Swimming in the A.M.

I followed through my resolution and woke up at 5 AM to go swimming in the gym's pool.  I arrived before it opened and did some "land" warm-ups and stretching while waiting for the lifeguards to arrive.  Once they opened the pool, a whole herd of thirty to fifty-somethings wearing colorful swim caps and speedos appeared. I shared a lane with a fit chick whose age was beyond me (swim caps are as effective as masks for covering identities) and who was super nice.  I have never been so self-conscious of my swimming stroke before - all of the adults were part of some swimming group/team thing and were flying across the lanes, showing off their butterfly and back stroke.  I lamely pulled myself behind them with my breast-stroke and swam in awe as they out-freestyled me.  At the end of 30 minutes, the lady that I was sharing a lane with asked if I wanted to swim with them - I smiled as I shook my head and said that I had to get ready for school. Heaving myself out of the pool I walked to the locker room for a quick shower and change of clothes.