Open Water Hell

The husband and I took our three small children on a mini-staycation this week.  We stayed at an adorable, fully equipped, AIR-CONDITIONED cabin at one of the local lakes.  It was such a fun trip and we made some sweet memories in our two short days there.

Except for one thing.

Swimming.

My kids had a blast, don't get me wrong.  They are still at the age where a too-warm lake and some fish bones floating by are interesting, and not gag-inducing.

I, on the other hand, nearly cried. 

This was to be my first practice at open water swimming.  It was just me and my non-judgmental family, the beach was completely empty of other swimmers.  I had never been one to be freaked out by bodies of water, no matter how murky or fishy they might be.  I floated the entire length of a dark Mexican River in a life jacket on our honeymoon, surely I could handle a little Kansas lake.

The first problem was the temperature of the water.  It was so HOT.  It made me feel like the water was too stagnant and shallow.  Then, the foam.  Every few minutes some dirty frothy stuff would float ashore and my kids would exclaim "Look mom, more foam!"  I then would yell frantically at them not to touch it.  I have no idea what this stuff might of been.  And if you know, don't tell me.  Unless it's something innocent, like baby shampoo wash off or something. 

So I waded out with my pink goggles on.  I looked back at my husband on the shore and yelled out "I can't do this!" and he, ever supportive, yelled back "Then don't!"

I swam out a ways, how far out I'm not even going to guess (it was not far).  I looked up like Patrick taught me to sight my buoy, and saw that I was nearly perpendicular to the direction I was wanting to go.  I knew it was easy to get off course, but seriously?  This made me even more anxious.  I felt out of control.  I was swimming in random directions in the middle of a large lake of cappuccino.   Complete with the frothy foam on top.  I was so anxious I could not focus on my strokes or breathing and was seriously getting out of breath.  I redirected myself back on course once or twice and then ended up turning around and swimming back with my head out of the water.  I was super disappointed in myself.

My husband told me (I don't know if he was lying or not, I don't care) that if it made me feel any better, he would not of swam at this particular beach, either.  Yes, dear, that did make me feel better.  He says that the lake that I will be required to swim in on race day is fed by an underwater spring and is a little cooler and clearer.  That also makes me feel a lot better.  I have not given up, but it is going to take a lot of practice to get over this new obstacle.