Swimming In The Moment
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. 60-year-old Hank McGovern from North Carolina is an Ironman looking to transfer his mindset and endurance to the open water.
“During my one Ironman triathlon that I finished many years ago, I had doubts on the run at about mile 16. I was very sore, fatigued and knew I had 10 more miles. My mental focus of focusing on specific visual stimuli as mini-goals during the run helped me finish.
I’d say “Ok, just run to that stop sign. Now run to that telephone pole.”
And so on.
““Sometimes when I do long swims now I just focus on the moment. Actually, I focus on the second and that pulls me through. I think, ‘Now just take this stroke. Now breathe. I can do this forever and ever.'”
McGovern is certainly driven to his goal…
Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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