Record for longest swim

But something happens when a person takes a look at a body or stretch of water and starts wondering if it is possible for them to swim. This is the beginning of the "what if" thought pattern. The same happened to me. I kept looking at the island of Utila which is just under 19 miles away and thinking, it's far, but it's not too far, that's doable if I am trained. So the mental process changed to active involvement, and now I am scheduled to swim from Roatan to Utila in August of 2008 (I know I need this long to get ready). And even if I weren't to complete it, I will have given it my best shot for that moment and I will find out what my limits are, or what my training limits were that prevented the completion. And, of course, I would try it again within 6 months. Donna, you are incredible! It's been inspiring to follow your journey. In the summer of 2005 I was in Upstate NY on vacation and we needed to get from Saranac Lake, NY to New Hampshire so we took a ferry across Lake Champlain. With the mountains on one side and the beautiful town of Burlington, VT on the other side I couldn't help but think how awesome it would be to swim across it. A few months after that I found out that there actually is an organized swim across Lake Champlain and it's now on my schedule for August. Sister Golden Hair (Katie my training buddy) is doing it with me. I can't wait! Julie

Mausy, I also saw this report but I am glad you posted all of the details of his ungodly swim; it is amazing what the physical body is capable of. And I agree with Strehl, the Nile should not be swum, it is absolutely filthy now. I think it is interesting that many people prefer to pool swim, which I also did for many years, and find great accomplishments in breaking theirs or others records. Also, they may have only access to pools geographically. It was always a thrill to set a record. And I am not sure exactly why I became a distance swimmer; probably because I moved to an island and the ocean is my pool now. I think had I not left the States, I'd still be competing in Masters because of the comraderie of other like swimmers and the socialization involved which is all so important. But something happens when a person takes a look at a body or stretch of water and starts wondering if it is possible for them to swim. This is the beginning of the "what if" thought pattern. The same happened to me. I kept looking at the island of Utila which is just under 19 miles away and thinking, it's far, but it's not too far, that's doable if I am trained. So the mental process changed to active involvement, and now I am scheduled to swim from Roatan to Utila in August of 2008 (I know I need this long to get ready). And even if I weren't to complete it, I will have given it my best shot for that moment and I will find out what my limits are, or what my training limits were that prevented the completion. And, of course, I would try it again within 6 months. I say work up your way to the English Channel; lots of people have completed it, there is no reason you can't either. Train and dedicate yourself for it and it just may happen. And I always say: why not try? It would be a magnificent accomplishment and a memory you will have with you forever. That's how I am looking at my swim. Cheers, Donna

Martin is so crazy :bow:

Donna, you are incredible! It's been inspiring to follow your journey. In the summer of 2005 I was in Upstate NY on vacation and we needed to get from Saranac Lake, NY to New Hampshire so we took a ferry across Lake Champlain. With the mountains on one side and the beautiful town of Burlington, VT on the other side I couldn't help but think how awesome it would be to swim across it. A few months after that I found out that there actually is an organized swim across Lake Champlain and it's now on my schedule for August. Sister Golden Hair (Katie my training buddy) is doing it with me. I can't wait! Julie Julie, I used to live in the vicinity of Lake Champlain when I was a kid, it is a beautiful lake, we used to fish a lot there. See? the same thing has happened to you; you see a beautiful stretch of water and think, I wonder if I can do that? And once you wonder, it becomes a plan, and the beauty of this is, you will swim it if you train for it. And to enjoy every stroke along the way and realize what you are doing will be something to be very proud of and to share with your family and eventually grandchildren. There's nothing greater than the family/grandkids talking about their grandma who swam Lake Champlain. My hat is off to you and Katie, absolutely train and go for it and make those memories you can carry with you forever. I will tell you this: when you finish the swim and are on the beach and look back on where you just came from will be the most momentous moment. The pride is wonderful. And with swimming, any of us can do these things at almost any age; the boundaries are endless!!! Here's to you:drink: Donna

Donna, you are incredible! It's been inspiring to follow your journey. In the summer of 2005 I was in Upstate NY on vacation and we needed to get from Saranac Lake, NY to New Hampshire so we took a ferry across Lake Champlain. With the mountains on one side and the beautiful town of Burlington, VT on the other side I couldn't help but think how awesome it would be to swim across it. A few months after that I found out that there actually is an organized swim across Lake Champlain and it's now on my schedule for August. Sister Golden Hair (Katie my training buddy) is doing it with me. I can't wait! Julie This is a really nice swim. I did it in 1999 and had a great time. The only bad part was a Canadian boat started playing "chicken" with me and my support boat. Turns out my boat captain was a good friend of the local Coast Guard commander and radioed for help. A Coast Guard boat stopped them and basically told them if they didn't want their boat impounded and them swimming back to Canada, they had better quit it. End of issue. There wasn't alot to see once the race started because the haze obscured most landmarks, that plus, you really only go past a few local islands, and not really close to them, in the 8 miles of the swim. It's not really a race, so you could wear a wet suit (water was 65 or so, I believe). We stayed at a placed called Willey's Farm B&B - very nice. Also had really good sandwiches at a place called "The Grateful Bread" and dinner at some place (can't remember the name) in Burlington run by the local culinary school. Enjoy. -LBJ

Martin is so crazy :bow: After reading this excerpt...that's an understatement. He must really like being in the water. He said he was lucky to have escaped encounters with piranhas, the dreaded toothpick fish, which swims into body orifices to suck blood, and even bull sharks that swim in shallow waters and can live for a while in fresh water. "I think the animals have just accepted me," he said. "I've been swimming with them for such a long time that they must think I'm one of them now. I still have dolphins swimming with me." Cramps, high blood pressure, diarrhea, chronic insomnia, larvae infections, dehydration and abrasions caused by the constant rubbing of his wet suit against his skin frequently tormented him. Strel, who lost some 26 pounds, said there were times he felt such pain in his arms, chest and legs, "that I could not get out of the water on my own."

Hey all, I too enjoy the OW longer distance swims....I think it hurts much more to sprint...and would rather a 2 mile swim over a 100 free. However, I too am like newmastersswimmer...I HATE cold water :) haha I have a full sleeve wetsuit and have found it makes a HUGE difference and keeps me very warm...excpept for my feet sometimes go numb. Julie and I have several things on our schedule this summer. For those of you who do not like cold (newmastersswimmer) check out: www.aquamoonadventures.net/ Looks like a wonderful vacation and full of swimming! :) Katie

I just read this article and I'm left asking....why? :rofl: This guy is crazy.

A real OFF THE CHART SWIM! OFF THE CHART GREAT SWIM UNDER DANGEROUS CONDITIONS! The English Channel Society posts their records and a few years ago I read that one person swam over, then back, and then back over, crossing the Channel in ALL three swims at the same time without stopping (triple crossing) WITHOUT A WET SUIT! That is most likely my most admired swim.....Swimming from England to France, then back to England, then back to France in that cold water without a wet suit is impossible for me to get my head around....Take about Superman! Some of the greatest off shore swimmers in the world have fallen short of one crossing, let alone a triple crossing.

A real OFF THE CHART SWIM! OFF THE CHART GREAT SWIM UNDER DANGEROUS CONDITIONS! The English Channel Society posts their records and a few years ago I read that one person swam over, then back, and then back over, crossing the Channel in ALL three swims at the same time without stopping (triple crossing) WITHOUT A WET SUIT! That is most likely my most admired swim.....Swimming from England to France, then back to England, then back to France in that cold water without a wet suit is impossible for me to get my head around....Take about Superman! Some of the greatest off shore swimmers in the world have fallen short of one crossing, let alone a triple crossing. That does sound pretty incredible Stillhere....I also think all of you OW swimming fanatics like Donna, Julie, Leanord and Swimmy for example are also pretty incredible! I did one open water swim a couple of years ago and it was just 1 mile ...and I was exhausted afterwards....there are so many intangibles in OW swimmer that simply don't exist in pool swimming....very cold water temparatures, strong currents, various wildlife (like Stinging Jellyfish and Sea Lice and what not, trying to see where you are going....fighting the hords of swimmers at the start....and the list goes on ans on....etc... I think it would be great to one day swim the English channel! The Alcatraz swim that a friend of mine did last year also sounds pretty cool and its just a mile and a half (more on my level)....but its cold and the current is very strong I hear! Newmastersswimmer