Before I left for a seven-day swim vacation, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew that I would be meeting a small group of swimmers and triathletes some place on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. From Tortola, I knew that we would board a rather large sailboat, the Promenade, and then sail around the BVIs. I knew that the Promenade and her crew would provide us with food and lodging. Throughout the week, I knew we would swim twice each day and probably have some time to snorkel and relax in between. And I knew that this sounded like a pretty good trip.

After I stepped aboard the Promenade for this swim vacation, I couldn't believe what I had gotten myself into. After I arrived on the island of Tortola, I couldn't believe how blue the water was. After I jumped in for the first time, I couldn't believe that I didn't need a wetsuit. And as we sailed to the next island, I couldn't believe that each day got better than the last.

Before: Wake up, brush teeth, grab swim gear and head out the door. Drive to the pool and pay $2. Swim.
After: Jump off a 65-foot trimaran in the British Virgin Islands. Swim.

Before: Swim about 3,000 yards in chlorinated waters staring at a thick black line.
After: Swim from island to island in the Caribbean staring at sea turtles, coral, various shades of blue, and multi-colored fish


Before: Work on swim technique.
After: Work on swim technique after underwater videotaping and analysis...in the sea. (The water's that clear.)

Before: Swim for 45-60 minutes and rush off to work.
After: Swim for about an hour and then fall asleep on the deck of a sailboat after coffee and a hot breakfast.

Before: Meet up with a few friends and get in a good pool workout.
After: Spend a week with fellow swimmers with similar interests while exploring underwater caves, shipwrecks, and sea life.


Before I went on this swim vacation, I didn't think it was possible to combine quality training time with quality relaxation. After seven days, I couldn't believe that I had to go home. This vacation was quite possibly the best week of my life. That's no exaggeration. That's truth.

Horse racing, alpine skiing, and beauty pageants. Surfing, car racing, and snooker. Believe it or not, all of these activities have at least one commonality. In each sport or activity, you could earn a Triple Crown title. In this context, three is not a crowd and two out of three won’t cut it. On three separate occasions, athletes (and animals) perform at an elite level in a variety of settings.

Including open ocean.

My personal triple crown of open water swimming events includes various one-mile open water races, the infamous Gatorman 3-mile competition, and completing the La Jolla Cove 10-mile relay solo. If I had a triple crown of swim locations, this would include Midwestern lakes, the Pacific Ocean, and in a few weeks, the Caribbean. Recently, I’ve been searching for an open water swim race; something longer and also challenging enough to take me out of my comfort zone.

I was flipping through web pages for the Catalina Channel swim, and that’s when I discovered the Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming. With the exception of a support boat and crew, these three races are solo events. It’s you against yourself, the currents, the tides, and the marine life. Physical contact with anyone or anything is not allowed. Wetsuits are not allowed. Neither are fins.

To earn this triple crown title, one must successfully swim the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, and around Manhattan Island wearing a bathing suit, one swim cap, one pair of goggles and some grease. The English Channel is about 21 miles, the Catalina Channel about the same, and to circumnavigate Manhattan Island is 28.5 miles. 70.5 total miles. Plus, the water’s not too warm. And just to add perspective, more people have successfully climbed Mount Everest than have swum the English Channel. Most swimmers start the Catalina Channel swim at night. In the dark. And finally, imagine yourself taking a stroll around the streets of Manhattan. Now imagine swimming around it. Good stuff, huh?

I don’t know when. I don’t know how. I’m not even sure why, but one day I will complete one of these swims. Then maybe we’ll talk triple crown…

“No guts no glory, no pain no gain, no lanes no lines, no walls no mercy.”