Yes, this is exactly like swimming. The isolation, the pain, the drifting, the weightlesness, the hunger, the cold, the numbing repetition. Really makes you wonder what is enjoyable about the sport, and it seems the author herself never quite reaches a conclusion: perhaps the tight control and discipline, the familiarity, the sensation of feeling your body leave its regular physical constrictions.

I really enjoyed the thoughtful overlap of visual arts and swimming. I wish I could experience both of those things right now.

Interesting to pair this book with Bravey by Alexi Pappas. Both talk about the reality of pain in sport, something I wish I had learned to confront and deal with better when I was in high school. I don't remember my coaches talking about dealing with the psychological aspect of pain--funny since it completely consumes the majority of every single practice and the hours leading up to practice. I think my performance would have improved if I had figured out a better pain game plan. Both books also talk about athletes keeping up outward appearances even when you know they are hurting, all stoicism and tight lips. Maybe running and swimming attract the sort of personalities that logic away the complaints, "Quitting is not an option and complaining is a waste of energy." Ha. Maybe coaches carry that mentality too, and that's why no one ever really talked about it.