Just booked to swim the Gibraltar Straits for Oct. 2012. It feels good to have a new swimming goal – to keep the energy and inspiration flowing.
The swim will be dedicated to the Tegla Loroupe Peace Academy in Kenia, where we have a personal contact to help build her school.
…………………………………………………..
After completing Dover-Aachen in 2010, Dover-Heidelberg still remains as my goal – but I need a few years’ break, just financially.
In April 2011 I finished my first multiday race ever! 342 km - 213 miles in 6 days - a good start!
My immediate next goal was the 6 day race in New York end of April 2011. I have wanted to do a multi-day-race for ages – but I have always been limited in my running. After my Channel-triathlon experience, however, where I felt stronger than ever, I thought I might give it a try – if I manage to loose my extra weight, the 6 days will be an invaluable experience also for my Dover-Heidelberg goal. And I am really looking forward to an event where I am not just by myself most of the time! The 6 day race will be on a loop course – so there will be people around all the time – the other runners, the helpers, counters etc.
Urs Maurer at the 6 day race in New York, 2004, report by a vegan runner (in German, sorry)
Here a 6 day race-report by Urs Maurer, Switzerland, vegetarian like me, no, actually he is even vegan! And sorry, the report is only in German!
Update May 2011:
Finished the 6 day race – with all 4 goals completed: staying happy throughout the race, hanging in there for all the 6 days, completing at least 300 km and 50 km per day, and if possible, transcend that.
What next?
The 12 hour Self-Transcendence Race in Berlin on July 9th, the Zurich Lake Aug. 7th, kind of easy-going both it looks like – but Berlin was cancelled, and when I started a little training for Zurich, I pulled a muscle. So, an easier year it seems.
In quiet moments I am still seeing myself on top of the cliffs at Varne Ridge or in Dover harbour, looking across the Channel towards France.
I am identifying with friends due to swim the English Channel solo soon: Abhejali from Zlin booked for the first tide of July 2011 (she made it), and Jatnasheel from Heidelberg for the last tide of July (he did not).
2012 may be another easy year, with another, better 6 day Self-Transcendence race in N.Y. in April, and with more focus on the 25th anniversary of the World Harmony Run, helping organise and participating. Friends have been trying to encourage and inspire me to do the Catalina Channel soon, and invitations to New Zealand have been coming in. But I still need to win the lottery (the only thing is, I am not buying tickets). And I am wondering how much of a chance a not so fast swimmer like myself might have to “conquer” the Cook Straits?
Today, Sept. 3rd 2011, is my Channel anniversary of last year. Right now Eddie on Anastasia is out with a girl attempting the Arch to Arc Enduro(wo)man triathon London-Paris – and I am getting infected. There is still a slot for Sept. 2013 and several for 2014. It is “only” 5000 GBP, half of it to be paid on reservation. I guess the next goal is just to work hard and get back into training.
There is still time for Dover-Heidelberg later – to top it all off!