events

I have always been fortunate to discover - or perhaps they discovered me - great athletic goals. From setting the objective at age 11 of winning the sailing world championships to conquering the Ironman to attaining my black belt in Shaolin Kempo, I have found that physical challenges have provided balance, energy and adventure to my life.

My latest challenge is to swim the English Channel, something fewer than 900 people have successfully accomplished. That reality, combined with fact that England in general and the Channel in particular are known for their inclement climatic conditions, is why I am calling this undertaking the Coolest Challenge Around. I am scheduled to make the crossing in August of 2004. People ask me why I chose this particular trial. While it may sound a bit strange, the answer is that, as said best by Martin Short during that classic SNL skit where he is trying out for the synchronized swimming Olympic Team, "I am not a very strong swimmer." The point is that swimming the English Channel is way out my comfort zone (in every sense of the phrase), yet attainable if I really put my mind and body to it. I believe that it is only by placing ourselves out of our comfort zones that we grow mentally and physically as people. Already as part of the process of training to cross the Channel, I have met many interesting people and learned a lot about myself. And I am certain that the real challenges, personal growth and interesting interactions are to come....

Speaking of personal growth and going outside my comfort zone, check out the two links below:

Cold-o-Meter this is the graph that shows how cold the water is here in La Jolla, CA. For those of you not familiar with water temparatures, anything under 60 degrees is rather uncomfortable to get in for a couple minutes, let alone for several hours. The water temperature in the Channel should be in the upper 50's or if I am lucky, lower 60's.

Weight Watcher this is the graph that shows how fat, er I mean, seal-like I am getting in preparation for the swim. For every donation of $10 or more, you can make a guess at what my weight will be on 'race day.' The winner will receive a free ice cream sundae with me at the restaurant/ice cream joint of their choice. Email your guesses to englishchannel@g2cm.com.

I hope you will follow and support me (by way of donating to some great causes) in my effort to swim the Channel.

To learn more about each of the three organizations to which you can make a donation, click here.

Thanks for your support!

S