{"id":1848,"date":"2025-05-23T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/?p=1848"},"modified":"2025-05-20T21:21:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T21:21:44","slug":"swim4fun-a-la-forrest-gump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/swim4fun-a-la-forrest-gump\/","title":{"rendered":"Swim4Fun like Forrest Gump"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s been some time since the movie Forrest Gump was a hit in theaters around the world, but what does that have to do with my experience swimming in open water? Or with my first \u201clong\u201d training session? Or with my first race?\n\nFrom the hundreds of thoughts that bubble up in my mind during my swims, I\u2019ve come to feel that my journey into open water swimming can be summed up in the same way Forrest described life: like a box of chocolates \u2014 you never know what each different chocolate is going to bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My father swam his entire life. In the U.S., he competed at the high school and collegiate levels, earning \u201cAll American\u201d honors. He worked as a lifeguard and set university records that stood for many years. But it wasn\u2019t through my father that I arrived here. I never swam on a team or competitively. I HATED doing laps in the pool...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I would say that, for me, it all started with surfing \u2014 that\u2019s where my relationship with the ocean was born. It would take nearly 40 years for the circle to complete itself, where open water swimming, here in Portugal, would bring me back to the sea, back to my father, and to many things beyond surfing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rowing up surfing in Brazil, I developed a deep love for the ocean. I\u2019ve always felt and believed that the sea cleanses our souls \u2014 it\u2019s impossible to go into the ocean and come out the same person. And just as you never step into the same river twice, the sea is always changing, and always changing us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast-forward. Thirty years after finishing university and having stopped surfing regularly, I arrived in Lisbon with all my belongings (as we say in Brazil, \u201cde mala e cuia\u201d), with my eyes on the sea \u2014 eager to feel at home again among the waves, the tides, and the currents. I had already been following Facebook groups for surfers over 50; over 60; over 70 \u2014 even over 80 \u2014 so I wouldn\u2019t lose faith or hope of returning to the sport, and that I might continue it well into old age! But I\u2019m no fool... I have enormous respect for the sea and know the dangers that exist there \u2014 and I also know I have to understand my limitations. Starting to swim would be a \u201cfunctional\u201d way to get back into shape and reacquaint myself with the sea. And so, with this determination, I sought out our \u201ccoach,\u201d Bibiana. My journey into open water swimming was born alongside Swim for Fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBibiana, I want to get back into surfing, but I need to get back into shape and I can\u2019t just start doing crossings on my own.\u201d Bibiana replied, \u201cCome to Praia da Torre. We\u2019ll see what level you\u2019re at and go from there. We have groups for all levels. Don\u2019t worry!\u201d Those who know her can probably hear her voice as she says it...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, on May 12th, 2024, I showed up at Praia da Torre with my surf wetsuit, no swim buoy, and no idea what kind of adventure was about to begin. I could barely swim 50 meters without feeling like I was dying \u2014 out of breath, out of strength, and completely clueless!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of a year, the training sessions with Swim for Fun became more solid, and as I gained strength and consistency, Bibiana\u2019s guidance extended to my sessions in Denver, USA, where I spend two weeks every month. Unfortunately, in Denver my training is always in a pool that can\u2019t compare to the Jamor pool \u2014 and is nothing like the ocean \u2014 but it allowed me to stay consistent and not lose the gains I\u2019d made in Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward again to May 10th, 2025. One year after my first session with Bibiana, I began my first \u201cLong Training,\u201d doing the crossing from Praia de S\u00e3o Pedro to Praia da Duquesa \u2014 a total of 4 km. Once again, I had no idea what to expect from the experience or even if I\u2019d be able to complete the 4 km. That was when, during my first crossing, Forrest Gump\u2019s chocolate box came to mind. Was I delirious? Maybe...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day began beautifully and the crossing promised ideal conditions \u2014 which quickly changed. The current, and especially the wind coming from the front, bringing more waves to the face, soon made it clear that the challenge would be greater than anticipated. As I rounded the S\u00e3o Pedro peninsula, I could feel the impact of those forces almost immediately. In my mind, I thought I was \u201cfalling behind\u201d and needed to push harder. At the same time, not knowing how much the 4 km would demand from me, I wanted to conserve energy and not tire too quickly.\n\nBetween strokes, as I turned my head to breathe, I looked at the coastline, noted the buildings and features along the shore, and noticed that my progress seemed to speed up and slow down, even though my stroke rate felt constant. Nearing the 2 km mark, I paused to see where the rest of the group was and realized I was among the middle \u2014 some ahead, some behind. I reoriented myself to swim more directly toward the destination instead of following the coastline. I decided to put my head down and move forward, like a slow-gear tractor. I monitored how I felt \u2014 if I got too tired, the coast was nearby and, as Bibiana had said, I could exit the water at any point.\n\nI aimed to find a pace that showed progress without draining me \u2014 and that\u2019s when I found my \u201cspecial little place.\u201d This place was the first discovery I made \u2014 when I began to feel better in the water, after a few months of training. A rhythmic place, between strokes and breaths, feeling all parts working together \u2014 and then, the swim became a meditative space. So different from the hard early months of adaptation and conditioning. Once I found that zone, that rhythm, I discovered I could lose myself in it. The first chocolate. The first discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, under somewhat challenging conditions in that first long swim, when I found that meditative place, I opened myself up to new thoughts \u2014 new discoveries. One of them was a feeling of closeness to my father, as I imagined him training when he was young and what his experience might have been like. Did he enjoy it the way I was now? On one hand, I felt connected to something that had always been a big part of his life \u2014 and thus, I felt connected to him. On the other hand, I wondered how he would feel, or react, if he experienced open water swimming after a lifetime in pools.\n\nThese reflections were among the first to come to me in that meditative state \u2014 many more followed. Like the arms of a clock, I shifted my attention rhythmically between different elements \u2014 the seconds, the minutes, the hours; my strokes, my breathing, my orientation, and yes, my meditation. One minute I\u2019d realize I wasn\u2019t making much progress \u2014 so I\u2019d push harder. Another minute I\u2019d realize I needed to reorient myself. Another moment I\u2019d think about my mother, who, at 84, still teaches yoga and once told me that many prayers contain verses that lend themselves to rhythmic breathing and therefore meditation. In the next moment, I was reciting a \u201cHail Mary.\u201d Then, an \u201cOur Father.\u201d Rhythm. Breath. The verses truly aligned. The strokes came and went, and so did the random thoughts.\n\nMinute by minute, bit by bit, the goal grew nearer. I did a self-check: How am I feeling? Still have breath, not too tired, but energy is a bit low. Maybe my glycogen is running out? I stopped. Didn\u2019t see anyone ahead, nor behind \u2014 but I could still spot the kayaks farther back, closer to shore. I looked ahead again and could now see Praia da Duquesa. I thought, \u201cI\u2019m going to make it!\u201d Shifted into low gear again, and off I went. Minute by minute, meter by meter, the beach grew closer. Relief. The goal was within reach. Almost as soon as I realized it, the wind died down, and strokes, breathing, and calm came more easily.\n\nAs I emerged from the water at Praia da Duquesa, I could savor another chocolate. This one brought the realization of something I couldn\u2019t have imagined a year ago \u2014 a limitation overcome. A victory achieved. Still dripping wet, I was already wondering how this experience would compare to the next challenge: my first open water race. One week later, I\u2019d savor the next chocolate \u2014 and it would be VERY different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Oeiras Open Water Race, once again I found myself facing an experience I didn\u2019t know what to expect from. I had no expectations of podiums or medals. Just a few months before, I wasn\u2019t even sure I could swim 1,500 meters. My original goal for the race was just to finish \u2014 but now I already knew I could. I had just done 4,000 meters. But the circumstances were VERY different \u2014 and so the experience would be, too.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My biggest anxiety was how I\u2019d deal with the course among hundreds of other swimmers. I arrived a bit (a lot) lost. Quiet, in my own head, I went to find my spot for the start. I had never even watched a race like this before \u2014 let alone participated in one! I followed others and lined up where it seemed to make sense, based on Bibiana\u2019s guidance \u2014 I\u2019d start on the far right, so I could round the first buoy from the outside and avoid the chaos near the buoys. There came a strange feeling of solitude in the midst of a huge crowd. There was no turning back \u2014 once in line, I felt like cattle in a chute, waiting for a vaccine. When the start horn blared \u2014 followed by waves of other horns \u2014 there was only one direction to go: forward. My turn came, and uncertainly, I went.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh my God! What is this?\u201d I was already asking myself before reaching the first buoy. Arms and legs everywhere! I panicked when I touched someone\u2019s foot \u2014 and again when others\u2019 hands, feet, arms, and bodies bumped into me. Here, trying to orient myself toward the buoys while avoiding collisions, I was far from the peace, rhythm, or meditation I\u2019d found in my 4 km training swim the week before. This was chaos! Apparently, that\u2019s normal! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCalm down!\u201d \u201cBreathe!\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t panic!\u201d \u201cYou know you can swim 1,500m \u2014 you\u2019re not here to win but to challenge yourself.\u201d \u201cGo at your pace. You\u2019ll get there.\u201d \u201cWhere\u2019s the buoy?! I can\u2019t see anything!\u201d \u201cOh right... Bibiana said to go with the flow... Well, I hope they know where they\u2019re going!\u201d I almost laughed imagining the whole crowd swimming the wrong way.\n\nSoon, it was clear the current wasn\u2019t helping as much as expected. Where was the \u201cconveyor belt\u201d Bibiana mentioned? The effort was greater than expected. \u201cCalm down.\u201d \u201cSlow and steady...\u201d Each buoy brought a bottleneck. I thought, \u201cI\u2019ll go around.\u201d Relief as I finally turned and began swimming toward the final buoy. A little more... I made it. I survived!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost immediately, the slight terror of my first race experience began to fade, and I started trying to reflect, digest, and absorb that absolutely unique experience. Right away, I wondered if I even wanted to repeat something like that... I wasn\u2019t sure I liked that particular chocolate... It was a bit like those liqueur-filled chocolates I hated as a kid. Why subject myself to that?\n\nThe answer came quickly \u2014 because I love challenges, and I know I can improve. Because if there\u2019s not at least a little fear, the experience can\u2019t be as deep. Because I know there are still many chocolates I haven\u2019t tasted, experiences I haven\u2019t lived, and barriers I haven\u2019t yet broken. Next year, I\u2019ll turn 57. Where will I be at 60, if one year has already brought so many great experiences and unexpected accomplishments? I\u2019m already looking toward the horizon, full of gratitude, thinking of the new \u201cfirsts\u201d and surprises that await me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris Lund<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

J\u00e1 faz algum tempo que o filme \u201cForrest Gump\u201d fez sucesso nos cinemas, mundo afora, mas o que isso tem a ver com a minha experiencia nadando em \u00e1guas abertas? ou com meu primeiro treino \u201clongo\u201d? ou com a minha primeira prova?  Das centenas de pensamentos que borbulham na minha mente ao longo das minhas … <\/p>\n

Read more “Swim4Fun \u00e0 la Forrest Gump\u2026”<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1854,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sem-categoria-en"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-3.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Clube Swim4fun","author_link":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/author\/geralclube-swim4fun-pt\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clube-swim4fun.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}