Bonjour from Dover. Its 5:00 P.M. and Marilyn (A.K.A. Never-Quit-Korzekwa) is still going strong. Stroke rate is 62 which is about the same as when she started. Thie has finished her second pacing session. Waves have been as high as 3 meters but are now dissipating and expected to continue to reduce throughout the evening. The white cliffs of France are looming ever closer and an inside source tells me that Marilyn is now insisting that only French be spoken at her feedings since she is now in French waters.
Meanwhile back at the trailer park Marilyn and family are staying at preparations are under-way to celebrate her success. The park has a tradition of raising the home country flag upon hearing of a successful crossing by a guest of the park. I shouldn't be telling you this but I just saw the park owner with a Canadian flag in his hand and shortly they plan to tape a large "congratulations" poster on the side of Marilyn's trailer. Nothing will be done of course until we get the word however it never hurts to be prepared.
Channel crossing is as major industry in Dover and Folkestone and almost every day in August there are several attempts. Yesterday Captain Fred had a fellow from Seattle Washington give it a try and only make it 5 miles as he became too cold to continue. Considering how cold the water in the pacific is it is hard to believe he would have trouble with 64 degrees however Fred told us me that this guy only trained in pools. My wife and I are staying in a Guest house in Dover that also plays host to many successful swimmers including the record setter (6 hours and 53 minutes). Most of these places have a wall of fame with plaques honouring those swimmers who are successful and it is interesting to see the number of swimmers and their times. They haven't quite started making up Marilyn's plaque yet however it should be any time now!
Don't go away we'll be back soon with more updates.
Marilyn's swim across the English Channel 2011
"For me, marathon swimming is the ultimate mental, physical and emotional challenge".
Diana Nyad, Other Shores, 1978
I've always loved swimming. I've been swimming since age 2, competitively since age 13. I'm now 54 and hoping to become the oldest Canadian female to swim the English channel; 33.2 kilometres from Samphire Hoe Beach, Dover, England to Cap Griz Nez, France. I swam Lake Ontario from Niagara on the Lake to Toronto in 1983 and from Toronto to Port Dalhousie (north to south against the powerful Niagara River current) in 1984. I was only the second person to swim Lake Ontario north to south, Diana Nyad being the first. The above quote is one of my favourites, especially since Diana at 61 was also recently trying to prove that older athletes can still achieve big goals.
Why the English Channel? I was quoted in the Toronto Star in 1984 saying my next big swim would be the English Channel. But then life happened, I got married, had 3 boys, but always kept swimming at least twice a week. Last summer, Debbie Bang challenged me to swim 26 kilometres in Muskoka. When I finished it, I felt I could have swum further. When Colleen Shields at 58 breezed across Lake Ontario last August (but was foiled by weather at the very end), I realized I could still do another big swim at my age. Swimmers in Dover say the Channel is the Everest of swims. I'm not so sure, people have accomplished longer and colder swims in other parts of the world. For me, there is something about ocean swimming that is the ultimate. The English Channel is part of world history and swimming tradition. My grandmother lived in England and took me to the beach on the channel, so it is also nostalgia and familiar. What really cemented the idea in my mind is pacing Kim Middleton across the channel in 1989. I just "woke up" last September and realized time was running out.
So I have been inspired and supported by a great many people. (Thank you!) In doing this swim I would like to inspire others to dream big and go out and achieve their goals. But, in this journey I have learned that reaching smaller training goals along the way has also inspired others. Swimming Lake Simcoe from Barrie to Orillia, 35 kilometres in 18 hours and 44 minutes is the biggest example of this, especially since the water was 13 degrees Celsius for the first 3 hours. Even if the channel weather foils me on August 21, 22, or 23, it was worth doing.
I am also pleased to be able to use this opportunity to raise money for the Good Shepherd Centres in Hamilton. They run a network of shelters and services for troubled youth, abused women and children, the dying, the mentally and physically challenged, the hungry and the homeless. They strive to support people through crisis and help them re-establish healthy and productive lives. They have been very good to my patients over the years and for this I am grateful. Please support my swim by donating to the Good Shepherd centres. Thank you. http://www.goodshepherdcentres.ca/News/events.htm
Go Marilyn, Go!
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