This 10km hurt like hell.

I’ve done it before, I’ve even completed a swim twice that distance. So what was different?

The obvious difference this time, but not the reason this swim was hard, is that I swam part-time with Gerrard as one of four buddy swimmers who tethered up with him.

The real reason it was hard is that I was complacent.

I didn’t give the ocean the full respect she deserves for each and every swim. As I’ve now learned, even the ones I think we have in the bag need that consideration.

It is not the ocean’s job to accomodate you, it’s your job to be able to match your swim to the ocean’s mood on the day.

Just weeks earlier I had swum 8km with Gerrard and it was an enjoyable swim. I assumed Saturday’s 10km swim would be the same.

Well, as we say in Oz, on Saturday the ocean tore me a new one.

With 6km under our belt and 4km to go, the wind direction and sweep changed. We were now pushing sh*t uphill swimming against the current with large choppy seas to boot.

We spent 5 hours in the water. That’s the time it took for us to complete the 10km.

To put that in perspective, my 20km swim was 6 hours 10 min.

The last 4km was brutal, raw and real.

Gerrard never wavered. The other guides and our paddlers rallied. I drew strength from their resilience and cherished their presence, each individual in our team.

The take home message: never assume you have it in the bag.

Being over prepared is better than being underdone. I read recently that you should keep 25% in reserve to deal with whatever the ocean throws at you. After Saturday’s swim, I’d say that’s good advice.