Cindy Walsh - San Diego, USA
Jim and Cindy at Angora Lake
Without question, marathon swimming involves some dark moments: at various times, I was frightened, sick, in pain, cold and exhausted. But alongside these moments are other unique experiences such as the luxury of doing nothing but swimming all day; the beautiful, constantly shifting aquatic environment; the light through the water; the flash of a fish; the honk of a boat's horn; the hypnotic state of trance; the embodied sense of power.
These are incredible, extraordinary pleasures and freedom that only long-distance swim can give you, and those are the moments that make all the toil worthwhile.
In September 2012 American Cindy Walsh swam 21 miles across the English Channel between England and France. She completed the swim in 14 hours 19 minutes and earned herself a place in marathon-swimming history by becoming the 64th member of the Triple Crown Open Water Swimming Club.
To add perspective to swimming the English Channel, more people have successfully climbed Mount Everest than have swum the English Channel. It’s a highly respected achievement.
The wind, weather and heavy shipping traffic along with the tidal changes approximately every six hours make this particular swim very challenging. The optimal window is to swim during a neap tide. However, the weather did not cooperate (high winds and rain) during Cindy’s window of opportunity, so she swam on the more difficult spring tide.
Months after this swim, Cindy found out she was awarded the Belhedi Trophy which commemorates the efforts of swimmers who successfully conquer the English Channel on the highest tide each year (6.71m). An official acknowledgement of completing one of the most physically demanding swims in the world, but she did it on the most challenging tide of the swim season.
My early swim teachers and coaches
“When I first learned to swim, Laura Florio Luzzi was my swim teacher and my idol. I remember I wanted to be like her, a local well known synchronized swimmer. Looking back I acknowledge the inspiration Laura gave me.
“I grew up in Hamden, Connecticut, and learned to swim when I was 10 years old. From then on, swimming became a huge part of my life and from ages 10-17, I competed for my local synchronized swimming team, the Hamden Heronettes. I often spent several hours a day, six days a week, in the pool.
“My synchronized swimming team coaches, Linda and Jeff Lichter, really pushed me to work hard, which I embraced. I loved and thrived on their positive coaching style.
“In my younger years, 10 to 17, ‘synchro’ was my main water focus, but I still found time to swim for my high school team, Hamden High School, under the watchful eyes of coaches Nina Goode and Jack Gill, with the 200-yard Individual Medley and 500 yard Freestyle being my preferred events.
“All of my coaches played a part in me loving the water. These early connections from childhood mean a lot to me. Many of my lifelong friendships were started during these years.
“Many years later I am still in touch with coach Jeff. He cheered me on via Facebook as I swam the English Channel in 2012.”
Synchro gave me so much
“I thrived on the discipline involved with practices and competitions. There was so much fun preparing for not only the competitions, also the water shows, which were a big part in our team annual fundraising efforts. We had such stylish elaborate costumes, sets and great lighting.
“I recall the fun of performing in front of friends and family. The great teamwork. The loud music during practice and competition. The smell of chlorine, and spending lots of time underwater. In winter, there were times when frozen hair was common, as I waited for my parents to pick me up after practice.
“I loved the sense of accomplishment, mastering new skills and pushing myself to exhaustion. Breath holding was only one aspect of synchro which I needed to master.
“These years were also the first time I remember setting goals: whether it was one more under water lap, faster times or making the “A” team.
“My synchro career spanned 7 years, with my last synchronized swimming event at the US Nationals in Long Beach, 1979, where our team placed second.
“Synchronized swimming prepared me for long distance events while still in high school and provided me with the discipline to train for marathon swims in my adult years.”
Education and Career focus, for a while
“In my 4 years studying a nursing major at DeSales University (Pennsylvania) and after graduation, I took a 13-year break from swimming to focus on education and my professional career. I was in my early 30s before returning to the pool, joining a local masters swim program.
“While I started out with traditional swim meets, I was soon drawn to the open water events. With no lane lines or flip turns to consider and the marvel of the underwater and above water views quickly drew me into the world of ocean swimming. Very soon I had a new goal; swim a marathon distance.
“Over a 25 plus year period I regularly participated in multiple ocean swim events such as the Escape from Alcatraz Sharkfest, the Golden Gate Bridge Swim, the Little Red Lighthouse on the Hudson River, and the La Jolla Rough Water Swim. I also regularly swam the Tour of Buoys five-mile race off La Jolla.
“These swims ignited the next step, tackling the ‘marathon’ swim events. Swims of 6.6 miles (10km) are classified as marathons (aka ultra-long-distance swims).
“From 2006, these longer swims became my focus.”
Tampa Bay swim
Marathon swimming goals
“It all started for me in August 2007 when I swam the Catalina Channel – 32.3km from South Catalina Island to California mainland. On this occasion it took me 13 hours 56 minutes and 5 seconds. I repeated this swim 14 months later with better swim conditions, October 2008, with a significantly improved time of 9hours 55minutes.
“In early 2008, I also swam the Manhattan Island marathon - 45.9km, in a time of 8 hours and 5 seconds.
“My Tampa Bay marathon (37km) was in late April 2011, where I finished 8th overall in a time of 10 hours 50 minutes.
“I achieved the 33km English Channel (England to France) swim in September 2012 (14hours 19minutes) to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water swimming. With this, I became just the 64th member of the Triple Crown Open Water Swimming Club.
“The SCAR Challenge (2013) was another unique opportunity to test myself. The annual event is a four-day, four swim challenge, swimming in total just on 40 miles (60 km) in four different lakes in Arizona.”
Editor: Cindy’s performance.
Day one - 13.3km in Saguaro Lake. 3hours24minutes.
Day two - 14.1km in Canyon Lake (3hours 4 minutes).
Day three was the longest day in Apache Lake – 22.8km (5hours 55minutes)
Day four - 10km in Roosevelt Lake (2hours 52minutes).
Editor: read a full list of Cindy’s amazing open water swimming achievements, see the link at the end of her story. In addition to these five marathon swims, Cindy has list of 12 additional events of over 10km in length.
More than long hours in the ocean
“My swimming is “my time”. I find it is mediative. It gives me time to think and be away from the noise of the world. I focus on the underwater sights, the fresh air and I embrace my breathing. My favourite view is the clear blue under water, watching the sun sparkle on the sand as I swim.
“The ocean water provides a well-needed peaceful environment away from pagers, cell phones and computers. I enjoy how water can put me into a trance-like daydream of seemingly unrelated, but somewhat connected thoughts.
“My swimming refreshes me, keeps me focused and at peace.
“Knowing I have completed many ultra-long-distance swims gives me a great sense of accomplishment. Swimming is truly a lifelong activity. My first ultra-long-distance swim, the Catalina Channel, was when I was in my 40’s.
“Without question, marathon swimming involves some dark moments: at various times, I was frightened, sick, in pain, cold and exhausted. But alongside these moments are other unique experiences such as the luxury of doing nothing but swimming all day; the beautiful, constantly shifting aquatic environment; the light through the water; the flash of a fish; the honk of a boat's horn; the hypnotic state of trance; the embodied sense of power. These are incredible, extraordinary pleasures and freedom that only long-distance swimming can give you, and those are the moments that make all the effort worthwhile.”
Manhattan Island Swim
Your swimming now, and do you still enter events, Cindy?
“I do. I generally find new swims on social media or through USMS, and of course, I repeat swims which I have enjoyed previously, especially the events I swim with friends.
“Other than the event itself, it is all about the training leading up to a swim and the sense of accomplishment and teamwork. It takes a village to accomplish a distance swim with training partners and support during the event. My friends and family are the best!
“In 2014, with close friends, as a relay we swam the Catalina Channel setting a record for women aged 50 years plus in 9hours 8minutes. Achieving this with friends was such a good day.
“During the week I like to swim before work with a few young colleagues. On weekends, I swim with a larger group sometimes 10 or more swimmers of all ages and abilities. Some wearing fins and wetsuits to assist their performance. Others like me, swimsuit only.”
Catalina Channel relay team . . . WOW
Swimming partner
“Swimming has been a big part of my life for many years. I was fortunate to meet my partner through swimming, Jim Fitzpatrick. We have been together since 2008 and have supported each other on many marathon swims. He is also a member of the triple crown club.
“One of our early swims together was crossing Pend Orielle in Sand Point, swimming the 15.25 miles from Hope to Dover.
“Jim supported my English Channel and Across Long Island Sound swims, while I helped him with his across Lake Tahoe (North to South) and his around Manhattan swims.”
Cindy and Jim at Gull Lake
Share a few swim snip-bits Cindy
“I am fortunate to have friends of all ages, careers, abilities with a common love of the water.
“During my Catalina Island solo in 2008 there was a large pod of dolphins that swam under me close to the finish, it was exciting and a great motivator after swimming all night.
“The lowest water temperature I have swum in is 37degree Fahrenheit (2.77 Celsius)
“I was fortunate to swim with Sarah Thomas at the SCAR event in Arizona in 2013. She has since then completed the English Channel four times non-stop. Wow!
“During the pandemic period I continued to swim four to five times per week, swimming year-round, in the ocean, without a wetsuit.
“I do not receive any coaching on an ongoing basis. However I am grateful for all the time and support of both Alan Voisard and Kevin Eslinger who have contributed to my successes to date. Both Alan and Kevin have previously helped me prepare for my marathon swims. Alan is a “Triple Crown” swimmer himself and Kevin is a very accomplished waterman.”
Do you have a swimming tip to share?
“You can accomplish anything you set your mind to with the right training and support. Just keep swimming! Swim until you touch the sand on the other side.
“The sculling techniques ingrained in childhood with synchronized swimming have stayed with me. I can still “eggbeater” for hours”
When visitors comes to San Diego, California; what places do you recommend they swim?
San Diego
And other places you have swum Cindy?
Bali
Tonga
Fiji
Belize
Hawaii and of course California
And your non-swimming life Cindy
“I am Director of Cardiovascular Services at Sharp Memorial Hospital (San Diego. California) which I love but it is inherently stressful. As a nurse and healthcare administrator, my swimming helps me calm my mind, relax, and reset.
“Jim and I are lucky to live in San Diego where we enjoy great weather year-round. Perfect for swimming!
“In addition to swimming, Jim & I enjoy hiking with friends and our two rescue pups.
“I really enjoy snorkelling and SUP (stand up paddle boarding)
“Our cat Coco is also a rescue-animal from the Humane Society.
“I love going back east to visit family and have combined a few trips for swims: Little Red Lighthouse, Around Manhattan, Key West, Tampa Bay, Boston Light, In search of Memphre and Across the Sound. Many of the trips Jim and I take revolve around swimming.”
And a final word for us readers Cindy
“Find an activity you love and stick to it. For me it is swimming.”
Connect with Cindy
View Cindy’s marathon swim results
Catalina sunrise
Belize