Living on an island, one would think the inhabitants are intimately familiar with the water bodies that envelope the small slice of land on which they live. Not this inhabitant. I've been intrigued with swimming in the Hudson since I arrived in New York in 2000, and last fall I felt a call to action after I saw the documentary "City of Water," which advocates getting involved in the maritime community. Contact with the river gives a sense of place, and also, if people are using the water for recreation, the federal government is mandated to make sure water is clean enough. I was inspired to jump in.
After some research I discovered the Manhattan Island Foundation, which sponsors river swims of all types. I learned that to qualify for the swim I was required submit papers that proved a certified swim of a mile in 45 minutes. I worked out all through the
winter and spring and a few weeks before the swim I clocked an official pool time of a mile 30 minutes 30 seconds. Despite the preparation, my biggest fear was swimming in the open water. I'm not a fan of choppy water.
On Sunday July 13th, I overcame my fears and did a one mile swim in the Hudson.
Here are a few pictures:
