Expanding your limits: swimming 2500 miles for Goldstar families (NQM016)
In 2015, Chris Ring swam the approximately 2500 miles of the Mississippi River in support of Goldstar Families through the Legacies Alive organization. A Gold Star Family is a family that has paid the ultimate sacrifice by losing a loved one in the service of this nation. Legacies Alive provides unwavering support to Gold Star Families by ensuring the legacies of our Fallen Heroes are forever alive.
Chris’s mission took 6 months, swimming across 10 states averaging around 16 miles a day. Before or after each day’s swim, he would meet with Goldstar Families on land. Aside from raising funds for the Legacies Alive foundation to support families of the fallen, another goal of the project was to bring recognition where it was due.
"No gold star family wants to be a gold star family, so people should know and respect and really appreciate the sacrifice that was paid. Really the goal was that you could walk up to anybody in the street and ask what a gold [star] family is, and they're going to know what it is."
Chris Ring On SEAL Training, Mental Toughness And Swimming The Mississippi River - Unbeatable Mind Podcast
Commander Mark Divine did an awesome interview with Chris on his Unbeatable Mind podcast. Some of the excerpts below:
On the benefits of endurance sports: “Endurance activities helped me develop a stronger mindset, and tackle the mental aspect of overcoming the difficulties no matter what the pain was. Realizing what it was and pushing myself to the goal. Whether you are swimming or running, you know the barriers and the goals, and you also know that no matter how difficult or painful it is, it is going to be over at some point. Time stops for no man. No matter how painful or difficult this is, every stroke or every step will bring you closer to that goal. You learn how to push yourself to overcome the obstacle and be better every time you do it.”
On hitting the wall: “Most people think about how much they have left to do. Instead I start thinking about how much I have accomplished so far. Then I focus on the now. Break it into small chunks. The clock doesn’t stop, but your relationship to time can change. When you bring yourself to the now, it’s easier to get past these milestones in a piecewise manner.”
Perspective: “I think about the conversations with the families I had met along the way. They were able to write the name of their loved one and a small message on the Kayak that was supporting me. So every time I had a rough time in the water, I just had to look at the kayak and see those names on their and realize that, no matter how difficult it is now, it is going to be over at some point. These families have to live with their burdens for the rest of their lives. So what is it for me to push a few more hours to finish my day.”
The value of time: “Time stops for now man: as you are pushing through to strive for your goal, don’t take time for granted. This does not only apply for when times are rough but also for when they are good. When things are going well for you, it may not last forever so take advantage of it. Likewise, when things are going rough, fight through the pain and appreciate the experience of going through obstacles.”
On overcoming obstacles: “Everyone is going to face obstacles in life. Obstacles are not a bad thing, take advantage of that obstacle, it’s a reset point for you to ask yourself, what am I capable of and what am I not capable of. Where am I at in life right now. What can I learn and what can I do better, and how can I use that obstacle to become a better person.”
