Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

Today I swam for the first time in years.  As I was trying to get everything down right as far as the basics like breathing and stroke, etc., I kept getting distracted by little things like water getting in my eyes or getting dangerously close to inhaling some and then actually accidentally swallowing a little bit.  I started to be reminded of what I hear about Navy Seals.  I'm not sure if this is true, but I heard that they purposely drown you and then resuscitate you.  Maybe it's the Army Rangers or Special Forces.  I'm not sure.  Unfortunately, though, what I am thoroughly convinced of is that I have a deep-rooted fear of water that I will need to get over if I'm going to do this Ironman business.  Granted I've already ascertained that most of what's got me so inhibited is simply a lack of time in the water; which of course, the cure for is a LOT of time in the water.

My plan is to start with the absolute most basic stuff I can imagine.  Just keeping my head in the water, completely motionless and just practice breathing out; getting myself familiar and comfortable with what it feels like to exhale a long breath with my head not only in the water, but also facing down as if I was in the swimming position.  Then I'll try small segments of time where I position myself to swim, do a few strokes with my arms while I exhale, then stop, stand back up, focus, and do that again.

It's all about baby steps.  When I'm frustrated that it's so awkward after just one day I have to remember that it's water.  And how often am I in water? At least, in this context?  Answer?  Never.  So of course it's going to take a LOT of time in the water for it to be comfortable, let alone not awkward.

I guess this post was mostly for me.  I always want instant results, but if I think about it, I know that allowing time to run it's course really is the only way to go.  As long as I'm running with it.

Bye the bye.  I hope Finding Nemo is in your head all day now, thanks to my post title.  Tootles!