Facing fears in the open water | Bob Fernald | TEDxPiscataquaRiver

so it’s 1:30 in the morning and I’m in

so it’s 1:30 in the morning and I’m in the Pacific Ocean

the Pacific Ocean

the Pacific Ocean under a cloud filled sky attempting to

under a cloud filled sky attempting to

under a cloud filled sky attempting to complete the third leg of the Triple

complete the third leg of the Triple

complete the third leg of the Triple Crown of open water swimming the

Crown of open water swimming the

Crown of open water swimming the Catalina channel I stopped at a regular

Catalina channel I stopped at a regular

Catalina channel I stopped at a regular interval to refuel and suddenly things

interval to refuel and suddenly things

interval to refuel and suddenly things aren’t going so well so the real

aren’t going so well so the real

aren’t going so well so the real question is to start is how did I get

question is to start is how did I get

question is to start is how did I get here and I learned to do what I did

here and I learned to do what I did

here and I learned to do what I did through a series of steps that I wanted

through a series of steps that I wanted

through a series of steps that I wanted to share with you that maybe you could

to share with you that maybe you could

to share with you that maybe you could use if you’re trying to pursue something

use if you’re trying to pursue something

use if you’re trying to pursue something or overcome adversity initially it

or overcome adversity initially it

or overcome adversity initially it started with zero interest on my part I

started with zero interest on my part I

started with zero interest on my part I took three lessons as a three swim

took three lessons as a three swim

took three lessons as a three swim lessons as a kid so my parents will let

lessons as a kid so my parents will let

lessons as a kid so my parents will let me work on a lobster boat no swim team

me work on a lobster boat no swim team

me work on a lobster boat no swim team for me as a child

for me as a child

for me as a child twenty-one years later I entered a pool

twenty-one years later I entered a pool

twenty-one years later I entered a pool to try lap swimming so I could compete

to try lap swimming so I could compete

to try lap swimming so I could compete in a triathlon and like most triathletes

in a triathlon and like most triathletes

in a triathlon and like most triathletes I hated the swim I did I did go on and

I hated the swim I did I did go on and

I hated the swim I did I did go on and complete three or so Half Ironman

complete three or so Half Ironman

complete three or so Half Ironman distance triathlons and a few open water

distance triathlons and a few open water

distance triathlons and a few open water swims but I gave it up because I was

swims but I gave it up because I was

swims but I gave it up because I was never comfortable in the pool let alone

never comfortable in the pool let alone

never comfortable in the pool let alone the open water and I lost interest in it

the open water and I lost interest in it

the open water and I lost interest in it and after a four-year hiatus I tried

and after a four-year hiatus I tried

and after a four-year hiatus I tried swimming one winter again and it came

swimming one winter again and it came

swimming one winter again and it came with incredible ease it was effortless

with incredible ease it was effortless

with incredible ease it was effortless all of a sudden I could feel everything

all of a sudden I could feel everything

all of a sudden I could feel everything no work whatsoever and this is what I

no work whatsoever and this is what I

no work whatsoever and this is what I call the awareness phase it was because

call the awareness phase it was because

call the awareness phase it was because I had been practicing Pilates for a

I had been practicing Pilates for a

I had been practicing Pilates for a number of years and Pilates taught me

number of years and Pilates taught me

number of years and Pilates taught me the awareness of and the ability to

the awareness of and the ability to

the awareness of and the ability to control my core and postural muscles and

control my core and postural muscles and

control my core and postural muscles and that translated very well into my

that translated very well into my

that translated very well into my swimming posture from here

swimming posture from here

swimming posture from here I needed a goal I had to test myself so

I needed a goal I had to test myself so

I needed a goal I had to test myself so I set my sights on the Mount Everest of

I set my sights on the Mount Everest of

I set my sights on the Mount Everest of open water swims the English Channel a

open water swims the English Channel a

open water swims the English Channel a 21 mile swim but I realized that I still

21 mile swim but I realized that I still

21 mile swim but I realized that I still needed a lot to learn and I rapidly went

needed a lot to learn and I rapidly went

needed a lot to learn and I rapidly went into skill acquisition mode I sought

into skill acquisition mode I sought

into skill acquisition mode I sought advice from many mentors around the

advice from many mentors around the

advice from many mentors around the globe I wanted to understand tidal flows

globe I wanted to understand tidal flows

globe I wanted to understand tidal flows and swell and currents and how they

and swell and currents and how they

and swell and currents and how they influenced each other I needed to

influenced each other I needed to

influenced each other I needed to understand how the weather impacted open

understand how the weather impacted open

understand how the weather impacted open bodies of water and how wind direction

bodies of water and how wind direction

bodies of water and how wind direction in winds

in winds

in winds be interacted with the swell and the

be interacted with the swell and the

be interacted with the swell and the title flow in my direction of swimming

title flow in my direction of swimming

title flow in my direction of swimming at any given time at any given possible

at any given time at any given possible

at any given time at any given possible combination of conditions I also wanted

combination of conditions I also wanted

combination of conditions I also wanted to understand about marine biology yeah

to understand about marine biology yeah

to understand about marine biology yeah I wanted to understand who’s house I was

I wanted to understand who’s house I was

I wanted to understand who’s house I was actually swimming in and I needed a

actually swimming in and I needed a

actually swimming in and I needed a really good strategy on how to quiet the

really good strategy on how to quiet the

really good strategy on how to quiet the fear of swimming in the dark I had to be

fear of swimming in the dark I had to be

fear of swimming in the dark I had to be able to endure 12 plus hours of swimming

able to endure 12 plus hours of swimming

able to endure 12 plus hours of swimming in 60 to 65 degree water without a

in 60 to 65 degree water without a

in 60 to 65 degree water without a wetsuit and this was relatively easy a

wetsuit and this was relatively easy a

wetsuit and this was relatively easy a little combination of acclimatized

little combination of acclimatized

little combination of acclimatized swimming and a steady diet of Reese’s

swimming and a steady diet of Reese’s

swimming and a steady diet of Reese’s peanut butter cups and Boston lager I

peanut butter cups and Boston lager I

peanut butter cups and Boston lager I was able to put on a few pounds to help

was able to put on a few pounds to help

was able to put on a few pounds to help out with that I also needed a team a

out with that I also needed a team a

out with that I also needed a team a team I could trust and put my faith in

team I could trust and put my faith in

team I could trust and put my faith in in this sport your team are your eyes

in this sport your team are your eyes

in this sport your team are your eyes your ears your brain your source of

your ears your brain your source of

your ears your brain your source of motivation your source of fuel they are

motivation your source of fuel they are

motivation your source of fuel they are your everything in the sport there’s no

your everything in the sport there’s no

your everything in the sport there’s no I in solo open water swimming so I set a

I in solo open water swimming so I set a

I in solo open water swimming so I set a date with the English Channel in July of

date with the English Channel in July of

date with the English Channel in July of 2014 and training was going really good

2014 and training was going really good

2014 and training was going really good until about 13 weeks prior to my swim

until about 13 weeks prior to my swim

until about 13 weeks prior to my swim where I fell off my roof and severely

where I fell off my roof and severely

where I fell off my roof and severely fractured my foot five screws in five

fractured my foot five screws in five

fractured my foot five screws in five weeks later the doctors told me that I

weeks later the doctors told me that I

weeks later the doctors told me that I could run returned to swimming but I

could run returned to swimming but I

could run returned to swimming but I wasn’t allowed to bear any weight on my

wasn’t allowed to bear any weight on my

wasn’t allowed to bear any weight on my foot as that part of physical therapy

foot as that part of physical therapy

foot as that part of physical therapy wasn’t scheduled too much after my

wasn’t scheduled too much after my

wasn’t scheduled too much after my English Channel swim so I was committed

English Channel swim so I was committed

English Channel swim so I was committed I believed I could do it I did and so

I believed I could do it I did and so

I believed I could do it I did and so with just a little over seven weeks to

with just a little over seven weeks to

with just a little over seven weeks to go with the help of my family my friends

go with the help of my family my friends

go with the help of my family my friends and my team and even strangers who came

and my team and even strangers who came

and my team and even strangers who came to my aid on the beach I went back to

to my aid on the beach I went back to

to my aid on the beach I went back to finish my training crawling in and out

finish my training crawling in and out

finish my training crawling in and out of the water to give myself a chance

of the water to give myself a chance

of the water to give myself a chance so finally over in the UK I entered the

so finally over in the UK I entered the

so finally over in the UK I entered the channel and as soon as I get away from

channel and as soon as I get away from

channel and as soon as I get away from the wind shadow of England the winds

the wind shadow of England the winds

the wind shadow of England the winds kick up 15 20 mile an hour winds

kick up 15 20 mile an hour winds

kick up 15 20 mile an hour winds eight foot seas for the rest of the day

eight foot seas for the rest of the day

eight foot seas for the rest of the day but I knew I could do it despite the

but I knew I could do it despite the

but I knew I could do it despite the foot despite the conditions and now

foot despite the conditions and now

foot despite the conditions and now for ten hours and 50 minutes I crawled

for ten hours and 50 minutes I crawled

for ten hours and 50 minutes I crawled onto the rocky shore of France

onto the rocky shore of France

onto the rocky shore of France completing the English Channel now

thanks now this is gonna sound really

thanks now this is gonna sound really crazy but I thought it was a fluke all

crazy but I thought it was a fluke all

crazy but I thought it was a fluke all the drama the screws the crawling so to

the drama the screws the crawling so to

the drama the screws the crawling so to prove to myself that I wasn’t a one-hit

prove to myself that I wasn’t a one-hit

prove to myself that I wasn’t a one-hit wonder I set a new goal and that was to

wonder I set a new goal and that was to

wonder I set a new goal and that was to complete the Triple Crown of open water

complete the Triple Crown of open water

complete the Triple Crown of open water swimming by adding the 28 and a half

swimming by adding the 28 and a half

swimming by adding the 28 and a half mile swim around Manhattan Island and a

mile swim around Manhattan Island and a

mile swim around Manhattan Island and a twenty point two mile swim from Catalina

twenty point two mile swim from Catalina

twenty point two mile swim from Catalina Island to the Southern California coast

Island to the Southern California coast

Island to the Southern California coast so it’s June of 2015 now and I enter the

so it’s June of 2015 now and I enter the

so it’s June of 2015 now and I enter the East River this is a current assisted

East River this is a current assisted

East River this is a current assisted swim the entire way influenced by tidal

swim the entire way influenced by tidal

swim the entire way influenced by tidal flows at different points and strong

flows at different points and strong

flows at different points and strong river flows but timing is everything

river flows but timing is everything

river flows but timing is everything on this swim I entered the so the swim

on this swim I entered the so the swim

on this swim I entered the so the swim takes you on the East River up the

takes you on the East River up the

takes you on the East River up the Harlem River and then down the Hudson

Harlem River and then down the Hudson

Harlem River and then down the Hudson around Battery Park and back up halfway

around Battery Park and back up halfway

around Battery Park and back up halfway up the East River to finish my swim was

up the East River to finish my swim was

up the East River to finish my swim was quick and I ended up having to stop in

quick and I ended up having to stop in

quick and I ended up having to stop in Brooklyn for 15 minutes just to wait for

Brooklyn for 15 minutes just to wait for

Brooklyn for 15 minutes just to wait for the East River current to change so I

the East River current to change so I

the East River current to change so I could go back into the flow to have a

could go back into the flow to have a

could go back into the flow to have a shot at finishing so after 21 miles I

shot at finishing so after 21 miles I

shot at finishing so after 21 miles I had to stop my muscles started the

had to stop my muscles started the

had to stop my muscles started the seizing up process they thought they

seizing up process they thought they

seizing up process they thought they were done for the day my body

were done for the day my body

were done for the day my body temperature slowly starts to drop

temperature slowly starts to drop

temperature slowly starts to drop because I’m not generating heat anymore

because I’m not generating heat anymore

because I’m not generating heat anymore but I knew that once I started to swim

but I knew that once I started to swim

but I knew that once I started to swim again all of my preparations would come

again all of my preparations would come

again all of my preparations would come out just as I had planned and I

out just as I had planned and I

out just as I had planned and I ultimately finished the lap in seven

ultimately finished the lap in seven

ultimately finished the lap in seven hours and 15 minutes so now it’s August

hours and 15 minutes so now it’s August

hours and 15 minutes so now it’s August of 2016 it’s 1:30 in the morning under a

of 2016 it’s 1:30 in the morning under a

of 2016 it’s 1:30 in the morning under a cloud filled sky and I’m in the Catalina

cloud filled sky and I’m in the Catalina

cloud filled sky and I’m in the Catalina channel and suddenly things aren’t going

channel and suddenly things aren’t going

channel and suddenly things aren’t going so well

so well

so well I stopped to fuel at a regular interval

I stopped to fuel at a regular interval

I stopped to fuel at a regular interval and my support kayak has become disabled

and my support kayak has become disabled

and my support kayak has become disabled and needs to be repaired on the power

and needs to be repaired on the power

and needs to be repaired on the power safety boat that I had hired for my trip

safety boat that I had hired for my trip

safety boat that I had hired for my trip so thanks to Steven Spielberg

so thanks to Steven Spielberg

so thanks to Steven Spielberg and the Discovery Channel my biggest

and the Discovery Channel my biggest

and the Discovery Channel my biggest fears ram into my head like the Triple

fears ram into my head like the Triple

fears ram into my head like the Triple Crown of all fears great white sharks in

Crown of all fears great white sharks in

Crown of all fears great white sharks in their house in the middle of the night

their house in the middle of the night

their house in the middle of the night so I had a choice to make I could wait

so I had a choice to make I could wait

so I had a choice to make I could wait for the repair or I could swim on I

for the repair or I could swim on I

for the repair or I could swim on I could choose to be a sitting duck or I

could choose to be a sitting duck or I

could choose to be a sitting duck or I could choose to be a moving duck so I

could choose to be a moving duck so I

could choose to be a moving duck so I chose to quiet that fear and to swim on

chose to quiet that fear and to swim on

chose to quiet that fear and to swim on alone until the boats caught up with me

alone until the boats caught up with me

alone until the boats caught up with me so finally approaching the finish the

so finally approaching the finish the

so finally approaching the finish the waves thrashed me on shore at my landing

waves thrashed me on shore at my landing

waves thrashed me on shore at my landing spot and finally standing up after 9

spot and finally standing up after 9

spot and finally standing up after 9 hours and 12 minutes I look at myself

hours and 12 minutes I look at myself

hours and 12 minutes I look at myself and I have now have a open wound on my

and I have now have a open wound on my

and I have now have a open wound on my elbow and cuts across my ribcage so my

elbow and cuts across my ribcage so my

elbow and cuts across my ribcage so my fear quieting training did not envision

fear quieting training did not envision

fear quieting training did not envision chumming the waters at all and I had a

chumming the waters at all and I had a

chumming the waters at all and I had a short swim back to the safety boat but I

short swim back to the safety boat but I

short swim back to the safety boat but I chose again to quiet the fear and to be

chose again to quiet the fear and to be

chose again to quiet the fear and to be a moving duck of a quiet efficient

a moving duck of a quiet efficient

a moving duck of a quiet efficient moving duck and after a short swim I

moving duck and after a short swim I

moving duck and after a short swim I touched this found the security of that

touched this found the security of that

touched this found the security of that ladder and climbed back on board safe a

ladder and climbed back on board safe a

ladder and climbed back on board safe a little scraped up but no rest for the

little scraped up but no rest for the

little scraped up but no rest for the weary a few months later the

weary a few months later the

weary a few months later the international swim community informed me

international swim community informed me

international swim community informed me that I was the first person from the

that I was the first person from the

that I was the first person from the state of New Hampshire to complete the

state of New Hampshire to complete the

state of New Hampshire to complete the Triple Crown and that

and that my debut swim times put me as

and that my debut swim times put me as 10th fastest in the history of the

10th fastest in the history of the

10th fastest in the history of the triple crown hang on hang on that didn’t

triple crown hang on hang on that didn’t

triple crown hang on hang on that didn’t last very long just fast forward a year

last very long just fast forward a year

last very long just fast forward a year and I’ve already been eclipsed off that

and I’ve already been eclipsed off that

and I’ve already been eclipsed off that list no problem but my story isn’t about

list no problem but my story isn’t about

list no problem but my story isn’t about the lists my story is about what I

the lists my story is about what I

the lists my story is about what I learned so what is it that you fear or

learned so what is it that you fear or

learned so what is it that you fear or that’s keeping what’s keeping you from

that’s keeping what’s keeping you from

that’s keeping what’s keeping you from holding holding you back from doing

holding holding you back from doing

holding holding you back from doing something maybe it’s changing careers

something maybe it’s changing careers

something maybe it’s changing careers moving across the country starting a

moving across the country starting a

moving across the country starting a family or maybe signing up for your

family or maybe signing up for your

family or maybe signing up for your first marathon maybe you could try what

first marathon maybe you could try what

first marathon maybe you could try what I did start with your strengths if you

I did start with your strengths if you

I did start with your strengths if you think about it we all have strengths

think about it we all have strengths

think about it we all have strengths right one at least one you have a

right one at least one you have a

right one at least one you have a strength because you overcame something

strength because you overcame something

strength because you overcame something to get that string so when it comes to

to get that string so when it comes to

to get that string so when it comes to adversity you’ve already been down that

adversity you’ve already been down that

adversity you’ve already been down that path of having to push yourself and

path of having to push yourself and

path of having to push yourself and overcome so believe in that and set

overcome so believe in that and set

overcome so believe in that and set goals to test yourself as lofty as you

goals to test yourself as lofty as you

goals to test yourself as lofty as you want goals that build off of one another

want goals that build off of one another

want goals that build off of one another deliver a stronger belief in that

deliver a stronger belief in that

deliver a stronger belief in that strength you have and that will give you

strength you have and that will give you

strength you have and that will give you the courage to try to push yourself a

the courage to try to push yourself a

the courage to try to push yourself a little bit further the next time

little bit further the next time

little bit further the next time anticipate obstacles as much as you can

anticipate obstacles as much as you can

anticipate obstacles as much as you can what challenges will you be faced on

what challenges will you be faced on

what challenges will you be faced on your journey and prepare for them

your journey and prepare for them

your journey and prepare for them because it’s the preparation that will

because it’s the preparation that will

because it’s the preparation that will minimize adversity on your journey and

minimize adversity on your journey and

minimize adversity on your journey and lastly I’ll leave you with a couple of

lastly I’ll leave you with a couple of

lastly I’ll leave you with a couple of things believed to succeed believe in

things believed to succeed believe in

things believed to succeed believe in yourself believe in your preparations

yourself believe in your preparations

yourself believe in your preparations and believe that other people around you

and believe that other people around you

and believe that other people around you believe in you and that you might be the

believe in you and that you might be the

believe in you and that you might be the last person to believe in you and lastly

last person to believe in you and lastly

last person to believe in you and lastly be a moving duck

be a moving duck

be a moving duck keep driving keep swimming keep pushing

keep driving keep swimming keep pushing

keep driving keep swimming keep pushing on but be a move in duck thank you very

on but be a move in duck thank you very

on but be a move in duck thank you very much

much

much [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]