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Marcia Cleveland Age 31
Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, 28.5 miles
Sunday August 13, 1995

Start: 9 am at the Battery
Swim Time: 8 hours, 3 minutes, 19 seconds

2nd place overall, 2nd women overall
Crew: Mark Green, Terry Tyner, Tim Whiteside
Boat: Risky Business
Pilot: Tom Golden
Observers: Connie & Carlos Burroneo
Camera:Tomoko Hara (for Japanese television program)
Air: 80-90 degrees; Clear, bright, sunny skies all day; windy; 3/4 moon setting
Water: 72-75 degrees; Clean, minor debris (mostly vegetation, small pieces of wood); moderate boat traffic; calm at the start. Wavy under the bridges and up to Roosevelt Island in the East River, cross waves (from The Bronx side) in the Harlem, 2-4 foot waves and swells in the Hudson.

A log of the day’s events, as recorded by Tim Whiteside:

Abbreviations: SC - Stroke Count
MC = Marcia Cleveland
#12 = Gail Rice, Miami Shores, FL
Nora = Nora Toledano, Cadena, Mexico City
#17 = Robert Valentin, Ozone Park, NY
CC = Carbo Concentrate

Race Times (lapsed time) listed in parentheses (0:00)

6:30 am Tim picks up Mark, Terry, Dora Cadena and equipment at Seaport Suites and (-2:30) drives to Pier 11 for loading.
7:00 Nora and Marcia walk over to The Battery from Seaport Suites.
(-2:00)
8:15 am Board the boat, Risky Business , at Pier 11, set up equipment, get ready for
(-0:45) feedings
9:00 am Start. Risky Business can’t see the start in order to prevent a glut of boats (0:00) there. We wait in the Pier 11 area.
I took off at the start. I wanted to establish a fast rhythm from the beginning.
9:05 am Spot Marcia in the lead, Stroke Count (SC) 80
(0:05) 9:07 am Marcia says she feels “Good”
(0:07) I felt great, very ready for this race.

9:10 am Brooklyn Bridge (0:10) #12 (Gail Rice of Miami Shores, FL) close behind. Her SC: 84-88

It was very wavy (like usual) under this bridge and all the others in the East River. I rode the chop and did not panic. Experience helped out a lot in this area, mentally and physically. I kicked a lot to get through the waves.

9:20 am #12 takes the lead with SC 88

(0:20) Nora (#15) and Robert Valentin (#17) are together, 200 yards behind, 9:21 am MC SC 80

(0:21) 9:22 am Williamsburg Bridge

(0:22) 9:26 am #12 SC 90

(0:26) 9:27 am MC SC 80, Steady and Strong

(0:27) 9:35 am Nora SC 66

(0:35) 9:40 am #12 SC 88

(0:40) 9:45 am#17 SC 82 ? (Marcy MacDonald, his observer, said later that Robert’s SC never got over 62 and dropped down to 48 at one point.

(0:45) 9:46 am #12 feed

(0:46) 9:48 am MC SC 80, at the United Nations

(0:48) #17 feed, Nora SC 72, Nora and Robert Valentin are 100 yards back, Gail is 50 to 75 yards back.

(Tim writes: BUSY JOB!)

9:52 am Roosevelt Island, (0:52)

9:58 am Choppy water, (0:58)

10:00 am MC holds her lead at the 59th Street Bridge. (1:00) Takes her first feeding of 2.5 CC, 1 protein, no Vaseline, missed the banana; stretches

Strong, alert, Feels “Good,”

Family and Friends at 60th Street Park.

I could see a lot of people waving at me. It was inspiring to know that so many people were supporting my swim. I felt great in the East River, like I was really flying

Water is smooth here

10:07 am #12 SC 90 but looks strong. (1:07) Nora is 50 yards back

10:10 am MC SC 80 (1:10) Gracie Mansion, smooth water

10:12 am Hell Gate/Checkpoint 1, (1:12) 96th Street/Mill Rock (Pier on right)

10:17 am #12 SC 94. She is gaining with the current, (1:17)

10:25 am 103rd Street Footbridge. (1:25) I sensed that the water was starting to slow down a little in here but I just kept cranking towards the Triborough Bridge.

10:26 am #12 SC 96, continues to gain (1:26) Nora SC 76, Robert Valentin is still with Nora

10:30 am #12 feeds, 25 yards back, (1:30) Nora is 50 yards back, Robert Valentin feeds for a long time

10:37 am Nora SC 80, a few strokes of backstroke, (1:37) #12 SC 100/95

10:45 am MC SC 82, (1:45) I needed fresh water (I felt really parched by the time I reached the Harlem River and barely debated at all with myself about requesting some fresh water. I received it every 15 minutes after that for the rest of the race. The beautiful sunny day took its toll on me, the Northerner, through dehydration.

10:47 am #12 SC 94

10:50 am MC SC 80 (1:50) Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics

10:53 am #12 SC 96 (1:53) Nora SC 82

10:54 am MC SC 82 (1:54) Message to Kick

10:55 am MC SC 86, Kicking (1:55)

10:59 am #12 SC 96 (1:59)

11:02 am MC Feeds 2.5 CC, Tylenol, Fig Newtons. (2:02) Asked for some fresh water with every feed

11:03 am Even with #12 as she feeds (2:03)

11:06 am Nora SC 76 (2:06)

11:12 am Approaching Triborough Bridge, begin sprinting, (2:12)

11:13 am #12 Feeding (2:13) MC ready to begin sprint, Approaching the Triborough Bridge

11:14 am MC SC 82 (2:14) MC goes to far left side of the Triborough Bridge, Check Point 2. The Harlem tide is not yet favorable. The leaders would be swimming against the current for at least on hour, i.e. to Yankee Stadium. I wish this information had been discussed in the pre-race meeting, instead of all the PR info.

I was scared to go through this area by myself. The last time Uncle Peter had walked along the shore with me. This year, my “land crew” missed the turnoff on the FDR and went on. I should have made more clear the importance of someone being at the Triborough. Having a familar face on shore at this spot really mattered to me because I was so close to land and so much on my own.

11:16 am #12 follows MC to the far left side of the Triborough. (2:16) Nora is the last one to be allowed through the left side opening before the police close it off. Someone threw 2 large glass bottles at Nora as she approached the opening. Fortunately both bottles missed her but she was definitely scared.

11:18 am MC SC 82 (2:18) Water smooth

11:23 am MC SC 82 (2:23)

11:28 am #12 SC 96 (2:28)

11:31 am MC feeds 2.5 CC, figs, water, Vaseline; stretch (2:31) Willis Avenue Bridge

11:33 am #12 Feeding (2:33)

11:35 am Third Avenue Bridge (2:35)

11:39 am MC SC 80, Start sprinting (2:39) #12 SC 96

11:45 am Madison Avenue Bridge. The Press Boat came in very close. (2:45) between MC & #12. #12 passes MC in this a flurry.

11:46 am MC SC 84 (2:46 ) I was pretty bummed to get passed but knew I had to swim at my own pace. I thought that Gail would eventually fade at that pace but she really didn’t. WOW! I am glad that she was a “clean” competitor in that she wasn’t drafting or getting in my way, nor was her boat. Terry had been telling me what her stroke count was since about half way up the East River. I got a little snippy in here after being passed and from being tired and very thirsty.

11:50 am #12 SC 96, 50 yd lead (2:50) Nora is 150 to 200 yds back

11:52 am MC receives water (2:52)

11:57 am MC SC 76 (2:57) 145th Street Bridge

11:59 am #12 feeds Long Feed (2:59)

12:03 pm 155th Street Bridge (3:03)

12:04 pm MC feeds 2.5 CC, 1 protein, water, banana. (3:04)

12:08 pm MC SC 78 (3:03) “Arm hurts

My biceps were tired, showing the effects of sprinting for 3 hours. Fortunately none of my joints hurt during or after my entire swim (except for my right hand which started to hurt during the last hour but wasn’t worth complaining about.) I attribute this surprising lack of pain to stretching at all feedings, losing all my Channel weight, and lots and lots of stroke drills, with an emphasis on finishing my stroke, during my preparation for this swim.

12:15 pm #12 SC 94, 50 yd lead (3:15) MC receives CC & water

12:18 pm Yankee Stadium (3:18) #12 SC 96, 50 yd lead

12:21 pm MC 78 (3:21)

12:25 pm MC (3:25)

12:28 pm MC (3:28)

12:30 pm MC feeds 4.5 CC, protein, water, fig newtons; stretch (3:30) This feeding was followed by a 10 minute sprint

I spotted family, friends, and my Speedo towel along the wall in the Harlem. It was nice to see them again. Val walked with me until she ran out of land which was comforting.

12:45 pm MC (3:45) MC receives water, Cross Bronx Expressway, Alexander Hamilton Bridge, Washington Bridge

12:51 pm MC SC 72 (3:51) Feeding 2.5 CC, Banana, water, Vaseline; stretch

12:56 pm #12 SC 96, 50 yd lead. (3:56) )

1:00 pm Roberto Clemente State Park. (4:00) Traditionally, this is the half way point, time-wise. I thought about that here

1:06 pm MC SC 76

1:23 pm #12 SC 90, 50 yd lead. (4:23) I could feel swells from the Hudson by the Columbia C even though I was hoping that the Hudson would be calm so I could catch #12. No such luck. The Columbia C is traditionally half way, distance-wise. As we passed the Columbia Boathouse, I could see family and friends on the shore.

1:32 pm #12 feeds, (4:32) Under Henry Hudson Bridge in Harlem, Nora is close to shore and gaining. [Official Observer’s log indicates that Checkpoint 3, Spuyten Duyvil was reached at this point]

1:40 pm MC SC 76 (4:40) MC receives water.

Passing under Henry Hudson Bridge, the Railroad Bridge, and through Spuyten Duyvil.

I never seem to get over the cool feeling of swimming under the bridges around Manhattan. All of a sudden, the water goes dark and sometimes it gets choppy. To think of how many people go over these bridges on a daily basis and the fact that I’m swimming under them today always boggles my mind. Having seen the bridges from this unique perspective is like having a special secret with the city.

This time I cut it very close into the shore at Spuyten Duyvil under the Railroad Bridge, as did Nora. The boat went through the bridge opening about 100 yards north (#12’s swimming route.) The last time I did this swim, in 1991, I was scared to swim by myself through Spuyten Duyvil but this time I was ok. A one-foot styrofoam block accompanied me under the bridge, acting as my escort.

2:00 pm MC SC 78 (5:00) MC feeds 4.5 CC, protein, water, banana; stretch and a couple of strokes of backstroke (enabling me to finish the solids in my mouth).

At the Cloisters

This time the distance going from Spuyten Duyvil to the GWB wasn’t boring at all: I was too preoccupied with the rough water to think about being bored.

Terry and Tim did a funny skit with their hats at one point which broke me up.

2:03 pm (5:03) Start sprint (15 minutes) It was very difficult to get into any sort of rhythm in the Hudson with all the waves. I fought it almost the whole way, never really finding an even pace. It was up and down and unpredictable.

2:06 pm MC (5:06) Inspiration Point

2:16 pm MC SC 76 (5:16) MC receives water. Stop sprint 2 minutes early

In this area, we passed the exact same red gigantic, Blue Circle Cement barge that I had passed under the GWB in 1991. What a coincidence! Last time I was really scared but this time it didn’t even phase me. This ship looked like a toy compared to some of the gigantic ones that went by in the English Channel

2:21 pm MC SC 74 (5:21) GWB [Official Observer’s log indicates that GWB was reached at 5:25 swim time.]

2:32 pm MC feeds 2.5 CC, protein, water, fig newtons, vaseline; (5:32) stretch and a couple of back strokes.

2:55 pm MC 70

3:00 pm MC feeds 2 CC, Banana, water, vaseline; (6:00) Riverbank State Park/Sewage Treatment Plant.

3:02 pm #12 feeds, 150 yd lead. (6:02) Nora is 100 yds back, closer to Manhattan shoreline

3:07 pm MC SC 72 (6:07)

3:15 pm MC SC 78 (6:15) Water Break. Grant’s Tomb, Columbia University

I announced to my crew, “First pee of the day.” Doing this while swimming is a very learned skill. The fact that this happened here, over 6 hours into the swim clearly illustrates my dehydration

The water is rough in this area: lots of waves and there is a lot of debris in this part of the Hudson. “I feel fine.” Then I was stung by a jellyfish on the inside of my right bicep. This thing had to work to get me. It hurt somewhat (not like the others earlier in the summer!) but I was irritable anyway because the swim was getting L-O-N-G by this point. Fortunately, I kept my mouth shut and internalized the pain. It went away in about an hour.

Mark and Tim did a good job sighting debris in the Hudson

3:33 pm MC 74 (6:33) MC feeds 2 CC, protein, water, fig newtons, vaseline; stretch and a couple of strokes of backstrokes. “(Lower) Back hurts

3:37 pm 79th Boat Basin, Check Point 4 (6:37)

3:40 pm“Our old apartment” at 73rd Street (6:40)

3:50 pm 57th Street (6:50) Start sprint for 10 minutes

My goggles were too tight for the entire race, something I noticed about 4 hours into the race but I didn’t want to take the time to change them and never let the boat know this fact until afterwards. Before the start, like a dummy, I had watched Nora tighten her goggles and forgot that my were all set. Monkey see, monkey do. During the race, I made quick adjustments four or five times which is four or five times more that I’ve ever touched my goggles in any race. By the end of the race, I had a throbbing headache. Oh well! Lesson learned.

3:58 pm Passing by the Intrepid, at 46th Street. (6:58) I was waiting for the water quality to deteroriate but it never did. What a difference four years has made.

4:00 pm MC SC 76 (7:00) MC feeds 2 CC, Banana, water, vaseline; Stretch

Lincoln Tunnel Vents, I knew it would be about an hour from here. I had asked the time a couple of times and was calculating that if I really hustled and the currents cooperated, I could finish in just under 8 hours.

4:15 pm MC water break (7:15) We are about 500 yards behind #12 but gaining. Her stroke count has dropped to the 74/76 range. (It took her long enough to slow down!!

4:23 pm MC SC 76 (7:23) Water is calm and smooth .

4:25 MC SC 76

4:30 SC 74 (7:30) feeding, Will sprint to try to gain on leader #12.

4:33 SC 76, (7:33) kick! Holland Tunnel Vents

4:43 MC SC 74 (7:43) gaining, “Hi!” from Paul Fortoul in Battery Park City at WTC wall (1st corner of wall).

4:45 pm Water break (7:45) Passing WTC

4:47 pm, MC SC 74 (7:47) “Second pee of the day!”

As I rounded the firehouse to the finish, I felt steady but not bursting with energy like I had felt 4 years ago. This had been a harder swim this year and I went out faster. The boat was with me the entire way which is always comforting.

4:46 pm Terry wrote on the greaseboard, “Gail is on the ladder#148. This really confused me because I thought he meant my sister, Gail, who was going to try to make it to the finish with her two young sons, Mark, age 3 and Brian, age 1. I briefly scanned the wall for my sister and the scene I envisioned: her atop some step ladder struggling to hold onto Brian with Mark a few rungs down. The fact that Terry meant Gail Rice never crossed my mind.

4:58 pm Finish! (7:56) Second overall, second female, second in group.

Time 7:56:34, according to Tim
watch -- Actual time: 8:03:19

It was a real pleasure to climb up the ladder again after completing my second solo lap around Manhattan. I felt I had swum a good, solid race but I know there is room for improvement.

Feedings:

Stretching:

Pace:

Training

Sprints

Notes from my logbook

This was a really tough swim today. Constant waves, even in the Harlem. My crew, Mark, Terry, and Tim Whiteside were terrific and attentive. Consequentially, I was very well-behaved and talked only a minimum. I went out really fast in the East River, getting to 60th++ Street before the end of the first hour (in ‘91, I got to 42nd Street in 1 hour.) Fed after 1 hour them every 30 minutes: CC/protein/fig newtons or bananas/ water/ Vaseline. Needed water every 15 minutes after Triborough because I was parched and the day was hot and sunny. Glad I went out like I did (SC 80+ for the first 2+ hours) because I took a real chance and got myself into excellent position/command of the race. Led through ~1/3 of the Harlem then Gail Rice, who had been on my heels constantly (not drafting), went by me with her 96 SC and hourly feeds (WOW!) Realized after trying to stay with her for awhile that I would be in trouble if I kept up an 82/84 SC so I swam my own pace and hoped she’d die eventually which she didn’t --AMAZING!

Found out later that the tide was against us in the Harlem until Clemente. Mark said that I was on 7:10 pace if the start had been 1 hour later, to take advantage of better tides for the lead swimmers.

Never really got bored but it did get LONG in the Hudson, especially after the GWB.

The Harlem was really rough -- cross waves! The start was moderately rough, especially through the first 3 bridges but after them, it never really calmed down until Roosevelt Island. I felt super terrific for the first 2++ hours, until just before I was passed (around 135th Street) then pretty bad for the next hour or so then ok after that. Went through lots of mental ups and downs in the Hudson. 7-8 hours is a LONG time to be doing something, no less swimming in rough water.

The Hudson was constantly wavy but at least it was a southern wind, aiding us down river versus a head wind.

Before the race, I tightened my goggles which proved unnecessary and gave me a pounding headache for the last 3 hours. Had to pull my gogs from my face several times to relieve the pressure. Didn’t even do that in the English Channel! My experience in the Channel definitely paid off today with going out hard and riding the waves. Also, “CADA BRAZADA” when it got long and dull in the Hudson. Only asked one time, “How much longer?” somewhere along midtown in the Hudson.

All the men who I thought would be competitive were no where to be found. Top 4 finishers were women!
1 Gail Rice, 39F Miami 8:01
2 MC, 31F Riverside 8:03
3 Nora, 26F Mexico 8:05
4 Julie Burnett, 29F, MA 8:19

The race was extremely well run. Morty Berger has done a great job with making this into a top caliber, professionally done event.

Lots and lots of PR. Would suggest more briefing about the course during the swimmers’ meeting. Didn’t have any word about what the tides are doing on race day.

Mark wants to rethink the feeding apparatus. He had to untangle strings after every single one, a big pain in the neck. Also - foods for feeding? I went through all but about 2 scoops of the large CC container. What was Miami doing/feeding on every hour in the blazing hot sun? Felt a little queazy after the race and drank lots of water and an entire bag of rice cakes later (~7:45pm), (on top of all the water I’d swallowed) The water seemed to have been absorbed. I was completely parched for the next 16 hours after the race, had to drink often during the night and all the next morning. Only slept 5 hours - overtired. Bad sunburn on my back despite level 30 suntan lotion. ***Next time: 2 coats to soak in, not 1 coat rubbed in.

Left elbow didn’t hurt at all during the race. Right hand started to hurt during the last hour (not worth complaining about.) Left shoulder began to hurt afterwards but ok within 24 hours. All in all, I consider my recovery miraculous and a testament to the type of excellent shape I’m in. (I was tired for the next 3 weeks of so.)

Received a “once over” massage after the race. Nothing really hurt much. Just lots of muscle fatigue. My arms were tired from 2 hours on but it was worth it. “Vale la pena.”

Had to remind myself that “Yes, this is hard work.” It really was much harder than in ‘91 due to all the waves, especially in the Hudson.

Tom Golden and Risky Business were terrific.

My 2 observers found me after the race and told me how impressed they were. I apologized for having been pretty cranky at times. Japanese TV seemed to have a good day.

I was glad to have kept my feedings very short: chug chug bite chew stretch swallow backstroke swallow go.

Very little conversation - all on the grease board. Didn’t feel the need to tell my lifestory to my crew or every little detail of thoughts. Maybe I’m maturing.

Attempted sprints in the Harlem when the race wasn’t going in my favor: Gail Rice was gaining on me, not vice versa. It was really tough then and I was tiried. 10 minute sprints were enough. Crew made me kick lots.

There was definitely a sense of urgency this year by both me and my crew. Cut the tangents well, at Triborough and Spuyten Duyvil. Picked up 50+ yards at SD. Should have angled out more slowly into the middle of the Hudson since the faster current was on the shore today. Nora gained a lot of ground on me then. That’s the beauty and challenge of this race!

Ground crew:

At the finish:

This was a really hard race today. I feel I did very well and earned this one, cada brazada.

Won a year’s membership to NY Health & Racquet Club as the first local finisher. Felt like I was the President or something with all the press photographers after the race.

The ladder up sloped inward - UGH!

Wore: Sunscreen all over, Vaseline (armpits, between legs, around straps)
**Next time: sunscreen on early then just before the race (2 coats.)

Terry and Tim played with their hats, looking like Tweedledee and Tweedledum in the Hudson. Really funny.

Tried to keep my stroke long and fast. It was hard to do in the Hudson because of all the waves. Rode them a lot.

©Copyright 1999-2008, Marcia Cleveland

All Rights Reserved