DEFCON is an acronym for defense readiness condition
or a start of alert used by the United States Armed Forces. The DEFCON system prescribes five graduated levels of readiness for the U.S. military. World-record holder and 68-year-old author Jamie Tout of Austin, Texas uses a similar system to prepare for his events.* His hardcore-to-the-bone
Rondi Davies Sets Record Around Manhattan IslandCourtesy of Abigail Fairman, New York Open Water, Manhattan Island, New York City. During the off-season and midseason, Rondi Davies is always busy planning, organizing, mentoring, and preparing for numerous quiet swims and events on the New York Open Water season. But she remains in top shape and a
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Kris Rutford of Nebraska completed his record-setting 21st circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island in New York City today. His 7 hour 50 minute loop means he has swum nearly 600 total miles around one of the most famous islands in the world. "Too bad I breathe on my right and never see [the
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. The circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,901 miles or 40,075 km. It would take a lifetime to swim the equivalent of this distance, but it is our guess that many veteran open water swimmers have either swum this equivalent or are really close. Swimmers like Jim McConica (USA), Sally
Photo of John Keller courtesy of John Keller in Nebraska. Kris Rutford has logged 27,359 km (17,000 miles) in pools and the open water during his training and competition career over the 24 years. 20 of those years, the Nebraska resident has participated in one of the most visible and popular marathon swims in the world, the Manhattan Island Marathon
The 100-year anniversary of the first circumnavigation of Manhattan Island will take place in a special event 2015 hosted by the NYC Swim. Several superstars of the sport are scheduled to swim. The stars include Manhattan Island record holders Ollie Wilkinson, Rondi Davies, Shelley Taylor-Smith, Elizabeth Fry, Kris Rutford, and Diana Nyad. Event director
Kris Rutford – like Alison Streeter in the English Channel, Harry Huffaker in the Hawaiian Islands or John York in Catalina Channel – is one of those marathon swimmers who just cannot get enough. He has swum around Manhattan Island a total of 16 times – in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 , 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
