O nosso corpo, mais além de qualquer meta.

The sea looked calm and easy
but the reports from the previous competitions were a warning: strong currents, heavy wind, some of the best swimmers ending the race before the finishing line, a competitor that died.

We were nervous but somehow hopeful because, despite the fog and the rain, the sea seamed friendlier. The race started and it was long before we could reach the black buoy which marked the turning point towards the finishing line.

Surprisingly enough, I felt confident, strong and quick (usually, my mind beats me in the first moments of a race). Every once in a while, while literally horsing a wave to be able to see the way to the next buoy, the fear struck me for a few seconds - we were very very far from the coast. But I had a very good friend swimming alongside with me (bless you, @meninaz ), and the assistance boats and jet skis were everywhere, so I moved on, one stroke after the other.

We were 1.5 km from the end when we approached an orange buoy: the waves came from everywhere because the wind was much stronger now. It was like being punched from every side, and being pulled from the feet. I felt cold, tired, and my mind melted: enough of this. But my lovely friend was there, I would follow her until the end.

Unfortunately (or not) a boat approached saying we had reached the cut off time and we had to leave. We both jumped in, feeling very sorry to be pulled out at that moment. Nevertheless, shivering, I knew that maybe it was the right time for me to go.

The same happened to many competitors, some like us still a bit far from the finishing line, others very close to it. It felt very sad for not ending it; but 1346 calories lost and the memory of the experience hold lessons that I will never forget:

• the sea is unpredictable and much, much stronger than you
• never swim again so far from the coast
• a friend swimming with you is precious
• respect your body beyond any goal

Will I do it again?
I say I won’t, now.
But if you had told me when I started open water swimming that I would swim over 6 km in a dam one year later, and would try 5km at sea two years after, I would have called you crazy.

Alex Quadros