300 meters

300 meters

We didn’t swim a lot in our section of Marines. I saw the Marines confidence in the water compared to mine. I was not a strong swimmer swimming and saving individuals. I could swim on the surface with a lot of different strokes. I was doing my best to help them build the confidence and practice going underwater without freaking out. With all the training I tell myself “teach them as if they’re your own son or daughter”. Then practicing moving underwater through the initial fear. Then I could critique and fix their technique navigating through the water. We did 400 meters for the ones that could swim and every lap they did exercise and went back swimming. At the end I was showing one how to breathe while doing freestyle on the wall. After some practice and seeing him swim normal gave me goosebumps and excitement I was expecting. It was interesting to see quick improvement from someone who is eager to learn. Some bided their time and waded through everything never learning and staying where they’re at. I think of my initial fears of rescue swim and doing underwater tread. I can navigate through those. All I need to do is get guidance because I’m aware of my competency and respect towards teachers, coaches and trainers.

Some will take time, some will never swim again unless I tell them 0630 at the pool. That’s their choice and how they handle in life. I wanted to improve and go to the next level and take responsibility in that area. I should be able to teach what I know and pass on the gifts that I have trained, sweat and bled for.

I had some spare time once I released the marines to go swim alone. I swam a cooldown 300 and accidentally became profound while swimming. I was reflective on the first time swimming when I was in 3rd grade at the bicentennial pool in Crystal River Florida. We took a whole week with the class. I was on the side doggy paddling and grabbing the rail to stay afloat. I remember doing drills of going under water and coming up. “These were easy I exclaimed to myself”. I was able to swim but nothing worth noting. In my sophomore of High school my friend Stacey Coester nagged me on joining the swim team. I showed up because I had a ride available and it wasn’t going to take away mom’s time. I ended up going and swimming with the weak swimmers. I listened to the stern coach and was thinking that me and this guy won’t get along. I swam poorly and watched the others swimming fast. “Stacey, how am I supposed to swim like that?!”. It was my response to her when she asked how I liked it. She kept on schedule and on time and I had a lot of memories that were once cherished but are forgotten in time.

My first swim meet was with my own team and they called it the blue and gold. One team was the experienced swimmers and the other was for the new swimmers that joined that year. I did freestyle, back, Breast strokes and butterfly.

No other strokes are memorable besides doing the butterfly. My mother and brother were there as I was drowning in the water trying to get to the other side.

That year I got most improved swimmer. Getting placed wasn’t my priority. I was trying to make good memories and enjoy the time I had with my friends.

I haven’t swam that much ever since. I swam a one mile during lunch in 33 mins and got out to never go back again.

I never tried to hop in the pool because of Covid restrictions and timelines I couldn’t meet with work.

Being in that water for 300 meters made me want to fall in love with swimming and remember all the those memories with those kids.