7 Days | 7 Stages | 120 miles

I have decided to set a personal goal for myself for 2013 to be over 50 and attempt this dynamic test of one resilience for 7 days, swimming under 7 bridges, covering some 120 flow assisted miles through some of the most scenic countryside America has to offer. Dave Barra and a team of volunteers started this a few years ago to bring awareness to the water quality of the river among other important issues. David and I first met in the Boston Light House Marathon swim two years ago while both were training for the English Channel. 

In the intervening year I have faced some challenges to my health, receiving cardiac stints, 7 months ago. Lets consider for a moment the fact that this was a complete surprise, a marathon swimmer in great shape, able to swim in low 50's degree water for hours under punishing conditions. What I didn't appreciate was that genetically I was susceptible to arterial plaque build-up.  I have begun training (slowly) and lifting weights to re-build my conditioning and strength so as I transition to 5 day weeks of swimming my body will adjust. Because of the medications I am now on (Statins and cardiac rate limiting drugs for protective measures) I have new challenges. How to fuel myself during training and the event with healthy foods that are high energy (not just bulk glycogen carbo's) and re-teaching my muscles to acclimate to lower available oxygen from Beta Blockers that force the heart rate to stay below 120 and affect endurance.

I look to this event, which is current assisted but still no cake walk by any means, to have a goal, re-focus my training but more importantly my mental game to overcome the naturally built in 'doubts' one gets from such a surprise cardiac event. I will have many tests between now and then under the supervision of my medical team. 


From the peaceful Catskills to the dramatic Narrows, at the throat of the New York Harbor, intrepid swimmers cover 120 miles of the Hudson River's great stream. The 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim, the longest marathon swim in the world, is an epic swimming odyssey that celebrates the mighty Hudson and New York Harbor. For one week, each day's marathon swim begins with the ebb tide at one bridge and ends at the next, covering distances ranging from 13.2 miles to 19.8 miles. Swimmers can participate in one to all of the seven stages. The swim strings together the Rip Van Winkle | Kingston-Rhinecliff | Mid-Hudson | Newburgh-Beacon | Bear Mountain | Tappan Zee | George Washington | Verrazano Narrows Bridges.

June 15 to June 22, 2013.



Stage 1. Rip Van Winkle to Kingston Rhinecliff





Date: Saturday June 15, 2013
Rain Date: Sunday June 16, 2013
Splash Time: 8:20 am
Distance: 18.3 miles
Highlights: Cementon, Saugerties Lighthouse, small islands, mostly narrow, meandering, and rural.
Stage Record: 4hr:31m
Recommended Pace over 3 hours: 30 mins per mile
Water Temp.: 68 – 74˚F
Stage Map

Stage 2. Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge to Mid-Hudson Bridge





Date: Sunday June 16, 2013
Rain Date: Monday June 17, 2012
Splash Time: 8:00 am
Distance: 19.8 miles
Highlights: Roundout lighthouse, Esopus Meadows lighthouse, mostly narrow, meandering, and rural.
Stage Record: 5hr:28m
Recommended Pace over 3 hours: 28 mins per mile
Water Temp.: 68 – 74˚F
Stage Map
Stage 3. Mid-Hudson Bridge to Newburgh Beacon Bridge






Date: Monday June 17, 2013
Rain Date: Tuesday June 18, 2013
Splash Time: 8:40 am
Distance: 13.2 miles
Highlights: Cedar Cliff, Danskammer, New Hamburg, Chelsea.
Stage Record: 3hr:42m
Recommended Pace over 3 hours: 37 mins per mile
Water Temp.: 68 – 74˚F
Stage Map
Stage 4. Newburgh Beacon Bridge to Bear Mountain Bridge






Date: Tuesday June 18, 2013
Rain Date: Wednesday June 19, 2012
Splash Time: 9:00 am
Distance: 15.0 miles
Highlights: Hudson Highlands, Bannermans Castle, Break Neck, Storm King, Sugarloaf, West Point, The Devil’s Playground, Anthony’s Nose.
Stage Record: 4hr:10m
Recommended Pace over 3 hours: 30 mins per mile
Water Temp.: 68 – 74˚F
Stage Map
Stage 5. Bear Mountain Bridge to Tappan Zee Bridge






Date: Thursday June 20, 2013
Rain Date: Friday June 21, 2013
Splash Time: 8:25 am
Distance: 19.8 miles
Highlights: Indian Point, Haverstraw Bay, Hook Mt., narrow, meandering and also very open.
Stage Record: 6hr:05m
Recommended Pace over 3 hours: 27 mins per mile
Water Temp.: 68 – 73˚F
Stage Map
Stage 6. Tappan Zee Bridge to George Washington Bridge






Date: Friday June 21, 2013
Rain Date: Saturday June 22, 2013
Splash Time: 10:30 am
Distance: 15.7 miles
Highlights: Piermont Marsh, Pallisades, Yonkers, Spuyten Duyvil
Stage Record: 3hr:28m
Recommended Pace over 3 hours: 44 mins per mile
Water Temp.: 67 – 71˚F
Stage Map
Stage 7. George Washington Bridge to Verrazano Narrows Bridge








Date: Saturday June 22, 2013
Rain Date: Sunday June 23, 2013
Splash Time: 7:40 am
Distance: 18.6 miles
Highlights: Manhattan, Governor’s Island, Statue of Liberty, NY Harbor
Stage Record: 4hr:21m
Recommended Pace over 3 hours: 33 mins per mile
Water Temp.: 67 – 71˚F
Stage Map
Photos by Mario Burger