Detroit to Dover - Experiences of an open water swimmer
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Birmelin's Bio

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* Age-group, summer club & high school swimming
* Collegiate club water polo, Michigan State University
* Swim coach- Summer club, high school and US Masters Swimming (Level 2 coach) 
* Middle school teacher
* Support team - husband, swim dog and daughter
* 2009 & 2011 USMS Long Distance All-Star
* 2009, 2010, 2011 USMS Long Distance All-American


Fun Training Swims

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  • Swam from Tawas Pt. Lighthouse to US Gypsum Crib, July 4, 2011, 6.6 miles
  • Swam from Tawas City to Charity Island, 16 miles, July 10, 2011
  • Swam across Tawas Bay, Lake Huron, 5.77 mi, June 20, 2010     
  • Swam to U.S. Gypsum Crib and back, ~6 mi, July 24, 2010
  • Swam from Tawas Lighthouse towards U.S. Gypsum Crib, July 4, 2010. Aborted after ~5 mi, seasick.




My training partners

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My supportive husband is on the jet ski and alongside me in the pool every morning. We met at a Michigan Masters Swim Meet. Our sweet golden retriever loves to swim, at any time. Thank you to friends Cheryl & Dave, and Karen, for swimming or paddling alongside me. Thank you to Lynn, Mark, and Tom for boat & swim support. Thank you to my parents for years of swim lessons and being my swim team support and shuttle. Thanks, "Iron Granny," for attending my swim meets and pouring cold water on my back before my summer swim meets to make me swim faster!


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As an 8-and-under, my sister, cousin and I practiced the start position on the dining room chairs.

2013 Planned Open Water Swims

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08.04 Harbor Springs Coastal Crawl, 3 mi

2012 Open Water Swims

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Swam 5k at 34 weeks into pregnancy.
06.23 - 2012 USMS 5k Open Water National Championship, Noblesville, IN.

2011 Open Water Swims

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06.18 - 2011 United States Masters Swimming (USMS) 
25k Solo National Championship
,
Noblesville, IN. Five loops of a 5k course in the Morse Reservoir. View the course.
07.06 - Motor City Mile 5k, Detroit River
07.10 - Tawas City to Charity Island,
Lake Huron
07.26 - Lake St. Clair Swim for Cystic Fibrosis, Grosse Pointe, MI
08.07 - Harbor Springs Coastal Crawl 3 mi
08.20 - English Channel, Dover, England to Wissant, France, 28 miles (24 nautical miles), 11h, 31m, 07s.

2010 Open Water Swims

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09.25 - English Channel Qualifying Swim in Lake Huron, 6 hours in under 60 degree water, Tawas City, MI
09.01 - 5k Postal Pool Swim, Dearborn, MI
08.22 - Swim to the Moon 5K,
Pinckney, MI
08.17 - Lake St. Clair Swim for Cystic Fibrosis
, 14.21 Miles, Grosse Pointe, MI
08.01 - Harbor Springs Coastal Crawl 3 mi
, Harbor Springs, MI
07.17 - USMS 10K National Open Water Championship,
Noblesville, IN
07.10 - Traverse City 2 mi Open Water Swim, Duck Lake, Interlochen, MI
07.07 - Motor City 5k
, Detroit River, Belle Isle, MI
04.11 - Golden Gate Bridge Swim
, San Francisco, CA
04.10 - Alcatraz Swim
, San Francisco, CA


2009 Open Water Swims

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09.20 - Diamond Lake 10k Open Water Swim, Cassopolis, MI
08.24 - 5k Postal Pool Swim, Dearborn, MI
08.14 - 10k Postal Pool Swim, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
08.02 - Harbor Springs Coastal Crawl, 2 mi, Harbor Springs, MI
08.01 - USMS 10K National Open Water Championship, Harbor Springs, MI
07.11 - Muncie Endurathon Aquabike, 1.2 mi swim & 56 mi bike, Muncie, IN
07.08 - Motor City Mile, Detroit River, Belle Isle, MI
07.05 - Howell Aquathlon, Open Water Swim, Howell, MI


In the Media

April 19, 2012, Detroit News
March 18, 2012, Detroit News Online
October 17, 2011, Farmington Patch Online
September 14, 2011, Spinal Column Newsweekly
September 9, 2011, West Bloomfield Patch Online
August 24, 2011, Iosco County News-Herald
August 23, 2011, TV20 Detroit Phone Interview from England
August 23, 2011, WXYZ Detroit Skype Interview from England 
August 23, 2011, Farmington Patch Online
August 22, 2011, Arthritis Foundation
August 22, 2011, West Bloomfield Patch Online
August 21, 2011, Dover, England New
August 20, 2011, Detroit News Online
June 29, 2011, Iosco County News-Herald
March 25, 2011, Michigan State University Spartan Sagas
March 23, 2011, Farmington Press
March 21, 2011
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ABC News Radio
March 19, 2011, WXYZ Action News, Live interview
March 13, 2011, Observer & Eccentric
November 9, 2010, WDIV Detroit English Channel Follow-up Interview
January 2010, WDIV Detroit English Channel Interview
September 2009, Greater Lansing Woman Magazine, p.30-31
Jenny Birmelin | Create Your Badge