Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
Anthony McCarley knows well the ebbs and flows of the ocean as a long-time abalone fisherman from northern California. He understands its unpredictability and challenges.
But McCarley now lives in part of the world where it is difficult to train for channel swims. In fact, only he and Darren Miller are the only people from Pennsylvania who do marathon and channel swims.
“I take lots of ice baths [to prepare],” explains the life-long swimmer. “Sometimes, I fill it up and get right in. Other times, I get in the tub first and let the cold water engulf me.”
McCarley understands how to prepare himself for all kinds of inevitabilities in the oceans. “I do not eat the morning of or the night before I train so I know how to handle it when feeds aren’t available or don’t go well.”
McCarley will be attempting tonight to complete his circle by crossing the Catalina Channel and achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. Follow his route from Santa Catalina Island to the California mainland here.
Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association