Swimming (or trying to)....

There is a couple of things that interest me a lot. Among them I can certainly cite: "endurance sports" and "lions". Yes, lions! Do not ask me why, because there is no answer for that question. I just love lions. And the passion was born not so long ago, and completely unexpectedly. To be more precise, my interest about lions started during my stay in Madrid two summers ago.  Why in Madrid? Just another question for which there is no answer. I was apparently in the mood of letting new interests and dreams grow inside me: interestingly enough, it was also during my stay in Madrid that this "ironman-freaky-thing" all started.

Since then these two passions have evolved quite apart and independently. What makes complete sense, because what do endurance sports have to do with these lazy big cats?

But somehow, deep inside, these two passions found a way to be united/reconciled to one another. During a race/marathon, in those moments where I need to dig deep inside, when I am struggling a lot, it is the "lion trick" that pushes me forward. Everyone has his own ways to play with his mind when some inspiration/motivation is needed. And, in my case, the lions do the job. At least, when it comes to running/chasing. Just thinking about their strength, brutality, courage, beauty... gives some more energy to my soul to keep on pushing the body. 

But when it comes to swimming, my "lion trick" loses its power/magic. Lions are known to avoid water as much as possible. So, thinking about lions won't get me any further when struggling with my strokes. 

There is no trick under the water, I must say. There is no magic either. So far it has been: "just keep on doing this, and maybe the magic will come".  It is a lot more about me being stubborn than being gifted anyhow under the water.  It is about going for a goal. "It's fifteen percent concentrated power of will, Five percent pleasure, Fifty percent pain, And a hundred percent reason to*" stick to my plan.

This week I swam 1.5km without stopping for the first time. And then I repeated it again three days later. For someone who could not swim freestyle at all 1 year ago, that is already something. As long as there is improvement and power of will, there is hope. And I know where I am going to.

Eduardo

17 September 2012

* from "Remember the name" - Fort Minor 

  

** Figure form http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8067357717_157a788e23_o.jpg