Hi.

My first post to this or any blog. Wonder who will read it?

So I swim in the ocean, the harbour and rivers and race against others. Sometimes I swim well and am happy with my results. Other times I am relieved just to finish. Mostly I enjoy my time in the water and the challenges presented by water that is constantly moving. It sure makes a change from swimming in a pool watching the black line and the clock.

I look back to my first ocean swim in 2008 and I am amazed at my progress. My first swim was 1.5 km. Since then I have done many swims over 2 km, including two that were 3.8 km long. I have learned how to move through the break, and how to adjust my stroke for different conditions. I have managed a top 10 finish in my age group on a few occasions, but that elusive top three place still seems a long way off.

But really the swimming is not about the medals or the times. It is about challenging yourself, learning about and respecting the ocean,  and enjoying the experiences with your fellow swimmers. It is about admiring those who swim fast, and admiring those who struggle to finish.

Since I started I have swum all over Sydney and even competed in New York in a race under the Brooklyn Bridge. There are races held all over North America, New Zealand, South Pacific, Asia, and Europe. Over time I might even get to a few of them.