"You must know that you can swim through every change of tide."  Yogi Tea, Quote on last week's tea bag

Three weeks from today my Monterey Bay Marathon Swim will be over...

Since last year the commitments and goals surrounding the swim have increased ten fold, yet I feel more at peace with the upcoming swim and surrounding obligations than I would have ever expected.  I am driven by a sense of purpose to seize an opportunity to make a difference.  In this final preparation phase I shift my training focus more to my head and less to the body.  After a challenging 15 mile swim a couple of weeks ago, I am physically about as ready as I can ever imagine being.  Maybe I could have logged more mileage, but at 44 and working full time I feel I have pushed through while focusing on maintaining my physical, mental and spiritual health.  For me these swims are a culmination of common goals I share with my wife, friends and community.  To succeed in the water and on land, regardless of what success looks like, I need all those components to be in balance.

How do I deal with disappointments when so many people are expecting a certain outcome?  I focus on the larger goals that are linked more to who I am as opposed to what I have physically done.  Once I leave the beach, the oceans is in control of the conditions and wildlife.  However, I can always control how I feel and react to those conditions.  Sustainable success lies in how I respond internally and externally to setback or triumph. 

FROM THE OCSC NEWSLETTER - SUPPORT THE MONTEREY BAY SWIM
What has become far more important than getting across the bay is the goal of connecting people to the Sanctuary in Monterey and the oceans as a whole.  Our well being and lives depend on the health of the oceans, and marathon swimming is one of the most tangible expressions of a personal, intimate connection to these waters.  Although called a "Solo Swim," this training and event are anything but "Solo."  This past weekend I was supported for over 7 hours by my wife Michelle, Sandy, Tom, JC and Liz in the water, and an even larger community beyond.  These training swims and  Monterey Bay are about more than reaching the other side.  Our primary goal is to share our connection with the ocean in order to encourage others to remember their own.  Please take a minute to read more about why we are hitting the water and what we plan to accomplish.  While you are on the site, please consider supporting us as we work to show how we are all connected to the oceans...www.brucknerchase.com