Long-distance, open water swimming takes a lot. Swimming over four miles in 86 degree water with the sun blazing down on you through 90 degree air is no joke. It takes months of preparation, training swims of several hours, developing feeding schedules that will work with blood sugars and still be easy to manage while floating on your back, figuring out how to test in the water without touching the boat or the ground.
When we all signed up for this race four months out we were taking a gamble. Hoping we would have the time to train, that our schedules would not throw us any curve balls. Praying that our training would start to pay off and our bodies would increase in strength and stamina. And doing everything possible to insure that we don't get injured.
But life does not always go as planned. Unfortunately, Kate is not going to be able to swim with us in June. With all the other amazing races she has and the wonderful counseling practice she leads, she won't be able to complete the Swim Around Key West.
Thanks to the wonderful network of Type 1's we have online and in person through Insulindependence, we have found another swimmer.
Blair Ryan has had type 1 diabetes since 2000 and is an accomplished collegiate distance runner, triathlete, and cyclist. Thanks to spending her summers in the water as a Ventura County Junior Lifeguard, Blair has great romance and respect for the ocean. Thrilled for this excuse to spend more time in it, she looks forward to the accountability that her Sea Peptide teammates and the 4.2 mile leg will bring to her training.
We are excited to have Blair and look forward to this new adventure.