12 August 2013

Travelling, swimming, breathing

So we just got back from a week in the country, where we cooked fresh food and breathed fresh air and went for walks in the woods and swam every day in a cold clear lake.

And this is what I learned:

I’m a stronger swimmer than I was before. I’m less wimpy about getting into the cold water, and better able to swim a reasonable distance without getting winded. I’m less likely to panic if I get swamped by a wave. I give all credit to my son, without whom I wouldn’t be spending so much time in the water.

I can’t breathe city air. this morning I was totally winded on the short cycle to work, and haven’t been able to catch my breath all day, sitting in an air-conditioned office. My ribs feel tight and I find I have to remind myself to breathe, or I won’t. and then I gasp for air.

Of course, I’ve no solution for this, other than moving to the country which is tempting but not a realistic option. So I need an option b. But first I need to work out what that is. Which means I need to work out exactly why I can’t breathe in the city.