When I swim for long distances, my mind constantly wanders on a wide spectrum of thoughts and ideas. I usually quickly forget my train of thought after I finish and get out of the water. But last week, I made a note to jot down these myriad musings while doing some long swims.
In no random order, these are a few thoughts, ideas, and opinions that ran through my mind over the last few days:
Do What Drives You
Do what makes your mornings exciting and your nights peaceful.
Will this [ocean swim], [marathon adventure], [volunteer act of paddling or helping another swimmer], [ice swim], [upcoming race] make me excited to wake up? Will this new goal enable me sleep peacefully?
If so, then heading off in this direction seems like an excellent goal.
Gentrification and the New Icons of Open Water Swimming
My heroes, mentors, and role models most often were my elders and not my peers. Penny Dean, John Kinsella, Paul Asmuth, Lynne Cox, Kevin Murphy, Mike Read, and Greta Andersen.
Now those individuals remain my heroes, mentors, and role models.
As they slide gracefully into retirement, who are talking their place? Petar Stoychev, Sarah Thomas, Joe Zemaitis, Bengisu Avci, Rob Woodhouse, Tim Denyer, Lynton Mortensen, Keaton Jones, Charlotte Brynn, Alisa Fatum, Bruckner Chase, Evan Morrison come to mind.
The next generation of icons leading the sport.
Magic In The Open Water
Marabeth Quin once said, “The day I decided that my life was magical, there was suddenly magic all around me.”
When I understood the magical life of being around water, I saw magic – in people, in volunteers, in events, in nature – all around me.
Marathon Mindset
Shane Parrish in Clear Thinking writes, “It doesn’t matter what position you find yourself in right now. What matters is whether you improve your position today. Every ordinary moment is an opportunity to make the future easier or harder.“
When the going gets tough (in a race, in a workout, in a solo swim, in traffic on a crowded highway, in a busy airport, at work), Parrish’s advice is well worth remembering.
© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.