Harriet Wall has always set ambitious goals for herself — so when she decided to swim 1,000 miles this year, no one was really surprised.
As has become her tradition, Wall undertook the endeavor to celebrate turning 65 in October.
"Since I was in my 20s, I have set a goal to mark that five years. When I was younger most of my goals were academic or professional,” said Wall, a retired psychology professor from the University of Michigan-Flint.
More recently, she has completed a rock climbing trip in Grand Teton National Park and a five-mile swim with a group of friends in St. Croix.
Last Wednesday, Wall accomplished her latest objective, swimming the last few laps of her thousand mile mission in the Grand Traverse Civic Center pool. Surrounded by friends — affectionately known as 'the mermaids' — who share her morning swim routine, Wall was thrilled to finish more than two weeks ahead of schedule.
"Last year I decided to keep track of how many miles I was swimming and it turned out to be 700 miles,” said Wall who has been swimming in the Traverse City pool since she and her husband purchased their Leelanau County home nine years ago.
"After finding the US Masters Swimming program 'Go the Distance' that helps you track your progress, I knew that I wanted to set that 1,000 mile goal,” said Wall, noting that she can now order her official 1,000 mile swim cap.
"What was great about it was that I wanted to have something to write down every day, so it made me want to swim more,” said Wall, who swam as little as a mile, up to five miles each day, during her rigorous workout schedule.
Wall garnered support from her group of 'mermaid' friends who share her passion for the sport, including Carrie Eby who finds her commitment inspirational.
"Harriet's steadfast commitment to swimming and to other kinds of exercise really sets such a good example for all of us "mermaids”. She is not afraid to take on real challenges,” said Eby, who encouraged Wall through her year-long quest.
In addition to the sense of satisfaction Wall feels when she completes a goal, this particular one had some added benefits.
"It also allows me to eat whatever I want,” said Wall, who planned to celebrate her accomplishment with a glass from a bottle of chardonnay — a congratulatory gift from a friend — before jumping back into her training routine.
"I'm not done yet, I will put in a few more miles before the end of the year,” she said.
And as for her next goal — "Seventy is a way off yet, we will just have to wait and see!”