AQUAMAN: THE RETURN

Last Saturday I joined an actual Masters Swim Team. Honestly thought I would never see the day. True, I did swim Open Water Masters for many years in my forties and fifties, but I never thought I would go back to watching the long black line, and counting laps, and saying “How many seconds rest, Coach?” and sharing a lane with 7 other people (actually BIGGER people than the last time I did it).

Competing from the age of 10 to the age of 22 can sour you toward continuing any kind of organized aquatic workout for the rest of your life. Seriously. The 10 years I spent coaching was something else, as was the aforementioned foray into open water.

Thing is, I’ve gained about 50 pounds since I got my left knee replaced…and I’m starting to make noises when I sit down…and I’m tired of looking in the mirror and seeing the guy I said I would never become (physically, that is).

I want to be Aquaman again.

So I’ve gone back to what has always worked before…the water. Spiritually it has never left me. Physically, I have been away a long time. Too long.

Back in Speedos and goggles.Back to leaving on the up and negative splits and Bernoulli’s Principle. Back to the long black line. In pursuit of Aquaman again. I’ll let you know how it works out.