The Worlds Greatest Marathon!!! This is the way they advertised this 14.1 mile race from Narragansett Rhode Island to Blocke Island. All the top marathon swimmers in the world were there.
The race started from the beach. As we came out of the harbour through a gap in the breakwall Billy Barton was on my left and ReJean Lacoursiere on the right, I noticed some thing dark in the water just below us. I asked Billy is that a shark? Billy said "it's a shark". We picked up our pace and the three of us moved to the front of the pack very quickly. Billy moved away from me to the left and ReJean (Johnny) moved to the right and I swam straight ahead. The shark followed me. After about twenty minutes the boat that was with me put up a sign it said "Don't Panic there is a shark 200 yards behind you" then they wrote "don't stop or change your pace" then they said " the coast guard is tracking it and if it attacks they will shoot it". This was a real confidence builder for me???? This shark was 14' long and followed me for 10 miles. I took no nourishment during that race. I ended up completely exhausted, it was the last marathon race I ever swam in. I didn't stop marathoning because of the shark, I was 39 years old and getting tired of getting ready to race every year..
Have you had an experianc like this?
Was I Shark Bait???
The Worlds Greatest Marathon!!! This is the way they advertised this 14.1 mile race from Narragansett Rhode Island to Blocke Island. All the top marathon swimmers in the world were there.
The race started from the beach. As we came out of the harbour through a gap in the breakwall Billy Barton was on my left and ReJean Lacoursiere on the right, I noticed some thing dark in the water just below us. I asked Billy is that a shark? Billy said "it's a shark". We picked up our pace and the three of us moved to the front of the pack very quickly. Billy moved away from me to the left and ReJean (Johnny) moved to the right and I swam straight ahead. The shark followed me. After about twenty minutes the boat that was with me put up a sign it said "Don't Panic there is a shark 200 yards behind you" then they wrote "don't stop or change your pace" then they said " the coast guard is tracking it and if it attacks they will shoot it". This was a real confidence builder for me???? This shark was 14' long and followed me for 10 miles. I took no nourishment during that race. I ended up completely exhausted, it was the last marathon race I ever swam in. I didn't stop marathoning because of the shark, I was 39 years old and getting tired of getting ready to race every year..
George Park www.swimdownhill.com
http://www.swim-log.co.uk/evalgeo.htm
http://www.georgeparkriverpool.com/george_park_riverpool_better.html