After a run to the gym for 50 minutes of elliptical, I head to the beach at 9:30. It’s cloudy skies similar to yesterday. Maybe just a bit cooler.

As I pass Doheny, the ocean looks kind of angry. There is a good south breeze going and there is just a lot of bump on the water. Also it’s grey and dark.

When I get to the parking lot at the Strand, it’s pretty much the same story. I can tell today’s swim is gonna be bumpy.

It’s on the cool side heading down the stairs.

Water doesn’t feel too bad when I get to the sand. The surf is up a bit from yesterday but quality looks pretty dumpy with this wind.

I jump in and make my way out past the surf between sets. I think the water may be a touch warmer than yesterday - maybe this south wind.

With the bumpy ocean and wakes breaking over me, it feels so dramatic and it’s kind of loud. Then I stop just to take in the view and it’s totally peaceful. It’s quiet and I just hear an occasional wake breaking.

While I love love love a nice sunny day, this is nice too. It’s been a while since I have been in water this bumpy and it’s exhilarating.

I’m just focusing on each stroke - one at a time. In these conditions, every time I lift my head is different. Sometimes I get a good breath and I can see a wake in the distance. Sometimes the wake breaks in my face as soon as I come up for air. The ratio of air to water in mouth varies. Sometimes I can just tell its not even worth coming up for air on the next stroke and I power through a few strokes with my head down. Sometimes I feel my self pushed toward shore. Other times I feel a sort of turbo boost forward and then other times I wonder if I am making any headway at all. Sometimes I am pushed beneath the surface and others I am propelled upwards and can feel my torso smack the water. This is when pool swimming and ocean swimming feel very different.

The sun decides to make a minor appearance towards the end of the swim, but the skies are still predominately cloudy.

I arrive back to shore and feel internally cleansed by the water. It feels great walking back up the stairs.