I’ve always wanted to like swimming.
I love the water. I’m not scared. But fitness swimming has never felt natural and I’ve never been speedy.
I read about other people’s love of swimming, Tracy’s and our friend Savita’s, our regular blogger Bettina’s, and I think, “I want that.” That’s how I want to feel about swimming.
So I’m working on changing my attitude. You can do that, you know.
Part of my problem is that I love swimming outside, not in indoor pools
Here’s me in Bora Bora!
A few years ago, I tried it again. See Starting to swim again and the first trauma is bathing suit shopping.
Maybe I should so swimming with Sally. See her post Learning to Swim and Loving My Body in the Process
Instead, I’ve signed up for semi private swimming lessons at the university pool. It’s a six week session, two evenings a week, half hour lessons. It’s not a huge commitment and I’ll report back on how it goes.
Anyway, wish me luck!
Have you ever worked hard to like a thing? What strategies have you used? Did it work?
Yay! I really hope you like it! Of course outdoor swimming is much better, so by the time next summer rolls around, you’ll be ready. Hopefully Guelph has some nice outdoor pools that you can enjoy. All the best!
So great that you’re giving swimming another go! I hope you find your rhythm. Once you do, you’ll be hooked. Good luck with the lessons!
Awwww yes! I really hope it ‘sticks’ for you this time around! Good luck with the lessons – I agree with Tracy that swimming becomes so much more pleasant when you find the right rhythm. Not getting your stroke rhythm right is, in fact, where many people have problems and why they don’t find swimming very enjoyable. But with a good instructor, I’m sure you’re on the right track!
For me, the “I really want to like this but I kind of hate it” sport was running – for years. I was always envious of people who (looked like they) were effortlessly gliding along, or telling me about how they love running to get into the flow and think about things (my husband solves tough work problems that way). All I could ever think about was how much I was suffering. But then I tried again and this time it worked! I still enjoy swimming way more, but I’ve come to really like running now. What changed? Maybe it was having a goal. I had signed up for a 10k race, so perhaps I managed to run through the wall I’d hit before because I knew I had to be able to do it by a certain day. I really have no useful advice to be honest – but I’m crossing my fingers it works out for you this time!
Good luck, and check out some of the open water swimming options near where you live. There are nice folks with GLOW (Great Lakes Open Water Adventures), or the LOST (Lake Ontario Swim Team), both of whom swim around the Oakville area. Some are serious swimmers, some just enjoy faffing around in the water. There are probably some even closer to home.
YES! This is me. I did a couple tris and always did horribly in the swim heat. I did personal training for the swimming portion, which helped a little, but my stamina with running does not translate!