Occupation: Senior Business Systems Analyst
Swimming quote: Just keep swimming…Dori from Finding Nemo
Events:
2006
- 5 Mile Lake Minnetonka Challenge
- 8.2 Pennock Island Challenge – Ketchikan Alaska
2007
- February Fitness Challenge – 90 miles in 28 days
- May Masters Short Course Nationals
- June 10 – Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim
- June 17th – Hagg Lake Open Water Swim (800m, 2K, 4K)
- July 27-28th – Cascade Lake Series – Elk Lake (500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m)
- August 12th – Pennock Island Challenge – Ketchikan Alaska
- September 16 – 24th – THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
The English Channel Facts
Distance: 21 miles (as the crow flies – lucky bird!)
Temperature: approx 60 degrees
Total Crossings: Approx 1100 (includes both CSA and CS+PF swims)
- One standard swim suit
- One standard swim cap
- One pair of goggles
- One swimmer to a boat
- Absolutely no touching of the swimmer once swim starts
- Swim ends when swimmer has no more water in front of them either by exiting the water on the shore or by touching the rock cliffs.
Michelle’s Swim Facts:
- Tide Dates: September 16 – 24, 2007
- Michelle leaves for England September 9th
- 6 hour qualifying swim completed on February 24th in La Jolla Cove. Many thanks to the La Jolla Cove swimmers, lifeguards, seals and friends that helped me get through it.
- Boat Captain: Reg Brickell
- Boat: The Viking Princess
- 1 Channel Swimming Association observer will be on board to ensure all rules are followed
- Accommodations: Sandown Guest House run by Martin and Sonia
- Crew: Jane Barry, Kathleen & Tom Macy
My dear Michelle. How proud I am of you. I can not believe you are swimming the English Chanel. What a wonderful experience. I will be with you in prayer and in emotional support. You are a fantastic young woman and I LOVE YOU!!!!
Michelle – what a wonderful adventure you are taking yourself on … and the rest of us through your blog! I was excited to cheer you on as a teammate at St. Ben’s and the best wishes continue as you prep for the English Channel! Kathy
I have been re-reading the Zanders’ book The Art of Possibility. It is a great reminder of the stories that we tell ourselves that limit rather than expand our world. You have created a new story for yourself and it is a great one full of possibility. I am proud of you and your expanding possibilities.
“If I were to wish for anything I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of what can be, for the eye, which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating as possibility? Kierkegaard, Either/Or
To possibility and accomplishment supported by great love.
Mom
I’m proud to say I’m your brother….
YOU ARE MY ROCK STAR!!!! SWIM HARD, SWIM FAST!!!! You can DOOOOOO it!
We are cheering for you, come visit us for some high altitude training!!! We can not say how proud and supportive we are and will be cheering for you the whole way. Kick Hard, from Team Colorado (Heidi, Scott, Riley, and Soca)
Michelle,
This is some dream! We wish you the best and will be praying for you and your crew. You’ve already made it so far, you should be so proud!
Love,
Justin, Lori & Abby
Hi, Michelle,
Cool that you are doing this!! WOW!
My name is Laura Schob, and I swam three hours of the Channel on the Karen Gaffney relay in 2001 and did a 10k last summer, so I get at least some of your training. I wanted to tell you about long arm, long sleeve swimsuits to protect you from sun during this training. (No, it’s not a speed suit.) I’ve had melanoma, so I have to be very careful with the sun. I would love to talk with you about your experiences, too. Hope to hear from you soon!
Laura 389-3868
Hello Michelle,
I was passed your information from a fellow masters swimmer. I swam the Ditch 8.8.03 in 13:52 and live here in Portland. It seems you’ve got the training down to a science and a ton of great support which is half the battle! I’d be happy to chat more with you if you want. I have a little video (15 min..the condensed version) or anything I can help with, I’d be happy to help. Just email me.
Two mantra’s for you while you swim, repeat this over and over when needed: I will not get out, I will not get out. My other vital mantra….push past the pain, push past the pain.
Best wishes, stay in the positive and enjoy every incredible minute
Sybil
ps. those crabs in Manzanita bay used to crack me up!
Hey Michelle!
What an awesome task you’ve started on. Congratulations and keep up the hard work!
Brendan
Michelle,
When Brendan told me that you were going to swim the English Channel, I was blown away. Ever since I read Swimming to Antarctica, I have an incredible respect for open water swimmers. You go girl!
As a fellow swimmer, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you attempt this ultimate swimming challenge.
Best
Jenny
Hey Michelle –
We’ll be thinking of you during your final weeks of training. I’m going to try and get you a little note to take with you in the mail as soon as I can…I wish nothing but success and safety for you and your crew as you make your way across the channel to France.
You are an inspiration and I cannot wait to hear your stories from your most incredible journey.
Godspeed,
Kristy, Brian & Riley
As a non-swimmer, let me say “Are you out of your effing mind?”
Just kidding. Best of luck. If you buy me a life jacket, I’ll join the team on the boat to cheer you on.
Michelle,
I’m so excited for you. I’ve been telling everyone I know about your upcoming swim. They all think it’s as incredible as I do. Keep up the hard work, stay focused and you are sure to reach your dream!
Michelle –
Wow! What an inspiration you are to our girls. Best of luck to you. We look forward to following you along your journey. We are proud to be your cousins!
I saw the post on the Alaska solo swim! What a great accomplishment
Keep up the great work. We are pulling for you from California…
All the best.
Donna and Family
Michelle,
I am in awe of what you are doing. I wish you all the best on the last stretch of your training and on the big day. You are truly an inspiration to all of us former swimmers!
Michelle,
Good Luck! I will probably see you in Dover! I am swimming on Sept 17th with Eddie Spelling as captain. My wife and I also swam in Alcatraz on June 10th. I am 53 and have been open water swimming for the past eight years, swam in all sorts of stuff but am a bit apprehensive about the Channel but in a good way. Mother Nature is the boss with this one!
Suzanne and I are staying at the Castle Guest House feel free to come by and say hi if you want. My son was in your town this summer on a college project, he loved it up there!
Good Luck!
George Hunihan
Hi Michelle, It’s been along time since we’ve talked and WOW! Have you ever been doing great things. I’m really excited for you. Hope your family is doing well. Email me sometime when your not busy, we’ll chat!! Good Luck, and be careful!!
Kirin Hahn (Shermock)
What more can I say Michelle, except how proud I am of you! You have the determination, guts and strength that our family is known for, and if there is anyone that can do this-you can. Brian and I will be wishing all the best for you, and whatever you do, don’t look back! Love you!
Hi Michelle, the whole Oshkosh Macy clan is here cheering you on!!!! We love you and think of you often. Relative Lee’s favorite line was “Never say die, say damn” So damn, you go girl!!
Love, Jim, Nan, Ben, Austin and Jack.
Wishing you clear weather and calm seas, and your allowed to take the ferry back
Hi Michelle,
I’ve trained mornings with Barracudas the last two Octobers when over in Portland on business – I remember you from last year. I’d just done my own solo English Channel crossing on the 13th September 2006. Best of luck with the swim – I’ll be watching your progress on AIS.
Nick
Best of luck Michelle!! We’ll be thinking about you a ton during the big day. Thanks for keeping all such a great journal, this is just an awesome journey and I can’t wait to hear the stories about the swim. May God bless your trip and keep you safe during the swim.
Kirk and Kate
Michelle -
I am just fine with swimming & biking! Blue skies and be of courage!
I swam in Pennock with you – LOVE the website – and so much enjoy your journey – plus – your mom & dad sound really cool!! will be thinking of you on the journey in 2 1/2 weeks!! I am coming to Oregon to participate in cycle oregon Sept 9 – 16 – 480 miles of bike riding in 6 days!! good thing I can’t run!!
Lyn Montague – Anchorage, AK
Hey Michelle ! Kim forwarded Cindy and I your website, and it is great to read about all you have done…plus it is great to see the pictures. I imagine there will be hundreds put up upon your return from your loooonnngg swim? Look forward to seeing them! Anyway, best of luck, and while I’m floating in my 99 degree bath tub, I’ll be thinking of you
Hee-hee.
I totally admire the fact you are going after your dreams – and what an extraordinary dream that is! Best of luck in your endeavor. I know you are in good hands with a very supportive & knowledgeable crew. I look forward to seeing pics from your trip/swim. Remember, don’t feed the fish
I met you today (Monday) and “escorted” you to the pier and back at Dover. Hang on let’s get this right. I wanted to escort you to the pier and back but unfortunately you were somewhat faster than me so I fell behind by a factor of erm let’s say some hundreds of metres. You must have been lucky enough to catch a rip tide is the only way I can explain it and nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that you are an extremely good swimmer. Are you really only 30 years of age? Good grief, just like Police officers, cross channel swimmers look so young lately. Good luck and no doubt I’ll see you in the sea before you take the trip to France.
I am a latecomer to your website (quite an impressive one, I might add) and see you are already across the pond. I am impressed with your decision to JUST DO IT and to work in such a focused and dedicated way to accomplish something that is important to you. Of course, you have already accomplished much–a litany of events. As you connect those dots to this last one, please know that you have our love, prayers and sincere admiration for identifying this challenge and thoughtfully pursuing it. We are clear out in California, but we are really pulling for you! All the best, Teresa & Family.
I KNEW you would be faster than 13 hrs – a ton faster! We are proud of you girl, now you can rest. I hope you have some pics and experiences you can share with us when you get back to Oregon.
Take care and see you at the next Masters meet, Ann Goodman, Columbia Gorge Masters, The Dalles, Oregon
Michelle, congratulations. I’m one of your co-Pennock Island swimmers. You made the crossing on my birthday, so I can think about your swim as an inspiration every year.
Hey Macy, NICE WORK! I’ve been keeping track of your progress and I’m proud to say you’re the only person I know with ability and drive to make the swim, especially in the time you did! Congrats!
Very impressive swim Michelle – you should be very proud of yourself – as Lynne Cox would say “swimming the English Channel is the Zenith of the sport”
I’m still hoping that one day I will have an opportunity to make an attempt.
I just read the story of your swim on Oregonlive and it moved me. Congratulations and thank you for sharing such a motivational moment with those of us out there that need the reminder that that with focus and dedication, dreams can be reality. I’ll be swimming at THPRD to begin my recovery from a broken ankle in a few weeks – while I will never be an english channel swimmer, I will have your story in my head while I drive to the goals I have set for myself in the next 12 months. Thanks so much.
Read the article in the Washington County Weekly and was very interested in your wonderful accomplishments. I am a retired physician and Rotarian in the Hillsboro club and would love to have you come and present your story of your English channel crossing. If you would consider this, please call me at 503 648 9517 or respond via email. Congratulations on a great effort. Michael F. Egans
Hello. I am a swimmer from Alaska. I have some questions about your training, etc. I plan on swimming the Channel in 2010 and would like to chat with you if possible about some of the logistics.
Hi, Do you have reg Brickells email address?
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
Lovely post. Please add my email address to your list and email me the updates if possible. I always like to read your blog and comment on it.
Hey Michelle, i’ve been reading about you,,,,Way to go, I didn’t
realize your were doing all this!! email me back
kirinhahn@hotmail.com. I lost your email address..
Would like to learn of the swimmer doing so in 2010.
I’m survivor.
Am I too old at 50 to do this?
Was sixty degrees tough?
Will you respond to my questions?