Swimming the Channel
An athlete fulfills a dream one stroke at a time
When I first came into the program, I kept hearing about the miracles and could not quite
figure out what people meant. As time went on and I got my marbles back, I realized that
my life and the lives of those around me were getting better. Relationships were better and work was
smooth. I had developed some great friendships and I was actually getting back in shape!
My workouts began as just long walks in the early days and eventually I was back swimming several
times a week because I was a competitive swimmer growing up. I started to swim in some short open
water swims in Connecticut in 2001 and as time went on, my swimming workouts became a part of my regimen,
just like the program. My day was not complete unless I had done something in the program and had a
long swim.
A few years went by, and I ran into a group of swimmers in Connecticut who had done a lot of
Channel swims. I started to swim longer distances in colder water. Swimming
was my prayer and meditation and, once I got started, I was in a sober
zone for as long as I wanted. One day, two of my teammates said, "hey,
guy, looks like it is time for you to do the Channel." They are the best athletes I know, and I
understood by the tone of their voices that they were serious. This was something I'd always
wanted to do and now I was committed! For almost two years I swam 15 to 20 miles a week and became comfortable with myself physically, as
well as mentally. An awful lot of preparation goes with an attempt at swimming the Channel, and I just
let go and had a lot of fun with the whole thing.
Then in September 2007, I went to Dover and waited for 10 days but the weather
never cooperated long enough to let me get out. The Channel is as cunning
and baffling as "you know what!" even though I did not get my chance for the attempt, I had a
wonderful vacation with my family. I just said to myself that I would come
back and try again. It would be just another year of peaceful swims every morning.
In August 2008, we went back to Dover and again, the wind was strong for two weeks. I was swimming
every day in the harbor to stay in shape and get accustomed to the 60-degree water. Wetsuits are not
permitted and hypothermia is what stops most people from reaching France. I explained to my family that
I would stay as long as it took.
The boat captain called one night: we were set to go at midnight. The temperature of the water was
about 58 degrees and the air was 46 degrees, perfect for a 12-hour swim. I got to the beach and began the
swim at 1 a.m. in total darkness. Most of the swim is a blur, because all I
was thinking about was keeping moving, eating quickly out of a bottle every half hour and not watching
the clock. One stroke at a time!
As the sun was rising, I saw a large 900-foot tanker go by. I was in
the shipping lane of France, which meant I was about halfway! The cold
never came to my mind. I stayed focused and often thought how grateful I was, at age 54, to be attempting
such a feat. Even if I didn't make it, I was so excited that I had the opportunity to try it. Anything beyond
that would be gravy.
I lost all track of time. I had France in sight for many hours but
was not making a lot of forward motion. Eventually, I felt my foot hit
sand. I had made it! I had real difficulty getting up and repeatedly fell
due to temporary vertigo. I finally got to the hard sand, and they blew a horn,
which made my attempt a successful swim.
I was happy to be sober; I had swum the English Channel! It took 16-and-a-half
hours in frigid water and I couldn't remember feeling this good in my life. I was
all jacked up!
Six months after the swim I got an email and was told that I had received the Ray Scott Award for
being the oldest person to swim the Channel in 2008. The average age was 30. They are sending me a glass
clock that I can't wait to see.
I was told that you think about the swim every day after you do it because it is such a unique club to
be in. (Now I am in two unique clubs!) For me, it was fulfilling a dream. How many times have I had
a few cocktails and my mind wandered to winning that big game or achieving some impossible thing?
Heck, 12 years ago I would have drowned if I'd fallen off a dock at a cocktail party!
George H.
Milford, Conn.
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