Look at me!

Today I entered my very first swim meet. Some people might think it a little naive or crazy to have the nerve to enter a masters championship with little experience in swimming. HOWEVER they are not me.

The experience was fulfilling. I wondered how I would feel being at the ivy league school with all of these very experienced, very fast swimmers with their swim skins and all. How daunting it could be. Once there I realized it was really not daunting at all. I mean, yes, it's a big deal if you are going in for a win or to obtain a PR. That's a big deal. But for me I was there to practice my .8 mile swim. It was just a lot of fun.

My friend Cheryl counted for me and I in turn counted for her. Unfortunately for me I forgot that an orange marker means that you are on your last length and so I accidentally swam an extra length. Everyone was yelling at me to get out of the water. What I thought when I heard them yell was that "you are taking too long, please get out of the water". I thought that all the other women in my heat had finished so far ahead of me that they were shutting me down. "You've had long enough lady". But thankfully that was not the case. I had simply swum one extra length. I was not last actually but 6th. Out of 8. :)

There is a satisfaction that comes from getting out of your comfort zone and questioning whether you are acting appropriately. I realized that all that does not matter. What matters is that I was living my life to it's fullest rather than watching it go by.