CINCINNATI, Ohio, November 11. DR. Stephen Autry, an accomplished open water swimmer who is an orthopedic surgeon by trade, has completed several different open water swims over his swimming career – including the Holy Grail that is the English Channel.
After each of these swims, he has taken the time to capture his thoughts in personal letters sent out to his family and friends. Swimming World was made aware of these intelligent and insightful documents, and received Autry's permission to reprint them for our readers.
This is the second of three letters we will post, which is Autry's recollection of the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim:
As most of you know I was accepted by the Manhattan Island Foundation to participate in the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (MIMS) this past June 6. The stars were definitely not aligned that day. A delayed start, an early unanticipated current switch, and a lackluster performance by yours truly placed me among a quarter or more of the 25 swimmers who did not meet the timeline for the first checkpoint. The 28.5 mile circumnavigation of Manhattan Island requires strong swimming and attention to critical deadlines.
The sponsors of MIMS decided to give those of us who found ourselves swimming unexpectedly upstream in June a second opportunity. A "make up" MIMS was conducted July 24. I had planned to reapply for next year but this was even better. I don't like unfinished business!
I am pleased to say "I DID IT!" The July 24 journey from pier A in Battery Park back to the same point took me 8hrs 37min.
This time I "booked" it up the East River. I knew Hell Gate's turbulent currents at the entrance to the Harlem River were waiting for me and any drop off if effort could be disastrous. I hit the first check point well ahead of schedule.
I found the event demanding. I kept a strong pace through the first six hours but found my shoulders tiring in the strong chop of the Hudson. (The taste of sea weed, sticks, and general debris diverted my attention from time to time.)
The slog up the Harlem River never seemed to end. Little current and long stretches of monotonous shoreline appeared to extend into infinity. However the numbing boredom of the Harlem led to one of the more memorable events of my life.
Spuyten Duyvil is the point where the Harlem River meets the Hudson. The constricted mouth of the Harlem suddenly opened into the Hudson's wide expanse. A strong cross current hit me in the face. When I looked up the shoreline had melted away and the George Washington Bridge loomed in the near distance. It gave me the reassurance I was truly homeward bound.
Most of my past swim navigations have been done by tree lines, islands, or cliff outcroppings. It was a hoot to use structures like the Brooklyn Bridge, UN Building, and Yankee Stadium as navigational points. The Statue of Liberty greets you at the start and finish.
Last night was pretty uncomfortable. I went out to dinner with my two kids who live in NY after the swim. Thought my shoulders might come loose and fall on the table. Things finally settled down around two a.m.
Thank you for your support and encouragement. Swimming the Catalina Channel is scheduled for September. It presents a different but equally daunting challenge. As I found out in June, success in these events is never assured. I guess that is why I find them so darn alluring.
Steve
Read his first letter about Crossing the English Channel