

8 sleeps to go!!

* the day after this post was written my pack arrived!

[there will be pictures]