What’s my story? Sort of a tough question, and frankly, that’s what I’m hoping to explore on this blog over time.
In short though, I made the decision in the summer of 2015 to swim the English Channel in 2016, and this is the record of my journey to get there. I decided to keep a journal about it for three primary reasons:
- As I’ve been researching how this whole thing works, other swimmers’ stories– delivered via blogs, post-race write-ups, personal videos and news coverage– have been invaluable to me, so I want to do the same for the next swimmer. Even if I end up serving as just one more data point in someone’s preparation, I want to be able to give back.
- The second reason to catalog my thoughts and training is a little more banal and self-serving: Posterity. I’ve done a number of long distance events in the last 20 years or so, and while I’m able to cling to an overall sense of those experiences, along with bits and pieces of standout moments, I really don’t remember them as fully as I could. So, whether it’s for my own future trips down memory lane or a place for my kids to explore someday when they have a different perspective on things, for better or worse, it’s all going in the record books.
- And finally, who could turn down such a tremendous opportunity to look back on their writing and cringe at how terrible it was (is?). Not this guy. Consider that opportunity seized.
I’ll be swimming in support of the American Liver Foundation, with whom I’ve raised in excess of $40,000 the last dozen or so years running as part of their Boston Marathon team. If you feel compelled to contribute, I can assure you that your donation will go a long way toward driving awareness and research for liver disease, which impacted my dad when he was alive. Here’s a link to my fundraising page.
Thanks very much for your support!
John