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


Saturday 13 August 2011

August 13


I awoke this morning to the sound of rain pelting my windows at 24 knots. The fog was so thick I couldn’t see the caravan next door. Evelyn, the owner of the caravan park said, “Oh they will be swimming in Dover for sure”. Sure enough there were over a dozen swimmers in the water, presided upon by the “channel general”, Freda Streeter, mother of the “Queen of the Channel” Alison Streeter (43 crossings). Freda has been sitting on the beach most summer (May-September) weekends for over 20 years. 
I said to myself, "this is the weather you may get on your swim, you have to get used to it". Despite the wind and rain, the water wasn't so bad. But, the waves were huge at the northeast end of the harbour.   The good news is that you can’t actually have a panic attack when you are sprinting; your heart rate is already high.On the next lap, I forced myself to go back there and it wasn’t intimidating the second time. I didn’t get as cold today, either.  Miraculously, the sun came out towards the end of the workout and stayed out all afternoon. 
The highlight of the day was finally being able to see France from the top of the cliff. I could make out Cap Griz Nez and the and dunes of Wissant Beach, both possible landing sites. Look so close...
Marilyn
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