I’ve gotten a lot of questions about “What was that book that pushed you over the edge?” and “Have you seen…?”  I thought I would answer some of these questions.

Books (either read or on the reading list)

So reading about the Channel and open water swimming has become a major past time over this last year.  I take notes, mark passages, send things on to my crew, etc.  Here are some that I have found inspirational, interesting, and fun for the whole family!

• No Opportunity Wasted: 8 ways to Create a List for the Life You Want by Phil Keoghan
  • This is the book that I read that got me thinking “Why am I thinking about if only?  I can do this!”
• Swimming to Antartica by Lynne Cox
• Open Water Swimming: A Complete Guide for Distance Swimmers and Triathletes by Penny Lee Dean
• Wind, Waves and Sunburn: A Brief History of Marathon Swimming by Conrad Wennerberg
• Crossing: The Curious Story of the First Man to Swim the English Channel by Kathy Watson
• The Channel Swimming Association, Ltd. book 
• The Alcatraz Swimmer’s Manual by Joe Oakes
  • Yes this is the Joe Oakes that I trained with down in Nehalem.
• Dover Solo: Swimming the English Channel by Marcia Cleveland
• Haunts of the Black Masseur: The Swimmer as Hero by Charles Sprawson
• Swimming the Channel: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Healing by Sally Friedman
• Nothing Great is Easy: The Des Renford Story by Des Renford

Movies

• There is a recent film that came out from the UK called “On a Clear Day”  I saw this movie shortly after signing up for the Channel and prior to telling my family.  It was so inspirational, I cried.  Of course I now own a copy.

Somehow I believe I’m missing some books or movies so check back as I’m sure I will update this entry with more information.