Dear fellow swimmers
How tough is too tough?
Last week, we pointed out that often we're not as prepared for our swims as we'd like to be. We also suggested that most of us are more
capable than we think we are and we'll probably be just fine if we go ahead with our event.
I received an email back from a reader who was about to drop down a distance at the Great North Swim but then decided not to after reading The Dip. She successfully completed the swim and was pleased with her decision.
On the other hand, I tried to do a swim last weekend that I wasn't fully prepared for and I couldn't complete it. The try-it-and-hope method doesn't always work.
When we take on swims that are on the limits of what we've
prepared for or are capable of, then we risk failure. A question I wrestle with is how to make sensible decisions when swims get difficult. When should you press on and try to overcome the barriers and when should you stop to preserve your health and safety?
Take a look at Swimming at the Limit of your Capabilities and let us know what you think. Have you ever pulled out of a swim and then regretted it? Have you ever pushed on despite warning signs and got injured or into
difficulty? How do you find the balance?
