Trial training | Early morning flow

Ten days remain on my countdown clock as I get out of the car in Schildow under the shimmering canopy of leaves. Shortly after nine, a perfect late summer day, the gravel lake lies green and deserted before me. Only two tanned pensioners with long hair are already sitting on their inflatable loungers at the lido . The first beers have been opened: "Hello!"

I spread out my towel next to the old people and try to squeeze into my new wetsuit. The "Orca Athlex Flow" arrived two days ago. Its rubber layer is thin and highly sensitive, which is why it comes with extra white gloves, which I now strain to get into the sleeves. I'm sweating, and the old people look at me with amusement. "That thing is pretty tight, isn't it?"

After much tugging and pulling, I'm in. Phew, that's a close call! Now for the zipper on the back! I tug on the cord, but it doesn't budge a millimeter. A cloud of sweat and rubber spreads around me. Finally, I ask the old man with the yellow sunglasses to help me. He struggles to his feet: "Sure, yes! I went swimming once, too!" When everything fits, I ask him to take another photo – for my wife (and for my Instagram). Laughing, he takes my phone: "Then your wife will know you're at the lake and not with your girlfriend!"

Finally, I get into the water. It's almost too warm for a wetsuit, but here it's not about the water temperature, it's about time. Can the black and silver skin make me faster? I start swimming and sink into my thoughts. Swimming is meditating, as anyone who regularly swims laps knows. It's a dream today! What could be better than gliding alone through the glassy water?

I'm in the flow. And indeed, in the neoprene, you feel even lighter in the water, almost as if you were being lifted. The wet rubber clings to my body like a second skin, and because the material is so thin, I can still swing my arms for a crawl as usual. High elbow, dip my arm, and at the end, a quick push-off with my hand, just like I learned three years ago in a freestyle class at the Pankow Adult Education Center! (I highly recommend it to everyone; it's never too late to do the crawl!)

I lift my head every few strokes to keep my bearings; I left my compass glasses at home this time. I swim my laps in a triangle. Everything feels easy. As I get out of the water in a good mood, I'm shocked when I look at my sports watch: 2,327 meters in 58:55 minutes. Oh dear! Far from my actual swimming ability. I sit down on a bench. Shaking my head, I peel myself out of my wetsuit.

"So, how was it?" asks the man in sunglasses, sitting down next to me. "Too slow, unfortunately!" I reply. He sips his Kindle and nods wisely, and the real reason for my slowness suddenly occurs to me: "I think I was dreaming. It's just too beautiful a day for personal bests today."

All Trial Training Columns: Part 1 : How to Do Triathlon? Part 2 : Standing in the Rain Part 3 : The Little Ones Part 4 : Naked in Happiness (54) Part 5 : The Man with the Plan Part 6 : In a Bar Rush Part 7 : Holiday in Top Form Part 8 : Waves and Wonder Glasses Part 9 : The Ranks Thin Out