It's all in the mind.

In any sort of endurance event, we all know that - at a certain point - 'it is all in the mind'; the moment when your limbs or lungs are already hurting, you have been contemplating stopping for ages, and something 'in the mind' keeps you going, keeps you from stopping. Determination, willpower, drive, grit - it's all in the mind.

In long-distance swimming, more so - I think - than other long-distance events, the battle within those 'top two inches' is not just about keeping going; it's also about managing both the boredom and the strange wanderings of the mind to ensure that the stroke remains efficient and effective. We must add to the 'determination and drive' a strange cocktail of random, confused and bizarre musings which are also 'all in the mind' when swimming for a long time.

Consider this section of internal monologue from our recent 2-hour qualifying swim in the sea off Brighton beach:

"Ok, off we go. Two hours. Two hours. Two short, comfortable hours.
Hmm, it's colder than I was expecting...no it isn't. Don't think like that. You'll never make it. Actually, it's wonderfully warm, like a hot bath, a beautiful temperature, almost too warm.
No. It's definitely colder than I was expecting. Much colder.

"Stay strong, stay long, nice and easy.
Hang on; where's Graham? He was there a minute ago; has he dropped back?
No. I've just veered about 15 metres to the right. Again.

"Ok, concentrate. Relax. Concentrate and relax. Can you do both? I'm not sure. Probably.
Come on. Concentrate.
And relax. Relax. 'I wonder what time it is. I wonder how long we've been going. I wonder how far we've swum. I wonder... hang on, where's Graham? Not again... stop veering right. Come on concentrate. Concentrate. And relax. Concentrate on relaxing.

"The beach is busy today. Our beach. Where were all these jokers when it was minus 2 degrees and raining? Fair weather beach goers. All of them.
Wow. That couple are pretty bold. Letting it all hang out. Literally. Blimey.
So are they. And them. And them.
Ok, so we're at that section of Brighton beach.
Look away - time to breath on the right hand side. Empty the mind. Empty the mind.
At least we won't face that in the middle of the Channel.

"How long have we been swimming? Quick check? 18 minutes? You're joking. Surely it's more like 40 minutes? 18 minutes?
It's definitely colder than two days ago. Colder than I was expecting.
But not as cold as in the winter. No way near as cold as when the skin was burning, and Graham couldn't talk, and I couldn't feel my hands or feet or face. How we laughed! Once we'd regained control of our facial muscles, how we laughed!
Good, so it's not that cold.

"A definite niggle in the elbow though. Hmm. That wasn't sore last time.
There it is again. Not great.
What happens if that happens in the middle of the Channel?
I won't make it with one arm. There it is again. Elbow niggle. I don't believe it.
Wow! I thought we'd cleared that section of Brighton beach. I really didn't want to see that. Empty the mind. Empty the mind.

"Ah. Now that's nice. A lovely warm patch of water. Beautiful.
Strange though. Why was it so warm there?
Gosh, nearly hit those children playing.
Young children. Sea. Warm patch.
Hmm. Not so nice, after all."

And so it goes on. And on. And on.
Thoughts which are random. Bizarre. Dull.

Thoughts which are all in the mind.


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