We said goodbye to the season on Saturday 2 April with food, drinks, a performance by Věrka Kišová’s group and Tomáš Chlebek, and one last swim together.
A warm greeting, too, to everyone who could not join us this year for personal, health or philosophical reasons. Do not give up: you can start at any time, including starting again and doing it better.
‘There are too many of you; I will go on my own’ almost always ends up meaning not swimming at all. You go once or twice, and that is usually the end of it. Even people who dislike crowds generally find it easier to swim regularly with others than alone. There are exceptions, but they are rare. There is strength in a group.
Gradual progress, regularity and consistency: you will find all three here. We do not compete to stay in longer or swim faster. We leave our egos on the bank. Even ten seconds in the water beats lying on the sofa, drinking wine and complaining that we enter the river like a flock of ducks.
We meet with absolute regularity, whatever the weather: every single Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Saturdays are for beginners, and that will stay the same next season.
Thank you to everyone who came to swim, take photos or cheer us on. I hope at least as many of us will meet again next year.
If you would like to keep meeting outside the swimming season, come and run the Válcovenské steps with us. It is great fun.
Ota Zemek
Photo gallery