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| Simon, me and Jenny in Manly. My very first ocean swim training session!!! |
I think if I had the chance to think about what I was going to do this morning, I probably would not have gone. But we had no idea how quickly we would clear customs and how fast we would get home. Adrian nonchalantly mentioned that I probably had time to make it to the 10:00 a.m. surf training session in Manly. So the first thing I did when I dropped my bags at home was peel off the clothes I had been wearing for over a day and slip into my bathing suit. As I had already missed the first surf session, and was going to miss next week's, I thought it would be a good idea to just take the plunge (pardon the pun) and get my first surf session over and done with.
It didn't really occur to me to be scared - you see, I don't really like swimming in the sea. I just don't. I'm a confident enough swimmer in the pool (albeit it needs to be a 25 metre warm pool where I can touch the bottom with my feet!), but I drew the line at swimming in the unknown and uncontrollable ocean. Besides, it was my very surf session, I hadn't even attended a pool session yet (we were in New York when the program started - Adrian ran the New York marathon, and he is an example of just how Can Too can change someone's life: this only happens to be his third marathon in 14 months!), so surely they wouldn't get me swimming straight away, right? Ha, goes to show you how much I know!
I got to the session late, but the wonderful Claire was there as energy champion and she luckily recognised me from my red FitFlops. She said the group had just headed to Shelley Beach and I wasn't that far behind. I headed off the pathway, and I had my first glimpse of the wavy water that I knew I had to swim in one day. Surely, it wouldn't be today...
I got to Manly Beach and gave a few people a bit of a surprise, as I wasn't expected to be in training until at least next week. The team was in the water, swimming out to surf skis that were what I felt was a substantial distance from the beach. Simon (Annie's hubby and competitive ocean swimmer extraordinaire) spotted me and offered to swim with me. Right - so I was going to swim, today. I tried to tell him I was jet lagged, Oh, and in my haste to get to Shelley Beach I left my goggles and ear plugs in my bag. Oh darn. Surely I couldn't swim now! But Simon very kindly handed me his goggles and encouraged me to plunge in. Bugger. I also knew that I would look really stupid being the only person not in the water. So fine, I plunged in.
Oh my God, it's cold!!! Simon told me slowly get myself used to the temperature, and after a few minutes I plunged in. I managed four strokes and went up for air - my chest felt so cold, I found it hard to breathe. After a few more strokes I was already struggling with my breathing and I was seriously slowing down. I didn't feel too bad, but I couldn't believe how slow I was going. I am not the fastest swimmer in the world (and will never be), but surely I thought I would be faster than Nanna pace. Simon assured me that the cold temperature makes me work harder, so no wonder it was a bit hard going at first.
I got to the first surf ski, and felt I needed to have a wee rest and tread water a bit. I couldn't stay long though, as other people were streaming in around the surf skis and this was probably the worst place to rest. Simon encouraged me to keep going to the next surf ski, and before I knew it we were heading to shore. It was so much easier swimming with the current to get back to the beach! And then it was round 2 - back into the water to do the circuit again. I couldn't believe it - surely they wouldn't make me swim AGAIN??? I was in a plane a mere few hours ago...besides, my ears were hurting as I had swum without my ear plugs. But one of the other Mentors very kindly lent me her ear plugs. Bugger, another excuse I couldn't give. I thought it would make me look churlish to refuse such a generous offer, so the least I could do would be to give the swim another go.
Funnily enough, it was a bit easier the second time around. But I realised the waves were pretty choppy, and I was feeling a bit nauseous and seasick as I got a bit moved around by the waves. Logically I knew this was part of the whole ocean swimming thing, but that didn't mean I had to like it! Thankfully I got to the surf skis and from there it was heaps easier to get to shore.
After this swim, I was pretty tired so I sat out the rest of the session. But I was so GLAD I came - I was made to feel incredibly welcome, even though I had missed a few training sessions, and I was very much looking forward to the training ahead. Go Can Too!!!!!!
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