Who’s in your corner? Do you stuff down your disappointment? Or talk it through? This week I have been reflecting and integrating what was not readily apparent after getting out of Lake Memphremagog. Immediately after the swim I debriefed with my crew and coach, but the lessons keep unfolding. This week I hosted a Q&A at The Water’s Edge where my community asked astute questions about how I kept going in the night despite the inconvenience of being cold, my decision making process before…

How it starts… Do you swim to manage stress? Get healthy? Workout with others? Immerse yourself in nature? Connect with your body in the water? As a vehicle to meet others and travel the world? Because it’s a challenge that you don’t want to back down from? Where it can take you. For me, what started as a challenge – I was terrified of what lurked in the open water, but didn’t want that fear to define me. Grew into a love of being, literally, immersed in nature – the rhythm of the seasons,…

The Unspoken Conversation It starts quietly. A question you didn’t expect. Not from someone—but from the water. That subtle moment before you act—the breath before the plunge, the hesitation before the yes—can reveal more than we realize. Sometimes, it’s a whisper from something deeper, asking to be heard. The water offers one of life’s most honest mirrors. Not just your reflection, but your relationship with uncertainty, with trust, with yourself. What if your relationship with the water…

Hello there, With my kids back in school, I’m feeling the pull toward a steadier rhythm. I’m not sure what’s next for my swimming—but I know I want a practice that keeps me curious, connected, and moving with intention through the months ahead. Maybe you’re feeling that pull, too—in your swimming or another part of your life. It has me thinking about what makes a practice meaningful. When it comes to swimming, we often assume progress comes from doing more: more lessons, more laps, more…

Ready or Not, Ready Enough I didn’t feel ready. Not for the spring water temps. Not for the distance. Not for everything this swim would ask of me. But I went anyway. Because sometimes, waiting to feel “ready” is just another way of hiding. And I could feel myself trying to hide! The weather looked rough. It was Mother’s Day weekend. Despite months of planning, coordinating schedules, and arranging travel to get my crew here, when push came to shove, all I wanted to do was stay home and enjoy…

Earlier this week, I stood in what will become the swim studio space here in Talent with the architect, the landlord, and the builder, reviewing plans from the engineer. It was exciting—15 months in the making—and equally terrifying, seeing something I’ve been imagining start to take shape (the plans still have to be approved by OHA before we can pour concrete). It reminded me of the difference between planning for something and being in it. The gap between the idea and the work. The water…