The Transformative Swimrun

For years, swimming was one of those things where I thought : “I’m not good at it, and I never will be. “That thought lingered there most of my childhood.

This all changed last year when the company I worked for announced that they were going to arrange a swimrun, a race where you partially swim and partially run to finish the race. Of course, it was a voluntary activity and I was not going to participate.

However, as the weeks progressed, I started thinking to myself. “What would it feel like to break through my comfort zone and finally face my insecurity?” To help the swimrun participants prepare for the race, the company arranged an opportunity to learn how to swim freestyle with a swim instructor. I ultimately decided to at least participate in the first swimming lesson.

I was mentally prepared to be the worst student during the lesson. However, as it turned out, I had plenty of co-workers that were equally bad at swimming. After a few swimming lessons, I even got compliments for how quickly I managed to improve. Not only had I shattered my old belief about my disability in water, but something else had started to stir. I had gotten a taste for swimming and was curious to see where it could lead me. “How would it feel like to be completely comfortable in the water?” I wondered.

I started going to the public bathhouse to practice the few tips I had gotten from the swimming instructor. I’d watch YouTube videos and try and mimic the movements by myself in the water to the best of my abilities.

Without a doubt — in the beginning, I looked like a drowning monkey. I would swim; I would sink, coughing up water, and repeat it all over again. I’d get yelled at for swimming too slow at the freestyle range. However, I focused on the process and the soon-to-be new skillset that I did not get discouraged by the slow progress nor the occasional scolding.

Analysis:

Para 1

The thought of gliding through water effortlessly was what kept me going.

①How did I keep going? — My ENDEAVOR

==> Continue LEARNING from the swim instructor + PRACTISING by myself in the public bathhouse.

Stretching my arms forward, I struggled to pull through the water with any sense of rhythm, my kicks splashing wildly and propelling me only inches at a time.

Each time I tried to turn my head to breathe, water would rush into my mouth, leaving me coughing and gasping for air.

My legs often sank lower than they should, forcing me to push harder just to stay afloat, which left my muscles burning after only a few strokes.

Despite the frustration of sinking repeatedly, I gripped the edge of the pool, practicing my kicks with determination until they felt steadier and more controlled.

Watching others swim effortlessly, I would mimic their movements, my arms slicing through the water awkwardly, yet refusing to stop even as fatigue set in.

②What DIFFICULTIES did I meet during the process?

==> ECHOING — a drowning donkey/sink/cough up water/get yelled at … — but I NEVER give up

③What was the RESULT of my effort/endeavour? — CHANGE

==> CONTRAST/ECHOING — I IMPROVED my skills day by day and was eventually able to glide through water, though not effortlessly yet.

With each practice session, my strokes became smoother, my arms cutting through the water in a steady rhythm as I began to cover more distance without pausing.

My breathing improved as well — I could now turn my head to the side and inhale without breaking my stride, a small victory that felt monumental at the time.

Gradually, my kicks synchronized with my strokes, propelling me forward in a way that felt natural rather than awkward, leaving fewer splashes behind me.

Although my movements still lacked the grace of seasoned swimmers, I was able to glide across the pool with a newfound sense of control and growing confidence.

Each day, I felt the resistance of the water lessen, and while I was far from effortless, the progress was undeniable, pushing me to aim for even greater improvement.

④My THOUGHTS on the upcoming swimrun

==> With my skills getting better, the IDEA of participating in the swimrun occurred to me frequently.

I found myself occasionally thinking about the swimrun during my practice sessions, wondering if I could truly overcome my fears and take part in such a challenge.

Para 2

①How did my colleagues RESPOND to my decision? (OPTIONAL)

==> Greatly SURPRISED — (never …)

②How did the SWIMRUN go? — 可详可略

==> I tried my best to PROVE myself.  (WIN OR NOT, THAT IS NOT A QUESTION)

③The END of the story — CHANGE/BREAKING THROUGH MY COMFORT ZONE/FACING MY INSECURITY

Paragraph 1

The thought of gliding through water effortlessly was what kept me going. At a certain point, l hit a plateau. So, I decided to contact my swimming instructor for more swimming lessons. Under his guidance, l started to practice more by myself, some days, I would come back seriously wondering if my body constitution was meant for swimming at all. On other days, I would feel fantastic while completing my laps. Still, there was one single thing that stood out during my practice sessions: while repeating thousands and thousands of crawling strokes, I slowly but surely started to enjoy the process of swimming thoroughly.

Paragraph 2

Regarding the swimrun, l eventually decided to participate. For me, this challenge was pushing me to my limits, as I had been utterly scared to confront this weakness of mine. The race began, and soon I was completely breathless from the physical exertion. However, I solely focused on all the movements I had been practicing repetitively throughout the summer. Before I knew it, I had finished. The swimrun had been my end goal but I already knew by then that I was going to continue swimming. I wished my childhood self could meet my present-day self to see that I was not naturally bad at swimming. It was possible to change and surpass the boundaries of my comfort zone.                                                      参考范文

The thought of gliding through water effortlessly was what kept me going. Hardly had I started practicing at the bathhouse when I realized how much effort it would take to master swimming. In those early days, I felt like a drowning monkey, flailing my arms and kicking wildly, only to sink and choke on the water. Each attempt left me frustrated, yet so determined was I to improve that I kept pushing myself forward. The process was slow, but with every lesson, I began to notice small improvements. My strokes grew more coordinated, my breathing steadier, and the water, once a source of fear, began to feel less intimidating. Gradually, I started to see that progress was not defined by perfection but by persistence. I found myself occasionally thinking about the swimrun during my practice sessions, wondering if I could truly overcome my fears and take part in such a challenge.

Regarding the swimrun, I eventually decided to participate. So strong was my resolve to test my progress that the race became a way to prove how far I had come. Hardly had the starting whistle blown when I dove into the water, feeling the rhythm of my strokes carrying me forward. The swim was more exhausting than I had expected, but it was also a testament to the hard work I had put into my practice. The transition to the running segments was challenging, my legs feeling heavy, but the support from my colleagues kept me moving. Crossing the finish line, breathless but triumphant, I realized that the race was more than just a physical challenge. It symbolized my transformation, the journey of overcoming a fear and turning it into something I could take pride in.                                                                            — GPT

By Shark