An Unexpected Boyfriend, I mean Accountability Partner

Way back at the beginning of June- this past summer- I decided I needed to get back to consistent exercising.  I had gotten away from it- and I could tell.  I was having some trouble with plantar fasciitis- and decided swimming would be a good exercise for me to do because my feet wouldn't be bothered.  

I hadn't really exercised in months, and I hadn't swum laps in a super long time.  I decided I would start slow.  I mean- I could probably swim 30 laps, right?  The great thing about committing to exercising in the summer is that I can get up and go at a reasonable morning time (that is a relative term. I like to be there around 7:30- 8am.  During the school year- I would have to be there at 5am . . . . which is why I haven't been going in the morning. LOL).  So, day 1 of swimming- I was in the pool by 7:30ish.  I was aiming for 30 laps.  Slow and steady was the name of my game.  

I reached 30 laps- barely.  I stood at the end of the lane, feeling like a loser- when suddenly this older gentleman in the next lane said, "Oh! You can't stop now!!! I was matching your pace!!! You have such a nice steady pace.  I rarely find people I can match pace with."   I was like, "ohhh dear.  This is my first day back.  I'm struggling."  He said, "C'mon!! Do a few more."  And because I'm a people pleaser- I said, "Ok." 

And that's how I got my pool boyfriend, Mr. Ron.  

We met about 3 days a week at 7:30am and swam laps.  He was aiming to swim 79 laps by August 1st (that's a bit more than a mile) because he likes to be able to swim a lap for every year of his age. I had two feelings on his age:  On the one hand, I was super impressed that this man is almost 80 and he's swimming more than a mile and in what appears to be such excellent physical shape!  On the other hand, I swim the same pace as a 79-year-old man.  LOL

I am so thankful for meeting Mr. Ron.   He's kind of like the mayor of the pool.  Everyone knows him.  I have had more than one person talk about how he shared swim paddles or buoy's with them, or how he offered swimming tips that were helpful.    He's such a friendly, encouraging man.  His slow steady pace was exactly what I needed to be consistent and gain confidence.  Plus, he was such a good accountability partner. I didn't want to disappoint him and ditch him!     

Once school started back, I had to change my swimming schedule, and I haven't seen him- but I'm hoping I catch him during the Winter Break.  I have kept swimming.  Even though- my current routine is coinciding with the same time that students from my school have swim team practice.  This means students are seeing me in my bathing suit and with pits that hadn't been shaved in probably 2 weeks.  It's a humbling experience.  But . . . this plump, hairy gal is lapping the heck out of those teenagers- so it all evens out.  

This is from the day we swam our 79 laps.  Mr. Ron asked one of the lifeguards to take our picture.  Isn't he just the cutest?!