When I went out to the pool this morning after a work out to drink my coffee and think about nothing and everything, I found a still body on the bottom of the pool.
I mean totally still.
It was a guy in his early 30s, a beautiful specimen, and while I may or may not have fantasized briefly about saving his life through a dramatic dive in and mouth to mouth approach to resuscitation, my hands earnestly placed on his fabulous pecs pumping life back into him,I did something somewhat uncharacteristic. I paused before acting. Then, I saw his leg move slightly.
He was crossing the pool 3x underwater at such a slow and meditative pace I thought he was dead or unconscious.
When he came up I could see him taking his own pulse. Mine was back to normal now.
As he took off his mask and enormous flippers, I asked him if he was practicing for a free dive.
He said he was and as he came out of the water he said ” but I am just getting back into it, I am in horrible shape”
Ummmm. No you really aren’t.
I got him talking about this very odd sport which clearly the training is as much mind over mater as it is physical ability.
The free dives go to over 100 feet without any oxygen except for what you have trained your body to hold. The best can get their heart rates down to 20. For kicks.
We all have a “mammalian diving reflex” that when we place our heads in cold water our heart rate drops automatically but beyond that the training includes oxygen sparing adaptations that include getting to a point where your spleen and other vital organs dump extra blood cells and the blood vessels in your muscles and skin constrict to save the badly needed oxygen for more vital organs like the heart or brain.
And what part of this is fun? Death circling that close is not my bag.
I said “thanks for sharing- can’t be sure of everything but I am pretty sure talking to you is the closest I will ever get to free diving”
Then I threw in “Does your mom know you are doing this? ” Just to make sure both he and my teenage daughters next to me didn’t think I was flirting with someone I could have given birth to.
Apparently, that can be rather unsavoury.
Ha! Let’s give that answer to Sara! I seem to like the big boys. But I still like to look at the juniors
unsavoury to your teenage daughters … but not unsavoury to every 40+ woman on the planet!! We are meant to be with younger men! And most younger men love 40+ women. Go for it hun!! Just leave your daughters at home!!
it can? crap I’m screwed.
Free diving scares the pants off me.