In the past few months, this was often how early swims ended at Ohio street beach... floating on my back, enjoying the quietness of the morning.

Of all the practical benefits a wetsuit can provide a hopeless swimmer like me, allowing this bit of buoyant meditation might be at the top. For it was during these still times, cradled by the fluid of the earth, that I felt free to travel.

Of course I dreamt of a glorious day to come in Madison, of my first IM. And then there were all the details of training. But most of the time, I just thought about how fortunate I was to be able to do this.

...to be here today, with the sun rising before me, as it had for countless others through time. What could be better? I could be elsewhere, anywhere. Maybe back in bed or oblivious in rush hour traffic, just yards away on lake shore drive.