I took up swimming after too many pulled muscles running
A few years ago as a way to stay healthy after too many pulled muscles as a competitive Masters track and field athlete, I started open water swimming.
While visiting South Africa a year ago, I discovered that the Freedom swim, inspired by the freeing of all political prisoners from Robben Island, had become popular. The swim is either about 4 or 6 miles from Robben Island to the mainland, either Bouberg Beach or Three Anchor Bay.
Back in San Diego, I connected with friendly and supportive fellow swimmers, with the La Jolla Cove Swim Club and the TriClub of San Diego. Since March 2017 I have been swimming/training with the TriClub in north county San Diego and have entered swimming competitions to prepare for the Freedom Swim.
Overcoming physical limitation and making a difference
Despite my physical limitations – I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, I believe I can achieve this big, hairy audacious goal. In addition to the personal satisfaction if I complete the swim, I want to raise $9,000 for the National Psoriasis Foundation.
The National Psoriasis Foundation provides help those that have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis to best manage their symptoms, while promoting research to find a cure. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory form of arthritis. www.psoriasis.org.
