Stroke

 One... two.... three.... four.... five (breathe out through the nose), roll the left shoulder, six (Breath in through the mouth, head and shoulder down). 

Repeat. Until you get to the end of the lane. 

It's a mantra. 

I don't know how to tumble turn. And that's okay. I had my last proper swimming lesson some fifty years ago. I remember going to Mrs Brown's swimming school in Warradale, just down the road from my grandparent's place. All I can remember is blowing bubbles and being told to kick more. I still have to remind myself to kick. And don't ask me about my breaststroke. It's terrible and is in bad need of stroke correction. 

But my freestyle is solid. 

When I was running, I had similar mantras, but was more an "in two three four, hold two three four, out two three four...." the breath in time with my steps. 

I only breathe every six strokes when I do freestyle. When I'm fitter, more swim-fit, it's every eight strokes. 

I went swimming with EJ again this morning at the Box Hill pool. The pool is a complete melting pot. The inside pool is a Petrie dish where what feels like hundreds of children have their lessons. The outside pool, where we swim is less populated, but still a melting pot of ages and ethnicities. It's a nice pool. The people are friendly. You feel safe leaving your bag at the top of the lane. 

EJ's on another one of his swim challenges, and once again, I got to be the cheerleader. I'm also the other person in the lane who is not a pain to swim with. I get the etiquette. If you're swimming by yourself in a public pool, you want somebody who's respectful to swim with. You let the person who's slightly faster to go first. You don't hog the lane. You work your speeds. It's really relaxing. 

Of course, EJ is swimming 5-6 times a week. He's swim fit. He's doing 80 lengths of a 25 metre pool in about an hour. This time, I managed 50 lengths - around 1200 metres, in the same time. I'm stoked. 

What's even better, when doing freestyle, I can keep pace with EJ. I need to swim more to get fitter, to get faster. 

But the best thing of all? 

For an hour, I get to just count. One....two... three.... four.... five... (breath out through the nose) roll the left shoulder, six (breathe in through the mouth, then head and shoulder down). Repeat. Until you get to the end of the lane. 

Swimming is a meditation. 

It's wonderful.

Today's song: