Today I had to endure a walk of shame after swimming in the afternoon winds and oncoming ocean swells of Huntington Beach, California. Such a walk is never a good feeling.
Starting as usual from Lifeguard Tower 22, I swam northwards along the Pacific Coast. I knew it was going to be rough returning to Tower 22 due to the fast-moving water. After turning around and heading back to the start, I had to accept defeat after 35 minutes of swimming backwards despite my best efforts.
The walk of shame is an open water swimming slang term describing the act of returning to the point along the coast where a training swim was started – and intended to finish. However, due to strong currents, tidal flows, oncoming surface chop, waves, or ocean swells, and/or relentless winds, a swimmer cannot physically return to the starting point. The swimmer either has to swim all day or make a choice and walk back to the start.
The walk of shame is characterized by a swimmer walking in the sand or along the shore with their swim cap and goggles in hand, looking exhausted, defeated, and dejected…or happy that they gave it a shot and did their best against the power of Mother Nature.
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