As I get back to swimming, slow and steady wins the race

Two hundred measly yards. If you had asked 14-year-old me to swim 200 yards, I would’ve laughed, flipped down my goggles, and knocked it out before you finished the question.

I was a distance swimmer. The 1,000-yard and 1,650-yard races were my jam. There were plenty of practices where my coach would just tell me to swim for 90 minutes straight and see how far I could go. Back then, 200 yards felt like a warmup, a drop in the pool.

By 16, I was working as a lifeguard and swim instructor both in the pool and the open water. The lake and the pool were my comfort zone, my source of meditation, and my home away from home. They were the place where I felt strongest.

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These days, things look different. Swimming isn’t about speed, distance, or pushing my limits anymore. Now it’s about staying safe, being mindful, and working with my body instead of against it, all while living with myasthenia gravis (MG).

So when I say I swam 200 yards the other day, it might sound like nothing. But for this version of me, it was pretty profound. I split it into two parts: 100 yards of freestyle and 100 yards of the sidestroke.

Freestyle has always been my go-to. It feels natural and fluid. But even swimming at a relaxed pace sends my heart rate climbing. If it exceeds 110 beats per minute for too long, I start to experience air hunger, an uncomfortable and annoying sensation that’s a little scary for the hubby. It’s definitely not something I want happening while I’m surrounded by water.

Listening to my body

Now I swim freestyle in short, slow bursts. I do 100 yards, then rest for a few minutes. I give my heart time to settle and check in with how I’m feeling. I’m learning to slow down my stroke and find a rhythm that supports my health instead of challenging it. It’s a weird kind of discipline, retraining a stroke that used to come so naturally.

The sidestroke, on the other hand, has become my new best friend. It may not be flashy, but it works my weak hip flexors and keeps my heart rate in a safer zone. It allows me to keep moving without getting into dangerous territory. I never thought I’d be thankful for the sidestroke, but here we are.

During a recent appointment with my neurologist, I asked about adding swimming to my weekly routine, starting with just a few times a week. He was thrilled but also reminded me to stay smart and listen to my body. That’s something I’ve worked hard at already.

He told me again how much he trusts my judgment when it comes to my treatment plan, including occasionally tweaking my medication as needed. So if I need a little bit of extra breathing support from prednisone, I can do that without asking him. I’ve worked hard to build this relationship with my care team. His trust means the world to me. Even if I don’t like how slowly my reentry into swimming is, I won’t jeopardize my health by making emotional decisions and pushing myself more than I should.

Swimming used to be second nature to me. Now it takes intention, patience, and a whole lot of grace. I used to swim miles a day without blinking. Today, 200 yards requires planning, pacing, and rest. But I’m still in the water. I’m still moving. And that alone feels like a win.

If you’re navigating something similar, whether it’s MG or anything else that makes the simple things feel hard, please know this: It’s OK to slow down. It’s OK to celebrate small wins. And it’s OK to treat 200 yards like you just swam the English Channel.

Because in this body? I kind of did.

Note: Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.