Douglas McConnell will face whales, sharks, jellyfish, giant ocean swells, salt water, tropical heat, Portuguese man o war, whitecaps that can crest over 2 meters, and a whole host of other issues in the Molokai Channel that he is not accustomed to training in the state of Illinois.
How does one train in pools and lakes for a swim across a channel in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that is 2,300 feet (701 meters) deep and myriad marine life?
McConnell will share his insight and discipline in the Daily News of Open Water Swimming about how to practically put into place a year-round action plan in a series on How to Train in the Midwest Pools and Lakes for a Massive Swim in Hawaii.
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.