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ItB次元官网网址檚 nighttime at Cowichan Lake and Susan Simmons is about to enter the dark, cold water, aiming to conquer her fear about swimming in blackness B次元官网网址� that feeling of disorientation and nausea when the black water and sky meld into one.

On shore stands her partner, Ray Este, holding a flashlight, trying to figure out the best way to illuminate SusanB次元官网网址檚 way, watching her as she swims deeper into the night.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 a steadfast determination to this, for Ray and Susan know why theyB次元官网网址檙e here.

In just a few short weeks Susan B次元官网网址� ultramarathon swimmer, coach, paddler and MS athlete B次元官网网址� will be attempting to swim from Victoria to Port Angeles and back again.

The swim will take at least 24 hours, which means Simmons will at some point be between the U.S. and Canada, swimming in the black of night, in the wild open waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

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B次元官网网址淵ou can get pretty disoriented in the water and I tend to get really sick at night,B次元官网网址� Simmons says later, discussing her training. B次元官网网址淢y stomach gets really upset because I lose my sense of where I am in the water.B次元官网网址�

You have to be tough-minded to be an ultramarathon swimmer, and for Simmons, who battles MS, the war is both physical and psychological.

The training schedule is grueling: Weights twice a week, spin cycle twice a week, lake swims, pool swims, ocean swims B次元官网网址� a minimum of 15 hours of swimming alone per week.

For Simmons, part of ultramarathon swimming is simply problem solving. How do you swim in pitch blackness? How do you deal with cold water? How do you deal with the overwhelming distance? How do you deal with the urge to quit?

B次元官网网址淚 work on psychological stuff throughout the year,B次元官网网址� Simmons says. B次元官网网址淚 give myself these insane challenges during workouts, where I want to quit, but I know if I go 10 minutes more, IB次元官网网址檒l get past it.B次元官网网址�

Simmons is a traditional swimmer, which means she wears nothing but a swimsuit, swim cap and goggles, and accepts no aid other than nourishment from her support crew. Last year, she became the 7th swimmer to have ever crossed the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Port Angeles to Victoria without assistance of a wetsuit. Around Aug. 1, depending on the weather, she plans to be the first person to ever cross the strait twice.

She understands cold water. In fact, earlier this year she spent six hours swimming in 10C water as part of an annual swim through the Great Bear Rainforest. The truth is, it is never easy. It is just one more barrier to push past.

B次元官网网址淲hen I first enter the water, IB次元官网网址檓 like everybody else and it hurts,B次元官网网址� Simmons says. B次元官网网址淏ut I know that after 20 minutes, IB次元官网网址檒l feel warm.B次元官网网址�

Part of SimmonsB次元官网网址� strength comes from community. SheB次元官网网址檚 a beloved coach to Special Olympic athletes, who she trains after her own training is done. And she has a three-year plan to have a team swim across the English Channel.

As for other psychological factors, she knows that bumping into even a piece of seaweed in the dark is potentially terrifying. So, how about whales or jellyfish or seals and other creatures?

A Grade 3 class at Sangster Elementary School took on a research project, spending months looking into hazards.

Transient killer whales? B次元官网网址淭hey feed along the shore at dawn or dusk. I wonB次元官网网址檛 be there then.B次元官网网址�

LionB次元官网网址檚 Mane Jellyfish? B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not sitting at the surface in cold water.B次元官网网址�

And so it goes, one problem after another, until we get to two issues that are so intertwined that it would be a disservice to separate them. ItB次元官网网址檚 a combination of MS and willpower.

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About 25 years ago Simmons was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an unpredictable and disabling disease, often characterised by fatigue, motor weakness, spasticity, and poor balance.

B次元官网网址淲hen I was first diagnosed, I was told donB次元官网网址檛 exercise. I basically was sent home to die,B次元官网网址� Simmons says. B次元官网网址淛ust disappear. We donB次元官网网址檛 want to see you cry. Go be sick.B次元官网网址�

Simmons spent the first 10 years basically hiding from the disease, working at home and not exercising. She felt terrible.

Then she decided to do two things: Start swimming (cold water helps with her MS symptoms) and become a vegan.

B次元官网网址淵ou need to be physically healthy,B次元官网网址� Simmons says. B次元官网网址淵ou need to have a good diet and nutrition plan and you need to take care of your spiritual side. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not what weB次元官网网址檙e told.B次元官网网址�

Simmons started swimming, slowly building up her endurance to where she is today B次元官网网址� able to swim vast distances through cold oceans and frigid lakes, overcoming one problem after another.

B次元官网网址淭he other thing I do,B次元官网网址� Simmons says, considering her words carefully before continuing. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 important to build your, um, willpower muscle.

B次元官网网址淚 challenge myself all the time. ThereB次元官网网址檚 always something thatB次元官网网址檚 just a bit further than I might want to go and I make myself do it.B次元官网网址�

As for night-time swims? Simmons and her husband figured out that the best place to shine a light is just on her back, near her shoulder. SheB次元官网网址檚 still practising night swims, but now theyB次元官网网址檙e in the ocean, often off Oak Bay near Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 actually quite beautiful and peaceful,B次元官网网址� Simmons says. B次元官网网址淚 just follow my arms through the water.B次元官网网址�

Susan Simmons has three potential B次元官网网址榳indowsB次元官网网址� to swim from Victoria to Port Angeles and back; Aug. 1, 2; Aug. 18 ,19 and Sept. 1.

By Paul Bucci

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