Beginning to Float

A little while ago a very good friend suggested that I record my water journey. Until about two years ago I was terrified of water, and was a definite non swimmer. I hated swimming pools and didn’t own a swimming costume.

Two years later and I have taken the plunge with one to one private lessons in a pool, I go through choice to a swimming pool every week and I own three swimming costumes, 2 pairs of goggles and a rather fetching vintage bathing hat.

I have developed a fascination for lidos. Looking at photos of them makes my heart beat faster, and yet calms me at the same time. I look for spare moments in my week’s diary when I can get to the pool. I read about swimming, I watch videos of swimmers. I seem to have become a swimmer.

I can’t yet swim properly without flotation aids but I can do lengths of the pool with a float and a pull buoy (my favourite toy) Incidentally, this means braving the deep end – something I never thought I’d do. I can put my face in the water and breathe to the side quite comfortably. And this coming week I’m starting some more lessons to help me to improve my technique and get me swimming without those floats.

I wanted to write about my journey and my growing love for swimming, partly because my lovely friend suggested it but also because I’m beginning to understand why people swim, and why people swim in unusual settings such as outside and through winter. Part of me already wants to do that. But… I need to learn to tread water first.

So, here’s my journey. Do swim alongside me for a while. I’ll happily share my lane – until today I had to be on the side by the wall in case I needed to stop but today I swam on the outside edge so that the person who I was sharing with could swim by the wall. That’s progress 🙂