Man Swims Across Lake Erie

[The Seeker]

Aug. 25, 2009

Man swims across Lake Erie in record time

Forty-five-year-old Randy McElwain took just 11 hours, 23 minutes, and 33 seconds to swim the 24.3-miles from Long Point, Ontario to Erie, Pennsylvania. The next-fastest time was 11 hours, 53 minutes by an Erie-area man, Josh Heynes, in 2006.

McElwain graduated from Edinboro University, a state-owned school about 20 miles from where he ended his swim. He now works as a manager for General Motors Acceptance Corp. in Michigan.

McElwain started training in February by swimming 2.5 miles then adding distance as his training continued.

 

[DaveM]

Well done to him that was one long swim :y18:

 

[The Seeker]

McElwain started training in February by swimming 2.5 miles then adding distance as his training continued.

No wonder he can swim so fast! Lake Erie in February!!!???

 

[otherwise]

Is that salt or fresh water?
Regardless, congratulations to him, big effort.

 

[Rocky]

Lake Erie is a fresh water lake.

 

[The Seeker]

Yep, Lake Erie is one of North America's Great Lakes, along with Lakes Huron, Michigan, Superior, and Ontario.

They are enormous....if you stood on the beach in Erie where this guy finished swimming, for all intents and purposes you'd think you were at an ocean shore because you can't see the other (Canadian) side. I live just about 1.25 hours driving time South from there.

People who have experience sailing there will tell you that Lake Erie is one of the most dangerous navigable waterways on Earth because it is relatively shallow. Conditions can change drastically in a blink of an eye.

From Wikipedia:

The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. They are sometimes referred to as the "Third Coast" by some citizens of the United States. Because of their size, some regard them as inland seas.

 

[CarlS]

Congratulations to him. That is an aggressive swim. AJ, what is the water temp in Lake Erie this time of year?

 

[The Seeker]

[quote author=CarlS link=topic=6921.msg37914#msg37914 date=1251286808]
AJ, what is the water temp in Lake Erie this time of year?
[/quote]


Way too cold for ME to swim in!!

No seriously......around 75-77 F degrees surface temperature.

Here's a link: http://www.landbigfish.com/watertemps/erie2.cfm?ID=9

 

[CarlS]

That is pretty cool for prolonged exposure. I am sure he used a wet suit. The temp of our springs is about 72 -73 F year round. It feels pretty good on a summer day with the temps in the 90's F for about 30 minutes! I don't swim until the water temp is at least 85 F. I have gotten soft in my old age.

 

[The Seeker]

This would be about as warm as it ever gets.....late August.

Keep in mind that when you get out of the water, the air temperature isn't going to be much higher either. Then add in the wind coming off the lake and it's pretty darn cold.

 

[Rocky]

The lake where I have my cottage gets up to 75F in August and is perfect for swimming. I often put a lifevest on, jump in, and just float around for 30 minutes or so. It's so relaxing I can almost go to sleep.

 

[CarlS]

Rocky, are you part polar bear? :y114:

 

[otherwise]

Until a couple of years ago I was a member of our local winter swimming club. Well in fact it was more of a beer drinking club. We have a 50 mtr X 20 mtr pool carved out from a rock shelf, it's washed out on each high tide. In winter we go down at 9.00 am each Sunday morning and have 50 mtr handicap sprints, a couple of relays and a novelty event. The water on average is about 15c, I have been in @ 10c but it gives you a headache, it's in, swim as fast as you can and quickly out the other end. After the swim we go to the local RSL club (Returned Servicemens League) and have hot soup and a few beers.
At home we are in the process of having a 10 mtr in ground pool installed. It will have solar panels to extend the swimming season, my wife likes 23c, I think that's about 64f.