I’m currently lounging around on a beach in Hawaii so today I have a guest kindly holding court in my absence; Lori from Jane Be Nimble. I haven’t known Lori for long but in a very short time, we’ve become very good friends. In fact, my plan is to visit her one day on my blogger world tour (see number 106 on my Daisy List). If you want a dose of inspiration, laughs and reasons why you should love lichen, then head on over to Jane Be Nimble, but read her kick arse post here first…
Swim With The Sharks
I grew up on a farm in the middle of the US. The closest body of water was an irrigation ditch, about 1 meter wide, which transected our fields.
Needless to say, I did not grow up swimming my summers away in a lake, ocean, or pool. I made up for it by biking (and running) everywhere. My legs resembled tree trunks.
Fast-forward to adulthood.
Life and employment brought me to southern California. All that riding and running as a kid made the sport of triathlon seem like a ridiculously fun idea. But, there was one problem. I couldn’t swim.
So, I started swim lessons at age 30. Yup, 30. At the same time, I signed up for my first sprint-distance triathlon.
In the meantime, I had heard of a race in the Pacific Ocean called the “The Rough Water Swim.” It was a three-mile open-water swim (4.8 km), which in my brief experience was, well, effin far! At that time, getting to the end of a 25-meter pool was a challenge. I decided that was a tad out of reach that year, but signed up for it the following year.
Fast-forward to the following spring.
Time to get in the ocean and take a spin. By this time I was swimming 1 km in the pool comfortably and considered myself a strong, albeit slow, swimmer. With my heart pounding, I shimmied up to the shoreline and dove in.
I swam out about 200 meters. I made the mistake of looking down. SHARKS!!
OMG, SHARKS!! My heart started beating out of my chest. I could feel the blood pounding in my temples; it was hard to breathe. Screw the Rough Water Swim, this is sooo not worth it!
I ran up the shoreline to the lifeguard on duty. Peering through the blinding sun to the lifeguard on his perch, who looked like a Greek god in my panic, I started hysterically pointing to the area where I was swimming, panting, I said, “Sharks, there’s sharks out there, lots of them!”
He ambled down to the beach to calm my hysteria, and then asked, “Chicka, are you from around here?”
What an ass. I’m freaking out and he’s making small talk?
“Because, well, dangerous sharks don’t hang out here.”
“No, really, I saw dozens of them, just a second ago. Seriously!”
“Well, dear, those tykes are harmless. They’re called Leopard Sharks and they come here to breed every spring. They chill out toward the ocean bottom and don’t bother us.”
The afternoon I competed in the Rough Water Swim, not only did feel a huge sense of accomplishment, I felt that I had averted sure death by “harmless shark.”
What’s the point of this story?
It’s never too late to learn something new, but make sure you know what you’re getting into before you dive in. Get to it, learn something new, live life, and don’t waste a second! Swim with the sharks!
About the Author
Lori Franklin is the author of Jane Be Nimble, a blog about striving for an agile body and mind. The author wishes to thank Sami for the opportunity to meet her readers here at Life, Laughs & Lemmings. Lori can be contacted at lori [at] janebenimble [dot] com. Sign up for Lori’s feed via RSS or email.
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What a cool story!
When I was about 8 or 9, I was swimming in the ocean and had a nearly identical experience. Except that instead of running up to a lifeguard, I ran up to my dad. He didn’t bother explaining the difference between “harmless” and “harmful” sharks. His great advice?
“Well, if one bothers you, just punch it in the nose, and he’ll leave you alone.”
In later years, I learned that this particular tactic does indeed work…if you can manage to punch them hard enough, and fast enough…before they bite you. Either condition not likely to be met by a 9 year old!
Um, thanks, dad…I think.
Make sure you know what you let yourself in for is not my way, I too jump in and when I see sharks well, I too have to back paddle, which I have to do often. However meeting those great life guards is a plus and you would never have gotten that close to those would you?
So, nothing lost and everything gained.
For me this is happening in the blogging world, I jump in, then get embarrased and then I meet the most wonderful helpers.
Hi Wilma!
Thanks for stopping over here at LL&L to read my little shark tale. It was actually much more harrowing then I let on, but now that I look back, it cracks me up! The photo at the top depicts leopard sharks – they look scary, don’t they?!?!? Especially when they are swimming right under you tootsies!
Yeah, I’m the same way. I usually start something and then after the fact realize that I should’ve probably had a little more information before I got too deep! But, yeah, that’s a good point. The dude was definitely eye candy, even though I was a bit freaked out at the time to appreciate it! (lol)
I agree! Blogging is fun in the right environment. I love the community and feeling like I’m wrapped in a hug everywhere I go. Definitely beautiful. Definitely beautiful. Definitely beautiful. (repeat…)
Be well and take care!
~xo
Hi Lori,
Okay, I really enjoyed this story! Probably something to do with the fact that I have competed in triathlons, and that I really (still) can’t swim very well. A three mile swim!! Wow, that’s like forever!
And yet – you did it! And the key, when I think of things like this in my own life – is that I don’t think of only the end (the crazy long 3 mile swim), but instead think about breaking that big goal down into smaller and more manageable steps. And it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
Lori, this really is such an inspiring story for me!! Thank you for sharing it here!
Ahhh… yes… the California life guards. I had almost forgotten those guys. Thanks for the lovely reminder.
Lori, you are officially a nut. When I hear about “rough water swims” I think, “Yeah… these people are totally insane.” YOU, on the other hand, decide to learn to swim and sign up! As if swimming wasn’t hard enough, you’re asking for rough conditions and possible sea-faring predators. Um… I’ll just watch you from the beach… from the life guard perch!
Good for you – starting swiming at 30 i no small feat! Good going! Life really is going from one learning experience to the next.
Enjoyed reading your post and I’ll surf on over to your blog.
Good on ya for completing that swim! Harmless or no, I’m betting a lot of people would not have gotten back in the water after seeing the sharks. They’re pretty, aren’t they? All spotty and such.
Me … not an ocean person. It’s lovely to look at, but I get this odd sense of dread when I think of swimming in it, like “You’re a land mammal, girl, you don’t belong there.”
I’m so impressed that you swam three miles!!
Great post, Lori!
Whoa Lori! I don’t know if I could I have made it back to the shore!! Yikes! I had no idea that there were “harmless” sharks, seems like an oxymoron to me! That must have been quite an experience, but what a thing you must have felt, so liberating to find out something new, something out of the ordinary that tests our boundaries and perceptions, something like it is okay to swim with sharks! And of course, that you completed the Rough Water Swim!
Lori:
Wow, I enjoyed this story. I can identify with you on the swimming. While I sort of know how to swim, I don’t have great form…’spose I should go back and take some lessons. I admire you for “taking the plunge” and getting involved in triathlons.
Having worked in sponsorship consulting, I know that triathlons are taking off in popularity. One of my clients was starting a new triathlon series in Singapore and South Africa. Also, in Chicago, former football player and current sportscaster Mike Adamle just completed an Ironman triathlon in Hawaii at 60. I’m sorry to digress.
In any case, this is an awesome post and all of us should be a little less afraid of jumping in and trying new things.
Hi Lance,
If it is one thing I learned from training for the Rough Water Swim, having the goal definitely got me in the water more often to develop my stamina. Because – it’s not like you can just put your feet down and climb out if I got tired, you had to keep pushing to the other side.
For me, swimming was 90% getting in water and practicing (well, isn’t it like that with everything??) and 10% stoke efficiency. Then, after that 3 mi swim, a 500 m start to a tri seemed like child’s play, you know?
Congrats to you, Lance, for getting out there and pushing your body. It wants change. It wants to be worked hard! And you’ve developed a method for you – breaking it down in steps – to achieve your goals.
Cheers to you, Lance!
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your kind words. I certainly felt weird when I was first learning to swim and a 10-year old girl would race past me in the pool twice as fast as me! (lol)
But, learning was worth it.
Thanks for visiting here today and taking the time to comment.
Cheers!
Hi Gayze,
You know, after I got used to the sharks, I totally agree – Leopard sharks are really beautiful with their spots and all. And they are very mild and chilled out. It makes me want to be a leopard shark, nothing seems to ever bother them!
I think your version of dread for the ocean is similar to my dread for being around geese. Been chased one too many times! (lol)
Thanks for commenting here, it’s great to see you!
~xo
Thanks Dani! Coming from you, that means a lot!
Hi Tim,
Wow, one day I’m going to have to call you so you can give me your life’s highlights – you sometimes drop these little gems about yourself that I had no idea were a part of your experience (sponsorship consulting? – cool!). And, sooo awesome about the 60-yr old athlete. Those guys and gals amaze me!
Don’t get me going about triathlon – I lived and breathed it for almost a decade prior to my recent trouble with MS. I was a full-time trainer/masseuse and triathlon coach and had my sights on Ironman. I actually attended the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii one year as a spectator and worked with a group of researchers studying the effects of sweat loss for endurance athletes. I could go on and on about it, but maybe I should save that for another post and not take up all Sami’s real estate! (lol)
Thanks, Tim, and get back in the pool. It’s awesome for your body and, believe it or not, even better for your mind. Shaka that and thumbs up!
Hi Lori, Sam’s mum here. I loved your blog and would just like to say that I had a very similar relationship with a sting ray. Everyone was having a lovely time snorkling up on the Barrier Reef whilst I sat on the beach … scared!! After giving myself a good talking to, I took courage in hand, and headed for the water. I was starting to think that I was actually enjoying myself when I noticed this metal thing right below me. That was no piece of metal – it was a huge (I mean HUGE) stingray. I think it must have got as big as fright as I did because it just took off, leaving me behind, screaming out of my snorkle! I dont know that I felt any sense of achievement from that incident so I do salute you for going back in that ocean where those man-eating sharks lurked (and for giving it a go, in the first place).
Oh wow! This is exciting! I get to talk to Mum May!
Hello!
Ms. May, you have an amazing daughter, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing Sami into the world and imparting her with charm, a lively spirit, and a warm heart.
I’ve seen your comments here at LL&L and you’re very funny and such a cool Mom! I wish I lived closer so I could hang out with you and shoot the breeze for awhile. I have a feeling we’d have a blast!
Thanks for your kind words here, too. My husband traveled to the Barrier Reef the month I met him and I could kick myself for not going with him. He loves Australia and, even now (9 yrs later) talks about the beauty often.
That said, we have sting rays here in the Pacific, too, and they are nothing to take lightly! I’ve seen sooo many people stung by them and, wow, it seems incredibly painful. When I’m swimming and see them below my feet, I always freak out and swim a little too fast to get out of their way.
Good for you for getting in! That’s every bit as awesome as my swimming goal. I didn’t have to look at anything (snorkel), just beat hiney to the end of the race! Have a great day, Ms. May!
Hi Jay,
What a funny story! Yes – I’ve heard the, “punch the shark in the nose” tactic before. Luckily, I’ve never had the reason to try it, though!
And, Jay, I bet you were a super sweet 9-yr old kid. I wish I could’ve known you back then! Thanks for the super awesome story!
Hi Lisis,
Yes, the CA lifeguards are a fun bunch – aren’t they? Talk about a dream job – hanging on the beach, chatting up the locals, plenty of Vit D for the body…
Then again, we can get harrowing ocean conditions every now and then that, I’m sure, makes their jobs much more difficult and quite scary.
And those same courageous lifeguards were out on paddle boards and surfboards during the Rough Water Swim so people like me could feel safe out there in that rough water. And, yes, it was actually a bit rough the last 1/2 of the race. But, few things makes one feel more alive!
Hi Miche!
Oh yeah, girl, I totally get you there. “Harmless shark” is an oxymoron to me, too! Geez, there’s nothing like looking down in that water and seeing those predators right under you! Just thinking about the first time I saw them gives me goosebumps even to this day.
Same thing goes for sting rays – well, even more so, actually.
Competing in the Rough Water Swim (I did it twice, actually) is certainly two of the most memorable events in my life. Looking back, I am soooo glad I did it. It made me realize that pretty much anything in life is achievable if we put out minds to it.
@Lori
Thanks for the guest post Chicka. You rock!
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