“Move the horizon closer” has myriad meanings for open water swimmers. It can take on a number of mantras depending on if you are doing a channel crossing, marathon swim, Ice Mile, stage swim, or competing in the Olympics or World Cup:
- Swim to the next feed.
- Just get up.
- Swim one more set.
- Move up towards the front.
- Sprint to the buoy.
- Just start.
To “move the horizon closer” implies that you can change your perspective to think differently about your goals or break down your long-term goals into more manageable parts. The key is to keep moving forward, however slowly or in short bursts.
- Swim to the next feed: if the distant shore is too far away to have confidence in making it, just swim to the next feeding.
- Just get up: instead of rolling over and going back asleep, get up and start getting ready for morning workout.
- Swim one more set: instead of ending a workout because of fatigue or boredom, swim one more set – however brief.
- Move up towards the front: during a competitive race when you are in the middle of the pack, swim your way towards the front or edges of the main pack
- Sprint to the buoy: if you cannot overtake your competitors, try sprinting to the next turn buoy
- Just start: if you have been putting off your dream to do a swim or race, start today. Do something: go to the pool, beach, or register for the swim
© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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