Learning to Breathe

About a month ago I discovered via google search that I have plantar fasciitis. It is defined as a partial or complete tear in the fascia of the bottom of the foot; characterized by pain just under the heel bone... or in other words, bummer. After trying to run on it once or twice, and paying the painful price, I decided that I need to give my feet a little vacation. With my first triathlon on the horizon, this is perhaps a blessing in disguise... forcing me to work on my swimming. I have never been a swimmer. I remember my mom taking me to the pool when I was younger for my first swim team practice... I swam one lap for the 'Buccaneers', then clung onto the wall in tears, and begged for my mom to let me out, which she did. Now years later, I am finally figuring it out.

For my first swim about three weeks ago, I convinced Jeff to come to the YMCA pool with me, telling him I needed his advice. Mostly I just didn't want to look like a fool and have no one there to laugh at myself with. Following his coaching as best I could, I would swim one length, stop, gasp for air, then rev myself up to go back. I did this for about 30 minutes and we called it a day. Since then, I have been swimming two or three days a week; including my weekly "healthy joints" class where I wear a floaty belt and "run" back and forth in the deep pool with about 15 other ladies who are at least 30 years older than me. We listen to Caribbean music and chat about what we had for dinner the night before and American Idol. Its quite fun.

Last week, one of the guys who swims at the Y told me about a swim plan that he started following when he turned to swimming after a knee injury. It is a six week plan that takes you from no swimming at all to swimming a mile... that is sixty some laps I am told. So last week I started the plan. Four 100's, four 50's, four 25's with a prescribed number of breaths in between, and it builds from there. Breathing is the hardest part about swimming for me. In running, I am used to breathing whenever I want, with swimming, it is quite different: you only have a small window of time when you can take in the precious oxygen... and sometimes water gets in. I frequently stop mid lap to cough. I am getting better though... much in part to the advice of some friends and the lifeguards at the Y... and practice of course. Yesterday I swam 200 meters non-stop (almost... only one cough break). My stroke is feeling more natural and breathing is getting easier.

As dumb as it may sound, breathing is important. When things get tough, I sometimes forget to breathe. I struggle and swallow water and cough because I am trying to go too fast or want to do things my own way. It is when I slow down, don't over think things, and breathe that I am able to get through the rough waters and finish the race. How's that for an analogy?!

"When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you." -Isaiah 43:2