Always in gyms but never an athlete. I was always admiring and watching sports but never doing any. Always very active, and willing to do new things. Ι was participating in some 5k or 10k running races for fun in Athens but my secret desire and childhood dream was to start swimming. Being Greek, in a country with fantastic weather and beautiful seas, I loved swimming! Water always had an amazing impact on me, always feeling like it was curing me somehow. It was time to take the next step.
Happy Hour
In 2014, as I turned 40, a big park with a 50m open pool opened its gates, close to my house! I can’t remember how fast I did my medical check up, bought a swimsuit and goggles and started swimming. But, having my work, a house to take care of, a kid, and everyday obligations, I realised that the only hour I could do that was 7-8 am before work. That was not a problem at all! this became my happy hour, my precious moments, what changed my life. For 8 years now, I wake up at 06:00 am and go swimming and running 7-8 am every morning, no matter what, and with zero excuses.
A dream had come true. I was lucky enough to have people around me urging me to do things, because they knew I would be happy. They were telling me ”don’t be afraid of the cold weather, just keep swimming”, “don’t sleep 30 minutes more”, “fix your nutrition if you are training, your body will feel better and you will feel better.”
First race ever
So there I was in the pool, with no plan, no coach, no program. I started to watch and learn from other people swimming next to me. Soon enough everyone was teaching me how to swim all styles. 4 years later, I decided to follow the rest of the group from the pool and participate in Oceanman 2018 in Greece, for the 2000m. First race ever.
I remember I drank so much water, that I said I would never do it again! But the next day I started dreaming about the next one … and then it all started to become clear. Month after month, my training was getting better. I visited a nutritionist, to help me improve my energy and control my weight. I started eating healthier. A new world opened up in front of me!
I cried
I started participating in races just for the fun of it. November 2018 Xterra Greece, Ι participated in 1000m swimming, got my first medal, 2nd overall in women with wetsuit! I remember I was crying like a 5year old for the whole day. It was my first medal ever in my life and I had won it at the age of 44!
The same organiser introduced the Greek people to the first swimrun in Hydra (a beautiful island in Greece) Immediately that intrigued me” I definitely wanted to try this one!
Swimrun came into my life eventually after 3 years of waiting in November 2021 when I proposed to a friend of mine to join me and she said yes! In the meantime I had tried aquathlon and really loved the feeling of swimming and then running.
Swimrun is about everything
Swimrun was my next goal, a way to see where I can go, how strong I am. Swimrun is about everything … it affects your mind, your body, your soul. You feel the excitement, you fight with your fears, your emotions change with great speed along the way, you are constantly discovering new aspects of yourself, you keep following because it is fantastic, you can stop and take a breath and then keep going, you can encourage your partner and be encouraged by him. You are out in nature most important, you challenge yourself and at the end you win! Everything! After you finish the experience you are not just tired, you are happy and completed!
Because of all these emotions I fell in love with it immediately. Such an adventurous and beautiful combination of two sports. Most important, training is with friends, enjoying every minute of it.
They say you can go everywhere alone. With the team you can go even further!
Life should be easier
As we are getting older, life should become more easy going for us, and we should have fun! After a certain age, you become more mature and self confident, not very brave though, and this is the trick, you should say to yourself “ I CAN DO IT” whatever this is. We have to stop finding excuses like, “I am alone,”- you will find friends there. ‘I will do it someday” – no! you have to start now otherwise you will never try it ,” I think I am not strong enough” you have to try and you will be amazed of the power you have.
Like the “Hulk”
I realised that I should not waste another minute of my life not trying new things. Experiences are putting us in our beds with a big smile. This is how I returned from my first Swimrun Hydra, after all. I was feeling like the Hulk from Marvel movies. So strong and so confident.
I realised that you should never stop training. Everyday training should be our habit. Like the morning coffee or tea. The whole secret is to be part of a group of people, have the same goals, the same craziness, to motivate each other, to have the same attitude towards life and a coach to help you move forward, inspire you, advise you and keep you going. In these 8 years I have made so many friends, with the same big smile on our faces.
Wake up!
This is what pushes me up from my bed every day at 6 o’clock, this is what I keep saying to myself every day: if you don’t wake up, if you continue sleeping you will lose what makes you happy. And believe me, anything is possible as long as you WAKE up!
Lisa Papantoniou
