Just Keep Swimming
“Just keep swimming.”
Anyone of a certain age would attribute this saying to a spirited Blue Tang that swam onto movie screens in 2003. Or if you’re like me, you also associate it with seven years of swim team and countless laps in the chlorinated pool every fall.
But just for a moment, take away the stinging scent of chlorine in your nose and the vibrant blues of Pixar’s underwater haven and replace it with the vast, unpredictable open waters.
That’s where Melodee Liegl thrives.
Since her first mile-long swim on Lake Amy Bell in 1996, Melodee has taken to the water like—well, a fish. Competing in marathon swims such as the Big Shoulders, SCAR Swim Arizona, and END-WET; the latter being the longest swim in North America, Melodee has traveled far and wide to swim in some of the country’s most demanding races. However, it’s the swims she accomplishes on her own timeframe, often in the self-proclaimed “lake country” of Wisconsin that mean the most to her.
So why Petenwell? It turns out, nobody from the Marathon Swim Federation (MSF) has touched the second-biggest lake in Wisconsin until Melodee completed the “pioneer swim” of it this June.
In true Wisconsin fashion, the weather forecast caused a bit of concern when it came to the water temperature, not to mention the weather itself. Thankfully, a series of steamy, hot days warmed the lake to a perfect temperature and the lack of wind resulted in a smooth, glassy surface to swim in. All in all, you couldn’t ask for better weather.
As the clock struck 6:00 AM at the Jim Freeman boat landing, it was finally time to hit the water. Donning her sky-blue cap, colorful Uglies suit, and a big grin at the camera, she dove in and set off on her swim.
The work had begun.
Don’t be fooled though; Melodee may be the one doing all of the work in the water, but she needs her “boat crew” in order to make each marathon swim a success. For her Petenwell swim, that job fell on the dynamic duo of Melissa Bansemar and Todd Forcier. Todd, a seasoned fishing guide who knows Petenwell like the back of his hand, captained the crew across the lake whereas Melissa had the ultimate multi-tasking job; recording the air/water temperatures, wind speed/direction, longitude/latitude lines, and progress every 30 minutes for the official documentation through the MSF.
20.3 miles and just under 10 hours later, Melodee arrived back on the shores of Strongs Prairie to a crowd of cheers, flowers, and the promise of a well-deserved victory meal and drink at Lake Sherwood Lodge.
And where to next? As many students head back to school in September, Melodee sets her sights on the Evergreen State and the Mount St Helens Classic, a four-lakes-in-four-days challenge equaling 37 miles in totality.
To those who are feeling ambitious, Melodee’s advice is simple: start small, finish strong, and learn from each swim you complete. No two swims will ever be alike, even if the conditions are picture perfect.
For all of the land-lovers who prefer to keep their limbs ashore, you too can learn from Melodee. After all, in a world where we’re trying to find the balance between sinking and floating, perhaps it’s best to just take it day by day, stroke by stroke.
So just keep swimming.
Written by Jillian Alekna
