Provoking Your Greatness - Misti Burmeister

My heart was pounding as we pulled into the parking lot where they had just begun setting up for the big event at High Tide Farm, located directly across the bay from Gibson Island in Maryland. As the aroma of horse dung hit my nose, I took a deep breath and said a silent prayer.   I felt the breeze and remembered the email I received the night before:   Conditions will be a factor; see the below latest forecast from NOAA. (North winds 10 to 15 KT, with gusts to 25 KT. Waves 3 foot.) Please call or text me if you’d rather not proceed with the swim tomorrow.   I had just learned to swim roughly one year before, and had never come close to swimming 5 miles, much less in the open water, with choppy conditions. But, I had stuck to the training.   I signed my waiver, grabbed my timing chip and t-shirt, and headed off to make a pit stop before scoffing down my breakfast, which consisted of gobs of sautéed sweet potatoes and a couple of eggs.   Moments later, I was getting out of a minivan at the starting line. At 6