media links

Some publicity to help with the fundraising

http://www.chch.com/hamilton-woman-swims-catalina-channel/
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4069928-another-challenge-met/

If you'd like to support my swim, it's not too late to donate!
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1941545&langPref=en-CA

Thanks!!!

Marilyn`s story of the Catalina swim

The swim started out at Doctor's cove. I'm so glad I had been there in October and it was all familiar because it was pitch black. The water quickly dropped from 67 to 66 and 65 stayed there until the sun got fairly high in the sky. I was able to stay warm by swimming fast until I started throwing up my feeds and then everything in my stomach. For me that was the low point of the swim. I know that if you can't keep calories down you get hypothermic very quickly. Fortunately we narrowed it down to the Carbo Pro. After a feed of just water my stomach was very happy and we started experimenting with the back-up "food" I had brought. Curiously enough, it was Boost that worked the best. On the Boost I was able to pick up the pace and my spirits. The night was more that half over and I was going to make it to dawn.

When the sun came up at 6:30 my son (who was a hero paddling expertly all night) told me that I was more than halfway. I could see the Palos Verdes hills clearly. It was at that point that I knew I had a good chance of making it. I knew the sun would warm me up, which it did. After it got light, my pacers jumped in one at a time for an hour each. The water was the most beautiful blue I had ever seen. Mind you, it is 3,000 feet deep. There were lots of little fish and I saw a salp. I got lots of brief stings from loose stingers from Jellyfish. Never did see a whole one. No shark sightings either.

The end took about 4 hours. It was a nail biter, especially for those on board. The current and the wind worked together to push me west and I almost missed Point Vicente. The boat was pointed almost 90 degrees to the line I was supposed to swim. I had to sprint the last 3 hours and gulp my feeds in 10 seconds. Fortunately, the water temperature dropped to 65 degrees and numbed my aching shoulders and I was able to sprint. I pulled into the kelp just in the nick of time before I got swept around Point Vincente. Unfortunately I had to swim another half kilometer to get to some rocks that were smooth enough to land on in the surf. The chief observer, Forrest, swam in with me to keep me sprinting and to negotiate the kelp and rocks. Thank you! My other 2 boys and Frances, my trainer, hiked down a 1000 foot cliff to meet me at the finish. Final unofficial time was 14 hours 24 minutes. I am very happy with this time. I swam faster than my body wanted to go!

We saw dolphins playing in our boat`s wake and seals bobbing on our way back to the marina.

A special thank you to my family and pacers Deb, Thie and Kim. Thank you to Andrea for blogging. I'd like to especially thank Gary who joined the team yesterday to paddle for me after my other son got sick. Gary quit smoking to come on the swim! Thank you to Chris the assistant observer who was very helpful to me before the swim and to the crew during the swim. And last but not least, Captain David and the crew of the Outrider who were superbly organized, professional, friendly and only slept 3 hours before my swim and go out on another swim in 5 hours. 9 in a row!

Here`s the link for the video of the ending. http://youtu.be/aJx9KYVOpe0

If I have inspired you, please support me by donating to the Good Shepherd centres. Link below.

I made it!

This is Marilyn checking in. Looks like we had technical problems, sorry.
I made it in 14 hrs 24 min, unofficial time from the official.
So I have become the oldest Canadian and the fastest Canadian woman, although that one doesn't really count because Vicki Keith is the only other woman to do it and she swam it butterfly.
I'll post details in my next blog.

This is Andrea reporting that Marilyn jumped successfully tonight at 10:00:07pm. The water is a toasty 68 degrees Fahrenheit and fairly calm close to Catalina. There were large, four foot swells on the way to Catalina from Long Beach Pier according to one of her crew members, Gary. The boat's Captain said the water was 58 degrees a few kilometers from San Pedro the night before, and that the Catalina swimmer he guided last night was pulled. Swim, Marilyn, Swim!

Getting ready

We are all packed, the crew is all briefed and the vehicles organized.
The weather is predicted to be partly cloudy, winds minimal and waves 2-3 feet.
Air is 68 deg F overnight and 81 in the day.
Water temp will be 63 to 67 deg F.
I'm signing off now and handing over the blogging to my friend Andrea from San Francisco.

The day before the big swim

Today we drove out Palos Verdes Drive to Terranea resort, where it is anticipated I will touch land. I swam with all 3 of my pacers in the 63 degree water. We pretended we were sea otters and we had fun in the waves. We also practiced landing on the rocky beach. The technique is that you body surf in and grab a couple of big rocks and wait for the surf to wash away and then you get up and walk on all 4's the rest of the way.
We had to rush back to town because we had a lunch date with Marilyn Bell DiLascio's daughter, Jodi. For an extra special treat, she called her mother and I got to talk to her. "The older Marilyn" wished me luck. We had a great time with Jodi, reminiscing about her childhood and swimming. What an interesting woman.

Last day at our beachhouse

Another sunny day in southern California.
I sat on the beach and listened to the seagulls and felt the warm sand on my toes and the sun on my shoulders. And had a great view of Catalina on a clear day. It looks so close...
We met with the official observer today and talked about the swim. Evidently another Canadian, Steve Faulkner of Barrie, Ontario completed the Catalina crossing a month ago becoming the oldest Canadian, at 50. The pressure is on!

Another gorgeous day in Southern California

Deb and I went for a long swim in the ocean in the fog. We practiced with the Shark Shield attached to the kayak. My son says it worked after he got a little zap.
Tonight we are going to practice night swimming and kayaking.

Saturday August 24

We woke up to fog this morning. What an interesting experience to swim in the fog. My husband had to walk the beach beside me for safety. It was sunny by noon.
In the afternoon we got our rental kayak and played in the surf with it.

Greetings from California

Today was a gorgeous day in Long Beach. Our condo is right on the beach. I swam for 2 hours in the waves. I'm very happy that the water temperature is about the same as Lake Ontario. I spent the afternoon shopping for swim supplies. Looking forward to Mexican for dinner.

18 km training swim in Lake Ontario

I swam 18 kilometers in Lake Ontario today, accompanied by a pacer and my trainer in an inflatable boat. Final time was 8 h 17 min. It was a beautiful day, sunny in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon. The wind was generally light but it did blow in my face fairly strongly for 2 hours. The water temperature at 68-69 deg F (20-21 deg C) was about 2 degrees warmer than the Catalina strait. But the air at 19-22 deg C was way cooler than California, so I hope it all balances out.
I'd like to thank the staff at the Fifty Point Marina and the Hamilton Beach rescue unit for their enthusiastic assistance.
This was my last big training swim before I leave for California. I think I am ready.
Marilyn

Muskoka conquered

Well, I did it! In faster time than I figured, 11 hours 44 minutes 20 seconds, a total of 27.1 km.
It was a beautiful sunny day. It was flat calm the first half. The wind only gave me trouble for about 5 km with 4 inch waves.
It was kind of fun swimming from one island to the next, "island hopping". The next goal was always in sight. Towards the end, the Wenonah II, a historic steamship, passed me in the Indian River.
My support team was wonderful. A big thank you.
Marilyn
http://www.muskokaregion.com/sports-story/3857881-swimmer-takes-on-lake-muskoka/

1325 hours back from paddling. Sun is out with some clouds. Water is still quite flat and the boat traffic has been around. Roman is paddling and Debbie swimming. We are 8 km from Hannah Park - the planned finishing point. Marilyn is still swimming well and enjoying the sun on her back!

June 21, 2013 10:50 Just passed Walkers Point with Nine Mile Island off to starboard at 10:30. Deb is beside Marilyn in kayak as Zodiac crew needed a much deserved break. Marilyn had a hearty helping of Carbo Pro and is making excellent time. Nine Mile Island is 9 miles or 14.5 km from Port Carling that marks the approximate halfway point of the swim. Gentle breeze from the south as forecast. Blue sky with the lake all to ourselves. What could be better? I had better get back to navigating and boat driving.

0935 hours ... overcast and sunny. Just passing Lucile Island and closing in on Gull Rock - it looks like a turtle with shell from the water.Debbie is keeping Marilyn company. Just a ripple on the water from a boat passing in front of us earlier. We can see Nine Mile clearly off in the distance from here which is about 1/2 way. Fabulous day for a swim!

0825 hours just watched two float planes taxi and take off from the water in front of us into an overcast and bright morning sky.  Closing in on Regina Island - Debbie G is in the water with Marilyn.  68F water and the sun is trying to stay connected to us.Seagulls watching Marilyn's approach from the rocks and a blue heron just took flight.

0739 hours lovely sun and we are taking off layers. Thie is swimming with Marilyn . Out of Muskoka Bay and passing Second Island heading into the larger part of the Lake. Marilyn is swimming strongly and confortable - about 2 kms/hours at this point.

Headed out on a beautiful Muskoka morning at 0535 hours. Flat water and a gorgeous sunrise.  Water temperature was 71F at the start.  Settling into our routine - all good! Blogging for Marilyn ... Deb Bang

Muskoka update

The swim is on for tomorrow, Friday June 21 at dawn.
The weather offices are calling for a high chance of thunder Saturday through Monday so we were forced to change the date.
The direction of the swim has also been changed. The winds will be from the southwest, which is contrary to the prevailing pattern, so we will be swimming from Gravenhurst to Port Carling. The finish will be at Hannah Beach park, at the foot of Bailey St., to avoid the strong currents coming out of the locks. I expect to finish between 6 and 8 pm.
Please support my swim by donating to the Good Shepherd Centres.

Lake Muskoka swim

I am planning to swim Lake Muskoka as a training swim on Saturday June 22, rain date June 23, from Port Carling to Gravenhurst (by the Sunset Grill). The distance is about 28 km and I expect the water temperature to be about 21 degrees C (70 degrees F). I expect to start around sunrise and to get into Gravenhurst between 6 and 9 p.m.
Why Lake Muskoka? To have beautiful scenery to look at, of course. Having conquered the English Channel and figuring that cold water training is not critical this year, I have decided to do a fun swim.
Please support my Muskoka swim by donating to the Good Shepherd.
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1941545&langPref=en-CA

My Personal Good Shepherd Centres Donation Page

I am pleased to announce that the Good Shepherd has set up a donation page so my supporters can donate on line. You can click on this link to access my personal donation page.
Thank You!
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1941545&langPref=en-CA

Gulliver's Lake Park

I have a sponsor! Gulliver's Lake in Flamborough is supporting my training. They gave me a free pass to use the Lake to train. The only other person who ever got a free pass was Simon Whitfield! Thank you Gulliver's! It is a beautiful stone quarry that warms up way before any of the other larger lakes and is perfect for early season open water training. Lots of triathletes and scuba divers use the lake for their training and lessons.
http://www.gulliverslake.com/