Is there anything more Minnesotan than refusing to let a little thing like winter (or a knee replacement!) slow you down?
We don’t think so.
Down here at the Kandiyohi County Area Family YMCA, we see amazing things happen in our pool every day. But recently, two of our members, Peggy and Sandy, did something extraordinary. They completed the 100-Mile Swim Challenge.
To put that in perspective, that is like swimming from the Kandi Y all the way to St. Paul.
Peggy: Finding Friends in the Fast Lane
For Peggy, hitting that 100-mile mark wasn't just about lap swimming. It was about community.
"During this challenge, I learned that I liked being able to combine water fitness classes with lap swimming because I could connect with the women in that class," Peggy told us.
While she loves hitting her goal of 22 laps every time she swims, she admits that straight lap swimming can be a little lonely. By mixing in water fitness classes, she got the best of both worlds: a killer workout and the social connection that keeps us all sane during a long Willmar winter.
Peggy’s Pro-Tip for You: If you are intimidated by the number 100, don't be! Peggy points out that water fitness classes count as one mile.
"Some of the women attend five classes a week," she says. "They could reach the goal in 20 weeks!"
Sandy: Unstoppable at 82
Then there is Sandy. If you need a definition of "tough," look no further.
Sandy is 82 years young, and this was her third year crushing the challenge. But this year threw a massive curveball: a knee replacement on September 3rd.
Most people would hang up their goggles. Not Sandy. She was at mile 87 when the surgery happened.
"I wasn’t sure I’d make it," Sandy admitted. But amazingly, she was back in the water by October 8th and finished her 100th mile on November 3rd!
Sandy has tried every exercise program under the sun over the last eight decades, but swimming is the one that stuck. It’s gentle on the joints but great for the heart.
Sandy’s Advice? "Why not? I always feel better after I swim. In fact, if you compare the way I look when I walk in the morning and the way I look when I walk out after my swim, you would understand why swimming means so much to me."
Whether you are recovering from surgery like Sandy or looking for a social circle like Peggy, the pool at the Kandi Y is the place to be.
Come visit us at the Y. Ask the front desk about the next Swim Challenge. If Sandy and Peggy can do it, so can you!