Sarah Thomas: swimming the Molokai Channel

Marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas shares the lessons she learned swimming the Molokai Channel

My Molokai (Kaiwi) Channel swim started at dusk. Making my way across the channel amidst small craft advisories, boat engine failures and rounds of vomit was no easy task. My kayaker thumped me on the head more than once as he struggled to keep control in the waves. My main focus was to stay afloat and to channel all of my predator power to deter any lurking sharks. In my mind, as I chummed the water, evil beings swam below, following a tasty, smelly trail straight to my toes.

As the night progressed, I battled increasing fatigue. With each wave of nausea, I willed the night to end. As soon as possible, thanks.

Slowly but surely, the dark sky began to lighten, gradually pushing toward a soft grey before giving into a full, bright dawn. For the first time in nearly 10 hours, I could see my boat crew and kayaker. With relief, I wished them a good morning, praying the nausea was done.

As my eyes adjusted to the new light, I looked around in awe.

Above me, birds squawked and swarmed, some swooping down to check out our tiny flotilla. Below me, thousands of fish were darting and dashing about in the clear water.

Not a single shark to be seen.

With the startling realisation that I was actually very close to finishing the swim, as the coast of Oahu loomed larger and larger, I relaxed for the first time and soaked in the beauty of the aquarium playing out below me as I glided over the top of their world. As I gently body surfed back to land, finishing the swim hours sooner than anticipated, I found myself wishing for more daylight swimming; wishing for a longer opportunity to take in the beauty of the Hawaiian waters.

I always look for lessons in every swim and this one was packed with wisdom.

How many times have I been stuck in the dark, uncomfortable and afraid of what was lurking, only to find out later that the only thing around me was beauty; I’d just been too distracted to see it?

How many times have we assumed the worst about a situation or a person, failing to look at the big picture and neglecting to open our eyes to find the beautiful goodness that existed below the obvious?

In the past few years, I feel like I have gone through so many personal hardships and health issues. People have seen me in my weakest times, when I’m tired and afraid, without fully understanding the pressure I’m feeling while I wait for blood results or battle lack of sleep or fight an illness.

We never know what is happening below the surface of someone’s life, lurking where we can’t see.

I’m grateful for the people who can look past my exhaustion and terror and still see the beauty that’s there, albeit sometimes hiding; and I’m blessed to have loved ones who give the gift of forgiveness and grace when I’m stuck swimming through the night.