Reflections from the water Reflections | News | Updates Winter Edition As winter settles in, I wanted to pause and reflect on what’s been unfolding at Intrepid Water over the past few months, and offer a glimpse of what’s taking shape in the season ahead. In Swimbound, my five-month virtual coaching program that culminates in an in-person open-water experience, we’re in week 15 — building confidence for longer durations, experimenting with fueling while swimming, and learning how tempo and…

Stretching the Edges—Together Comfort and growth rarely live in the same neighborhood. Yet we keep looking for shortcuts between them—ways to expand without feeling that edge of discomfort that signals real change. Once I started noticing resistance in myself, I saw it everywhere: The colleague who says, “I could never speak in public.” The friend who insists they’re “not creative.” The neighbor who feels they’re “too old to learn something new.” And in the pool, when swimmers—beginners and…

When your body says “nope”. I had one of those moments this week where my whole body said nope. I stood in front of the shower—my hand hovering over the faucet, knowing I should turn it to cold. I know the benefits: improved circulation, boosted mood, sharpened alertness, enhanced recovery, and built-up resilience. I’ve done it before. And yet… I didn’t want to. I started wondering: what’s actually happening in those moments when we resist something we know is good for us? Maybe you’ve felt…

The Long Game We’ve talked about awareness. We’ve talked about redirecting attention. But the real work—the work that changes us—lives in the long game. Because once you see a habit… and once you learn where to place your attention instead… you enter the part no one really likes to talk about: Repeating it. Over and over and over. Sometimes with ease. Sometimes with frustration. Sometimes with no visible change at all. This is exactly where most people assume something is wrong. They think if…

Effort vs. Exchange As the seasons change—with cooler weather, darker days, and at times, water falling out of the sky—I’ve found myself on my rowing machine for movement. (Remember those Zones 4 and 5 I’m chasing to “age gracefully”?) After last week’s 550 yards, I’m reminded there are many ways to build the engine. Rowing, like cycling and running, builds cardiovascular capacity that carries over to the water—which is why I tell triathletes they’ve got it made. Their bike and run training…

It feels like a chore. I struggle to build and stick with daily habits. I resent that every app wants me to track streaks – even my meditation app! Nothing disrupts my effort it be mindful like a pop up asking if I meditated offline yesterday. And yet, I can’t figure out how to stay engaged without tracking. I signed up for a 30 day yoga challenge and actually completed it! When it was over, a sense of pride washed over me, also relief. I was so glad that I didn’t have to find time to do yoga…