Catalina Channel Crossing #295 Lori King

If you know me, you know that my reasons for my swims are not completed for bragging rights or titles.  There is a well thought out reason behind each one.  The swims have to call me.  They have to mean something.  I was applying for the 8 Bridges swim last night and the application asked for links to swims that one has accomplished.  I knew that the Catalina Channel Federation would soon be updating their list of completed swims for this year but was not sure.  I went on the website.  Under successful crossings, there I was #295 Lori King.  The feeling is so good that I had to share it.  I hope this does not seems like I am bragging.  That is not what this is about.  I am sharing because I have looked at that list over the past several year; Looked at it in different ways: To see who crossed; to see which way they crossed; how many crossed mainland to Catalina and vise versa.  I looked at the list to see how many Americans were on it; how many men, how many women.  I looked at the list in a way that a person looking in would.  Seeing my name on the list changed things for me.  When I saw my name, I immediately thought of the day, the pain, the hard work, the faces of the people who got me across.  I thought of the feeling I had when I reached the rocks and crawled up finally ending the journey.  I thought about my now, West Coast, swim family – the beautiful relationships I have made.  Can you imagine…all this from one swim?  I make a lot of sacrifices to do what I love and my family makes a lot of sacrifices so my heart has to be in it.  I have to not only go through the motions because I can do it but I have to put my heart into it each time.  The feeling at the end is so much better.  To be able to embark on such amazing journeys that very few can, gives me an appreciation that cannot be explained by words.  It is a feeling…a really good, warm, rainbows, unicorns and mermaids kind of feeling.  Thank you to everyone who made the 295th crossing successful.  Catalina was a beautiful beast.  http://swimcatalina.com/index.php/successful-swims/successes