Catherine Breed completed a never-before-attempted 900-mile open-water swim along the entire California coast on Sunday.
The 33-year-old, record-setting marathon swimmer from Mill Valley battled chilly, unpredictable Pacific waters for four months. She began the unprecedented expedition at the Oregon border on July 1, and expected to reach Mexican waters in November. Breed finished ahead of schedule.
"For months, I measured my world in the next few miles," Breed said. "Every message from someone following along, every person who came out to cheer, helped me get back in the water."
Along the way, Breed swam past the Golden Gate Bridge, the kelp forests of the Monterey Bay and around Point Conception near Santa Barbara, averaging more than 10 miles a day through notoriously rugged waters. Fans following along on social media and gathering at meeting points celebrated each stroke.
The marathon swim project, dubbed "Swim California," was a complex team operation. In the water, a pacer tossed Breed protein shakes in a thermos for sustenance. Breed and the crew accompanying her in a 52-foot sailboat made land each night before returning to the spot she left off. At times, they were forced to wait for suitable weather to advance through the coast's most remote stretches.
#along
The 33-year-old, record-setting marathon swimmer from Mill Valley battled chilly, unpredictable Pacific waters for four months. She began the unprecedented expedition at the Oregon border on July 1, and expected to reach Mexican waters in November. Breed finished ahead of schedule.
"For months, I measured my world in the next few miles," Breed said. "Every message from someone following along, every person who came out to cheer, helped me get back in the water."
Along the way, Breed swam past the Golden Gate Bridge, the kelp forests of the Monterey Bay and around Point Conception near Santa Barbara, averaging more than 10 miles a day through notoriously rugged waters. Fans following along on social media and gathering at meeting points celebrated each stroke.
The marathon swim project, dubbed "Swim California," was a complex team operation. In the water, a pacer tossed Breed protein shakes in a thermos for sustenance. Breed and the crew accompanying her in a 52-foot sailboat made land each night before returning to the spot she left off. At times, they were forced to wait for suitable weather to advance through the coast's most remote stretches.
#along
5 hours ago
