Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. – T. S. Eliot.
Almost everyone who knows me well knows how obsessed I have become about swimming ever since I started to learn it since last summer. Last summer ended with me being comfortable in water, and being able to drag myself a lap or two. I was satisfied with my progress last year, but did not carry on swimming once the outdoor pool closed. The result, the starting of this swim season, I was exactly at the same level as I ended last year. I could barely drag myself a lap or two. Ten laps would be a workout if I did it right.
There were several problems: I was still scared of deep water and treading in it – result? I was never that comfortable feeling the water. I had a runners knee problem, where my legs tried to imitate a running action in water, hence I could never lift myself or kick from hips – at best I would ferociously kick from my knees, which of course didn’t help as my legs would start dragging. Next, except for free style, I didn’t know any other form or style of swimming. This disappointed me greatly that my swimming skills were almost at nadir when compared with almost anyone who came to swim in the pool. Even 6 and 9 year olds displayed amazing agility, speed and technique in their swim.
But one guy changed all that.
In the course of last one and half months, he pushed me to the limits which I honestly didn’t think my body was capable of. He made me do drills that I couldn’t think I could carry of. One and half months later, thanks to him, I learnt treading water, learnt diving into deep water and feel comfortable about it, improved my technique tremendously, learnt backstroke and breaststroke, and finally, today, I went 101 laps in the pool, and still came out fresh.
Yes. 101.
It may be a small task for experienced swimmers, but for me, it was an achievement; an achievement as important as getting a job or graduating from college. Though I heard it consistently from him, today I truly felt that there were no limits I could take myself in water and swimming; I had to risk going that far to find it out.
It was exhilarating.
Thank you, my friend; for not only being there and pushing me, but in this journey, becoming a good friend as well. I wish you the best of luck as you now leave your school and join college to pursue your undergraduate studies.