1 day before departure

'Let's just make it a short one today, John', I said standing in the shallows in freezing water at the start of my last open water practice this morning, reflecting my normal anxiety which had become worse in the last week or so. 'No', said John, 'we will do our normal 2k'. So I struggled with rising anxiety for the first couple of hundred metres wondering what had gone wrong with my otherwise perfect preparation. Then I had a light bulb moment. 'Some degree of anxiety is normal at the start of any event', I said to myself. The trick is to get it under control as quickly as possible, knowing that everything will be fine very soon. And so it was. 'Remember to lengthen your stroke, concentrate on exhalation, and recite the mantras', I repeated to myself. I was back under control. My head was in place again. Even in the moderately rough conditions, I could have done 5k. Bloody hell! I will be doing just that - and very soon. Thanks, John, for your understanding, for pushing me and for doing your best to toughen up this wimp.