What are you training for?

When people ask me, “What are you training for?” my answer is simple: life.

Sure, I like to take on a big swim each year (my version of misogi)—this time, I’m celebrating my 50th trip around the sun with a 50-mile swim in a Vermont lake. But here’s the thing: I don’t want training to feel like something separate from the rest of my life. I want it to fit into my days, not take them over.

Training for Life, Not Just a Goal

If you’ve ever looked at the long list of things we’re supposed to do to stay healthy—strength training, cardio, balance work, stress management, cognitive engagement, social connection, time in nature—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

How is anyone supposed to fit it all in?

What if, instead of trying to add more to an already packed schedule, you could integrate them?

For me, swimming does exactly that:

Strength? Every stroke engages my entire body.
​Cardio? Every breath challenges my lungs and heart.
​Balance? Every ripple forces micro-adjustments.
​Stress relief? The water has an immediate calming effect.
​Cognitive engagement? Navigating the water keeps me sharp.
​Social connection? Swim friends make every dip more meaningful.

If I do it right, it never feels like a checklist—it just feels like living.

What about you?

What activities make you feel strong, capable, and alive?

Instead of treating movement like a chore, how could you weave it into your life? Maybe it’s walking with a friend, stretching while listening to a podcast, or choosing activities that challenge and recharge you.

For me, it’s strength training and physical therapy so I move better in and out of the water. Walking and hiking—ideally with friends. Rowing and cycling to stay balanced and adaptable. And of course, swimming with a focused practice to optimize movement patterns for efficiency.

I train so I can swim whenever I want, as far as I want, in any body of water, anywhere in the world. But more than that, I train so I can keep saying yes—to adventure, to connection, to the joy of moving well for decades to come.

The Water as Teacher

Swimming has long been a metaphor for life across many traditions. Every big swim starts with a goal—a destination in mind. Without that clarity, it’s easy to drift. But the water also teaches us to adapt, trust ourselves, and embrace the unknown.

As the Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize winner Albert Szent-Györgyi said:
​“Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.”

I’m not just training for a swim. I’m training for life.

Join Me on This Journey

This year, I’m swimming 50 miles to celebrate 50 years—my biggest challenge yet. But this journey isn’t just about distance; it’s about discovering what’s possible when we move with intention.

I want to share what I’ve learned—not just about swimming, but about training in a way that integrates strength, purpose, and joy. Because preparing for a big swim is a lot like preparing for a meaningful life—it takes focus, discipline, and trust in the process.

So, what are you training for?

Let’s learn from the water, and from each other. Dive in.