LAKE COUNTY — For about nine hours Saturday, a Bay Area man who has a home in Hidden Valley Lake will swim 18.5 miles from the northern point of Clear Lake to Austin Park in the city of Clearlake.
Jamie Patrick, 39, will be the first to swim the length of Clear Lake, he said after searching through swimming records.
“I am doing this swim not only to prove to myself that it can be done but also to bring awareness to those outside of the area of how truly magical Lake County is,” Patrick said.
About 4 a.m. Saturday, Patrick plans to hop in Clear Lake without a wetsuit and swim for about nine hours with a pontoon boat and kayaks flanking him until he reaches Austin Park, he said. So far forecasts show 80-degree weather with 10- to 15-mph winds. If the lake is colder than 61 degrees, Patrick said he would opt for a wet suit.
The swim across Clear Lake is part of his training program to swim three lengths of Lake Tahoe equaling 66 miles in summer 2011. Patrick calls it the Tahoe Triple. In June, Patrick will swim one length ? 22 miles ? and in August he plans to swim two ? 44 miles. It would be the first double crossing of Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Triple would break the open water swim record at altitude. Filmmaker Martin Sundberg will make a documentary on Patrick”s swims, aiming to create a relationship between water and the viewers so they can take action to prevent or combat pollution.
“We believe that recreation is one of the most effective ways of stimulating environmental stewardship,” Patrick said. “Through recreation, we become better acquainted with our natural resources. Through that relationship, we begin stewarding those resources and become motivated to ensure their longevity. In this case, the resource is water. Through my swimming and Martin”s visual presentation for water, we hope to inspire those that watch our film to take their own action.”
Patrick said the difficulty in swimming Clear Lake is, first, the distance.
“Eighteen-plus miles is difficult no matter where you swim,” Patrick said.
Wind and boats might also become issues, as there will be a catfish derby on
Saturday.
Patrick said he finds ways to entertain himself while swimming freestyle the whole distance.
“I sing songs, do multiplication tables, rhyming games, anything to keep my mind off the pain,” Patrick said.
Swimming such long distances is both physically and mentally demanding when the body goes through periods of extreme pain, Patrick said.
Because swimmers have their faces in water for hours with little to look at, unlike runners or cyclists, the mind plays tricks and it can be difficult, Patrick said.
“Preparing mentally is the most important part of attempting something of this magnitude,” he said.
Matt Richardson competed in water polo with Patrick in high school, was Patrick”s best man at his wedding and will be there to drive the pontoon boat Saturday on Clear Lake, he said.
“He”s the best fish I know,” Richardson said. “If there”s anyone who can do long-distance swimming, he”s one of them.”
Richardson said he thinks Patrick”s goals are “gigantic” but that the swimmer has the experience, technique and endurance to reach them.
Richardson is a sports physical therapist so he pays attention to how Patrick is doing in races. He”ll be there Saturday to gauge if Patrick needs more water and certain types of food. He said Patrick “gets the race jitters like everybody else” before a swim but at the end, it”s euphoric.
Patrick agreed to do Richardson”s first triathlon with him, Escape from Alcatraz in 1998.
“It was fun,” Richardson said.
Patrick started swimming when he was 7, was a high school All-American in swimming and water polo, and continued to compete through college, he said. He finished the Ironman competition 15 times and completed more than 100 triathlons.
“Most people do not realize what an incredible place Lake County is and what it has to offer,” Patrick said. “In our film we will attempt to show the world the beauty of Clear Lake through my swimming.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
