Aby Ortega’s Marathon Swim Story
As the holidays are starting to set in, I realize that my summer break turned into a bit of a fall break. But the breather has served me well. I’m getting back in the swing of things and have several new episodes in the hopper.
Awhile back I received an email from Aby Ortega informing me that I hadn’t recorded the marathon swim stories of anyone from Mexico! I immediately scheduled a time to record her story.
While I haven’t gone out of my way to interview a marathon swimmer from every country, I love the idea! If you’re listening in a country that hasn’t been represented, reach out to me! Shannon@intrepidwater.com
It would be lovely to hear about your favorite places to swim in your home country and what you look for when you swim abroad.
Aby tells us about all of the beautiful places to swim around Mexico and invites us to visit. I, for one, can’t wait to check them out.
I hope you enjoy Aby’s story!
In her own words:
I discovered organized swims in open water 15 years ago, and a world of wonders was opened to me.
This activity has given me wonderful and gratifying experiences in Mexico and abroad in open water events, when training or when swimming just for the pleasure of being in the sea:
There are beautiful landscapes in Mexico, such as the sea of contrasts, from dawn to dusk in La Paz and in Los Cabos; the natural barriers of Cañón del Sumidero; the crystal clear water of the Bacalar Lagoon; the challange of going from Cancun to Isla Mujeres; the natural aquarium in Cozumel; the Bay of Acapulco from night to dawn; the large waves on Zicatela Beach, and Agustinillos, just for the fun of swimming in one of my favorite places; a beautiful bay in Nayarit; training swims in Las Estacas; and a challenge outside of Mexico, in a Italian postcard from Capri to Naples, an unforgettable and strong experience, many lessons learned; Dubai a great experience; Costa Rica showed me the contrast between green and blue;then 2021 it was about cold … English Channel, Catalina and Manhattan, from July to October, 77 days of pure magic in the water, in a world starting to heal; and then again Capri and Naples, unfinished business, still giving lessons
These wonderful experiences have left me lessons of life: dealing against the flow, tiredness, dizziness, headaches, jellyfish; but always the positive side exceeds the negative: the change of habits that helps to stay in good health; the unconditional support of the loved ones; friends that are filling a jar of sand and sea shells; the peace the sea makes me feel; and, the immense excitement of reaching the goal and overcome the challenge; at the end learning to flow, in the here an now.
