“I do not want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.”
– Diane Ackerman
This is not my first long distance swim. I swam across Madge Lake
years ago. This will be the longest by far and most challenging due
to the consecutive days. I am not targeting a distance per day, but
a time per day. 5 hours. I’m pretty slow, so here is how I calculate
my distance goal:
x = 10,000 meters = 10kms
In 5 hours, I expect to swim at least 10kms. Here is the fun part. I
will be swimming in the river with the current and the current will
carry me down stream at the same time. I have done river swims
before, but I am leaving the distance calculations to God. Whatever
distance I accomplish by swimming, add to that the distance that
the river pushes me and that is how far I will go. Then I get into
the canoe with Nina and paddle to the day’s destination. These
destinations will be predetermined. While on the South
Saskatchewan River I will do three days of 33kms per day and
while on the North Saskatchewan River I will do two days of
42kms per day. This is soooooo exciting.
This is not my first long distance bike ride. 183kms is substantial,
but I have done the equivalent many times before. About half of it
will be on gravel and the other half on asphalt. I have a good bike
and great tires. I’m not stressed at all about this. Worst news is
that it will be a very long day, but the best news is that there will
be 16 hours and 8 minutes of daylight on July 18, 2024.
This is not my first marathon ruck March. I chose 45 lbs because
that is a reasonable amount for a trained soldier to carry. As an
infantry chaplain I have seen soldiers carry much more. The
distance is formidable, but I have done it before so why not try
again. My most famous marathon ruck march was 45lbs for 42kms
and the starting temperature was -42˚ C.
This not my first canoe experience. 100s of day paddles much
longer then this. I will not train one minute for this part. It will be
pure pleasure.
I have been training since January. I bought the Saskatoon leisure
pass and go to Shaw centre pools at least twice per week. For lent
I adjusted my diet not for fasting but for maximum nutrition and
hydration. In February I began training in earnest.
My father-in-law will be driving the support vehicle throughout
this trip to provide sleeping accommodations in my home-made
camper. He will also bring the BBQ and most of the food.
My daughter Nina and her two cats, Jamie and George, will be in
the safety canoe by my side.
On July 11 we will begin this 7-day adventure by stepping into the
water somewhere by the Chief Mistawasis Bridge.
I am not worried about anything, but I am preparing for many
things. Rain is ok, but lightning not so much. Wind may be a
problem, but if I am lucky then wind may be an advantage too.
Can’t control those so why worry?
Some have warned me that I am 61 years old and that I should not
do this. But I am 61 years old and that is why I should do this – do
they think I should wait till I am 71? I don’t understand their
reasoning.
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Go The Distance 