Photo credit: Giorgio Scala of Deepbluemedia.

At the point when an open water swimmer’s toes are at the edge of a starting platform or edge of a shoreline, their mind starts to clear.

“Now it starts.”

“I’m ready.”

“This is what I have been training for.”

The excitement and anticipation is heightened to a level of intense clarity.

Most times. Many times. Sometimes.

But there are other times when questions and negativity are raised.

“My shoulder is tight.”

“It’s not the right time.”

“Conditions are not good.”

Either way, once those toes leave the starting platform or the sandy beach, it is time…

…all the way to the finish…

Middle photo is courtesy of the Swim Channel.

Botton photo shows Jean Craven of Madswimmers completing a swim 5909m (19,386 feet) in a frozen lake on Mt Tres Cruces, a volcano in the Andes Mountains along the Argentina-Chile border in South America.

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association