Team Forever - Marathon Swimming

A Swim Down the Red River

2012-02-16T12:33:00.003-05:00

Very excited to have confirmed the 26-Mile END-WET Red River Swim event on Saturday, July 21, 2012! Andy Magness, Race Director, was gracious enough to extend an offer to fund my trip to Grand Forks, North Dakota - a trip I am really looking forward to since I have not been to that part of the United States. Andy claims the group is looking for around a dozen swimmers, including participants from California and Malaysia, to participate in the 1st Annual event down the Red River between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Oslo, Minnesota!

Preliminary Itinerary:

Friday, July 20, 2012:

Swimmers arrive in Grand Forks; pre-registration available.

Saturday, July 21, 2012:

7:00AM Solo swimmer race start.

8:00AM Team swimmers start

10:00AM Paddlecraft start

7:00PM Race cut-off time

*Times could be altered due to sunrise/sunset...

There will also be an athlete "brunch" on Sunday, July 22, where I will be speaking to the athletes, as well as other members of the Grand Forks community who have come out to support such an awesome race! It is very exciting to be able to reach out to a community outside of Pittsburgh, and talk more about the Team Forever charity and our mission to complete the Ocean's Seven! Speaking of Ocean's Seven, I will be swimming the Tsugaru Channel in Japan a few days prior to the Red River Swim, so it will be quick turnaround between the marathon swims!

Andy Magness:

"END-WET is directed by ENDracing, producer of some of the most challenging endurance events in the upper Midwest. I moved to Grand Forks from New Zealand in 2007 and after initially bemoaning the apparent lack of adventure, I have been determinedly creating it ever since, in the most unlikely of places. I am a veteran athlete and continue to experience endurance events of all sorts - from ultra-marathons, bike races, and swims to expedition length adventure races. Co-director Robert Treuer, a seasoned biker, swimmer, and triathlete has taken full advantage of the new offerings in his community over the last few years but has thankfully decided to bring his many management talents behind the scenes (although he secretly hopes to be able to make the swim himself!) this time and help coordinate what we think is going to be an epic event! Profits from the event will support Ground UP adventures, a sister organization to ENDracing who's mission is to introduce area youth to the life-long benefits of adventure based activities."

“We at ENDracing don't like to reinvent the wheel. If there was another event of this magnitude in the upper Midwest we'd just go do that one. But there's not - plain and simple. Swimming 26+ miles would present a challenge no matter what. It might seem that going down river is going to make it a lot easier, and it might. But in reality the current speed will be somewhere around 3/4 of a mile to 1 mile per hour, and if the notoriously strong North Dakota winds happen to be blowing from the north, (the river flows north), then all or most of that 'boost' might well be negated. Swimmers will have to actually pay attention - there will be no 'automatic pilot' - if they hope to go the distance. They will have to read the river and adjust their position constantly to stay in the strongest current or out of a headwind. They will have to be aware of potential hazards such as dead-heads or partial log jams (there won't be any river spanning jams but there might be a few that stick out 10-20 feet from the bank, depending). And of course, they have to swim.... A LONG WAY!”

Using our love for the water to drive charitable missions - cannot think of anything better!

Daily News of Open Water Swimming Articles

2012-01-31T09:43:00.000-05:00

The popular open water swimming blog by Steven Munatones, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, had two articles where I was included in the text. I wanted to pass them along, as well as continue to push the website as an excellent source for everything open water!

Shaving Down in Open Water Swimming

Oceans Seven with Christian Jongeneel

The blog is actively updated everyday with new information, and I highly recommend it to your daily internet reading! Cheers...

Strait of Gibraltar - Team "Very Perfect Coordinate"

2012-01-27T16:06:00.002-05:00

During the first week of May, a group of us are headed to southern Spain to tackle the Strait of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa! The swim, which starts from Tarifa, Spain and continues across the Strait to Morocco, is one of the Ocean's Seven challenges. Even better than enjoying this beautiful swim by myself, is that I will be swimming with three other AMAZING people, who will take on the challenge with me! !

Jen Schumacher is a California native who has completed the Catalina Channel, twice, and is one of a few swimmers who are actively pursuing the "Ocean's Seven"! As a Sport Psychology consultant (website), Jen helps athletes of all caliber pursue their passions by helping them overcome the obstacles associated with training, by focusing on the power of the mind! Jen is a great friend, and I am very excited to have her expertise, and experience along for the journey!

Oliver Wilkinson is the current world record holder for the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, which he set in September 2011. He is also an English Channel swimmer, and has completed numerous other open water events around the world. Ollie formerly lived in Australia with his wife Victoria (who is a Kona Ironman qualifier) yet now resides in England. I had the pleasure to observe Olllie's 2011 MIMS race, and it was an truly awesome experience! Ollie is an amazing open water force to be reckoned with, and I'm sure he will challenge us all to be our best!

Jamie Patrick is a man who needs no introduction, as he has quickly become one of the most well-known figures in our great sport. Jamie was the 2011 WOWSA Male Swimmer of the Year, as well as completing a very impressive 111-mile, 31-hour swim down the Sacramento River in August 2011. A true ambassador for open water swimming, I am proud to have such an accomplished individual along with us!

I thought I would ask these great swimmers their thoughts on our adventure:

Have any of you had any experience with swimming in a group across a large body of water? If so, how did it go, and was there anything you would have changed?

Jen: Yes, I swam between the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Niihau with Bill Goding, Quinn Carver, and Brian Denaro. The water was warm enough that although our speeds varied a bit, it was comfortable enough to wait. Swimming in a group made the crossing so much more exciting and fun - it was great to have so many others in the water, especially when the taxman made his appearance! The feeds were also fun breaks, for the most part we were all in high spirits and laughing and joking at the stops. It was a fun day out in the water and I love doing tandem swims whenever appropriate. I also swam then length of Lake Tahoe with Emily Evans. Swimming in a pair was an entirely different experience, and very enjoyable. By the end of the swim we were so comfortable swimming alongside each other and it was great to have her company.

Ollie: This will be a first for me, the closest I've done was a 14km 'sportive' style swim in the River Thames last year with about a dozen other swimmers. There was a great sense of camaraderie, but having a river bank made it logistically much easier than an open water swim. It was a “coolish” swim about 16 degrees/ 61 F and the regular stops to regroup meant you felt the cold more than you might have done otherwise, but I'm not predicting too much waiting around with this group of swimmers!

Jamie: I have done a number of group swims. They have all been training swims. The longest group swim was a 17 mile swim across Clearlake in Northern California. I was the only one to do the entire swim, but there were at least three people in the water at all times. There was nothing that I felt needed to be change. We were all around the same pace and feedings went smoothly. The strategy and pace was discussed before hand.

Even though the Strait of Gibraltar is not regarded as one of the toughest channels out there, what, if any, issues do you believe we might encounter out there together?

Jen: I'm anticipating the potential for fairly rough water. The Strait of Gibraltar is an area that gets heavy winds and a good deal of surface chop. The currents can also be quite strong, so we may need to swim fast during parts of the crossing.

Ollie: Rough water, very busy shipping lane and strong currents might all play a part. Hopefully it will be calm enough for us to get our crossing in that week. You always worry the weather might blow you out.

Jamie: As you know, I am the chicken of the sea. Although sharks are not a common occurrence for this swim, I still have a bit of anxiety. In addition, I have read that wind can play a factor in the crossing. I am treating this swim as an adventure with 3 amazing people and swimmers. Whatever issues arise, I feel it is part of the journey.

I was proposing a feeding system where we would each have a different color liquid for our feedings, that way we do not have any problems when presented with a flotation device with multiple feedings. Do you have any ideas, or thoughts on how we could make the feedings as proficient as possible during the crossing? I could see it getting a little crazy out there!

Jen: I agree, multiple swimmers is always a challenge for the crew. I think either different colored drinks or different colored bottles would be best. We could also write our names on brightly colored duct tape to make the drinks stand out even more. If anyone wants anything in addition to their drink (gels, bars, etc.) we could rubber band them to the bottles so all the feeder has to do is drop four bottles down.

Ollie: I suppose it depends on what particular poison we all want to use. I'm not that fussy, usually on a long sea swim I would stick with a pure carb drink, I currently use the PSP/science in sport variety but have used maxim successfully in the past. If we only have one or two varieties of drink then it gets a bit less complicated but otherwise coloured drink bottles would be a simple solution. I'm a fan of Powerbar gels hourly, so as Jen said; stick them on your bottle.

Jamie: Yes - I have a floating feeding unit that hold 6 bottles and can be towed behind a kayak or lowered into the water. Here is a link to a similar one. It works great!

Anyone have any specific things they would love to do while in the beautiful southern European region? I’m sure we could find some other great swims, or places to visit while in the Portugal/Spain/Morocco area!

Jen: I have heard that the coast of Portugal is phenomenal and would love to visit that region and perhaps do some swimming there. I have also always wanted to explore Tarifa, ever since reading one of my favorite books, The Alchemist. If we have time, it would also be awesome to explore the northern tip of Morocco.

Ollie: I think we are spoilt for choice, we've got to check out a bit of Morocco, Tarifa at least. Then Seville is not too far away, Cadiz, Malaga, spoilt for choice. You are of course all welcome to come back to sunny England and stay with me after the swim! Throw in a quick tour of England at the end of the Spanish vacation?

Jamie: I am up for anything. I would love to do some additional swims while we are there. There is a beautiful Lake in Morraco that looks amazing!

Storming the beaches of Africa! How exciting is that?

Jen: Yes, very exciting. Although this swim is not exceptionally difficult, it is iconic and swimming from one continent to another will be amazing.

Ollie: I love the idea of swimming from continent to continent, not too many that you can do that are quite as glamorous, I suppose swimming the Bosphorus would probably be the only easier option, and I'm not sure I want to repeat Lynne Cox's Bering Strait swim.

Jamie: I can not wait for us all to exit the water together. To share, accomplish and respect this amazing swim as a group will be amazing! I feel very honored to be included with this group.

What causes are you each swimming for, and why are they close to your heart?

Jen: I always try to raise awareness about plastics and the health of our oceans. In modern society most of our possessions involve plastics in some way or another, and single-use plastics are rampant. Contrary to popular belief, most plastics are not recycled and wind up in landfills and - worse yet - the ocean. Swimming along the coast of Southern California has heightened my awareness of this issue; it is rare when I swim in the ocean without encountering at least one plastic bag, and I'm only a visitor. Imagine the impact for the inhabitants. Thankfully, this is a problem with a solution, and through education and innovative solutions we can solve our plastics problem.

Ollie: The three charities that I fund raise for are Pancreatic Cancer (still the most lethal of all common cancers; only 6% of sufferers will be alive 5 years after diagnosis! and sadly the survival rate has hardly change in the last 40 years). The Shark Trust - an environmental charity raising awareness for the marine environment and the beautiful creatures that inhabit it (plus I'm hoping karma will keep them away from me!), and the Sandford Lido - a community run swimming pool and charity here in Cheltenham UK, a beautiful historic outdoor pool that is managed by volunteer trustees for the benefit of the local community.

Jamie: Buena Vista Auxillary - A tutorial program that assists children throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

THANK YOU TO JEN, OLLIE AND JAMIE FOR THEIR RESPONSES! I AM SO EXCITED TO BE TRAVELING WITH MY FRIENDS, AND WORKING TOGETHER TO COMPLETE SUCH A GREAT SWIM!!

Denver Distance Queen: Sarah Thomas

2012-01-24T15:07:00.000-05:00

Open water marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas currently resides in Denver, Colorado. Although Colorado is known for the Rocky Mountains and amazing skiing, Denver is home to other marathon swimmers; including Triple Crown and North Channel swimmer Craig Lenning, and Cliff Crozier, who has crossed the Catalina Channel on more than one occasion, and looks to add Lake Tahoe to his credentials. I had the pleasure to train with Sarah last weekend while visiting Denver, and asked her a few questions!

DM: Sarah, this is a big year for you - Tampa Bay in April and the English Channel in July! What are your thoughts on different training this year, versus your past years, with your Catalina Channel and MIMS success?

ST: I plan to use the same training plan for Tampa Bay as I have for MIMS and Catalina. I had good success with both of those swims, and I think the same strategy will work well for Tampa Bay. The English Channel is an entirely different swim, which will require a slightly altered training plan. First of all, I am using Tampa Bay as a motivator to get me in the water and to keep my fitness level high during the winter season, when I'm typically less motivated to train. (Pool swimming is hard for me! And Colorado doesn't have many bodies of water to swim in outside right now.) Since I can trust that my fitness level will be where I want it come the end of April, I can really focus on getting the cold water training in that I know I need for England when the lakes around here cold, and not stress about getting in the massive amount of yardage needed to cross a channel. Once the lakes warm up at the end of May, I can go back to focusing on longer distances. This year, I do plan to get up to the mountains more on the weekends to find some high altitude, cold water lakes to train in to make sure I'm ready for the cold water of the English Channel.
DM: Going for the Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming is a great honor! What does this mean to you, and your dedication to the open water?

ST: This isn't something I even knew about 3 years ago, and honestly, it's not something that I put a huge priority on. I know it's a great accomplishment, and I'll be very proud to say that I've achieved it, but for me, it's truly about the swimming. I do swims that interest and challenge me. It just so happens that the first few swims I've done are ones that will qualify for the Triple Crown. People keep asking me, "When you finish the English Channel, then what? Isn't that the hardest swim there is, so won't you want to retire?" My answer is always the same- there will always be other swims out there that are fun and challenging. I can't wait to have time to sit and plan beyond 2012. Lake Tahoe and the Strait of Gibraltar are definitely on my bucket list. There is also a lake here in Colorado that a few of us have been contemplating crossing. There are tons of bodies of water out there- I can't wait to swim in them!
DM: You swim at altitude in Denver, Colorado. Tell us a little more about how you feel this helps endurance athletes to train at altitude, and what it feels like (if you do feel something different) when you come down to sea level for a channel crossing?

ST: I grew up in Texas, at sea level. My first experience with altitude was going to swim meets in Midland, which is a few thousand feet higher, and wondering why we had to adjust our times and why that 500 felt a lot harder all of a sudden. As an adult, when you first move to Denver, you can totally feel the altitude- it's harder to breath, and you get fatigued a lot more quickly than you do at sea level. There is a ton of literature out there that talks about the pros and cons for living and training at altitude. One article I read says that you get the MOST benefit if you live at altitude and train at sea level because you get the benefit of high altitude, but are able to push your body harder for longer when you train at sea level. So, sometimes, I feel as though living in Denver just neutralizes itself out. We get the benefit of the altitude, with the drawback of not being able to train as hard all the time. However, that being said, it always feels really great to swim at sea level. I always feel lighter and my arms don't give out on me as soon. It's a nice feeling, and I love being able to make that transition from 5000 feet to 0 feet. But then again, any opportunity to be in the ocean is always awesome. I love my Colorado lakes, but the ocean is a special place, too!
DM: Dover, and the countryside around the town is very beautiful! Aside from the Channel swim, is there anything in particular you are looking forward to doing while in England, or France?

ST: We are planning to stay a few extra days after my swim to explore. I know I want to visit London, but honestly haven't had time to really sit down and plan what I want to do when we get over there. Over the weekend, I did tell my boyfriend that he gets to pick a few places and things he wants to do. I figure if he's stuck watching me swim for 12 hours, he should be able to do what he wants for a few days. And if that's the case, we may end up fishing somewhere. I know he'd be thrilled to have a fishing license from England. :-)
DM: Lastly, any advice you would give to someone looking to get into our sport? What tips could you offer someone who is used to being a pool swimmer for much of their life?

ST: I was always a pool swimmer growing up. If you've been to Texas, most of our lakes are NOT nice to go swimming in, so it never occurred to me to find open water races to do until I moved to Colorado. However, growing up, we did go visit my grandparents cabin every summer on a lake in Oklahoma, and I think that's where I developed my love for open water swimming. I always wanted to swim to the buoy across the lake, or swim down to the end of the inlet. My poor mother was always having to tell me no- Because, really, you can't let your 8 year old loose in a heavily trafficked lake. So, even though I didn't formally start doing open water races until 2007, after I’d been in Colorado for a couple of years, I think I've always had that love of open water, without the rules of lane ropes and the chlorine fumes that burn your lungs. For a pool swimmer wanting to make the change, I think you have to have a certain love for chaos and the unknown. I have a few swimmer friends who are really strong, awesome swimmers, but get really freaked out not knowing where they're going, not being able to see the bottom, worrying about animal life, etc. If that sort of thing really bothers you, then open water swimming isn't going to be your deal. I love the open sky, the wind and waves, the unpredictability of it. I love swimming in the rain or snow. I love swimming in the dark, at sunrise, at sunset. Without that love, I don't think you can be successful (or enjoy) the open water. And if you're looking into adding the next step- getting into marathon swimming, all you need is dedication. You don’t have to be a fast swimmer to do a marathon swim- you just have to be willing to put in the time. If you want to swim really far, you have to be willing to train really far. And you have to be willing to train really far in bad conditions- 86 degree lap pools, rain storms, cold weather, alone. Marathon swimming truly is an "alone" sport. Not many people have any desire to be in the water as long as we need to be, so unless you're willing to make those commitments and sacrifices and look inside your own dreams and desires, you probably shouldn't take on marathon swimming. Stick to a 10k. :-)

THANKS SARAH! I appreciate this, and best of luck with the training!

Crewing the Moloka'i Channel - A Kayaker's Perspective

2012-01-09T10:35:00.011-05:00

I have blogged several times about the AMAZING crew I had for the Moloka'i Channel swim, and I wanted to take it further by interviewing one of the crew for a unique blog! I was introduced to Steve Haumschild, my second kayaker along with veteran Jeff Kozlovich, through a mutual friend. THANK GOD I reached out to Steve, because the additional support I had lined up was not there (he ended up sick below deck!) This is an EXTREMELY valuable lesson to other marathon swimmers, as we should always have Plan B, in case Plan A falls through. While the swim went perfectly, with Jeff and Steve alternating every 2 hours, I know it would have been a lot tougher journey if Jeff would have had to kayak for 12 hours (as I know he agrees!)

If you are thinking of doing the Moloka'i Channel in the future, PLEASE reach out to me, or my team, as I could not have had a better experience swimming in such a beautiful place, with an expert crew!

DM: Tell us a little bit about your background - How did you come to live in Hawaii?

SH: I graduated from The Ohio State University with degrees in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal biology with intention to go to medical school. However I had some hesitations if that was the proper path for me. At the same time, I had been working as a professional adventure guide taking people all over on various expeditions - I had some hesitations about that as a career as well. So, I thought I would give the old degree a chance. I took a position at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park researching the endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle. I always thought that Hawaii was all touristy and tiki-crap; it was so different than I ever imagined. I fell in love with the people and the land. There is SO much adventure here I can barely stand it. From EPIC hikes, to powerful ocean with giant waves, to great sunsets, beautiful beaches, beautiful people and a relaxed lifestyle. It very quickly became my home.

DM: What types of experiences have you had with extreme sports?

SH: Extreme is a funny word. Let's call them adventure sports. I have been active in these since I can remember with my dad taking me into the woods at a very early age for camping, fishing, hunting, survival, backpacking etc. As I became older, and better at it, I transitioned to Rock Climbing, the whitewater Kayaking and rafting, Caving, Trekking, Mountain Climbing etc. I feel fortunate that my generation was of the first really to be able to make a career out of these activities. These were not only my personal passion, but also my job. I had years of professional level training, certifications of many types, rescue courses, and classes and as I became more experienced, began to instruct other guides, and teach these courses. I have been working as a full time adventure guide and instructor since the late 90’s. Some of my largest expeditions have been Denali (Mt McKinley in Alaska - highest peak in North America), first descents by whitewater kayak of a number of rivers throughout central America and survival sea kayaking expeditions along remote uninhabited coastlines, to name a few.

DM: Your first marathon swim kayak crew was the Molokai Channel. Tell me what your thoughts were going into the swim, during and after the swim.

SH: I live on the edge of the Kaiwi/Molokai channel on a beach called Lanikai, so I have spent some time in it, and crossed it a number of times on a sailboat, so I knew what the conditions could deliver. I was contacted by Darren with his interest in swimming it. I thought to myself - this dude is nuts and has not done his due diligence on this channel. Being a professional guide, I get quite a few calls for these outrageous trips that seem way out there, but I consider them all. It only took about 5 minutes talking to Darren before I wanted to do the trip with him! I could see the passion in his eyes, feel his determination, and his confidence almost immediately. Plus, we are similar ages and have had a history of people constantly telling us that were nuts and YOU CANNOT DO THAT! Whether I understood his driving forces at that time or not, I did see his determination and passion which was enough to convince me to go along and lend support- when I found out that it was for charity and for children I needed to hear no more. Darren convinced me within minutes that he was physically fit- while I still thought about extenuating items like Tiger Sharks, man-o-war jellyfish, and horrible seas (which Kaiwi is known for) etc. From the time I committed, I never looked back. LET'S DO THIS THING! Darren was the athlete, we were his support, as a team we were critical to his success with route, weather, feedings, moral support, whatever he needed to get through this epic challenge for an amazing cause.

During the swim- he was an animal- strong, consistent, determined, through the day or night. In reality, I do not believe that he needed any safety/support, but it was the correct call to have it just in case. The ocean is a very scary place when you are alone and in trouble (take my word for it)! The weather was very challenging to say the least, however an athlete like Darren can take those conditions and use them to his advantage. When we were a few hundred yards from Oahu, the current really picked up. He persevered as I paddled to shore at Sandys Beach. There was a head-high shore break onto the sand, so I pulled the kayak up above the waterline and waited at the shores edge just in case. He made it through with a tumble, ran up the beach to the dry sand and had a huge and elated smile! What an accomplishment. I have been around hundreds of professional athletes, but have not seen many performances of this caliber.

DM: Any advice for others who are looking to get into crewing for swims around the world?

SH: I think that it is the best seat in the house. To be a part of something grand, that a competent person has trained for and knows the risks and rewards is fantastic. There were no incidents with Darren's crossing, so in reality, all I did was went for a long days paddle in less than ideal conditions. However there are and will be others that will not be this fortunate whether from lack of training, or just poor conditions. A competent crew could make the difference between not only success and failure, but also life and death. As a crew, you are depended on to perform also. You must be confidant that you can handle any possible situation keeping the athletes safety as the #1 concern, the cause as the #2, and everything else is down the pipeline. You have to make executive calls for the athlete that could affect the outcome of the trip. You must be alert, competent, unselfish, and prepared. You cannot be a problem, you must be a solution. But remember that there are many kooks out there that are haphazard- be selective in the trips you select as well as the athletes you work for. Know your limitations.

DM: Ready for the next one?

SH: Heck yeah! I have been communicating with Darren quite often and fueling the fire about some more epic trips after the Oceans Seven is achieved. I am constantly training and ready for almost any adventure!

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO STEVE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GRACIOUSLY ANSWER MY QUESTIONS! I highly recommend Steve for your Moloka'i, or any Hawaiian channel swim, as he not only a hell of an adventurer, he is great guy and I'm proud to call him my friend!

Polar Bear Plunge - A History of New Year Fun!

2012-01-05T15:48:00.002-05:00

Chances are a large body of water near you has an annual "Polar Bear Plunge" around New Year's Day. Dating back to the early 1900s, these "dips" have been a popular way to ring in the new year, and cleanse the soul for a new start! They are sometimes small in attendance, or they might be as wildly popular as the Plungapalooza in Maryland's Sandy Point State Park, where in 2007 more than 7,400 participants raised upwards of $2.2 million for the Special Olympics! These are traditionally fund-raising events, including the famed NYC Coney Island Polar Bear Club, which raises money for Camp Sunshine - a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

The Pittsburgh Polar Bear Club, led by President Frank Nelson, raises money each January 1st for Project Bundle Up and the Salvation Army. Frank leads an army of Pittsburgh natives off the Mon Wharf at exactly 9:30AM. This year, around 2,000 strong showed up to brave the 40F icy waters of the Monongahela River to help raise money for the those who need it the most! Although this January 1 was a warmer day by Pittsburgh standards, Frank recalled a time when it was not as pleasant:

"I remember back in the early 1970s, we jumped in with a -2F air temperature! No sooner as I came up out of the water, my beard was frozen solid... It's a 'Burgh Thing!"

Alex, Ashley, Ryan and I had a great time again this year jumping into the river, and I am looking forward to many more years of icy fun to ring in the NEW YEAR!

The Southern California Eight - Another Great Challenge!

2012-01-04T10:36:00.001-05:00

Scott Zornig, President of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association issued a new challenge to the open water community last week called the "Southern California Eight". The eight islands, which comprise the southern California "Channel Islands", are not as well-known outside of Santa Catalina island (Catalina Channel starting point) yet offer a fantastic opportunity to swim in the beautiful southern California waters! The islands vary in distance from mainland California, including two (San Clemente & San Nicolas) which have never been "solo'd" from to date - both San Clemente & San Nicolas would be extreme swims, as they are 54.4 and 69.3-miles in distance from California! David Yudovin and Penny Palfrey are the only two swimmers in the world who have completed three of the eight islands, and only 17 people have completed two of the island swims. Scott is claiming that it might be 40-50 years in the making before we see all eight completed. When asked about the 40+ year timeline, Scott replied:

"As for the 40-50 years, many local marathon swimmers believe it will be that long before the one "Michael Jordan" comes along that is able to do this. Remember, this series includes 55.4-mile San Clemente, and 69.3-mile San Nicolas. These are both virgin islands. The longest non-stop marathon swim in history was Penny Palfrey's Cayman Island swim last summer which was 68-miles in warmer, flat water. It is going to take a super human effort by a super human to do this series."

So Cal native, both-way Catalina Channel swimmer and Sport Psychology consultant Jen Schumacher said this of the challenge:

"I was so excited to hear that announcement! It was something I'd thought about a lot, since I'm local here and would love to eventually do all of the channel islands. I've kind of had that in the back of my mind as something I may like to eventually do over the course of my swimming life. And since the Island of the Blue Dolphins was my all-time favorite novel growing up as a kid, I feel compelled to do a swim involving San Nicholas in one way or another at some point!"

Check out the January-February 2012 edition of SWIMMER magazine for a double-page article on Jen, her accomplishments in the open water and her advice for those who desire to challenge themselves in the open water!

H2Open Article - Ocean's Seven "Arms Race"

2011-12-22T14:47:00.001-05:00

H2Open Magazine, the world's only dedicated Open Water Swimming magazine, based out of England, did a recent article which mentioned my name alongside veteran Penny Palfrey of Austrailia, and the great Stephen Redmond of Ireland!

It was an honor to be mentioned in the same article as Penny and Stephen. The script highlights the Ocean's Seven challenge we have accepted, and how the race it on to be the first person to complete all seven channels.

It is very exciting indeed to see people from all around the world pursuing the same adventure...

The Art of Cold

2011-12-19T22:33:00.001-05:00

It is often stated that the most difficult pain to push through is cold water - let alone cold water in the middle of the winter! Most people view swimming in a lake or river during the winter as insane, however to many, especially in European countries, it is a part of their lifestyle. A select few actually swim for extended periods of time in the freezing water, which is commonly referred to as an "ice swim". The definition of an ice swim, according to the International Ice Swimming Association, is 1M (1.6K) in water colder than 41F (5C)! This feat has been achieved by many, and has been pushed to even farther distances by veteran cold water swimmers, such as Lynne Cox (USA), Ram Barkai (South Africa) and Lewis Pugh (UK). My good friend Craig Lenning (first American to swim the North Channel, a.k.a. "King") describes his 2011 Colorado Ice Swim:

DM: Did you do any special preparations for swimming in such cold water prior to the swim?
CL: Colorado has a lot of natural places you can take ice baths in. I spent every weekend prior to the ice swim swimming in Georgetown Lake and Green Mountain Resevoir. The temps would range from 38 to 47 degrees F. They were also at altitude so it helped in the training. The swims would last from 15 minutes to an hour.

DM: What type of safety precautions did you put into place before, during and after the swim?

CL: I had a four person safety crew. Prior to the swim we worked out the general path of the swim, danger areas and hand signals. My swim took place at Brainard Lake Colorado. It is a smaller lake so I needed to complete 2.5 laps to reach the 1 mile mark. My wife wore a down parka to keep it warm for me when I cleared the water, she was also in charge of sending good vibes to me. One of the safety crew wore a wetsuit and walked the shore beside me in case I went hypothermic or had other issues, he was in charge of coming into the water to get me. The lake had a max depth of about 8 feet so if I needed to I could bounce of the bottom or just stand up. Finally the other two wore bright jackets and were positioned on the far side of the lake. They were primarily there to give me something to spot, help me out of the water and to keep me away from a dam that had washed two fisherman down stream earlier in the season. I didn't really want to take breaks or tread water during the swim so every few strokes I would make a thumbs up with my right hand. The other signals we had were if I was done swimming I would tread/swim towards one of the spotters but they didn't need to come to me. Lastly my emergency signal of not moving or splashing wildly meant come get me out of the water. We also left the keys to the support truck in a common location in case I needed to be rushed off for medical care. Swimming in cold water is fun, have a good safety plan in place.

DM: What would you recommend to a swimmer who is looking to tackle their first ice swim?

CL: I think the ice swim is an excellent goal to go for. If you want to make the swim official visit http://www.internationaliceswimming.com/rules to review the guidelines. I highly recommend doing ice baths or sitting in cold water to see how your body reacts to cold water. With training you can learn your limits such as when hypothermia starts to come on (blue lips, slurred speach and shivering). Learning how to control your breathing and staying calm is a must. Finally you need to learn how to recover and rewarm your body.

THANKS CRAIG!

I get asked all the time why I would chose to expose myself to such punishment. Personally, I train in cold water for the specific purpose of developing the mental "hardiness" that comes along with learning to push through any kind of pain. Training of this type is what allows you to understand how to push through very difficult conditions, such as those obstacles associated with being in the middle of an ocean. Through difficult tasks, we are able to experience life in a whole new light. The tougher the challenge, the tougher we become. Plain and simple. Ice swimming is about the most brutal form of challege there is, therefore, my question is, "Why wouldn't I want to experience the feeling?" Never be afraid of a challenge, because through pain, we are able to experience life...

Pictures:

(Top) Late 2011 training session at Keystone State Park

(Upper-Middle) American Marathon Swimmer, Craig Lenning/Craig swimming the North Channel, July 2011.

(Lower-Middle) Early 2011 training session at Keystone State Park/My "cold tub" at home

(Bottom) Veteran Marathon Swimming Legend, Lynne Cox

Team Forever Public Speaking

2011-12-07T16:48:00.000-05:00

Public speaking is the best way that I can gain access to the greatest audience in order to get the Team Forever mission across! I have had the pleasure of speaking to different organizations since last year, including church groups, schools, executives and athletic banquets. Each speech has presented the chance for me to reach out to an audience and talk about what we are trying to accomplish. The media will always focus on the dangerous aspect of the sport I have grown to love, however the true reason, philantrophy and the understanding of what you have been given, is the reason I risk what I do to help the children and families in the infant cardiothoracic ward at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh!

As an example, I spoke at an institution which takes in physically and sexually abused children and teens - one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Even though these kids had to struggle during most of their lives, which included being exposed to violence and sexual abuse, I was able to reach them because I recalled my experiences with losing close friends to violent acts. I told them the struggle to survive in life is similar to surviving in the middle of an ocean. Even though there are threats all around us, we need to keep going, and NEVER GIVE UP! I did not show pity, but explained how others have it much rougher than they did. I spoke about volunteering alongside young children who are on the verge of death due to a various childhood illnesses, and the many struggles they and their families go through everyday. When you help a young girl who does not have any hair due to cancer, yet can still smile at you, is quite an eye-opening experience.You think you have it tougher than they do? Not possible. After I spoke, I had a young boy come up to me and said, "Mr. Miller, can I tell you about my dream?" As you can imagine, it was a pretty amazing feeling to have him open up to me about what he wants to achieve in his life. I was quite blessed that day.

I encourage EVERYONE who supports our mission, to reach out via the Team Forever website (www.darren-miller.com) and let me know if there are ANY opportunities I can have to speak with your group, or organization. I do not ask for any form of compensation, but rather a donation to Team Forever. As always, 100% of every donation goes back to the Forever Fund, and is 100% tax-deductible! Our fundraising helps ease the financial burden of the families during their time of need. This could include gas for travel, a hotel to sleep, prescription costs or a hot meal. Families struggle very much when their child is fighting to survive. The Forever Fund helps make that fight a little easier...

Please help me spread the good word of our mission to those who matter the most to you!

REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Cross Training - Duff Park 50K Run

2011-11-27T22:32:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by! Bring on 2012...
My cross-training has been going great, and it has been very exciting to once again get back into some distance running. After several marathons and an ultra in 2009, I unfortunately broke a metatarsal bone in my right foot, and it has not really healed properly since. I have been cutting back on the weight, so maybe the lesser impact with each stride is allowing me to keep on going.

Today, I took part in the 1st Annual Duff Park 50K Run in Murrysville, PA. Duff Park will always hold a special place in my heart since it is my primary training ground for my trail running adventures! The elevation gain/loss for this race is very similar to the average mile/elevation of the Leadville 100; so needless to say, it was a tough one! This run, staged by a couple ultra-distance friends, definitely tested my "mettle" since I have not been training enough for 31-miles of trail, but I know it would be an awesome challenge!

15 runners hit the trails just after 8AM this morning, and Aaron, Lucas and I (pictured) were the three finishers of the race! It was a warm day by "almost December" standards in western Pennsylvania, and the trail got a little slick toward the end due to some rain from above. Felt great throughout, and I was very excited to finish my first 50k since 2009! Lucas, John and Aaron did a great job putting this event on!

It was a beautiful day of great friends and awesome trails! Lucas set the blistering fast new trail record of 5:13:41... a record I'm sure will stand the test of time (or until Lucas runs it again next year, ha!) Although I am ready to get back into swimming for the 2012 season, I hope to finish the season out with another long one here again soon...

CHEERS TO ADVENTURE!

Forever Fund - HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2011-11-07T23:25:00.000-05:00

As the Forever Fund approaches it's 2ND BIRTHDAY (December 2009) I cannot help but to reflect on the AMAZING journey I've had since signing up for the English Channel in September 2009. Since then, marathon swimming has taken me to New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Colorado, California, Hawaii, England and France. With destinations planned to New York, Florida, Japan, Spain and Morocco in 2012, I can't help but to be so thankful for how BLESSED I am to be able to do what I love to help raise over $25,000 (close to $40,000 with the 5-K Open Water Challenge for the Heart Center) money for children. As a IRS-recognized non-profit, Team Forever donates 100% OF ALL DONATIONS back to the Forever Fund a the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh!

A heart-felt THANK YOU to my title sponsor Trustmont Financial Group for financially sponsoring my adventures, EnergyCareUSA for your PR work and fantastic health products and East Suburban Sports Medicine Center for keeping my body in shape! Finally, to Cathy Cartieri Mehl and her family, as without their assistance, I never would have experienced the English Channel - the mission which started it all!

Some GREAT marketing strategies are in the making for this year, and I hope we can accomplish them all in the name of continuing to push the fund-raising bar! Swimming has given me a life-long love, and respect for the water, and it is simply incredible what it has allowed me to achieve. I have met so many AWESOME people since getting into this sport, and I look forward to continuing our friendship well into the future! Rest assured, if you ever need someone to help you out in a race, I will do everything I can to get there for you! This sport really brings together a tremendous group of people, and I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who has embraced me as a friend!

"EVERY BREATH A GIFT - NEVER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED!"

Manhattan Bound

2011-11-03T15:16:00.002-04:00

As I settle back into the work/school/cross-training grove, I am ecstatic to have been accepted (thanks Craig) into the 2012 28.5-Mile Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (MIMS) on June 23, 2012! This circumnavigation of Manhattan is an international race, yet is not part of the Ocean's Seven. It will be the third leg in achieving the coveted Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming! This title is the combination of the English Channel/MIMS/Catalina Channel and is currently held by 45 swimmers around the world. If all goes to plan, I hope to add my name to the list!

Last year I had the pleasure to be an observer for the current world record holder, Oliver Wilkinson, of Australia. Ollie did a FANTASTIC job, and his Mom and wife, Victoria (an Ironman World-Championship competitor) were there to cheer him along. It was such an awesome experience, and I'm so thankful to have been there to observe such a great competitor!

There is usually around 40 solo competitors in the race, as well as multiple 2, 4 and 6-person relays around the island. Attached is a review of the course, courtesy of NYC Swim:

"The race starts and finishes at South Cove in Battery Park City on the Hudson River. Swimmers begin at South Cove, navigate around the Battery then head north up the East River, counter-clockwise around Manhattan Island. They swim north into the Harlem River, through Spuyten Duyvil, and then south down the Hudson River to the Battery. There are 4 check points: Hell's Gate where the East River meets the Harlem River, Spuyten Duyvil where the Harlem River meets the Hudson River, the 79th Street Boat Basin in the Hudson River, and the World Financial Center.

First Leg - The East River: Swimmers proceed up the East River under the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge. Just beyond the second bridge in the East River (the Manhattan Bridge), the swimmers steer clear of the pier near the prison barge by adjusting the course towards the center of the river. On the left side of the river, at 23rd Street, swimmers watch for float planes taking off and landing. The planes dock at the marina near the "Gulf" sign.

The swimmers continue up the East River through the west channel (Manhattan side), passing by Roosevelt Island. Swimmers are advised to keep to the Manhattan side of the Channel throughout the entire East River.

Second Leg - The Harlem River: Swimmers then head towards the leftmost stanchion on the footbridge at the entrance to the Harlem River at Hell's Gate. This is their first check point. Once they have entered the Harlem River, they will stay to their left. The swimmers take all bridges on their leftmost channel, allowing enough room for the Circle Line and other boat traffic to pass.

Final Leg -The Hudson River: At Spuyten Duyvil, where the Harlem River joins the Hudson River, the swimmers pass their second check point. They head down the Hudson River towards the George Washington Bridge, staying about one-third of the way from the Manhattan side. After coming under the GW Bridge, the swimmers must stay as far enough out from shore so that they are not swept into the sewage disposal plant, which protrudes out about a quarter of a Mile. This plant spans 10 blocks, from 145th to 135th Street.

The swimmers continue down the Hudson River on the Manhattan side. Their third check point is opposite the 79th Street Boat Basin. The swimmers are advised to stay on the Manhattan side of the river. As they come down the Hudson River, the swimmers must be careful of boats coming out of the piers, especially between 50th and 23rd streets. Swimmers are not allowed to swim closer than 20 yards to the end of any pier.

Their fourth check point is opposite the financial center. The swimmers then swim along the seawall and turn into South Cove and stroke by the cheering crowds to the finish."

THE ROAD TO MANHATTAN STARTS TODAY!

Hawaii - "Malama pono a hui ho" [Take care 'til next time]

2011-10-28T12:31:00.002-04:00

I thought I would take the time to write a description of the Moloka'i Channel swim, as I know I have been asked many questions about the adventure! After traveling most of the island of O'ahu, I would simply state if you're looking for a great place to stay, I would pick Waikiki Beach as there are many beautiful places to swim in the area (Ala Moana Beach Park pictured).

If you're looking for something more secluded, I would choose Turtle Bay Resort (pictured) on the North Shore of O'ahu, as this is great for families and what better a place to learn surfing than the famous North Shore of Hawaii! The best part is they are only separated by about 30 miles, so traveling in between the more tourist-conscience Waikiki and the North Shore isn't a problem.

When planning a trip to the island of Moloka'i, you need to make sure you book your inter-island airfare, since there are not boats in between the islands. You can book airfare up to the day of the flight over, so there isn't a need to rush in case you have to wait for a window. I would recommend Hotel Moloka'i in Kaunakaki. Our spacious room was great for housing everyone, and the ability to relax by the water and enjoy dinner and local music is priceless! Be prepared to wear earplugs though, as the wild roosters and dogs will tend to make noise at night. You can rent your vehicle from Island Kine, as you might need off-road capabilities, especially if you're traveling to meet your pilot at Hale O Lono harbor. This extremely secluded dock is a rough drive from Kaunakaki (off-road drive pictured).

Once you arrive down at Hale O Lono, you will see why it is worth the trip! The landscape is beautiful...

I recommend Matthew Buckman as a pilot, as he did an excellent job with the maneuvering - his boat has two outboard motors which can get you much closer to La'au Point, and closer up Sandy Beach on O'ahu! I also recommend two kayakers, both of which can interchange throughout the trip. This is vital since you need them to stay sharp and aware at all times! Both of my kayakers, Jeff Kozlovich and Steve Haumschild were AMAZING, and both can be contacted via Facebook!

My handlers were my father, Fred and good friend Vince Harding from Pittsburgh. Vince primarily was the feeder, as I interchanged between Gu Roctane and Cliff Shot Blocks for fuel, and a combination of half-water, half-Gatorade plus Maxim for my drink. Every three hours I had a different color fuel for the one which I added Children's Tylenol for helping calm the flames in my shoulders. I mix all of my drinks, in individual water bottles (bottled water) prior to the swims in the hotel room, and also bring along bananas, pb&j and Nature Valley Sweet and Salty bars in case something happens with the feeds, or my stomach is upset. My good buddy and marathon swimming god Craig Lenning showed me, and I adapted, his "suitcase" full of First-Aid and other supplies which should be brought along in case of an emergency. Aside from the normal bandages, I bring along a space blanket for warmth in the case of hypothermia, Petzl head-lamp, Bullfrog sunblock, tourniquet, QuickClot, SPOT Device, Garmin hand-held GPS, Shark Shield(s), plenty of glow sticks for the kayak and boat, zip ties, extra feeding bottles and rope, rubber bands for holding the Gu to the feeding bottles, personal activated cold pack, rubber gloves, Bag Balm for lubricant and an assortment of other safety items. I also recommend plenty of towels, including a wet towel for the kayaker in case you need to re-apply your grease (which you can use the kayaker towel to wipe off) while swimming.

We left Hotel Moloka'i at 3:00AM on Friday, October 21 and arrived at Hale O Lono at 4:00AM. Once boarded, it took about 15-20 minutes to get over to La'au Point on the southwest corner of Moloka'i. I was lucky enough to have relatively calm conditions, which allowed me to put on some old tennis shoes, and hop into the water. Once Steve and Jeff showed me a great rock to climb out on, I then removed my shoes and tossed them to the kayaker. I jumped off at 4:54:0PM to swim the 26+ miles back to O'ahu.

The first hour or so, in the dark is always a little interesting, but your sense of anxiety will fade, and you will move into the flow of fighting (or working with) the waves. I typically hold a stroke rate of about 65-66 strokes per minute, and needed a while to adjust to swimming in such difficult conditions. The waves were unlike anything I have ever swum in, but I slowly got used to timing my way through. Some of the waves were able to be rode, and some would just crash right into you. At times my kayakers would have to grab their craft because the waves would be large enough to upend them. The temperature would not be a problem, as the water was in the mid-70s, and the sun was hidden behind clouds for 3/4 of the journey. The 85+ heat would have been a serious issue if I had the sun on my back throughout the day!

We had an easterly wind of about 10-15 knots on our back, which helped assist across the channel. We were on track for Sandy Beach about 10 miles out, however we started to catch a southwesterly current, instead of the westerly current we were hoping for. This could have blown us around the point by Hanauma Bay, and out into the ocean, missing our chance to finish. Luckily, Matt and the crew were able to re-adjust our track, and maintain our course for Sandy Beach. As O'ahu began to get closer and closer on the horizon, I had to fight through some heavy surface chop (at times, knocking off my goggles) during the last few miles. Jeff jumped in during the final half-mile, and Vince jumped in near the end and swam in with me. It was great to have such awesome friends who wanted to go ashore together!

I reached the dry sand at 5:06:23PM at Sandy Beach, and I couldn't have been more excited! It feels good to know I have one of the toughest Ocean's Seven challenges under my belt, and know that this world record will help market Team Forever, and raise a ton of money for the Forever Fund at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh! Please visit http://www.darren-miller.com/ to make a donation, or to learn more about my non-profit, Team Forever!

As I sit here writing this back in Pittsburgh, I cannot help but to reflect on my time spent back with my great family and (new) friends in Hawaii! It's hard coming back to thoughts of snow, but I love western PA! I met Helen, a nice young lady from San Diego while swimming at Ala Moana, and aside from a swim at Waikiki (and some amazing sushi) we climbed up Koko Head (my quads still hurt 4 days later!) with Jeff Kozlovich. I was able to take an incredible panoramic of the whole valley - cannot wait to get that one blown up for the house! After a few beers with Jeff, Helen and Steve at Kona Brewing, I headed back to the hotel for an early morning flight.

If anyone has any further questions, or would like the contact information for any of my support, please contact me via Facebook, or through my website. This was an amazing adventure, and I cannot wait to return again... there is plenty of channels to swim in Hawaii! Mahalo...

Moloka'i Channel Record

2011-10-22T23:55:00.001-04:00

This was truly one of the most awesome moments of my life, as the challenge from Moloka'i to O'ahu was unlike anything I have ever experienced! First, I have to give a special THANK YOU to my amazing crew (Dad, Vince, Jeff, Steve & Matt) because without them, I never would have been able to accomplish this! I also want to give a special THANK YOU to my title sponsor, Trustmont Financial Group, as well as EnergyCareUSA and East Suburban Sports Medicine Center!

Finally, my incredible family and friends around the world who were supporting my journey via email, Facebook and texts.. you have helped me more than you can ever imagine! According to www.hawaiiswim.org, my time of 12:12:23 is unofficially a Moloka'i Channel RECORD! Bill Goding helped me type up the proper documentation today, and with signatures from kayker Jeff Kozlovich, and official time keeper, Steve Haumschild, I will be submitting it as my proof of swim!

This was such an awesome experience because it is unlike any body of water I have ever swum - quite different than Keystone Lake! I wish I had an ocean to train in, however, so far my lakes and rivers have proved to work out just fine! From the start at La'au on Moloka'i, to the finish at Sandy Beach on O'ahu, it was a non-stop barrage of giant swells, strong currents and rough chop... but we made it through! Didn't get to see any Tiger Sharks, however, I did manage a Portuguese Man-O-War sting right to the face (felt GREAT, ha)! The middle of the channel was so beautiful, as it was such blue water all around, and just seemed to go on forever. About 10 miles out, we hit a westerly current which we thought might blow us off course, however we re-adjusted our path, and persevered! I managed to do a few somersaults as the shore break at Sandy Beach tossed me around, but by that point, I wasn't too worried about it!

I will miss all my new friends I have made while here, but know I will return again, as there is plenty of water to challenge out here!

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS SUCH AN AWESOME ADVENTURE!

Hawaii - Island of Paradise 3.0

2011-10-20T14:40:00.000-04:00

Hawaii is FULL of activity! Earthquakes on the main island, Box Jellyfish warnings on O'ahu - good thing the sun is shining, and we are headed to Moloka'i!

My father Fred and friend, Vince Harding will be handling the feedings, Jeff Kozlovich and Steve Haumschild will be doing kayaking/paddle boarding and Matt Buckman will be handling the 27-ft Boston Whaler...

*Picture is of the southwestern corner of the island of Moloka'i, due east of O'ahu!

If you are interesting in following along the journey, please check out the SPOT device link starting around 5AM (11AM EST)!!

Hawaii - Island of Paradise 2.0

2011-10-18T03:42:00.001-04:00

This island never ceases to amaze me, as I was able to explore more toward the eastern part of Oahu - mainly Sandy Beach (pictured with the "No Swimming" red flags along the beach due to the dangerous shore break) as this is where the Molokai Channel crossing should finish. I say "should finish" because after having a lengthy chat with Jeff Kozlovich (kayaker) and Matt Buckman (pilot) at Mekong II Thai, it is evident that ANYTHING is possible during this swim! If the current pushes us south, we might end at Hanauma Bay (if the current doesn't push us south into the Pacific!) or north toward Makapuu Point! Due to the extreme nature of the landscape, any of these three are dangerous, however Sandy Beach is the preferred landing!

Jeff did an awesome job of presenting us with evidence that our best opportunity could be Friday (after an early morning idea of a possible Wednesday crossing) however we will get a better opportunity to figure that out tomorrow! The more difficult the swim, the more logistics involved! Both Jeff and Matt answered our questions, and made us feel very comfortable that we were in great hands...

As we rounded the corner by Hanauma Bay, I was treated to a sight of Moloka'i (pictured) off in the distance! The island was barely visible, yet it made me feel pretty good to know I could at least see it! The toughest part about marathon swimming is being able to always see a finish, however this time I was glad to know where I stood in reference to the two islands! We traveled north, and rounded Makaluu Point and visited some beautiful land formations and inlets near Waimanalo Bay.. AMAZING! I couldn't believe how blue the water was, and how magnificent the mountain ranges were! We took Kalaniana'ole Hwy north until we hit the H3 back into Honolulu!

Hawaii - Island of Paradise

2011-10-17T02:08:00.000-04:00

FINALLY MADE IT TO HAWAII!!!

Amazing landscape, culture and FOOD! Did I mention the water is pretty nice ;)

Had a long flight into San Fran, however it was crazy to think that I was only half-way at that point! Hawaii is quite far out into the vast Pacific than I once realized, but even more amazing that it is a state that is so far off the mainland. I pondered about the Hawaii Warriors NCAA Football team, and how jet-lagged they (or visiting teams) must be when they travel back and forth... On the way out here from San Fran, I guessed the half-way point (there was an on-flight contest) at 12:27PM, however someone guessed 12:27:15, and was off by 3-seconds!! Close! The flight attendant offered to buy me a beer, but I thought that wouldn't be good at this time (not until after the swim!!)

Waikiki Beach has been great thus far, and everyone here is very nice! Church today was at 6AM, however I missed the beginning after I couldn't find a parking spot, so I just went to the 8AM service. It was so beautiful to worship right on the water, and even better was the chorus and the guitar solos at mass. Everyone clapped along with the tunes, as was in great mood!

Got some good news from Jeff Kozlovich that the weather and water (so far) is looking good for a Friday attempt! I will keep everyone posted after I hear from him again tomorrow, as he will have a better idea then...

Swam at Waikiki Beach last night, in the shadow of Diamond Head, and with Vince up at the North Shore and Waimea Bay - home to the largest waves in the world, and the life-guard stand of the famous Hawaiian, Eddie Aikau. I was very excited to be able to swim where Eddie life guarded, and know that this was one of the most dangerous areas in the world to be a lifeguard, however he did it in splendid fashion, and saved thousands of lives! Truly an amazing Hawaiian, and so sad that he perished so young, yet so beautiful as to the noble cause! I recommend checking out his story...

Ate lunch at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore, and got in some snorkeling (I could never use those masks, so I just did the goggles and flippers) with Vince, then went on an awesome journey up and over the mountains overlooking Waimea Bay and got a panoramic view of the Pacific - one of the most perfect views I have seen in a long time! Traveled back to Waikiki, and off for some dinner with Dad! Have a great night, and as always, THANK YOU for your support!!

Hawaiian News Media Releases

2011-10-13T13:36:00.000-04:00

I wanted to pass along some news releases I have come across from the Hawaiian Islands media contacts which are covering the Molokai Channel swim...

Beach FYI

KHON Channel 2

*Interesting response posted at the bottom of the article...

Discover Hawaii News

I will pass along information as it becomes available, or if you find something else, please feel free to pass along the link to me via Facebook, or dmiller@darren-miller.com!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Daily News Article - Openwaterpedia Page

2011-10-12T12:45:00.003-04:00

The Daily News of Open Water Swimming has posted an article highlighting my upcoming trip this weekend to Hawaii! Steven Munatones, creator of the Ocean's Seven, writes unique and current news blogs on the world of open water via the Daily News blog - a must read everyday! Also created by Steve, the Openwaterpedia website now has a Darren Miller page. Openwaterpedia has profiles on many open water swimmers and events. Check both of them out!

Picture feartures volunteer kayaker Marta Gaughen and CCSF Observer, Carol Sing during the final stretch of my Catalina Channel swim on August 2-3, 2011. A watchful eye is so critical during marathon swimming events! My team was AWESOME, and couldn't have asked for a better group to watch my swim!

Florida Training Trip

2011-10-09T19:26:00.001-04:00

Theme of the weekend: RAIN!

I wouldn't have believed when I booked my flight to FL a few weeks back, that I would have three full days of rain in what is usually a sunny experience! I was able to have an awesome Saturday with Michelle & Matt Nelson, and their awesome family! Matt & I took to the water near West Palm Beach (Matt, an ultra-runner took to a run along the water) for some rough water training; aka PERFECT Hawaii training! After being kicked out of one beach for it being too rough, I went farther up the coast where I found a beach where the guards let me out into the surf... Matt took some awesome pictures of the experience, and I was able to take a solid beating in the waves!

Michelle & I then took to a local pool for some lap swimming before heading home for a great dinner at their
home (FYI, Michelle's chocolate cake = PERFECT!) Matt & Michelle founded, and run The Endurance Trust, which is a non-profit benefiting the PLGA Foundation to find a cure for pediatric brain tumors... One word. FANTASTIC! Another great example of people using endurance athletics to raise money for children!

On Sunday morning, Steve, Jess & I drove out to Clearwater Beach for some more training... more rough water, but again, perfect training! The Clearwater Beach lifeguards were very friendly, and surprisingly there were other people walking along the beach despite the rain. THE RAIN CAN'T KEEP US DOWN! Overall, a great day and looking forward to a relaxing evening before flying back to PGH in the AM!

Molokai Channel - Friday, October 21

2011-10-07T10:56:00.000-04:00

ALOHA!!!

My team and I are quite excited to be traveling to Hawaii on Saturday, October 15 for a tentative swim attempt of the Molokai Channel on Friday, October 21. We are staying at the Courtyard Marriott - Waikiki Beach on Oahu, until we get the call to travel to the island of Molokai - the island directly east of Oahu. Travel is restricted to airplane between the two islands, so we will be flying over hopefully Thursday to stay at the Hotel Molokai for an early 5AM start time on Friday. Mother Nature will have her say as always with any swim, so we ask for everyone to keep their fingers crossed that I will have a window of opportunity to pursue my 3rd leg of the Ocean's Seven challenge! Pictured above is the famous Penny Palfrey, and Jeff Kozlovich during her Molokai Channel crossing in March 2011.

Accompaning me on the journey will be pilot Matt Buckman, professional navigator/kayaker Jeff Kozlovich, my father, my friend Vince and possible one or two other Hawaiians. As with the Catalina Channel in August, you will have the ability to follow my progress via the Spot device, which I will link up to Facebook, and this blog when it becomes available!

"...it's just you and Big Blue!" -Forrest Nelson

Team Forever - Marathon Swimming Blog

2011-10-06T12:43:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Team Forever - Marathon Swimming via Blogger!

Here you can find up-to-date information about Darren Miller's quest to complete the Ocean's Seven and his fundraising goals for the Forever Fund at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Since the creation of the Forever Fund in December of 2009, Darren has helped fundraise over $35,000 for the Forever Fund, and the Heart Center at the hospital. The fund was co-created with Darren's close friend Cathy Cartieri-Mehl and is dedicated to the honor of Cathy's father, Anthony Frank Cartieri. This vital funding assists the needy families of the infant cardiothoracic ward, and helps keep the family structure together during their time of need! It is Darren's belief that we are all given gifts in life and should do our best to never take them for granted. His personal motto, "Every Breath A Gift", is about living life to the best of our ability, and never forgetting that our lives could be much more difficult! Team Forever is a recently established 501(c)3 IRS non-profit organization, which is the fundraising arm for the Forever Fund. 100% of EVERY DONATION through the Team Forever website goes back to those who need it the most!

The Ocean's Seven is a open water swimming challenge issued to the world, and has yet to be accomplished! Due to the full-sponsorship Darren receives through Trustmont Financial Group, he is able to travel the world to pursue his goal of becoming the first person to complete the challenge! He is also grateful for EnergyCareUSA, who assists with PR and website maintainence, as well as dedicating a portion of their sales of their incredible products through Darren's link on their website. Check out the great line of EnergyCareUSA products and help support Team Forever! He is also supported, and relies on East Suburban Sports Medicine Center to assist when he is in need of personal physical therapy! John Bonaroti and his team do a fantastic job when Darren's shoulders need assistance!

His fundraising goal of $100,000 USD by the completion of the Ocean's Seven is a mountain to overcome, however, he is confident that all things are possible through the grace of God! Darren is available for public speaking engagements, and can be contacted via his website! Please help spread the word of our dedication to children!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING TEAM FOREVER MARATHON SWIMMING!