Swim Wild (Outdoor Swimming Society)
“The Wild Swimming Brothers are known for their swimming challenges and this month Little Brother Jack (Hudson) has published a book, Swim Wild, all about the siblings’ journey to star fish. Here Jack shares more about personal challenges and adventures – what usually stops us from getting over that first hurdle and embarking on new and unusual outings? And why are adventures important, anyway?”
Often, I think, the first obstacle relates to personal perception: am I the kind of swimmer who could do something like this? Could I swim across this lake? Could I make it down this river? Can I complete this crossing? The mind baulks at new and untested possibilities. So, the first effort is to convince yourself that you are this person. You can visualise yourself making it. And the clarity of this vision emerges through training. That’s why you’ve got to create a strict regime and stick to it carefully. Whatever aspect of this challenge most scares you, that is now your primary concern. If you need to unpack your fear of deep water, start heading out a little further with each swim. Let the seabed disappear by slow degrees, over a long period of time. But don’t expect too much of yourself too quickly, and definitely don’t rush… In the end, there is always going to be an unknowable element to your challenge. Surprises are unavoidable. And yet there is a way to mentally counter these setbacks and, in fact, to relish those times when everything goes south, even if it’s only in hindsight.
Photo // Julian Oczkowski
