Just keep swimming

These two items are fast becoming my good friends. I met with a friend this week to see what my swimming abilities were ie....how can we make swimming easier for Gina? Ginny and I know each other from MOPS. We have known each other for the last 3 years but I never knew she was a swimmer let alone a swim coach. Where have I been? Obviously not paying enough attention to Ginny 

Ginny is a straight shooter - No seriously she is. After we found each other on the Y pool deck she jumps in the pool and says "So show me what you got" And I was like "What swim?"  to which she replies "That is what we are here for, right?"   I knew if I sucked she would tell me, it would be the truth but it would oddly not be mean coming from Ginny. You just have to know Ginny to understand. 

After swimming 1/2 a lap she casually swims down to me. I am hanging onto the ledge for dear life trying to catch my breath. She says "Here's what I like" "You have a strong stroke, you make minimal splash, you swim with your head down & your are very parallel with the water." "But you suck at breathing" - see what I mean?  Mind you I am still trying to catch my breath & I utter  "yep, that's what I figured"

The next 45mins were spent running me through some drills, swimming on my side, and teaching me to side breath.  Don't ask me how she did it but by the end I was swimming & breathing effectively and I was NOT dying on the side of the pool. I mean literally in that small amount of time she had taught me how to breath and swim at the same time. Along the way she said many funny things to try and teach me & keep me focused. 

"Your forehead doesn't need to breath only your nose and mouth"

"Slow down, it's not a race, at least not yet"

"What are you doing? You are not the rabbit you are the turtle"

I am happy to report that this morning I went to the gym and swam 11 laps!!  Eleven laps with proper breathing & I did not die. I am sure that Ginny would be proud. Just so you know I have to complete 9 laps (so 18 times down & back) in order to equal the 1/4 mile swim for the Triathlon.

So in the words of Dori the fish from Finding Neemo - "Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming"