I'm saying it out loud!

That's right, I'm saying it aloud. The thought of swimming the English Channel has run its cycle in my thoughts off and on for many years. My friend Carrie reminded me recently of a bike ride in 2007, we were training for our first Ironman, and I said then, when this is over, I'm gonna train to swim the English Channel. She said, of course you will and she meant it. That is exactly the kind of friends I have, they don't question my sanity when I propose a big dream. I chose to do another Ironman instead. That first Ironman wasn't fun. It was 95 degrees on the run and I was miserable. I had to do another one. I did and I did it right...I had fun on the journey and the day of the race for my second Ironman. I will continue to remind myself of that joy as I embark on this journey. I told Carrie a couple of months ago that I continue to think about the English Channel....she told me: "I know you can do this". I am so grateful that others believe in my ability before I do. I said it again, but it wasn't quite real in my mind yet, I let it marinate a little more, then I started making little hints on Facebook, and now I say it out loud every day. I believe I can do it, but for the love of God, there are so many factors to being successful in crossing the English Channel. Some fun statistics:

* Less than 50% that attempt a solo crossing are successful.
* More people have climbed Mount Everest than completed a solo English Channel crossing.
* Approximately 40 swims a year never get started because the conditions are not favorable to start the swim.

These statistics put great fear into me, but they also excite me. They also remind me that this really is about the journey, not the destination. That may sound cliche, but it is so true in this instance. I'm saying it out loud, My Journey has begun.