If You Want To Go Far...

MUSINGS FROM A COACH - 17 JUNE '25

"If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."

This quote came to mind after Jennifer and I concluded our 10th annual Open Water Swim Clinic on Saturday. We had two separate groups of 30 athletes based on ability (and/or anxiousness with open water) that each spent 1.5 hours with us.

For some, it was a refreshing experience to swim alongside other adults in cooler water, especially with the unique sensation of wearing a swim wetsuit. For others, it was either their first time doing something like this or it had been a while. Regardless, there was plenty of nerves as we concluded the dry-land presentations, donned our wetsuits, and headed for the water’s edge.

And that’s where the magic truly began. As the athletes engaged in conversations and listened attentively to each other, a palpable sense of ease enveloped everyone. Despite initial nervous smiles and even some vocal objections, they realized that no one was alone in experiencing a certain level of discomfort with the upcoming swim.This communal endeavor to do hard and uncomfortable things seems to empower the entire group. Together, athletes gain courage, tenacity and willingness to fight off doubt and fear. This is the draw for many athletes when doing Ultras, MTB races, Triathlon or even Swim Run events.

For our group, swimming in a dark and cold lake surrounded closely by dozens of strangers all presented a challenge filled with uncertainty and unknowns. But together, the group overcame those and came out smarter and more confident in their abilities. It was super cool to be a part of this process.

While working alone may allow for quicker progress, doing hard things together often leads to greater achievements over time. Something to consider when choosing your next event or challenging training session. Gratefully, Mark Sortino CEO Team MPI