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English Channel

had an opening early and I jumped on swim, I was really sick. I was vomiting
it. [The waiting] is intense. You get over and having a hard time keeping any-

there and you rest for a little bit and thing down. It was tough for my crew
then you’re just sort of on stand-by. and it was definitely hard for me. It’s
I called my boat captain every night hard, but you don’t ever think about
at 7:30 and chatted with him. I didn’t stopping. You think that this is what

know I was going to go until 9 p.m. the you bargained for and you go until
night before so I had twelve hours’ you finish.
notice. I knew I was going to swim so
we were already ready. We had done VS: What kind of support did you
any last minute shopping, measured have on your escort boat?

marks, packed, made checklists and BB: There was the captain and his
went through the checklists. I had a crew person as well as a third party
go-bag already packed; we were just observer who makes sure that every-
waiting for the right time. I found out thing is done officially and accord-

at 9 at night that I was going and we ing to the rules and ratifies it at the
had to be down in the marina at 9:30 end. Then I had my crew, which was
in the morning to load the boat and four people. I had my coach, David, Run like bandits through downtown St. Albans
then we started the swim at 11.
and my crew chief, Natalie. She has
SUNDAY
Lots of people – even over there crewed for me on all my swims and
– had never met someone who had supports me with all my training. She
swum the channel, but the place really makes the whole thing pos-
where I stayed is frequented by a lot sible. My minister, Apostle James
of channel swimmers. A lot of people Schneider, he came along, and his
Sept21,2014 at 9:00am
there were going to be swimming or wife, Katherine Schneider, who is
had been swimming. There’s a close- a nurse at the Rutland Hospital. I
knit community, everyone was very wanted those people specifically Race starts on Main Street
excited for me.
because they’re important to me and across from Taylor Park

of all the people that I know, they’re
VS: What were the water condi- the ones that are going to let me do To Register, visit www.active.com
tions like when you started? How did all that I can do and be all that I can
these affect your performance?
be. They were the best support crew I Keyword Search: “St. Albans Raid Half Marathon”
s,
For more information: Call 802-524-2444
BB: I went a little before my tide, could hope for.
so it was a little stronger. The water On the way, I had an energy drink
temperature was a comfortable 64 mix, fruit and water. I would stop every
degrees. I didn’t feel cold, I could feel half hour and they would feed me and
a chill in my fingers and my toes, but check in on me to make sure I wasn’t

not anything significant. When we got hypothermic and still coherent. They
closer to France, it got a little colder made signs that they would hold over
and I thought that was me getting the side of the boat that I could read
tired, but it was 62 over there. When while I was swimming so I could be

I was done I didn’t shiver, so I think I encouraged and keep swimming.
was pretty well acclimated to the wa- They made jokes and kept me in re-
ter. It was a pretty comfortable swim; ally good spirits.
we had the opportunity to swim be- I didn’t want to know where I was
cause the temperature was so good in the channel because you never

and there was no wind during the can really tell how far you are from
night.
shore or how long it will be until you
Swimming into the night was a get somewhere. They were very re-
little more mentally challenging, but spectful of that and I didn’t know how

the conditions were just gorgeous. far I was from shore until they told me,
I couldn’t have had a better night. I “Hey, you’re only three-quarters of a
watched the sunset over the boat, mile from shore.” And I was like, “Re-
which was spectacular and the wind ally? I’m going to make it?” and they

calmed down. It was a little lumpy in said, “Yes! Yes, you really are!”
the morning, but nothing I’ve never
swum through before. I was comfort- VS: Now that you’ve checked this
able the whole time and my shoulders one off, what comes next?
held up well. I wasn’t battling anything BB: As far as swimming goes, I

extreme and it was beautiful – I even want to focus my energy on helping
saw a few shooting stars.
start swim programs in my commu-
The hardest part was fighting the nity here in Rutland. I really want to
tide. While the swim distance is only help Intrepid Athletics and their vision

22 miles, my track is actually 41.7 of having an indoor pool built. For a
miles long. I got clotheslined and was while, I’m taking a break from really
swept past the finish so what was long distance swimming and focus-
supposed to be a 15-hour swim be- ing on building up the community that

came closer to 18.
has supported me so much.
For the last seven hours of the

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