In what feels like a desperate attempt to spend more time in the water, I returned to swimming at my community recreation centre, the place where my adventures in swimming first began. I stopped swimming at the rec centre in September because it had become a negative place for me to swim. I was frustrated by overcrowded lanes where I would either come to a full stop because swimmers were in my way and impossible to pass or I was asked to move into a slower lane, the same lane where I had to wait for swimmers to get out of my way. Since there was no in between, I started searching for a new location until I found and joined a fairly quiet pool where I have generally been able to swim continuously and not have to fight for space. It is a longer drive from home but the feeling of freedom makes it totally worth it.

However, I still needed more time in the water and didn’t always have the time for the longer drive; again, I found myself stuck in the middle. So one Wednesday night in January, out of the blue, I decided to drop into the rec centre for a length swim. I found it odd that I was actually quite excited about it. I blasted music in the car on the way there, and I embraced the bright lights and crowded lanes when I got there. I felt like I was returning home. 

By the end of my swim, I felt fantastic – physically and emotionally – and decided to return on the Friday. Being back at the rec centre felt right. It was easy to get there; I found my spot.

Now, I can call myself a multi-pooler. I swim with my masters club on Monday nights, fit in two swims at the rec centre and have a longer, uninterrupted swim (that is the hope) at a third pool. As my upper body gets stronger and adapts to the volume, I plan to add another swim to my week.

I am back in the water and am ready to push more than I have before. This year, I want everything about swimming to come together for me. I am going to make this happen. The time is now. I’ve got this.