“One day, when I was studying abroad in Australia, a stranger took up a conversation with me on the bus. We chatted about our shared love for endurance challenges, and he told me he and a friend rowed across the Atlantic Ocean together once. It was one of those sentences I couldn’t unlearn, and I knew then I wanted to do the same.
The decision to go alone was easy because no one else was willing to do it with me. It was either go alone or not go at all. The idea intrigued me, because the only way to overcome it was to be self-resilient. For two years, I planned my adventure.
I spent a lot of time on a boat out on Lake Erie, studied celestial navigation, and learned how to work all the equipment needed for the trip. I decided I would start in West Africa and land in South America. In a way, it almost felt like I was preparing to go to space. Three years after that conversation on the bus, I finally ventured out to sea.
When I was out there, there wasn’t anything to do but row and swim a little. For 10 to 12 hours a day, in two hour shifts, I would do that, and eat and rest in-between. Sometimes I’d row for a few hours at night when the temperature was cooler.
Each day, I got a clear view of the sunrise and sunset because on the open ocean, there is nothing obstructing your view. In those moments, it almost felt like I had the whole world to myself. At night, I witnessed shooting stars and stared in awe at glowing plankton beneath the waves.
It was a lot louder out on the ocean than I expected too. I could always hear the waves lapping against my boat, and the sound was repetitive and unforgiving. So sometimes I would listen to music and podcasts to drown it out.
There were a lot of minor nuances that occurred as well — I had some blisters and chafing that wouldn’t heal because there was constantly water in and around my boat and my injuries needed to dry to heal. I experienced some sleep deprivation as well.
Despite all the trials and tribulations, the biggest emotion I felt during my journey was gratitude. It was such a gift to experience being out on that open water. Even when I was suffering and struggling, it didn’t bother me because the whole experience was a self-imposed challenge. Knowing that kept me calm when things got tough, and all the beauty around me was a constant reminder of how lucky I was to be doing it.
After 70 days at sea, I finally landed my boat two countries west of where I had intended to go due to the waves knocking me slightly off course. I ended up writing a book called “70 Life Lessons for 70 Days at Sea” where I outline my experiences and the challenges I overcame.
Rowing has taught me that most challenges we encounter are all about mind over matter. There were many moments out at sea. I didn't feel strong and I felt like giving up. But I kept going. Conjuring up willpower can sometimes be a bigger obstacle than the obstacle itself. It taught me to embrace even the hardest parts of my journey.
The great thing about endurance sports is that, unlike traditional sports, there is no winner or loser. It’s all about discovering human possibilities. What I love about it, too, is that anyone can choose to do it. In the beginning, I didn’t think I had a gene for it. But it’s all about practice and starting small.
I hope that my adventure inspires people. The ocean taught me a lot of lessons, and I’m hopeful that the book I wrote is encouraging and motivating for others. At the end of the day, my story is not about what I did, but about what you can do. Define your purpose. Ask yourself, what am I doing today that can get me closer to my own personal goals?” — Katie Spotz, Endurance Athlete
For more information on Katie and her accomplishments as an Ultra Endurance Athlete, visit katiespotz.com.
