Just be you

It’s been 11 days since I last swam, it’s been 10 days since I last interacted in person with someone other than my better half. No this isn’t my AA speech, though I could understand people becoming alcoholics during this period. Something to take the edge off. Stupid land sport Usually for me, it’s swimming …

Flipping the switch

I haven’t written in a while, sometimes the topic to write about comes quick and easy and sometimes there is just nothing there. In recent months I just haven’t felt like writing or that I had anything worth saying. I also fear falling into repetition. I talk about my swims, some months up, some months …

Silence

Sometimes all I really want is a little silence, the cacophony of noise all around is just too much. The water is silent and it contains peace. This is another of those over sharing posts. I debate them but I also think sometimes out is better than in. I find that Holidays are tough, I …

42……The answer to the universe?

Chilly morning Prior to last week I had never swam below 48f. Last week I did 44f, this week 40.5f/4.6C. For months I have been making reference to the number 42. For the nerds out there like myself, well 42 is the answer to the ultimate question, of life, the universe and everything (Hitchhikers Guide …

Idling

I’m still swimming, I’m not posting a lot about it, other than photos of the lake, if you happen to follow me on Instagram. I am still working out, just more on land. This tends to happen every year as Open water season here in Chicago approaches its annual death (at least for me). It …

Halfway turn, I stopped and looked at the beach….i didn’t get out (spoiler)

I still love this view Some honest reflections here today. I spent the entire past week hoping for bad weather so they would have to cancel Big Shoulders. Completely and utterly horrible of me, but I honestly knew unless they cancelled or enforced a wet suit, I would get in not because I wanted to …

The City of Big Shoulders

Chicago City of Big Shoulders Hog Butcher for the World Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat. Player with Railraods and the Nation’s freight Handler; Stormy, Husky, Brawling, -Carl Sandberg So Big shoulders, it’s where it all began again for me in 2013, my first swim event since my late teens, my first event after 10 years …

The Paradox of yesterday

So yesterday's 10km Swim to the Moon " marathon swim" was not a great event for me, it was probably the worst I have felt during any marathon swim, in fact any swim race I have done. I had hoped for better, yesterday was to be my 10th marathon distance swim since 2015 and my …

One basket…it’s a bad idea

I have tried not to rush in to posting this, I decided to take a week and think about the positives of the swim I failed to do, my DNS (did not start). I learnt a lot this year about organizing a swim. I feel more confident to try this again, I already have all …

Debris

I realize I am writing a lot this week, there is a lot in my head. I also have realized a few things. There has been a lot going on in my life in recent weeks, from family illness and literal madness and the guilt associated at times with being thousands of miles away and …