a happy swimming pup

last week i went swimming for the first time in years. and this time, it was lap swimming, not splashing around in a pool playing colors or marco polo.

i walked to the pool area like jesminder in bend it like beckham. no head cap, no goggles. there were four lanes - fast, medium, slow and super slow. since i knew how to swim, i figured that i'd start in the slow lane to warm up and then move to a faster lane soon after. but then, less than 10 minutes into my swim, people started passing me up. i felt the pressure and as hard as i tried, i couldn't swim any faster. i think it had a lot to do with my swimming style of choice. instead of swimming freestyle like everyone else was, i was just cruising with my breath-stroke, never letting my head under the water (i was told that i looked like a happy swimming dog). i quickly moved to the super slow lane. hmph, it was less crowded anyway.

when i was a kid, my mom had to drag me out of the pool but this time, it was my choice. my body couldn't take another lap because my legs were cramping up. i swam for about 30 minutes and was instantly sore all over. but not the same soreness that an elliptical or jazzercise class gives me. my body just felt really tired. the post swimming feeling felt even greater than any regular workout has for me. muscles that i never knew i had were exhausted. swimming is truly the best overall body workout. i look forward to fitting it into my weekly schedule. if i'm not home, you can find me at the pool!