Help Johannah raise money

Swimming Point to La Pointe (P2LP) has become a cherished tradition in my life. As I enter my 5th year of swimming in Lake Superior, I am grateful to Bayfield’s Rec Center and hope that my contribution of fundraising for my registration can be part of paying back for everything I, and so many others, have gained from this yearly swim. Below is a reflection on the last four years of P2LP - each year different than the last. Please join me in celebrating my 5th year of participating in this amazing event!

2021: The First Year

The year following the beginning of the pandemic, I, like most, was eager to regain a sense of normalcy that was not possible the year before. In 2020, with a lack of access to pools and lap swimming, I started open water swimming for the first time with the Minneapolis Open Water Swim Club. Lake Nokomis’ murky warm water offered a new challenge to me and my friends and an opportunity to swim again. When the 2021 P2LP race opened up that winter I was ready to sign up and try my hand swimming in the famous Lake Superior race. I was intimidated by the Covid-19 race adjustment to a “one-time open water 5K” and signed up for the non-competitive division, worried that my sprinter background I wouldn’t be able to complete three miles in the cold and choppy waters.

I spent that summer training with friends who had also signed up for the race and shopped for our first wetsuits. As the first weekend in August approached, my nerves grew. As the weather reports came in during our drive to Bayfield, I got more and more nervous that I wouldn’t be able to complete my first swim. When we checked in and were told that, due to projected high waves, the course had been adjusted from a 5K to a 3K, I couldn’t contain my relief and let out an audible, “Yes!” We left packet pick up, and I had a renewed excitement for the next day. We drove the 30 minutes to meet the other swimmers at the slightly sketchy motel in Ashland (obviously, this was our first year.) 

The next morning the sky was cloudy and the waves were growing. We lined up in groups of three and solemnly marched into the water. I entered Lake Superior for my first race with that year’s oldest swimmer, age 84, and youngest swimmer, age 14. It was awesome. We swam out beyond the high reaching seaweed and towards the cliffs. As soon as the water depth dropped, all I saw was blue. It was the most beautiful blue I had ever seen. For the next hour and a half I bobbed up and down with the foot high waves, giggling as some of the waves swept from beneath me and I crashed into the water. It felt like the water and I were playing, and I loved it. 

I was working and volunteering with the Stop Line 3 pipeline resistance efforts and it was beautifully serendipitous that around the same time that I entered those chilly, choppy waters, a group of Water Protectors began their 256-mile Walk for Water near the headwaters of the Mississippi to the state capitol. My first P2LP swim was not a race, but an opportunity for me to connect with the water. 

From the last buoy to shore, another swimmer and I raced each other, the sprinter in me kicking in. It was such a fun balance of joyful swimming and a little bit of friendly competition. As my feet touched the sand I jogged up to the volunteers who were ready to help me out of my wetsuit, I couldn’t stop smiling. I had so much fun, and I was hooked. As I reconnected with my swim friends and Peter who was ready with my towel and a hug, I was inspired by everyone around me, and ready to make this a yearly tradition. 

Time: 1:21:43 Pace; MIN/MI 38:55

2022: First Swim to the Island 

Year Two of P2LP brought the same crew north, still staying in Ashland (we hadn’t quite figured out the trick to housing yet). This time, with Covid restrictions behind us, we had our first swim across the channel to Madeline Island in front of us. That morning, as we looked across the calm, flat water, we thought “pshh, looks easy.” Then the current hit. 

For a whole year, I had been looking forward to that beautiful, deep, clear blue I had been submerged in the year before. I was shocked when the water this year was green and murky! Not only that, but the current felt impossible to pull through. Over an hour and a half later I crawled myself to the ladder and onto Madeline Island for the first time. It wasn’t pretty but we did it. 

Even though the water wasn’t as blue and the current was an unexpected nightmare, it had the unexepected benefit of separating the swimmers across the channel. Though this was certainly not a benefit for the race organizers and safety team, I reveled in the experience of feeling like I was swimming alone in Lake Superior. I realized how quiet everything was about half way through the swim. After taking a break to realize how frustratingly slow I was making my way across the channel, I took the opportunity to float on my back and absorb the silence. It felt magical. It was this feeling of absolute peace in this beautiful body of water that locked in how important this swim is for me, and how I want this yearly opportunity to reconnect with myself and the water during all of life’s chapters. 

Since this was our first year on the island, we got to enjoy all of the fun Madeline Island has to offer. From breakfast burritos to late morning beers; games of cribbage and nice chats in the adirondack chairs outside of Grandpa Tony’s, we enjoyed a well earned lazy morning. 

We eventually made our way to the ceremony on the beach to hear who came in top three of their age groups. From the high school and college swimmers, to the life-long swimmers that still completely kick my ass, I was inspired by their dedication and humility. With year two under our belts, we were ready for more, hoping to continuously add that consistency to my life as well. 

Time: 1:47:08; Pace MIN/MI 53:34

2023: First Year Camping 

By the third year of Point to La Pointe, we were determined not to stay in Ashland this time. We were so on top of housing this year, that we booked a couple of campsites at Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island. Word about our developing tradition of P2LP started to spread among our friends and we had two more swimmers join us for this year’s swim! 

Ever in need of developing my time management skills, I made it to Bayfield just before sunset and got to the island as it was getting dark. The rest of the crew had made it to the island long before but were in need of firewood. Having never been beyond Grandpa Tony’s, and having a naturally Type B disposition, I figured it would be no problem to get firewood on the island. This was somewhat of a mistake, but on my way across the island to the campsite, I saw a handmade sign by someones house and pulled in. The wonderful folks that lived there invited me to pick through their pile of wood and sent me on my way to meet the others. 

After briefly getting lost in the State Park, I made it to the campsite and it was clear my friends had been waiting to ask a very important question. “What do you think of the sweatshirts this year?” With a big smile on my face, happy to be with my friends and camping, I responded, “Oh I hate it.” We all burst out laughing. No hate to the amazing race organizers, but after a year of beautiful teal and forest green, fire-engine red sweatshirts were not it… 

After dinner, we all headed into our respective tents, ready to get as much sleep as possible on the ground before waking up bright and early at 4:45am. We all successfully made it to the ferry to bring us to Bayfield just to hop in the water and swim back. The early morning commute came with the added benefit of a gorgeous sunrise. 

After reveling in the feeling of being alone in Lake Superior the previous year, and marveling at the magnificent blue color of the water the year before, I was excited to see what the race had in store this year, finally realizing that every year is a different and unique experience. I had decided after missing the previous year’s sunrise due to only every breathing on my right side, I would finally tackle bilateral breathing. After a decade of swimming, I figured it would be beneficial for shoulder health as well. There was no spectacular sunrise to the left this year, but I did breathe bilaterally for (almost) the whole race. 

There was also no beautiful blue color in the water or intense current to push against. In fact, without a current, this was the fastest year yet - coming in first in my group of friends, and swimming in at the same time as a teammate and friend from the YWCA Masters Swim Team! Once we had all made it to the island, we enjoyed the same late morning breakfast burritos and beers at Grandpa Tony’s with games of cribbage mixed in as the year before. Since we were all staying on the island this year, we didn’t have to worry about getting back to Bayfield and instead spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach at Big Bay. We snoozed on the warm sand, tossed a frisbee and even got back in the water. It was a beautiful and glorious early August day. The next morning we enjoyed campsite breakfast, some of us going for hikes or runs on the state park trails afterward. Big Bay had some incredible views and it just made the weekend even better. After some camp restroom showers, we were on our way back home after another successful year. 

Time: 1:03:36; Pace MIN/MI 31:48

2024: More Friends 

Year Four of P2LP brought a reduced group of swimmers, but a larger support team as well as Peter’s grand return to the cheer squad! This year was the most physically and mentally prepared I had ever been for a race. In September of 2023, along with starting the Program of Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota, I also joined the Macalester Masters Swim Team. I regularly attended Tuesday and Thursday morning swims in the Macalester pool and in the summer joined a smaller group for many early morning swims in Lake Harriet, McCarron’s Lake, and sometimes even making it out to Square Lake. It was the most disciplined I had been since my junior year of college swimming at St. Ben’s. After participating in a 1-mile race in Lake Harriet, I was excited to see how well I could race P2LP this year. 

The drive up was eventful, hobbling along 35 North with a flat tire for who knows how long, we were lucky to get a last minute tire change outside of Duluth, and got some delicious Kwik Trip food during the wait. Later than expected, we made it to our friend's cabin we were staying in that year in one piece. After a delicious home-cooked dinner and an evening spent with the sweetest puppy and cats we headed to bed to prepare for the early morning. I was so grateful to have such an awesome cheer team join me this year. Even though I wasn’t staying with other swimmers, it didn’t take long to see many swim friends gathering in their wetsuits waiting for the swim to start. Most of the swimmers I spent lake mornings with were there, as well as other swim friends from previous years. It truly felt like I was part of the community and it made my heart so happy. 

This was the first year I was in the first wave of swimmers. Overcome with competitive spirit and the internal goal to finish the race in under and hour, I ran into the water with everyone else and swam hard to the first buoy. A mouth full of water later and some jostling by all the kicking feet and raised elbows around me, I started off on the wrong foot. I felt nauseous the entire time and missed my goal by just a minute and 20 seconds. 

During the swim, I found myself feeling frustrated by the warm water, tight course, and continued nausea. I missed the beautiful rich blue from the first year, the solitude from the second, and feeling fast the third. Though I ultimately came in my fastest time yet, I didn’t have a great swim and I even thought as I was swimming, “if I’m not having fun, why am I doing this?” 

I made my way to the big rubber ducky and climbed up the ladder, greeted by many fellow swimmers, friends, and the best cheer squad around. Those thoughts of leaving this race in the past quickly left my mind. It was another beautiful morning on Madeline Island and I had just had the immense privilege of swimming across Lake Superior to eat a breakfast burrito and drink a beer at Grandpa Tony’s for another year. 

We enjoyed a sunny ceremony and cheered for all the friends and swimmers that came in first in their age groups and I was reminded of why I love this swim so much. Every year I am so inspired by the swimmers around me. I look around at the moms who make a whole weekend event of this swim with their families and the elder swimmers still kicking butt in their 70’s. Surrounded by a rich community of people I am inspired by, I want to be one of those swimmers who make this swim a celebration and a joyful part of their life. 

A few weeks later, as it came time to decide if I would swim P2LP again. I knew I would regret it if I missed it and I am so glad I decided not to wait, because the 2025 race sold out in 8 hours! I did however, decide to give myself an extra challenge of signing up to fundraise for my registration. I wanted to take the pressure of racing off of my shoulders and instead focus on celebrating this swim and raising money for the incredible group that supports hundreds of swimmers once a year and many community athletes year-round. 

Time: 1:01:20; Pace MIN/MI 29:12