Tag: swimming

accessibility · swimming

Sometimes Good Things Grow

Diane Harper1 Comment

Way back in 2013, I did my first Bring on the Bay (BOTB) swim, a 3 km swim in the Ottawa River to raise funds for Easter Seals.

In 2016 BOTB started to offer a swim angel program. It’s the largest program of its kind in Canada, and it’s an important contribution to making the event more accessible. I think is that’s very appropriate for an event raising funds for people with disabilities.

Coincidentally, 2016 was the year I had bunion surgery. I was very nervous about swimming that distance as I hadn’t done much training and was afraid I would get a massive foot cramp. My friend Nadine was friends with the guy who had dreamed it up after supporting one of his friends to do the swim the previous year. She offered to be my angel. She swam beside me and it gave me the confidence to keep going (but was prepared to get me help should I need it).

I couldn’t find a picture of us from BOTB that year, but here we are swimming at Meech Lake on a foggy day.

Fast forward a few more years and I was bored of swimming for myself, but thought it would be fun to pay it forward by being an angel. My swim team mate Sarah was interested in doing the race but was nervous because she had no open water experience. I volunteered to be her angel. She did great!

Sarah and I after our swim

The next year, Sarah convinced her mom to try. Irene did the 1.5 km route all in breaststroke. She now comes to Ottawa from Hamilton every year to do the swim.

Irene and I before starting our swim

Last year, I was paired with Penny, who it turns out I knew slightly as she often swam at the pool where I lifeguard. We did the 1.5 km race last year and this year she did the 3 km. Now 83, she was the oldest female swimmer (and may have been the oldest overall) this year.

Penny and I after our swim last year. Ignore that random hand on my shoulder; it is not AI. I cropped the photo.

This year, I was paired with Lisa. She had recently had surgery and was anxious. I was technically still recovering from my surgery but knew I could do the distance. We were well matched and took care of each other.

Lisa and I in the line waiting our turn to get into the water. There were 995 swimmers this year.

Nadine has moved away, but her influence is still felt in the Ottawa swimming community. She introduced me and several other friends to being swim angels. This year there were four of us out of 38 angels who met through her.

And the word has spread within my master’s swim club; four of us were angels, including Sarah, plus our former coach. Not bad for a tiny 35 member club.

Thanks Nadine – you really started something.

fitness

Listening to my Body

Diane Harper1 Comment

Since my surgery almost two months ago, I have struggled with the fitness regime assigned by the Heart Institute. It’s boring!

I didn’t mind when I had to do short walks and that took all my energy. But once I hit two half-hour walks a day, I lost all enthusiasm. After all, that was a 15 minute walk from my house, then 15 minutes to get home, twice a day. I have lived in my house for more than 35 years and know every nearby garden and most of the dogs. I need variety!

On top of that, the rest I was supposed to get wasn’t very restful, which just made me crankier.

So I did what every bad patient does and started making up my own exercise routines. First it was short bike rides, then an hour-long jazz class (so tired after but also so energized by seeing friends!). I added in swimming as soon as my incisions were closed. Most recently, I have returned to ballet class.

Me in my green bathing cap and goggles after my first swim. I was much happier than my goggle eyes make me look.

I have an appointment with the hospital physiotherapist to talk about my cardiac rehab program in a couple of weeks. She has already been warned that I would be pushing the limits of the normal recommendations, and said it would probably be okay as long as I listened to my body.

So I’m listening: early to bed, sleeping up to 10 hours a night, napping when I need to, lots of protein, fruits and vegetables.

Hopefully I’m doing well enough on the cardio goals that I won’t get lectures and I’ll end up with an approved exercise regime built around the things I enjoy.

If you have ever done rehab following illness or surgery, did you follow instructions exactly, or were you tempted to do more or less? How did that work out for you? Let me know in the comments.

health · swimming

Last Swim for a While

Diane Harper1 Comment

By the time you read this, I will be in recovery following my heart valve replacement.

I’m grateful I was able to go into surgery relatively fit. It will help my recovery.

I’m even more grateful that we finally had some good weather and I was able to go for a bike ride on Friday.

And I’m especially grateful to this amazing group of women, my swim club lane-mates. I couldn’t ask for better pals and can’t wait to be back in the water with them.

Five women grouped together in a swimming pool, hamming it up for the camera.
swimming

My Pool (and My Community) are Back!

Diane HarperLeave a comment

The swimming pool where I was hired as a lifeguard closed in June 2025 for renovations. Tuesday we opened for the first time.

It was a bit chaotic as our head guard couldn’t make it in, and our Aquafit instructor had sent an email saying they couldn’t come, but it was on the long weekend so no-one saw the message and arranged for a replacement. Kudos to my boss, who became head guard plus Aquafit instructor for two classes, on top of her day job. All the equipment that had been put away months ago needed to be set up again. But we made it.

Being back is wonderful. There were so many people joyfully catching up with each other. So many huge smiles, hugs and “welcome back!” greetings.

There were people I have seen at other pools where I work; they had been anxiously checking in on when we would reopen. There were people I had missed and wondered how they were doing. And there were people I had completely forgotten about until they walked through the door. It felt like a big family reunion.

Welcome back everyone! I’m so happy you’re here.

Me with a goofy grin, inside the lifeguard office.
swimming

If you’ve ever held back from swimming because of how you look in a swimsuit you should know…

Diane Harper1 Comment


Nobody is looking at you. Everyone is too busy figuring out their own stroke.
And the water genuinely does not care.
The people who have said something about your body are not in the pool doing the work. You are.

That automatically makes you the athlete in the room. Not them.
Get in the water. You belong there.

These words of wisdom come from Aishwarya Jagdish, an Indian triathlete on Threads.

I came across her post shortly after a particularly busy shift at work. All three pools were packed because it’s March Break in Ontario.

I was scanning for safety but couldn’t help but notice how relaxed people were about wearing what made them happy, instead of what media tells you is “right”. I admired the huge variety of people wearing everything from tiny bikinis to swim dresses, T-shirts and leggings on all different bodies.

I love this image of four women in a variety of swimsuits, which I found in Catherine’s post from five years ago about what women over 50 should wear for swimming.

Most were there to play with their kids rather than swimming in the lap pool, but the principle holds whether you are training for a race or building sandcastles at the beach.

fitness · health · swimming

Swimmer’s Teeth

Diane Harper2 Comments

Forget those images of lifeguards and swimmers with teeth sparkling white in their tanned faces. Apparently, swimmer’s teeth is a thing.

What is it and how does it happen? Apparently the chlorine and other pool chemicals can change the ph in your mouth, leading the discolouration, tartar, and even softened, cracked teeth. A swimmer friend brought it to my attention, and the consensus in our little group is that it can be a real issue.

All three of us have more than normal tartar at every dental check-up, and one has issues with discolouration and cracking. I’m curious about how many members of our respective swim clubs also suffer from it.

I have written about cycling and dental health before. A quick search shows that it appears to be an issue for runners, and athletes more generally, as well.

The advice to manage it all seems to boil down to: brush your teeth, especially before exercising; drink plenty of water; avoid sugary drinks and snacks; get to the dentist regularly.

This is good advice for everyone, so I’ll tuck this information away, keep up with my dental hygiene, and swim as often as possible in lakes or rivers.

A woman in a grey bathing cap and goggles shows off her smile from a pool with dark blue water.

aging · celebration · swimming

I am Officially a Senior Lifeguard

Diane Harper1 Comment

Today I turn 65. I already belong to a Facebook group called Senior Lifeguards.

I just finished my skills of the month which are basically the same as the fitness tests for my National Lifeguard certification. I redid that qualification a month ago.

It sometimes seems like a crazy thing to do this job, but I love it. Happy birthday though me!

The back of my red pinny folded to show the words lifeguard/sauveteur in whire, with my green whistle attached by a cord so it’s handy in case of emergencies.
fitness · stereotypes · swimming

A Funny Story About Unconscious Ageism

Diane Harper2 Comments

I recently needed to do the recertification exam for my lifeguard qualifications. It’s mandatory every two years and not really a big deal since I practice the skills regularly at work.

As usual, I was much older than almost everyone else there. Again, no big deal. I’m used to being – by far – the oldest lifeguard wherever I work. But apparently that is weird to some of the other lifeguards.

Following the fitness portion of our exam, one of the youngsters asked how old I was. When I told him, his response was “you’re in really good shape!”. I could almost see the thought bubble over his head “compared to my grandma.”

Kiddo, I have to do the exact same tests as you to hold the exact same job. I’m not unusually fit. I’m merely someone who has chosen to be visibly active in a way that you happened to notice.

The incident amused me because there were no real consequences. When I was trying to get hired, it was more of an issue. Same when I’m dealing with medical questions. I’m going to try and ignore them for the moment and enjoy my little giggle about the thought bubble. And remember that women far fitter than me have been called “grandmother” without acknowledging their remarkable achievements. Amy Apelhans Gubser I’m looking at you!

And for good measure, here’s a picture of me (a grandmother) with a group of my grandmother friends.

Five women in colourful bathing caps and suits, taking a selfie in the lake. Three of us are grandmothers.
Nat’s back in the pool!
Sat with Nat

Nat’s back in the pool!

natalieh (she/her)Leave a comment

My beloved and I are both cajoling our middle aged bodies these days. Our physiotherapist, Emily, recommended rock climbing or swimming for our upper body mobility and strength.

Monday morning we sat drinking coffee and looked at our options. Family membership at the Y runs $180 a month. Goodlife pools are not for doing lengths.

Membership at Western for both of us ran about $1000. Yikes!

Thankfully for people looking for once a week lane swim the City of London has 10 visit pool passes and a convenient location just a couple clicks from our house which runs about $5 a week.

Indoor pool lanes are so calming and comfortable.

Monday night we got goggles, cap and suits. Wednesday night we were doing laps. Easy peasy.

I love swimming and I feel at home there. It may be almost 10 years since I last did a lap. My body remembers.

Warm up of kicking and pulls. Easy front crawl. Breast stroke. Pulls. Front crawl. Breast stroke. I didn’t focus on speed or distance, just form and breathing.

I cooled down with sidestroke, sculls and a quick stretch. Michel had more structure to his workout. We left satisfied and committed to going back next week. Yay!

fitness

Beginning the Year as I Mean to Go On

Diane Harper1 Comment

Lots of people start the new year with some sort of physical activity, signalling their intention to be active. This year, I decided to signal my intention to make time for rest.

I spent two glorious days lounging in bed: napping, cuddling cats, and watching old movies.

Cat tax: this is Milo, my grey and white shorthaired fellow, who flopped into my arms and demanded cuddles on New Year’s Day.

I think it did me some good. I went to swim practice on January 3 and did more distance than usual I even did some full stroke instead of babying my sore ankle by doing arms only with a pull buoy.

Wish me luck remembering to rest for at least some of the next 355 days!