Well not really. I’m still under the microscope with the IRS, but to counteract the stress of this whole audit process, I chose swimming as my exercise of choice last night.
And I got a pleasant surprise!
My gym has switched the indoor pool over to a salt water filtering system! Yay! Because I didn’t know this at first, when I swallowed water on my first lap, I thought “Hmmm. That’s odd. The water tastes salty.” I crossed my fingers for the next 49 laps (figuratively of course because actually crossing my fingers would have made swimming difficult) that they had switched to a salt water system rather than something being horribly wrong in what was previously a heavily chlorinated pool. There were little kids getting swimming lessons and a lifeguard on duty, so I figured it was unlikely something was horribly wrong with the system.
Besides, the water felt smoother and clearer and cooler than it had previously. And while a two-week hiatus from swimming made the swim feel a little tougher, I still managed to push through 1,000+ yards and felt great when I headed home. I love swimming. Unlike any other type of exercise, for me anyway, when I swim, I can completely shift my brain to concentrating on only my stroke, my form and how many laps I’ve gone. In the water, everything else just slips away.
When I work out with Jen, the trainer, it’s a social workout. We chat and laugh (I curse) and that has its benefits. When I run or bike, it’s an internal struggle. There’s music to blot out the negative voices in my head telling me to STOP! but I still need to play head games and make deals with myself through those workouts to get to the end. The end, however, is worth it.
Swimming though is different. When I’m swimming, I’m in tune with my body. Are my arms getting back into the water fast enough? Am I pulling correctly? Am I kicking? Twisting to the left (since I don’t breathe on that side) Am I keeping my chin snapped to my shoulder when breathing? How many strokes can I take without taking a breath? Make this 50 yards faster, this 50 yards recovery. Last night too, it was wow this water is salty, I wonder why?
When I’m swimming, I focus on swimming. And for however long I’m in the water, I get to shut everything else off. And that’s a good thing. When I come out of the water, I might be achy from the workout but I feel refreshed — inside and out.
And I got a pleasant surprise!
My gym has switched the indoor pool over to a salt water filtering system! Yay! Because I didn’t know this at first, when I swallowed water on my first lap, I thought “Hmmm. That’s odd. The water tastes salty.” I crossed my fingers for the next 49 laps (figuratively of course because actually crossing my fingers would have made swimming difficult) that they had switched to a salt water system rather than something being horribly wrong in what was previously a heavily chlorinated pool. There were little kids getting swimming lessons and a lifeguard on duty, so I figured it was unlikely something was horribly wrong with the system.
Besides, the water felt smoother and clearer and cooler than it had previously. And while a two-week hiatus from swimming made the swim feel a little tougher, I still managed to push through 1,000+ yards and felt great when I headed home. I love swimming. Unlike any other type of exercise, for me anyway, when I swim, I can completely shift my brain to concentrating on only my stroke, my form and how many laps I’ve gone. In the water, everything else just slips away.
When I work out with Jen, the trainer, it’s a social workout. We chat and laugh (I curse) and that has its benefits. When I run or bike, it’s an internal struggle. There’s music to blot out the negative voices in my head telling me to STOP! but I still need to play head games and make deals with myself through those workouts to get to the end. The end, however, is worth it.
Swimming though is different. When I’m swimming, I’m in tune with my body. Are my arms getting back into the water fast enough? Am I pulling correctly? Am I kicking? Twisting to the left (since I don’t breathe on that side) Am I keeping my chin snapped to my shoulder when breathing? How many strokes can I take without taking a breath? Make this 50 yards faster, this 50 yards recovery. Last night too, it was wow this water is salty, I wonder why?
When I’m swimming, I focus on swimming. And for however long I’m in the water, I get to shut everything else off. And that’s a good thing. When I come out of the water, I might be achy from the workout but I feel refreshed — inside and out.