Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-france#231 Triple Crown and pregnantThis is my story about swimming the 28-mile Manhattan 20 Bridges during my first trimester (10 weeks) and the 20-mile Catalina Channel…Sep 13, 2019Sep 13, 2019
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-franceWhat I learned from swimming the English ChannelI swam the English Channel in 11:01 hours! Below are my lessons for anyone attempting a future marathon swim. Train diligently, experiment…Aug 5, 2018Aug 5, 2018
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-franceThe good, bad, and uglyAs I get ready for my upcoming English Channel swim on July 20–27, 2018, I reflect on the past 2 years of training.Jun 29, 2018Jun 29, 2018
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-franceThe Art of FailureI recently told my students that success comes with many failures. It’s how you handle those failures that defines who you are and allows…May 5, 2018May 5, 2018
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-france6-hour qualifier | R/T Angel IslandI stand in the shower, cold water running down my back. My teammates complain that all the warm water is gone. I smile — the ice cold water…Apr 13, 2018Apr 13, 2018
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-franceDedicated Dread | 80mi Polar Bear (<54°)I wake up and look at the thermostat. It reads 41 degrees. I shake my head and wonder why am I doing this? I don’t want to freeze, get…Mar 18, 2018Mar 18, 2018
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-franceSwimming through sea lion attacksThe alarm beeps at 4:50am and I jump out of bed. I pour coffee into a travel mug and slather peanut butter on toast. At 5:10am, I’m out the…Jan 16, 2018Jan 16, 2018
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-france600 miles+ of swimming and 10 pounds heavierI’ve gained and maintained my goal weight of 145 pounds. I haven’t weighed this much since freshman year of college, and yet, I’m in the…Dec 18, 20171Dec 18, 20171
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-france9 months and 5 pounds to goHave you ever jumped into a lake or ocean and was immediately short of breath? Your chest tightens and you find it difficult to breathe…Oct 22, 2017Oct 22, 2017
Lauren Au Brinkmeyerinbrink-of-franceWhat is marathon swimming?A marathon swim is at least 10km (6.2 mi), using only a swimsuit (no wetsuit), non-neoprene cap, goggles, and grease. This distance was…Jul 28, 20171Jul 28, 20171