Open Water Swim

This weekend I did my first open water swim.

This involved a few things dramatically out of my comfort zone, including renting a wetsuit, getting into a wetsuit (that act alone got my heart rate up!), and getting into the lake.

 

I live in Sacramento, California, so I am lucky to have a few open water swimming areas I can try out.

 

This past weekend I headed over to the Nimbus Flat State Park. The park includes Lake Natoma which is a very popular place to hang out on the beach or do water activities like kayaking or paddle boarding.

The day I went was particularly crowded because it was the 4^th of July weekend.

Once I got into the lake, I learned a few things pretty quick.

 

First- a wetsuit actually makes you float.

 

It’s the oddest sensation. Almost like having an inner-tube around your chest and hips.

It was actually easier to swim in the wetsuit. I felt lighter.

 

But the second thing I learned is swimming in a lake feels a little like swimming blind.

 

In the safety of my rec center lap pool, I can clearly see the center line of my swim lane. When I turn my head to the side, I see the lane ropes which keep me from drifting into the next lane.

The lake has none of these safety nets that I used to take for granted.

In the lake, when you put your head in the water, you see green.

Then when you pull your head to the side, you either see the flat level of the lake, or a person or kayak floating by.

This allowed my head to fill with worry. Did they see me? Were they going to hit me?? If that boat was to my side, what is right ahead???

Over the course of my 30-minute open water experience, my husband estimated I swam about a half-a-mile. Many of those yards were done doggy paddle style.

I can’t say I loved it. In fact, I hated it.

 

But here are some important things my more rational mind has replayed since I got out of the lake:

It was my first time.

Pretty much everyone who recounts their first open water swim that is over the age of 20 talks about hating it.

My mind is doing what it is instinctually responsible for doing – Protecting me.

This was a scary situation and my nerves were firing on all levels. If my mind didn’t focus on all the new “dangers” surrounding it, it wouldn’t be doing its job.

Instead of deciding I’m not cut out for open water swimming, I could instead thank my mind for doing what evolution has engrained it to do.

I also know that as I gain more experience, my mind will adapt.

Maybe I will never become one with the water, but I chose to believe my mind will calm the hell down if I work on it enough.

 

Wetsuits do a lot of the work for you.

I was dreading wearing a wetsuit. Now it’s my BBF. Anything that helps me float and keeps me warm is a friend of mine.

 

I need to stick with it.

Despite all these fears, I committed to doing a triathlon on August 6th. And unless I am hurt, I’m doing it.

I refuse to give up just because I’m scared.

The most fulfilling things in my life have happened because I got out of my comfort zone and challenged myself. And if that holds true, I will be more than fulfilled when I finish the triathlon!