Third Trimester Swim

It was a particularly humbling week athletically for me. So when I saw my friend Barak (capless on my right) already midway through his swim while putting my goggles on, I didn't stop to try and team up with him for his final laps. For one, I ended each lap streamlining off his wake two weeks ago when normally he and I are stroke for stroke. And being a couple days away from my 3rd trimester, I didn't want to flag him down just to hold him back. And though I greeted my dear yogi swim pal Charly with an enthusiastic "good morning" while he warmed up his shoulders poolside, I didnt get into the usual planning details with him either about when he was going to get in and for how far. .

Instead, I plunged solo and got into the rhythm of my new normal speed. Without pause, I started my 2nd lap. Then passing the decoy ducks I saw Barak's unmistakable splash and cadence come up along side me. Though I don't at all resent solo swimming, I have never felt so heartened by the unexpected company even though I figured it would be short lived with the pace I'm able to maintain. We got to the dam and had a laugh about the surprisingly cold morning and Barak threw in "I saw you passing me the other way so quickly doubled back." I was about to mention how he may live to regret teaming up with me for his pacing but before I could respond, Charly suddenly swam up to the other side of me. Instead, we all shared some brief shivery chats and jokes and then we were all back off again.

And so unprompted, these two flanked me and set a pace that challenged my #BooBopSweeney growing body but never got to a discouraging distance ahead. Neither exchanged words about the difference in pace but rather just patiently waited for me at the turnaround points each way. And so they carried me the first mile of my swim until Charly had to get out to teach a class and Barak to head out when he finished his 2 miles. But before they did, they humored me with a selfie that didn't even require me explain that I wanted to remember this morning's swim in their company when they likely didn't even realize how much they helped me feel myself again when I very much needed it.