Prehistory
As a kid, I took some swim lessons, but it never really stuck.
I hate cold water. When I'm in the mountains and all my friends want to jump into a little lake, I often hold back. This can be quite the mental struggle. I don't want to go in. But I want to want to. It's just... too cold...
But, to be real, part of that may also be a generally bad relationship with water. I found no joy in swimming. I was bad at it.
At the start of 2025, some things began to change.
- A conscious effort to enjoy going in the ocean. I live close to it. I should like going in. People love it.
- I injured my foot. I couldn't play on a soccer team anymore. Being in my mid 30s, this is existential! I need a physical activity I can do deeper into old age.
- There's a pool right next to where I drop my kids off for preschool. Could this mean I can conveniently fit swimming into my life.
So I decided to... become a swimmer.
Learning & Resources
Video Content
To learn to swim, I found this absolutely nutty but extremely informative youtube channel. Strangely, in their intro content, they have a playlist of videos about a swimmer named "Aaron" (pronounced "A-A-Ron" like the Key & Peele sketch) who is a software engineer...
The videos are strange, but the information is often. If you have a bad relationship with swimming, I'm 100% sure you'll connect with this video.
Reading
Why We Swim
Bonnie TsuiThe best part about this book is that it features the San Francisco Bay so heavily. The author swims regularly in the bay, and is a member of the Dolphin Club. Some of my friends are members there.
As I started my swim journey, it was enjoyable to hear about a lot of different relationships humans have with the activity.
How's it going
2025
I managed to average going 1 a week. I started hardly able to make it across the pool. I ended the year able to swim 250m without stopping (10 lengths), and usually do 500m sessions.
I've plateaud a little bit. It was very fun to ramp up in skill.
In 2026, perhaps I'll take some real lessons?
