Pearl Harbor Day, a day of 5's (& story Colin McDonough)

Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941, a day to remember the bombing of the Hawaiian harbor, the loss of life and the launch of America into World War II. A day so many Americans from that era, can remember exactly where they were when they heard the horrific news.

Today I honor those lives loss, and the celebration of my friend, Debra Tranberg, who is 55 today, such a fun #.

Fun with Fives

Fulcrum: 550 (modified catch-up)

Swim: 20 x 50 (:45) 

Buoy: 550 ( ***alternate breathing pattern per 50, 3.4.5.6.7.8.7.6....)

Swim 15 x 50 (:45)

Tube: 550 ***

Swim: 20 x 50 (:45)

Big Paddle: 550 (catch up drill every 5th length)

Fun w/ Fins: 55 x 25 IM order (4 swim / 4 kick...)

Easy 75

= 6500

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

BY COLIN MCDONOUGH

Marcella MacDonald’s wish for her 47^th birthday was simple:

 “My birthday wish is that I could just get into the pool,” MacDonald said.

“If I could just swim for 45 seconds.”

After injuring herself riding a bike in Hawaii in September, MacDonald has been unable

to swim and has resorted to lifting weights.

“My foot slipped and my shin got ripped open by the pedal,” MacDonald said.

To pass time, she’s been going back to her roots, and watching television classics such as “Mr. Ed.” Those roots are in Connecticut. MacDonald grew up in

Manchester, Conn. and swam in high school on a recreation club team.

“I was a decent swimmer but I didn’t have that X factor that I wanted to go out and kill somebody in the 50 meters,” MacDonald said. “My coach recognized that I was a pretty good long distance swimmer and I didn’t mind it.”

She played softball in college at American International but would sneak into the Springfield College pool to swim. After college, MacDonald’s hobby of swimming became a passion and she began to swim competitively again.

In 1994 MacDonald swam 28.5 miles around Manhattan, but she admits, that the water was dirty and she could barely see her hand in it. In 1994 she became the first Connecticut woman to swim the English Channel. It earned her a story in the Hartford Courant and a spot in Sport Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd.” Frieda Streeter, a mentor to MacDonald, encouraged her to try to swim to France and back.

“I had no idea what a double was,” MacDonald said. “She said no American woman had done it yet. She planted a seed in my brain and it became a very strong passion for seven years before I completed it.”

In 2000, MacDonald had seven hours to go, but failed to complete it. She touched the boat, which means the attempt to swim the channel is over, but was determined to do it the next year. In 2001, MacDonald completed the double in 21 hours and 19 minutes.

“I was just really glad it was over with,” MacDonald said. “I was freezing.”

She said she tries not to think about time and distance anymore, and counts her strokes to complete long swims.

“Nobody says anything about time or distance,” MacDonald said. “I’m just a fish in the water.”

While on English Channel swims MacDonald’s crew follows her, but MacDonald is not allowed to touch the boat or the swim is over.

“They’re in charge of keeping me alive and guiding me,” MacDonald said.

“I’m just the swimmer.”

Although MacDonald was injured riding a bike, she said she tries not to think of the sea creatures that can harm her in open water.

“I’m a big fish, so it’s got to be a bigger fish to hurt me,” MacDonald said. “Anytime you’re in warm water you have to worry about sharks. I do better in cold water.”

Swimming is her life’s passion, but her career is being a private Podiatrist in Manchester where she was raised. The foot doctor said her schedule allows her to train everyday and go to England to swim.

“I’m a podiatrist,” MacDonald said. “Without that I couldn’t do the things

I enjoy. I’m a sole practitioner so I can plan on taking time off.”

“I look back now and I should’ve done the triple that day,” MacDonald said. “That was the day to do it.”

Although MacDonald’s goal is to complete a triple eventually, she will also try to set the American record for crossings of the English Channel.

She already set the American women’s record with ten crossings and is five crosses away from breaking Peter Jarzynski’s record of 14.

That is her goal, but first she needs to get back into the swimming pool first.