Of all my previous swims, this has been different. Starting with the fact that, thanks to the best advice ever given to me by Antonio Argüelles, I was able to train in San Francisco Bay to get used to cold water.

From my point of view, [training in San Francisco Bay] is a key to succeed in the North Channel because in Mexico, we never have water as cold as in the North Channel or San Francisco.

From there on, the journey began by meeting wonderful people all the way until last week that I arrived at Donaghadee a place that seemed so far and distant from home, so cold and impersonal. It has been a surprise finding here the Chunky Dunkers swimmers who welcomed me to this swimming community with so much love and care and support. They made me feel at home.

While crossing the North Channel at the eighth hour, I began to think that may be I was not going to be able to finish. I was a little cold and the jellyfish were stinging me all the way. Then I thought, ‘Mariel, you have come such a long way. It’s been epic, don’t let it go, just keep swimming and you will eventually get there. Remember you have a heart like the heart of the sea…always at peace and always moving and flowing …keep it up.