I signed up for a triathlon not knowing how to swim. Like most major events in my life, I knew all I had to do was to pursue that dream, one day at a time, and put in the work that is required of me.
I took my first swim class in June of this year and gained a false sense of confidence. I thought I knew how to swim but really I did not because the first thing in learning how to swim is to breath. And I was holding my breath...LOL. Whatt?!
As luck would have it, I kept running into Carla, a high school friend who is an accomplished runner, triathlete, and someone people love to be around. She introduced me to an ebullient, driven, and active bunch of ladies that did things I liked to do: train for races, marathons, and triathlons.
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| Celebrating our Ironwoman FitChick sister Carla!! |
My first few times of swimming in the open water was a panic fest. I quickly found out how different it is from lap swimming. I went in the deep end a couple times but clung to the roped buoys for dear life. I was a panicky hot mess who could not wrap my mind around not being able to "touch the ground." I believe I had a mild case of aquaphobia.
Then one day I decided, F/THIS!!! How the hell am I going to complete a triathlon if I am freaking the hell out in a lake's deep end? The swim portion of the triathlon is in the ocean?!?!
I did a lot of mental work to persuade my mind that I would not drown if I went in the deep end. I wrote and said positive affirmations daily. I learned that what was key for me was to stay calm and NOT TO OVER-THINK. Just LET GO.
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| Millie, Jocelyn, Yvtte, Auntie Melinda, Cathy, Nicole |
The turning point for me was when my friend Cathy coached me through going into the deep end. She has this soothing, authoritative, funny, and positive aura about her that put me at ease. And then I did it. I treaded water in the deep end, swam a few kilometers, and just like that my life long fear began to crumble. I was a new woman and I seriously felt reborn. Nothing could hold me back. The following week I swam 600 meters in the ocean and the rest is history :)
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| Ecstatic I completed my first ocean swim!!! |
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| Kiscelle & I |
To my FitChick sisters
I am deeply indebted to you for showing me the light with your hard work, patience, love, and support. I would not be the re-energized woman I am today. A heartfelt THANK YOU to you all!!!
Here are some words of advice I clung to while learning how to conquer my fear of the open water:
Carla: "Just keep coming out to the lake, you'll get there."
Liz: "Get your head in the water, bob up and down and practice your breathing."
Lisa: "Give it all you've got and get out of your comfort zone."
Cathy: "Just do it doggy-style." HAHAHA. "I meant do the doggy-paddle."
Jocelyn: "You need to increase your frequency of coming to the lake to get out of your comfort zone."
Kiscelle: "Breathing comes first, you got this Millie!"
Beverly: "Your swimming has improved a lot!"
It is both comforting and fun to be among like minded people who enjoy the rigor and challenge of training (despite busy careers, homes, and families- we're all MOMS!) We know that training not only gives us stronger lungs and muscles. More importantly our hearts are enlarged, allowing a greater capacity to be fuller, happier, and more compassionate human beings. This zest for life spills over into our families, work places, and homes.
At the end of the day, we make our communities better one sweaty mile at a time.
In other words, DO WHAT YOU LOVE!! :) !!
Happy Friday Friends!
