Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls, just stick to the Boys and Girls Club pool that you're used to.

As I pressed my face to the mic and heard our collective voices belting out TLC's Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls, I couldn't help but think there was no chance in hell I was going to be rolling out of bed at 6:15 in the morning for another pathetic go of "swimming."

Despite my skepticism, I set the alarm before turning in a little after midnight. When the alarm goes off in the morning and I have to go to the gym or go for a run, that's a little more manageable. It might be cold, but at least its dry. And at least I can pick up a weight or run a mile without falling or finding myself unable to breathe. But to hear the beeping of my alarm and consider going from warm flannel sheets to a wet pool before the sun is even up…motivation is hard to muster. Even as I was getting out of bed, putting on my swimsuit and warm-up pants, I still couldn't believe I was actually going to end up at the pool. And be wet. And cold. Yet within half an hour there I stood, in my black training swimsuit, teal swim cap and pink goggles, one toe in the water realizing I've come this far, might as well go for it.

I have discovered some neat tricks for warning people of my amateur status. First, I like to spend a lot of time with a kickboard. It is my way of saying "Hey, I still need a flotation device to get from one end of the pool to the other. Just ignore me." I chose the kickboard over floaties on my arm because I figured I could only leave so much pride at the door. Another nice thing about the kickboard is I can do anything and pretty much just pretend it’s a drill. Who knows, maybe I actually was doing some real swimming drills. But the way I figure it, if I'm doing something wrong people will just think I'm really cool and know some new amazing drills that are hip and edgy.

I managed to do two lengths of the pool (laps? I feel like a lap should always be circular. I have a hard time calling a straight line a lap.) with the kickboard during my warm up. For my workout I did 12 x 25yds (1 lap). Jim told me to only take something like 15 seconds in between but I'll be honest there was no way that was going to happen. I have no idea what kind of break I took. I pretty much waited till I thought I could go again with dying in the first 10 yrds. Maybe next time I'll keep better track of recovery.

I do believe that I am improving. For instance, no one commented today on that fact that I was struggling or looked "uncomfortable." I didn't have flotation devices hurled at me from the edge of the pool out of fear that I was drowning. And no mothers hid their children's eyes while telling them that some people just aren't born "right." So all in all a good day.

I'm smoothing out a little. I think I'm a little less choppy and my breathing is more discreet. I still sound like I’m about to die when I recover at each end of the pool, but that’s just going to take time. For now, I'm starting to get into it, and I can see how swimming can be an enjoyable experience. As I was swimming the sun slowly rose over the pool and I felt the warmth of the sun breaking through the cool crisp morning. I could almost compare it to going out for a run. Almost.

However, I do have to start going home to take a shower. Showering at the pool didn't quite do the job, and I've smelt like chlorine for the entire day.