Who Invited the Tempest?

‎"90 different boats at the start, 90 swimmers in the water at the same time, waves making it hard to see the swimmers in the water, an escort boat washed up on the reef, a escort boat that sunk, a swimmer getting sent to the hospital after being run over by an escort boat, currents making forward progress slow, winds whipping the ocean surface into massive whitecaps, beating skin burning Hawaiian sun beating down on exposed swimmers backs, and may I say, a 12 foot tiger shark in the middle of this whole event! And then there is Richard Costello, a Toughman competitor, an Xterra Triathlete, the largest swimmer of over 400 swimmers in the water, charging away. Another attempted challenge, but from this Captain, an overall success to you." ~ Capt. Steve Fisher/ September 4, 2011

Awaking in the early morning hours of my swim attempt across the channel, reveled something of an eyebrow raising moment, when from the complete darkness, all I could here and feel, was that of some pretty strong winds blowing through the house where I was staying. This change in the weather over the previous two days, meant that thing's were most certainly going to be interesting this day for sure I thought. A brief little ride on the dingy, and we, being myself and boat and support crew staff, were aboard and setting course for the island of Lanai. The rising sun did little to smooth out the bumpy ride experienced on the way over to Lanai, but it was much appreciated from the unique standpoint from where I was sitting.

You must forgive me if as there was so much learned and observed during the course of my attempted channel crossing, but the mind, and especially the body...oh the body let me tell you, are very much beaten, battered, and sun burnt this day after. Simply trying to function this morning in Hawai'i as close to normal as possible, is in itself a most daunting and painful task. With so much to share in and about this incredible event, I will do another post or two as all things experienced come to mind in the coming days, regarding my individual athletic effort. Till then, just try and hang loose Maui style.