A local swimmer has conquered more than 41 kilometres of Lake Ontario, swimming from St. Catharines to Oakville in about 18 hours.
Melanie Price, 38, had started out from the Dalhousie Yacht Club in St. Catharines Friday at about 12 a.m. and arrived near someone’s backyard just east of her target, which was Coronation Park, Friday evening.
But she almost gave up about two kilometres from the finish line, Price said as she reflected back on her feat Saturday.
She could see the land from where she was when the wall hit, but the weariness was getting to her, Price said.
“I was definitely tired and sore and struggling and we hit strong currents … The negative thoughts when you don’t feel like you’re moving were starting to get to me. I thought about quitting a bit, but my team, they all got in and cheered me on.”
Price swam the gruelling distance to raise funds for Lake Ontario WaterKeeper, a nonprofit organization that looks to keep a safe watershed for swimmers and fish.
Price, who is a coach for the Hamilton Aquatic Club, trained at the Burlington Masters Swim Club in preparation for the challenge.
During her 18 hours in Lake Ontario, Price took periodical feeding breaks while still in the water every 25 minutes to keep herself energized.
“I really did enjoy it,” the mother of two said. “I think that’s the only way for me to get through these things.”
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