The Journey Continues Across Channels
What is truly admirable among endurance athletes and marathon swimmers is their passion and interest in the success of their colleagues, comrades and compatriots. Fast or slow, young or old, newbie or veteran, the open water swimmers pull for each other, knowing that Mother Nature is the greatest foe.As the channel swimming season kicks off in Europe, North America, Asia, and the Pacific Rim nations, the crème de la crème extend their best wishes to those who follow. Darren Miller sends his regards to the multi-national group of swimmers who will attempt the Tsugaru Channel this season:
Swimmers,
Congratulations on setting a date to challenge the mighty Tsugaru Channel!
Your swim will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, as the Tsugaru Channel is one of the most beautiful, yet challenging bodies of water on the planet. The Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan is an incredible landscape of lush forest, vast countryside and a lifestyle which has been in place for thousands of years.
Please do not be fooled by the relatively ‘short’ distance of this crossing – it turned out to be the most difficult challenge I have faced in my marathon swimming career. Looking back, I am so thankful to the Tsugaru Channel Swimming Association and my amazing crew – including Steven Munatones, Masayuki Moriya, Captain Mizushima, Matthew Miller and Noel Brown, as well as the remarkable Yuko Matsuzaki, who was so instrumental with coordinating the journey prior to my departure from the United States.
It was also an honor to have the inspirational and determined Stephen Redmond following along throughout the night while awaiting his attempt from the Japanese coast. Stephen is a man with a wonderful heart and unwavering determination. I will never forget his excitement and powerful hug upon my return to the harbor at Tappi Misaki – a true gentleman and someone I am proud to call a friend.
Without the assistance of these fine individuals, this would have been possible.
It was a blessing to have such fantastic people by my side while so far from home.
I urge you to view my daily videos from Japan via my YouTube channel at ‘teamforeverswim’, or contact me via email at dmiller@darren-miller.com with any and all questions. I wanted to fully document my journey so that others could benefit from my experience. I will do everything in my power to calm your worries, assist with planning or offer up friendly advice and positive thoughts for your adventure.
You will be successful – all you have to do is believe in yourself.
With admiration,
Darren E. Miller
Copyright © 2013 by Open Water Swimming
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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