Confessions of a competitive swimmer

I have been swimming at the gym for a few weeks now and it really feels great to be back in the water again!
I can still do all four strokes ( with butterfly i only attempt one length at a time. I am worried someone might think i am drowning and jump in to save me!)
flipturns are easy peasy lemon squeezy!
My problem is the majority of the people swimming at the same time as me are content to swim steadily and consistently and slowly the entire time.
I tried to do that and it just doesn't work for me. When i try to swim slowly my technique falls apart and i feel like i am flopping around in the water!
My other issue is that my competitive side creeps up on me and i want to race! Yes you the Octogenarian in the next lane who can get to the other side of the pool first!
Oh dear ...what does this say about me...

Green Hair and Breadsticks

<p>I recently have been revisiting a sport that I spent 10 years of my much younger life participating in....Swimming.<br>
I swam from age 8-18, 5 days a week, 2-4 hours per day!  All through high school my hair was a lovely shade of green something that was repeatedly pointed out to me by whoever sat behind me in class!
Swimming that much also gives you an insatiable appetite and my friends and i were a little obsessed with Pizza Hut Breadsticks!
When i graduated from high school i gave up swimming i was suffering from major burn out and needed a break, i just didn't know it would be a time 19 year break.
So why start swimming again now ....long story ....
I was enjoying working out at P4L Fitness in Temecula their classes are amazing. If u want a total body kick butt work out they have it all.
However i went ice skating for my lovely Rowenas birthday and fell with all my weight on one knee!  Within 10 mins i had a massively bruised and swollen knee!
So as per doctors instructions no exercise for me for three months!!!!
I finally broke down and joined a gym that has a pool, Sarah swimming part duex....