Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get back into swimming for a while now. I used to swim competitively in high school, but, you know, life happens. I saw a flyer for the Southeast Zone Masters Swimming, and I thought, “Why not?”
First thing I did was dig out my old swimsuit. Thankfully, it still kinda fit. Major win there! Then, I had to find the actual pool where the practices were held. It turned out to be at the local community center, which was super convenient.
I showed up for my first practice feeling a little awkward, I’m not gonna lie. Everyone seemed to know each other, and I was the newbie, fumbling with my goggles and cap. I found the coach, introduced myself, and she was really welcoming. She told me to just hop in and do what I could.
- The warm-up was brutal. I was seriously out of shape.
- I struggled to keep up with the faster swimmers.
- I had to take a few extra breaks, trying not to drown.
But you know what? It felt good. It felt good to be back in the water, to push myself, even if it was just a little bit. I even chatted with a couple of the other swimmers, and they were super friendly and encouraging.
We did a bunch of drills, working on different strokes. My butterfly, which used to be my best stroke, was now more of a “struggle-fly.” My freestyle felt okay, but my backstroke was a mess. Breaststroke? Let’s not even talk about it. But hey, it’s a starting point, right?
By the end of the practice, I was completely wiped out. Every muscle in my body was screaming. But I also felt a sense of accomplishment. I did it. I survived. And I actually kind of enjoyed it.
The Next Steps
I’ve been going to practices for a few weeks now. I’m still slow, but I’m definitely improving. I’m not sure if I’ll ever compete again, but that’s not really the point. The point is, I’m doing something I enjoy, I’m getting some exercise, and I’m meeting some cool people. So yeah, Southeast Zone Masters Swimming? I’d say it’s a pretty good thing.
