Becoming a pool rat

I'm not a swimmer.  Technically, I know how to swim, but instead of being able to get from point A to B and back quickly, I just know how to not drown slowly.  I have less than 9 months to change that, so it's time to get started!

Obviously I can't swim in the lake when there's floating ice chunks.  Luckily, the gym in my building at work has a nice 3 lane pool, and its always free at lunch.  I've been a few times in the last couple weeks, and thats a start.  I'm going to try and do at least 2 swims a week for the next couple months, and then 3 starting in march.  2.4 miles is a long way, and I need all the practice I can get.  I'm going to see if I can get a swim coach as well; it's painfully obvious that my technique sucks.

Swimming is harder for me to get into than the running and biking for a few reasons:

1. It's hard to jump into water that's not warm.  And when the open water Lake Michigan practices come, oh man am I going to whine.
2. I'm still trying to figure out how to not hyperventilate in the water.  I'm still learning to breath smoothly, and it's harder than I thought i would be.
3. My crappy breathing makes me swallow air (aerophagia), and that sometimes leads to crippling cramps for an hour or so.  I wish I was exaggerating.
4. I can't get the damn'd smell of chlorine off my skin.  I shower after, and let the soap soak in for 10 min, but still smell like Miami pool boy.  It's gross.  

All of these reasons add up to me wanting to just put in some time on the treadmill instead, doing what I know: miles while watching bad TV.  Let's hope I improve with more time in the water, and let's hope it's quick.

This is my lane; I will get to know this place well.