Lake Ontario swim crossing

So what to do next???  Planning the upcoming year's events is always fun.  And 2011 is going to be big! Extreme!  I'm planning on a Lake Ontario swim crossing this summer.  It's 52km from Niagara On The Lake to Toronto.  I will be without a wetsuit.  I am not allowed to touch the boat or another pacer, and can not draft off a pacer.  I will be swimming probably for 18 to 24 hours.  So part of the swim will be at night, an extra challenge.  I will need to practice and figure out my nutrition plan, eating and swimming will be tricky!   Completion is far from guaranteed, there are lots of elements in open water swimming which are out of my control!

Why?  Because I want to push the limits; because I love Lake Ontario and could probably just shout it from a mountain top, but this seems more appropriate.  I started training in Lake Ontario with the Lake Ontario Swim Team (LOST) when I was training for Ironman Louisville and in doing so, I discovered a "Great" Lake right in my own back-yard.  I want to help other people discover it and help keep it "Great"!

A couple "Great" things are in motion for the swim now:

ü      I've got my Burlington Masters Swim Club (BMSC) coach, Dave Judd, to agree to coach me on the swim.  I've been swimming with Dave for approx 7 years now.  He has a great eye for technique and has already started working on my freestyle specifically for open water and the distance.  He also knows me pretty well, what gets me going and knows when I need to rest.  Having him on a boat will definitely be an advantage.

ü      I recently have been in contact with Lake Ontario Waterkeeper & Swim, Drink, Fish Music and they agree that we should be able to collaborate to help support each other.  This is quite exciting! And I look forward to being able to support Lake Ontario conservation on this adventure.

ü      I also have had a couple BMSC members approach me about the boat requirements as they may have some leads on boats.  The organization of the swim is another big challenge.  Solo Swims Ontario (SSO) will sanction the swim and sets the rules and regulations including boat requirements as well as providing an official who oversees the swim.

ü      And finally, BMSC has organized an interview with the Spectator, which will start getting the word out about the swim, Lake Ontario and BMSC as well.

So it’s in writing now!  WOW!
To steal & slightly alter a quote from Gold in the Water by P.H. Mullen:
To make this is going to be so sweet, to fail will be disappointing. Either way, it is going to be painful, but the experience of a lifetime, and life will go on. But those who strive, those who leave nothing on the table, those who will take the risk, will all be winners.  Life is truly sweeter for those who truly live it. The world belongs, and will always belong, to the people who participate. Don't stand on the outside, take a risk, you might fail, but you will understand the beauty of each breath of life. So don’t feel sorry for those who fail, feel sorry for the majority that never participate. They’ll just never understand, let alone feel, all that life can and should be.