That Guy doesn't swim

After a short run this morning, this afternoon was swim workout. Being a running, swimming is not a workout I look forward to, but have come to like the effort it takes and think I've improved some.  That Guy may think otherwise.

That Guy is not a swimmer, at least I've not seen him in the pool or lake, but he was watching me tonight. He said I looked like I was fighting some invisible sea creature.  I said doesn't matter what it looks like just as long as I don't sink.

I've swam off and on during my running career as a way to maintain some fitness when injured. A couple years ago I started doing it as a cross training workout and triathlon prep. That was before my ankle tendon surgery two years ago. Now I'm back to cross training and maybe triathlon prep. I'll see how open water swims go. I still have to get comfortable in the open water. I have to overcome the mild panic attacks I get on the first few swims. I think some of it is the coldness of the water during the early season swims, the reservoir where we swim can be in the mid 50's when people start swimming. I'll wait til it gets warmer.

I wonder what swimmers think about when they swim?  I spend my time counting laps, repeating the lap number I'm on so I don't forget. Sometimes I can drift off to something else but not for long. Makes a 30 minute swim seem like 60.  Maybe I can get That Guy to count the laps so I can let my mind wonder, is that possible while swimming? I wouldn't want to forget to breathe at the right time!