Open Water Swimming

March 2021

I've always said that I'm secretly a mermaid, now I feel even more like one. I bought my first wetsuit so that I can more comfortably swim all year round!

Growing up spending the summers at my grandparent's lakefront cabin meant that I spent a lot of time in the water. From the time I tried to wander in by myself at about 3 years old, tripped, and was pulled out by my hair courtesy of my mom, to now and my perpetual need to be the first one in each year and jumping in earlier and earlier to make sure I beat my brother... I've always felt at home when I'm swimming.

I recently learned that it's an actual thing called open water swimming, when people swim in outdoor bodies of water like lakes and the sound. Who knew, I've been doing this unofficially forever. Now it's official. I have the gear, I joined a Facebook group, and I've talked with other people about the logistics of swimming when it's cold out. I will say, the wetsuit helps, but the water in winter months is still shocking. The worst part is when it first laps against my neck as I'm getting started.

I've started recording my swims too, it's like I'm all serious about this or something. Current person records stand at a 1-mile swim in 35:08 and a 2-mile swim in 1:11:58. I'm proud of my achievements thus far, and I look forward to pushing myself to continue improving.

"Just keep swimming... Just keep swimming... Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..." (-Dory in Finding Nemo)