Alex Harries's diary

(Swimmingly off-topic... Sorry...)

I've decided to start swimming again.

I can hear the shouts of "big deal" from the back of the class, but I care not. This is my blog (technically it's a work blog, but I don't do much work, and certainly nothing a real person would consider interesting), so I may as well relate some of my boring non-work experiences too. That's my justification, and I'm sticking by it ;o).

I haven't swum in probably about 8 years. I used to swim regularly and at one point, some misguided soul in the ATC thought I should represent my wing at swimming. That, thankfully, only lasted a night - I much prefer messing about underwater to the science of thrashing up and down a pool.

As with any reasonably new experience, it's always good to start out with a recce, so I dropped into the baths yesterday morning to check on the prices and times. Truth be told, I'd taken my swimming kit in case I decided to take the plunge - pun intended - but chickened out at the prospect of scaring any small children ("Look mummy, it's Big Foot!") and in any case, I'll deny I was ever there for anything other than a recce. So there...

This morning I dragged myself down to the pool and, armed with baggy shorts, a towel barely larger than a flannel, and more than a little apprehension, I turned up and paid my £1.70 £2.00 £2.50 ("But you said it was £1.70 yesterday...?" "That's after 9am" "And you just asked me for two pounds, so why did you only give me £7.50 change from my tenner?" "I didn't say two pounds - I said two pounds fifty" "Uhhm, ok").

The first thing I noticed, apart from the impending sense of doom that I'd probably take in at least two lungs-worth of water before anyone decided to fish me out if it wall went fubar, was just how badly smoking has affected my lung capacity - I used to be able to quite easily swim 50 metres underwater from a dive. Today I managed little more than 15.

After 14 lengths of the 25-ish metre pool, and having played "chicken" with a couple of old boys who I assumed were on the wrong side of the lane - and later found out it was me who was swimming "European", I decided to call it a day before my arms lost the strength to pull me out of the pool. I remember being fit enough to swim up and down the pool all day long, and managing only 14 lengths before the survival instincts kick in is gash.

The good side of this all is that I'll be getting fitter into the deal, which is definitely no bad thing, and I'd always recommend swimming over other forms of exercise - apart from anything else, no-one can see you sweating when you swim ;o)

I'm going back tomorrow. At £2.50 a go, and with 14 lengths taking me about 15 minutes, I reckon the £10 an hour is close to the price of a premium gym membership and might even start looking at gyms with pools in the area if it helps to motivate me. For now though, I'll be happy to make it back to 20 lengths without suffering a coronary, and might even give up smoking if it helps.

Maybe...