Reunited and it feels so good

 441 days or 1 year, 2 months, and 14 days.
This is the number of days I went without swimming.  How do I know this?  Because the last time I swam was August 28, 2011 at Ironman Canada.



Start of Ironman Canada Swim Leg
Do you see me?





Here I am finishing the swim...it was so much fun!



I swam 2.4 miles that day (well, probably much more because I can't swim a straight line to save my life) and haven't gotten wet since. 
I took a few weeks off after the race to recover, then the holidays hit and then in January I had sinus surgery.  Which sucked.  Really Really Sucked.  anyways, you get the point.  Lots of excuses to not put a swimsuit on over the winter...  and spring...and summer...and fall...
(My one true talent is procrastination)

So on Sunday morning  I was trying to figure out what to do with my two stir crazy boys when the words slipped out of my mouth..."We could go to the pool"  Crap!  did they hear me? 
Yes, the 7 year old did and was all for it.  Well, it's only 9am, maybe he will forget about it by the time the pool is open for public swimming at 2:00.

By 2:00 it is snowing/raining outside and I am freezing.  The last think I want to do is put down my book and leave the warmth of the fire. 

"Hey, Mom, I thought we were going swimming!"
ugh, he remembered.
As my son got ready I had an inner dialog that went something like this:

"I will just watch"
"No stupid, you are going to be at the pool, at least you can do a couple laps!"

"It's too cold to put on a swimsuit"
"Suck it up, loser, two laps won't kill you"

"My race isn't until June, I have plenty of time"
"You gotta start sometime, why not today, since YOU WILL BE AT THE POOL?"

"I will bring my suit and change at the pool"
"Nice try, put it on NOW"


We arrive to the pool and it is crazy loud and packed with bodies.  But I find an empty swim lane, push off and just like that, it is quiet and serene. 
It feels amazing.  I'm gliding silently through the water, nice and relaxed, and Yes!  even passing the older guy in the next lane with ease. 

I swim 100 yards, pause, watch the kids play, swim another 100.  and another, and another.  At one point my son and a few friends jumped in and swam with me.  This is so much fun, I can't believe I didn't want to come here!
After about 30 minutes I start thinking I should call it a day but oh my, this just feels so good .  Just a few more laps...