2024 Catalina Relay - One for the Books
2024 Team iSwim4 Catalina Channel Relay
Team iSwim4:
I could not be more proud or more elated at having pulled this off (as well as exhausted).
WE swam the Catalina Channel!
Thank you all so much for being a part of this. The endurance comes not only from swimming for a couple of 1-hour legs, but also from the all-nighter we pulled in a rocking dive boat that caused a few of us to be "a bit uncomfortable" to say the least.
I thought one of the great lessons this swim taught us was to dive in and take a couple of strokes in discomfort - whether from cold, nausea, disorientation in the darkness, etc... - and then take a couple more, and just another 5 minutes more, and just a few strokes further. Kinda like how we string our lives together "One Day at a Time." Before we know it, we've achieved something wonderful - this time, as a beautiful, collaborative effort.
It was so cool putting faces to your names and getting to know each of you just a bit. Although this memory will fade as we continue to achieve other goals in our lives, let's savor this just a little right now and always remember what we accomplished together.
And thank you for helping us advocate for the iSwim4 mission.
To the companions who accompanied us on our adventure - thank you for your company, support and just your genuinely warm presence. Tom, Bobby and Benji - you each added something to the adventure and your presence and participation are appreciated.
Many of you commented on the positive attitudes and professionalism of our kayakers. You may not realize this, but we were fortunate to have a couple of the very best in the business, and they certainly demonstrated that over the course of the event.
As this was our 2nd year in a row of putting together a Catalina Channel Relay, I hope that we can continue to do this annually as a foundation and grow to include other events. If you would like to participate again in years to come, please stay in touch. If you would like to participate in other events as part of Team iSwim4, please don't hesitate to "represent."
The Catalina Channel Swim Banquet is - I believe - the first Saturday in November, and is usually scheduled as a brunch. I couldn't find the date and time on the website, but if you're interested in attending, let me know, as I will plan to go to represent our team if I don't have a family conflict.
Safe travels to those of you returning home to other parts of the U.S.
And to all of you - please stay in touch and keep doing great things.
With gratitude,
Jeff