What are you training for?
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LESSONS FROM THE WATER READ PREVIOUS ARTICLES WEBSITE SCHEDULE SUBSTACK Hi there, This week I got an urgent message from one of my swimmers. She was spiraling about the unseasonably cool temperatures that could affect her upcoming race. What if it’s colder than expected? What if I can’t handle it? I know the feeling. Before swimming the length of Loch Ness I refused to get in the water before the swim start. I was afraid that if I did, I would psych myself out about the temperature. So when…
What’s possible for you in the water? Can you imagine being held by the warm salty waters of the Caribbean Sea, moving easily from one shape to another, sensing the forward progress you make in every moment? Can you imagine feeling such comfort in your body in the water that there’s no question of, “are we there yet?” Can you imagine watching the rising sun cast light on the cerulean waters as you journal about your intentions for the day—not what you need to accomplish, but who you want to…
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 author reflects on the crucial space between intention and action, recognizing it as a place for choice and growth. While automatic habits can streamline daily decisions, moments of pause can lead to greater awareness and alignment with deeper goals. Mindful navigation of this space allows for personal growth and effective action.
The water is fine. Periodically I peer out from under the rock where I hide, I glance at the news and see vitriol. Even the headlines seem generated to divide us. But in my backyard pool and in my adult swimming classes at Rogue X, we’re humming and floating and finding connection from our books to our toes. We’re feeling the inbuilt support of the water by bouncing ourselves like basketballs. Young and old, we’re leaning into trust. While the world pushes us to choose sides, the water asks…
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…