My New Found Love!

When I was small I used to love going to resorts and beaches to enjoy the water though I never learned to swim. But things changed when I almost drowned when I was about 9 years old and I got over it as the years passed by. The most traumatic of all was when I experienced a life and death situation drowning incident five years ago in an open water at Morong, Bataan. 

Much like how I struggled to be seen by the lifeguards. (Image from mariovittone.com)

I was enjoying the shallow waters of the sea. I took a short dip in and suddenly the sand in which my foot was standing slipped away. I was in a state of panic, struggling to grasp breath above the water but I feel something below is pulling me down. I started having thoughts of my family, my son, my friends and the things I have. After a few minutes I felt I am already out of breath and my head is starting to feel light. Then my thoughts started to rewind my past to me. When I was about to pass out I felt an arm wrapped on my neck and started to pull me up, and the next thing I know I was at the seaside and people were all looking down at me. From then on I developed a fear of deep waters.

Much like the scenario after I gained consciousness. (Image from dailymail.co.uk)

Since then, I already admitted the fact that I can never learn to swim, and that it can never be my sport, and because of this, it will be impossible for me to do Triathlons. Well, all of this changed because my advocacy is demanding for it.

I said before that running is my sport and my passion. But running alone all the time will eventually take its toll on you. I consider running as a hardcore sport, it is very hard on the lower extremities, and for me it’s on my legs and calves. I’ve been suffering from loose knee caps and painful calves muscles for quite some time now and I think I need a break from running to let it heal.

The first time I set my foot at Philsports Arena (Ultra) Pool, I was a bit scared. The pool is 50m x 20m in size, it has 10 lanes separated by line floats,  around 4 feet – 8 feet deep as you go further, it is located outdoors  so it doesn’t have roofing above it, they do not have water heaters to regulate the pool water temperature so the feel depends on the weather.

The shower area is huge and they have one room for 2 toilet cubicles and a counter w/ mirror. The pool is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Mostly the pool is crowded in the mornings especially on weekends. They also close the pool when there are competitions coming like IronMan Kids where the pool will be used in the said competition. Pool entrance costs Php60.

 

Under the supervision of Coach Norman Pascual, the official Triathlon Coach of our team, Team Triabetics, I was able to start on swimming. It was fun because I have classmates that train with me. He was so patient and so eager to teach that is why I am motivated. Just recently, he told me that I can already swim. It was a great achievement for me!

It was not easy. Since our training sessions are held every Tuesdays and Thurdays, 3 in the afternoon and that same time is my time out from work, I need to take a cab and get to the venue as fast as I can so I can have more swim training time. I know it’s kinda costly but because of my perseverance I gained more than what I intend to lose.

I wish I looked like her when I swim. (Image from allposters.co.uk)

I can say that I started falling in love with swimming the first time I did a smooth back and forth swim in the pool. When I swim smoothly I felt a certain calmness in me. The world started to become soundless. It’s like I am entering a different world when my vision started to change from bright to blue. When I start to kick my feet and move my arms, I feel peace inside me. Floating in the water feels like flying, and I love the feeling of freedom it gives me. With every grasp of breath I take is like getting into transition from the real world to the world of my own. It’s magical! Everything is just so Zen!

Swimming, like any other sport is also tedious as you go on, especially on the legs. I find myself catching my breath everytime I lose the correct swim form. Until now I still have difficulty breathing but it will improve as you train.

Checking my blood sugar after incorporating this training for two months now yield a very pleasing result. From RBS 2 hours postprandial in 500mg of Metformin HCl and Ampalaya Plus Capsule without any insulin dosage result of 280+mg/dL, I made it down to 103mg/dL! It is so unexpected and it’s more than what I’m asking for.

Fear is really just a state of mind, and it is also a carnivore that can eat you whole if you let it. Conquering a fear is such a great feeling. It was just unexplainable! Being able to do what you thought was impossible is already a great achievement, and in this fight against my sworn enemy, it’s a winning streak. I won in this round, but the fight has only just begun.

Yes, I have a new found love in swimming! an addition to my true love, which is running. This is a kind of love that you can have both at the same time, you can be polygamous in doing different sports.

Try to find a new love to give a new excitement in your trainings. I hope you find yours soon!

Good Vibes everyone and Sweet Running! ^_^