By: Capt. Angelia Swanson
Every September in the Florida Keys, we host an amazing swimming event. People come from all over the world to swim it. It is billed as “not for the faint of heart” and “one of the most challenging eight open water swims in the world”. Well, I’m always up for a challenge, so a couple of years ago I started to train for this amazing eight-mile swim. Once upon a time a colleague told me that I would not be able to finish, and that’s reason enough for me to try! I’m always ready to prove people wrong who doubt me! But I have officially signed up for this epic event this year, and I’m bound and determined to finish it.
This race runs regardless of water conditions, and any good mariner knows that wind, tide, and current will all play huge factors on swim day. The swim is four miles offshore, round the lighthouse, and four miles back. One way will be much harder than the other, and we all pray the easier half is on the way back to shore. We also pray that the jellyfish are not thick in the waters, as the moon jellies can be copious during this time of year.
Every single swimmer in this race is required to have a support kayak. The support kayak serves many purposes during this athletic adventure. They give you a place to take short rests as you hang on to the kayak. They carry water, snacks, and any safety gear you may need. But most importantly they keep eyes on you for the entire race for sheer safety. There are also lots and lots of safety boats located along the race buoys including law enforcement so that if at any time a swimmer is in trouble, they can be quickly pulled from the water. If a swimmer gets separated from their kayak, they can be pulled from the water. And if you don’t hit certain marks by certain times, you are disqualified and pulled from the water. This is an event you must train for! Sure, I can pleasure snorkel for hours, but this is different. Thankfully we have an amazing aquatics center in Key Largo where I will resume water training until I move to open water. This facility has an Olympic sized pool with lanes and only open to adults, so I found training there very pleasurable and the staff is super supportive. So as race day approaches, the butterflies take over my stomach and I smile. I’m a true thalassophile (yes, you can look that word up!) and I have always belonged in the water, so this race seems like the natural thing to do! Plus, to prove to myself and everyone else that I can do it!
Keep up with everything race related at: swimalligatorlight.com
And wish me luck!