I’ve discovered a fantastic way to start the day during the summer. It’s swimming at daybreak in a way that makes this activity a delight! I will begin by giving some background on what led me to this discovery. Then I’ll describe the experience, which reveals my motivations for doing it.
Many years ago, I took up power walking as a replacement for aerobic exercise on machines at a health club. I would start these walks right after sunset to avoid daily exposure to the sun.
I enjoyed these walks immensely. I always felt great when I finished. The physical and emotional lift comes from getting your blood flowing and creating the conditions for your body to release endorphins. This is one of the rewards of aerobic exercise—you get a natural high!
When I took these walks during hot summer evenings, they weren’t as enjoyable because of the heat. When I lived in an area with more humidity, I’d be sopping wet when I returned.
After I moved to Southern Nevada, the humidity was much lower than where I lived before, but the temperature was much higher. I found that it was much more of an effort to go power walking on a hot summer evening than it was to go walking on a cold winter morning. It felt unhealthy to walk fast when it was hot. The opposite was true when I walked when it was cold, which was invigorating.
The hottest part of the day is in the late afternoon and early evening, so walking at that hour didn’t make much sense, so I switched to morning.
I get up every day at 4:00 a.m., and I’m on my walk by 4:15. I’ve always enjoyed getting up early, but this is the earliest schedule I’ve ever had. I wanted to take advantage of the coolest and quietest part of the day. I came to appreciate the beauty of this time of day, especially in a desert region.
So I began walking in the morning, but it was still relatively warm, high 70s, low 80s. It was not bad, but I wasn’t getting the same invigorating feeling I’d get when I walked on a cold winter morning. Then it hit me. I was living in a complex with a pool and a hot tub! And it was open 24 hours a day.
Swimming at dawn has become one of the most cherished activities of my day. Here’s why. When I arrive at the pool, it’s still dark and silent. No birds are singing, no people are talking, and no cars are running. The only sounds you hear are from crickets. It’s a sweet peacefulness.
The first thing I do is get into the hot tub. I do not turn on the jets, as the noise from those things would ruin it. The hot water and quietness soothe me no matter how I feel when I arrive.
After a few minutes, the sky lights up just a wee bit. When it does, a gradual transformation begins. The birds start to stir. Then they begin preening themselves. A few minutes later, they start chirping and singing. The surrounding landscape and buildings slowly change from dark and mysterious to colorful and familiar. The sun never reaches the point where it is peaking over the hills until long after I’ve returned home.
I spend 5-10 minutes in the hot tub before entering the pool. It feels cool and invigorating as I quietly slip into the water and start to swim. I’ve learned that after a lap or two, the water no longer feels cool but comfortably warm. It’s incredibly refreshing after sleeping in a hot room all night. I have air conditioning, but I turn it off at night. Update: I no longer turn off the AC.
I perform a modified version of the breaststroke I fashioned in my early 20s. Most of my body remains below the surface, producing much less disturbance to the water than a regular breaststroke.
I’m sure my breaststroke style creates more resistance, but that’s what I’m after. I want to gain both aerobic and muscle toning benefits. I am not concerned with speed. There’s another advantage to this swimming style. It’s quiet, so I don’t disturb my neighbors at 4:30 in the morning.
In my early 20s, during my extended summer of love adventure, I’d get a McDonald’s Big Breakfast to go and head to the bay for a swim. I’d cover my breakfast with my towel and swim about six laps between two buoys, which marked the swimming area and boat lanes.
After swimming, I rinsed off at an outdoor shower and dried off before eating breakfast. Having breakfast on an empty beach at sunrise was a pleasure. It was amazing how the atmosphere changed as beachgoers arrived. I loved it.
Back then, I didn’t get up as early, swam only a few laps, and ate a very unhealthy breakfast. Now, with more knowledge, I do all those things differently.
Today, I get up much earlier, swim more laps, and eat a healthy breakfast. The more I learn about the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise, the more motivated I become.
I do three (3) sets of 10 laps for a total of 30, with a few minutes of rest in between. During my rest, I drink purified water. When I’m done, I head back to the hot tub.
By then, the sky is a little brighter and more colorful. The birds are flying around and singing at the top of their lungs. It’s beautiful!
After my swim, I get the reward of that euphoric feeling as I sit in the hot tub. For the next 15 minutes or so, I meditate, enjoy, and plan my day. While swimming and sitting in the hot tub, I frequently develop ideas for articles and solutions to problems.
I referred to this in a previous article, “Increase Exercise Routine Benefits,” as “Turbo-Charged Brainstorming.” I came up with this article and another one this morning! I had this one almost entirely written in my mind before I sat down at my computer.
I am very grateful that I discovered, or re-discovered, this pleasurable way of getting aerobic exercise and a positive state of mind. This activity has also helped me appreciate the value of the simple things in life. I can’t get this feeling by sleeping in later, and I surely can’t get it by watching the morning news!