Just Keep Swimming

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.

That seems to be my motto as of late.  Just keep swimming.  Dori from Finding Nemo said it first, and it didn't strike me at the time, but I find myself repeating over in many different situations.  I've said it to myself when things seem rough or difficult to get through.  I've said it to my SIL as she's going through her weight-loss journey.  I've said it to my mom and husband and dad on many different occasions.

Lately, though, this little motto of mine has taken on a more literal meaning.  Since I'm unable to run, and biking just hasn't been as appealing to me (I like to bike outside, but it's been cold), and I want to keep up my cardio, I've been swimming...a lot.

I've been trying to get to the gym 4-5 times a week, and I've really been enjoying the pool.  It doesn't hurt my knee, but I can definitely feel that I've been working hard.  Each time I hop in the pool, I make it my goal to swim at least a mile plus a cool down.  It may not seem like much to some people, but for someone who, save for a few weeks this past summer, hasn't done any serious swimming since she was 12, this is a big deal.  So far, I getting about 1800 meters (200 more than a mile) in about 45-50 minutes, so not too bad.

Still, though, I'm working to improve.  I want to go farther, faster, and be less tired at the end.  My current routine involves 2 laps breast, 2 laps free, and 2 laps back.  I repeat this 11 times, and then I finish with 2 easy laps of breast.  Today, I decided to change things up a bit, so I made this 2 laps breast, 3 laps free, 1 lap back.  I went faster overall, but boy was I exhausted, and by my 11th set I pretty much did all breast.

Anyway, the point in all this is that I've found something that I'm enjoying.  It's not perfect, because I still wish I could go out for a run, or do some jumping jacks, or even a squat.  In the mean time, though, I'm going to just keep swimming.