swimming.
I've started swimming laps, and I didn't go today, so I'm feeling it; annoyed with myself.
My family are ocean people. (hahaha.) Without fail, every year, we go away to the beach for two weeks. When I was little, this was Long Beach Island, but as I got older, and it gained popularity, the location had to change. My parents weren't happy that it wasn't as safe for us to bike ride around anymore, with all the traffic and large SUVs. We tried Chincoteague Island one summer. The house had loads of mosquitoes right outside and it was HOT. Eventually, since about 5th, 6th? grade, we've settled into going up to Newport/Jamestown, Rhode Island, even though that's becoming a hot spot too. We have our little house all figured out.
My parents both grew up on Long Island in East Meadow and Freeport. My mom, when we complained about the beach or don't go to it, never fails to go on about how she went at every possible moment in the summer: when she woke up, when she was on lunch, yadda.
I don't know exactly when we learned how to swim, but I know we went to lessons, or at least I did. One of my more vivid memories from when I was younger was when I was about probably between 6-8 and at Lyon's Pool (a NYC public pool) in St. George, with a large (or what seemed to be large to me at the time), military-like black guy telling us what to do. I specifically remember him taking us to the deep pool area and telling us to dive in! I remember looking at the water with fear, and then threw myself into the depths. Learning to swim was inevitable in my family, a must, and a life skill.
In addition to our beach holidays, we have always gone to/had a pool. From a younger age, when the public pools became too crowded and dirty, we started going to the Fountains, a private apartment complex pool, with membership open to the public (paid).
Here, we really honed our swimming. It was a nice pool, we had friends our age, and it had a diving board and a deep end. We raced our friends in swimming races, and played around with diving. The great thing about being younger, (cliche, I know) is you really don't fear anything or pain at that. We had diving contests. Best dive, front flips, and it was here I taught myself to back dive. I probably can still do it, and my sister and I went on to teach our cousins, much to my aunt's dismay. I also taught my bffl, Jasmine how to dive.
At the time, my sister and I also used to do cartwheels off the diving board. Yea, nervy. I probably wouldn't do it now, though I'd still give it a go off a floating dock or something, even though I'd probably slam my side into the water. Yowch. We never really got the front flip, and I just remember pain of some sort resulting from the constant attempts at it.
Swimming paid off. At the beach, we always went boogie-boarding and body surfing, and it was inevitable that you would wind up caught in the undertow, and flipped around, tangled up and probably panicking to get to the surface. Or to be pulled away by a current. I was also fearless of and loved, and continue to love waves. I remember one time in high school, we were at Jones Beach, and Jones can get kind of wavy and tempermental, and it was. My brother and cousin were still smallish at the time, and the riptide kept pulling them some ways away, so I had to constantly pull them in.
At the end of my elementary school career, a swim team was started. My mom persisted in me joining, but I wouldn't budge. I didn't want to do it. To me, it reminded me of track, and individual sport, and I was self conscious. The same happened in high school and I refused to take swim gym because of that and because who wants to walk around with wet hair after that class? Pshh. It was stupid, and looking back, I should've done it and the lifeguarding class. It annoyed my mom, because she's always believed I was a strong swimmer. Strong in that I can maintain it possibly, good, I don't know.
When we graduated high school, swim gym was set as a requirement for everyone in the school with our principal believing it to be an essential life skill. The only way you were exempt was if you were on the Swim Team, as my sister was, but she took it for lifeguarding anyway. Many people were pissed about this. Life skill uhhhh only if you ever go in the water or rough water, duhh.
I saw their point, but now, you never know. My sister's had plenty of lifeguarding stories of people drowning in STILL water, probably from panic. I have friends who still can't swim properly, and friends taller than me, who could probably have a decent reach and swim, that I've beaten racing and who are afraid of water over their heads and waves, and who can't float! It boggles my mind in some ways, but not everyone's had such exposure. Thanks to my parents though, and being able to swim, I can enjoy things like windsurfing, and maybe kite surfing one day, jet skiing, and being tossed into the water off a float being pulled by a boat. Not that you need to know how to swim for these, but it helps.
Also, every summer on vacation, my parents wake up at stupid o'clock to swim laps at the bay. I never understood it, but I hate to say it, I've become like them and began swimming laps at my gym pool. At first, I just did a few in a certain amount of time with no regard for how much. Then I went to see if I could swim 1000 m and I can. I told my mom and she started laughing, saying what happened to you, and told me she always knew I was a strong swimmer. Strong, yes, fast, not so much anymore, but I'm not racing anyone, except maybe the other super fast girl in the lane (lol, I'm such an asshole). My sister called me a fishy when I told her I've been swimming.
When I swim, (or drown), not only is it easy on the joints after I wreck my knees, but it just isn't as arduous as other things. It's hard in the beginning, and at the end of laps, but you'd be surprised how quickly they fly. (In your head, maybe not time wise). I also sing lame song lyrics to myself, like all I do is swim swim swim no matter what and the generic Nemo just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Sometimes I just say stroke to myself and really focus on that, because I was watching one girl freestyle (not dance, the stroke! C'mon!) and it was not good. Not that I'm an expert, but I still remember some tips from this swimming book our dad one had us read (yea, he's crazy, I know). It includes turning your body with each stroke like a rolling log in water of sorts, and keeping your butt upish with your head down, and extending your arm all the way underwater for the pull. So, yea I focus on that.
I also think I started swimming laps because I MISS SUMMER and going in the WATER. I needed a pool, or I would freak out.
So, yea, swimming. You should try it and enjoy all the water sports that come with it. Maybe one day, I'll be cool, like my parents and find someone to windsurf with (awwww, corny!).
Essentially, the love of water has been ingrained in me, and I love the water, especially the ocean and miss it. I can't imagine not going in because you're afraid of what's in it. Also, give me the ocean over a lake any day. However, instead of getting my New England fix, I've been reduced to biking or running a virtual course through 'New England national park areas' through Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. :P
Sitting inside and no summer is getting to me slightly. I just need a beach holiday...:) Oh hey! What a GREAT idea!
My family are ocean people. (hahaha.) Without fail, every year, we go away to the beach for two weeks. When I was little, this was Long Beach Island, but as I got older, and it gained popularity, the location had to change. My parents weren't happy that it wasn't as safe for us to bike ride around anymore, with all the traffic and large SUVs. We tried Chincoteague Island one summer. The house had loads of mosquitoes right outside and it was HOT. Eventually, since about 5th, 6th? grade, we've settled into going up to Newport/Jamestown, Rhode Island, even though that's becoming a hot spot too. We have our little house all figured out.
My parents both grew up on Long Island in East Meadow and Freeport. My mom, when we complained about the beach or don't go to it, never fails to go on about how she went at every possible moment in the summer: when she woke up, when she was on lunch, yadda.
I don't know exactly when we learned how to swim, but I know we went to lessons, or at least I did. One of my more vivid memories from when I was younger was when I was about probably between 6-8 and at Lyon's Pool (a NYC public pool) in St. George, with a large (or what seemed to be large to me at the time), military-like black guy telling us what to do. I specifically remember him taking us to the deep pool area and telling us to dive in! I remember looking at the water with fear, and then threw myself into the depths. Learning to swim was inevitable in my family, a must, and a life skill.
In addition to our beach holidays, we have always gone to/had a pool. From a younger age, when the public pools became too crowded and dirty, we started going to the Fountains, a private apartment complex pool, with membership open to the public (paid).
Here, we really honed our swimming. It was a nice pool, we had friends our age, and it had a diving board and a deep end. We raced our friends in swimming races, and played around with diving. The great thing about being younger, (cliche, I know) is you really don't fear anything or pain at that. We had diving contests. Best dive, front flips, and it was here I taught myself to back dive. I probably can still do it, and my sister and I went on to teach our cousins, much to my aunt's dismay. I also taught my bffl, Jasmine how to dive.
At the time, my sister and I also used to do cartwheels off the diving board. Yea, nervy. I probably wouldn't do it now, though I'd still give it a go off a floating dock or something, even though I'd probably slam my side into the water. Yowch. We never really got the front flip, and I just remember pain of some sort resulting from the constant attempts at it.
Swimming paid off. At the beach, we always went boogie-boarding and body surfing, and it was inevitable that you would wind up caught in the undertow, and flipped around, tangled up and probably panicking to get to the surface. Or to be pulled away by a current. I was also fearless of and loved, and continue to love waves. I remember one time in high school, we were at Jones Beach, and Jones can get kind of wavy and tempermental, and it was. My brother and cousin were still smallish at the time, and the riptide kept pulling them some ways away, so I had to constantly pull them in.
At the end of my elementary school career, a swim team was started. My mom persisted in me joining, but I wouldn't budge. I didn't want to do it. To me, it reminded me of track, and individual sport, and I was self conscious. The same happened in high school and I refused to take swim gym because of that and because who wants to walk around with wet hair after that class? Pshh. It was stupid, and looking back, I should've done it and the lifeguarding class. It annoyed my mom, because she's always believed I was a strong swimmer. Strong in that I can maintain it possibly, good, I don't know.
When we graduated high school, swim gym was set as a requirement for everyone in the school with our principal believing it to be an essential life skill. The only way you were exempt was if you were on the Swim Team, as my sister was, but she took it for lifeguarding anyway. Many people were pissed about this. Life skill uhhhh only if you ever go in the water or rough water, duhh.
I saw their point, but now, you never know. My sister's had plenty of lifeguarding stories of people drowning in STILL water, probably from panic. I have friends who still can't swim properly, and friends taller than me, who could probably have a decent reach and swim, that I've beaten racing and who are afraid of water over their heads and waves, and who can't float! It boggles my mind in some ways, but not everyone's had such exposure. Thanks to my parents though, and being able to swim, I can enjoy things like windsurfing, and maybe kite surfing one day, jet skiing, and being tossed into the water off a float being pulled by a boat. Not that you need to know how to swim for these, but it helps.
Also, every summer on vacation, my parents wake up at stupid o'clock to swim laps at the bay. I never understood it, but I hate to say it, I've become like them and began swimming laps at my gym pool. At first, I just did a few in a certain amount of time with no regard for how much. Then I went to see if I could swim 1000 m and I can. I told my mom and she started laughing, saying what happened to you, and told me she always knew I was a strong swimmer. Strong, yes, fast, not so much anymore, but I'm not racing anyone, except maybe the other super fast girl in the lane (lol, I'm such an asshole). My sister called me a fishy when I told her I've been swimming.
When I swim, (or drown), not only is it easy on the joints after I wreck my knees, but it just isn't as arduous as other things. It's hard in the beginning, and at the end of laps, but you'd be surprised how quickly they fly. (In your head, maybe not time wise). I also sing lame song lyrics to myself, like all I do is swim swim swim no matter what and the generic Nemo just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Sometimes I just say stroke to myself and really focus on that, because I was watching one girl freestyle (not dance, the stroke! C'mon!) and it was not good. Not that I'm an expert, but I still remember some tips from this swimming book our dad one had us read (yea, he's crazy, I know). It includes turning your body with each stroke like a rolling log in water of sorts, and keeping your butt upish with your head down, and extending your arm all the way underwater for the pull. So, yea I focus on that.
I also think I started swimming laps because I MISS SUMMER and going in the WATER. I needed a pool, or I would freak out.
So, yea, swimming. You should try it and enjoy all the water sports that come with it. Maybe one day, I'll be cool, like my parents and find someone to windsurf with (awwww, corny!).
Essentially, the love of water has been ingrained in me, and I love the water, especially the ocean and miss it. I can't imagine not going in because you're afraid of what's in it. Also, give me the ocean over a lake any day. However, instead of getting my New England fix, I've been reduced to biking or running a virtual course through 'New England national park areas' through Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. :P
Sitting inside and no summer is getting to me slightly. I just need a beach holiday...:) Oh hey! What a GREAT idea!