The Muskoka Lakes Island Swim: I get by with a little help from myfriends

No one ever accomplishes anything on their own, and after just one challenge, it's clear to me that this is going to be the underlying theme of The 43 Project. I have been blessed in my life with many friends, but among my nearest and dearest are the Barolo Family. They are my family. So it felt entirely right that I undertook my first challenge with them.

Falling Bear Rock

Saturday was an incredibly hot, sunny and spectacular Muskoka day. With the sun beating down and the water temperature at 30 degrees, the conditions were perfect for a swim. I just wished as I stood on the dock looking across the lake at Falling Bear Rock that it didn't look so far away. I also wished I hadn't counted back to the 30 years it had been since I had done anything more than float around a quiet bay with a pool noodle. To be frank, I wasn't sure that I could still swim. To be even more frank, if I hadn't made such a spectacle of myself blogging two days earlier I think I might have chickened out. But with the first challenge already publicly declared, I was committed. That and my good pal Mrs. B. was not going to let me disappoint myself. So with her in the canoe beside me and Mr. B. and their daughter B2 in the water, we set out.

Turns out there are some things you never forget, no matter how long it has been, and some things that you maybe just never knew. Apparently I can still do the front crawl, but I had forgotten, or perhaps never realized, what a cardio work out it is. After what seemed to be a very short interval, I was already sputtering and feeling a bit panicky when I heard Mrs. B. shout "keep it up Mary, you're a third of the way there." Little B2, who was bobbing up and down in front of me with her bright red life jacket, confirmed, "yup a third of the way MJ. Keep it up." Seeing that I was wobbling a bit Mr. B. said "try the breast stroke."

On the way there

Oh yeah. Good idea. I forgot about that one.

Little by little, and with Mrs. B's constant assurance that Falling Bear Rock was not, in fact, moving farther away. I finally made it. The first of two kilometers down!

Amazing! Unbelievable! For me...unprecedented.

Still can't believe it happened.

I have to admit, the way back was somewhat easier for me. I had made it there, which in my mind had been the bigger battle--I had confirmed that I could still swim. Heading back I seemed to have found my groove.

There really aren't any words to express how happy I was to have actually accomplished this first task. There are even fewer words to express the depth of my love, affection and gratitude to the Barolos for all they bring to my life. I hope someday I will find the right words to tell them just how much it means to me that even when I am unsure of myself, they are there to encourage me forward "every stroke of the way."

Never quit,
Mary

First challenge down.

Stay tunned for the next challenge: Training for the Mitsubishi City Chase: Rock Climbing

Welcome to The 43 Project. Welcome to my challenge.

Today is my 43rd birthday. I am so happy it's here. Who says that? Right? 43 is such a non-event. But looking back over the decades of my life its seems as though the "3"s have had a strange energy about them. I seem to lose ground...let it all go...usually to my waist. So why I am I glad 43 is here? Because this time I am ahead of the curve...I hope. This is what The 43 Project is all about. Staying fit, staying focused and raising the bar. I want to do the things I was never able to do because I told myself I couldn't. Many of the things I will acheive this year are accomplishments only to myself. Many of you already run 5K a day. Many of you will laugh at the party I have planned for when I do 10 chin-ups. But many more of you know what I am talking about. The success of The 43 Project will not be measured in medals, time or media coverage. It will be measure by the number of times I say "yes" to something I was frightened to do...or never dreamed I could do. Most of these accomplishments will be physical. All of these accomplishments will be emotional and psychological.

The 43 project is about my desire to silence that negative inner voice for good. To remove the obstacles that I have been hiding behind for years. There are many physical tasks, activities and sports which I have never been able to do or dared to engage in. This year, I will take them as they come and I will take them down. Life is not a spectator sport and I am stepping out of the bleachers.

Join me as blog about each of these challenges. Share you thoughts and let me know what you think.

Never quit,

Mary

Stay tunned for the first 43 project challenge on July 14, The Muskoka Lakes Island Swim.