Like a Rock

Top 10 Lessons I’ve Learned as a Baby Swimmer:

1. Taking swim lessons as a kid does NOT translate into being an effective swimmer, it just means you won’t drown.
2. The first time you plan on wearing a swim cap, practice putting it on at home.  If you wait until you get in the locker room, there will be at least 3 different people that will laugh at you as you struggle to get that thing on your head.  One of those ladies will still giggle and make comments every time she sees you in the gym and ask if, “You figured out how to get that darn swim cap on yet?”
3. The initial shock of jumping into a cold pool never gets easier.  It always feels like you are plunging into the deep waters of the Arctic.
4. If you swim with friends who are already Ironmen, be prepared to hear, “Wow, you weren’t lying about how bad you swim.  You really do swim like a rock!”
5. In addition to #4, when the same friend sends you a message that says, “Guess what? I met someone at the pool today that was worse than you!”  choose to be flattered, not offended.
6. Flip turns are overrated because learning to do a flip turn means water up the nose and dizzy spells.
7. No matter what you do – do NOT swim in the lane next to the little kid’s swim team.  Your work out will turn into a much, much, MUCH shorter session because no one likes to get lapped by a kindergartener.
8. Likewise, when you are swimming beside someone who looks old enough to be your grandmother, be impressed at how fast she swims and ask for her help.  
9. If you write out swim workouts and put them in little Ziploc bags behind your lane, you will definitely look like you know what you’re doing.  Fake it until you make it!
10. Life is too short to avoid TRI’ing things because of fear – jump in the water!