Day 8 not 7

I miscounted somewhere didn't I. I had 2 day 6's. I'm so exhausted I can't count.

I've already posted about this morning but one thing I didn't talk about was something that really pissed me off at the gym. I sat down and had a coffee before setting off on the walk home and as I did I had a quick look through the Daily Mail as they always have a stack of them at the gym.

There was a story about a woman who was actually a shot putter but had been given the chance to run in that big Athletic thing that's happening at the moment. Being a shot putter she is quite a hefty lady and obviously came last.

Was the story congratulating her on going for it rather than turn it down and doing her best, going out there in front of everyone and going for it? No of course not, They printed pictures of her running and called her thunder thighs!

Is it any wonder that obese people daren't exercise or get help because they are scared of people laughing at them? It made me really angry.

I have discovered something this evening. I'm not as good at swimming as I thought. I think I've been comparing myself to children too long. Although I am always taking children swimming and have taught many children to swim it is a very very long time since I went swimming myself. I actually don't remember the last time.

I know I was quite good at school. There were others much better than me but many more worse, I was certainly towards the top end of the scale and after swimming at school stopped in the second year I used to go before school. Actually that was how I learned to dive. I doubt it would be allowed now but there was a man who used to go swimming early too that talked to me from time to time and I said that I couldn't dive and he said I would be able to if someone bothered to tell me how properly.

So he did, and he was right.

Anyway I digress. I arrived at the pool this evening and there were 3 sections fast, medium and slow. I didn't know which I was so I thought I'll start in the slow section, probably move up to medium and then see if I need to move into the fast bit.

I got in and remembered Matt telling me to make sure I worked hard so set off arms and legs going like mad... and hardly moved. I couldn't even keep up with the people in the slow section. There were a couple of old women swimming side by side and chatting who were going faster than me.

I was crap!

I considered having a goal at front crawl a couple of times but I never dare do that because I don't really know what I'm doing and will probably look silly or splash loads without realising it. So I didn't.

It wasn't long before I was exhaused. I really expected to be swimming constantly for 45mins but actually had to stop every couple of lengths. When I got out my legs were wobbly and I had trouble walking back to the changing room.

In the past when people have said that they go swimming for exercise I have thought that swimming isn't real exercise. I may have to revise that thought.

One thing I did love though. I don't think the novelty will ever wear off of being able to see the clock. I'm in the pool, and everything is crystal clear. Fantastic. If anyone reading this is short sighted what you waiting for? Go get your eyes lasered.