I first became aware of Katie and her adventure through a newspaper article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in February 2008. She was still in college and in the early stages of dreaming and planning the adventure that has now become a reality. As someone who has spent a professional lifetime helping high-level athletes mentally prepare for challenging performance situations, I thought that I might have something to offer Katie. I emailed her immediately and volunteered my services. Much to my delight, Katie responded quickly and accepted my offer. She was still in college and planning to graduate in June. We agreed to meet and start working together upon graduation and her return to Ohio. And so I began working with Katie in June of 2008 and met with her regularly right up to her departure for Dakar in December 2009.
One of the big challenges was how to mentally prepare for such a colossal event, 2-3 months at sea, 2500 miles, and an infinite number of internal and external challenges.
Question: How do you eat an elephant?
Answer: Same as you eat a hamburger or anything else . . . . one bite at a time.
Thus Katie and I, after a period of time, divided her colossal adventure into a sequence of six major phases:
- leaving Ohio, getting Katie and “Liv” to Dakar, ending with departure from Dakar
- first few days out at sea, adjusting to sea environment
- middle voyage, the longest phase
- landing in South America
- returning home to Ohio
- adjusting to post-adventure life
For each phase we discussed the challenges as well as Katie’s resources to meet the challenges. We also talked about what was most likely to happen as well as what could go wrong and how to deal with it.
Katie also volunteered to do some psychological research while on her voyage. Every few days she is completing a short questionnaire regarding her thoughts and needs at that particular time. When the adventure is over, she and I will analyze the data and plan to make the findings available to others.
It has been a pleasure working with and getting to know Katie. She’s an outstanding person who provides inspiration to many others. Shortly after I began working with her, I came across a brief quote that explained my motivation in working with her and perhaps your interest in the venture as well:
“It is those with the boldest dreams who awaken the best in all of us.”
Row, Katie, row!
Jack J. Lesyk, Ph.D., CC-AASP
Director, Ohio Center for sport Psychology
Beachwood, OH
{ 28 comments }
…just one more day will get me there…
One day more to pull and pull
Oh my Lord, I’ve had my full
Just one more day will get me there
One more day and one more prayer
I wish I may I wish I might
Row myself to land tonight
If I should sleep before I shore
Please grant to me just one day more
A little closer, homeward bound
Oh how I tire of bobbin’ round
One more day and one more prayer
Just one more day will get me there
Just one more day will get me there…
@ Mr. Lesyk – Thank you for helping Katie!
Thanks for helping Katie, Dr. Lesyk. What a wonderful idea to compile data from her adventure to share with others that follow. The quote brought tears to my eyes. Katie, I’ve said it before, You are AMAZING!! Congratulations on all your work so far. From all the Palmisano’s
Determine that the thing
Can and should be done,
And then we shall find
The Way. — Abraham Lincoln
Your Light continues to shine for so many! Stay the course!
J. Scott Evans – Iowa
Thanks for sharing the great perspective – she’s interesting in her level of understanding at such a young age. Many experienced adults cannot embrace the philosophies.
Her support system is amazing.
A very thoughtful message from someone who has had a profound effect on Katie and many others. Thanks for sharing your relationship with her. Roger
Dear Sir,
I know it must be physically challenging to reach your athletic goal, but what you are saying is entirely true! The emotions must be terrifying! I can’t ever imagine what Katie must be going through, and I thank you for helping her come home safely.
Ellen
I hope the findings of this journey will be made available on this site, or a notification on where one can get them.
Thank you for all that you do.
Thanks for sharing. I love that she is recording her feelings as she moves along.
Otherwise it is over and all seems on long journey or a zillion rows.
One row, one moment, not too look too far ahead or too far behind.
Stay here doing your best, let the last row come when it comes, for now this row matters.
Go Katie Go!
(all together now)
Katie Liv’s in a little yellow boat ?
A little yellow boat, a little yellow boat ?
And our friend, she blogs aboard ?
Many more of us, we blog ashore ?
As we Liv, a life of ease ?
Katie rows and rows, for water clean ?
(now with feeling!)
Katie Liv’s in a little yellow boat ?
A little yellow boat, a little yellow boat ?…
Somebody stop me… P L E A S E :-\
Looks more like Trinidad&Tobago will be landfall.
To Mike D. — I love your poem. I can just hear Katie now singing it to herself all the rest of the way!!! Nice !!!
Katie – Still so very proud of you !!!!! Wish so badly that I could meet you on land.!!! Hope someONE is going to be there at least. Sam maybe ????
Stay safe no matter what. You’re doin’ it girl !!!! And I love Jack Lesyk is going to be there for you afterwards. Anne could use someone like Jack right about now.
Talk to you soon!!! Watching you daily !!! Love you!!!
Kelly
To Mike D. again – and I was talking about your ‘one more day’ poem, but the ‘little yellow boat’ is cute too.
To Mr. Jack Lesyk – I should thank you too !!!!! I’m am a friend of Katie’s (I know – so many people are her ‘friends’, right!) But no, really. I am.! And knowing she has you there for POST-ADVENTURE is so great. Katie and I know another young lady in Boulder, CO that just did the mid-Atlantic in Jan, but with a group of 12 people on the same boat. She has definatly got her own things to deal with Post-Adventure. I feel sorry for her. So knowing you are there for Katie is good news! Katie is intelligent way beyond her years! She is an inspiration to so many.
Thank you again !!!
Kelly
Dear Jack,
I appreciate your giving us all a feel for the perspective Katie needed to come from in order to take on this challenge.
I’ve been enthralled with every aspect of this adventure, and engrossed in how Katie, an endurance athlete, steps up to the challenge, and the parallels for us everyday folks, and our own daily challenges. The journey of a thousand miles undoubtedly begins with one step, and as you’ve illustrated, any project we undertake is a series of individual steps.
You’ve added another layer of appreciation for us awestruck here on land.
I
I think Jack Lesyk was very kind to offer his assistance to Katie. Katie has shown me a lot about herself and I truely admire her.
I think that it would be hard to do this big of a task. Jack Lesyk is doing a great thing for athletes like Katie. It is hard to be alone, for a long time and not know when to stop rowing, or if you need to row more. I agree that “the physical challenge is easy, the mental is hard…” because nobody wants to row miles and miles everyday. In the end Katie will be proud of herself. She will be stronger and ready to take on more challenges that are harder and spread awareness about a great cause.
Wow! Jack,
You are so kind to offer Katie your help! You must have a very big heart! I know you are just as eager as us to see Katie hit land. Maybe you could come to MICDS and talk about what you do.
Best of luck
Sophia S
I think that it is great for you to be helping athletes like katie. It would be incredibly hard to be alone for that long and be able to survive on your own without anyone helping you. I think that it is great that you teach athletes about mental strength and help them develop it. Mental strength is very important on these very long tasks like Katie is on. I think everyone should know about your great effort towards athletes.
Jack,
It’s so interesting that you are helping Katie. She is almost at land and I bet you are very excited to see her and talk to her about the journey. And maybe you can come to St.Louis and talk more about you and your responsibilities. It would be interesting to know more about how you prepare people. Thank you for helping Katie because it must be hard to get ready for this big challenge.
Annabel W.
MICDS school in St.Louis
Mr. Lesyk,
It was very kind of you to offer your assistance to Katie on her rowing mission. I think you played a significant role in helping her prepare for her voyage. I think that it was a brilliant idea to divide her journey into six portions to help her handle it better. I hope you continue to help people to face challenges.
Nidhi
Dr. Lesyk,
I really appreciate your sharing this post. I am curious, will your findings be published here on the blog or elsewhere?
-Josh Tremblay
I knew that Katie had been talking to lots of different people in her preparation for this challenge, but I never gave it much thought about the adjustment that she will have to make once she lands and comes home. I guess I just thought she would take a little break to rest up and then go on with life. Writing about her thoughts every couple of days will be very beneficial to others who plan such physical and mental challenges. I certainly hope she will give some serious consideration to writing a book about her adventure. She has a great way with words and I always feel like I am right there with her. Thanks for helping her prepare.
I pray for God’s hand to guide Katie safely to her destination and guide dangers away from her. I can’t wait for the video of her struggling to stand and walk on land with her muscles and her brain still adjusting for the motion of the sea! God Speed Katie and watch out for those ships, especially at night.
Hello Katie! (Or should I say Ahoy there!?)
In your latest twitter update you’ve said that you passed 7 large ships:
*** S L O W D O W N ***
You have got to be rowing way too fast, ha Ha!
Stay Safe!
@ Kelly Nothstein- March 8, 2010 at 8:50 pm & at March 8, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Aw, Wow! Thank you for the kind words, but please don’t encourage me ( I get annoying real fast)
@ Gloria- March 6, 2010 at 12:01 am
You are to kind
I think that “one bite at a time” is a great motto! Especially when you are taking on this big of a task! And, Jack Lesyk is doing a very good and important thing for Katie by mentally preparing her!
Dear Katie: I am 87 yrs of age and am following your adventure with great admiration and trepidation. All my many years have not prepared me to imagine your bold undertaking. I am fascinated by all the stories like yours. I recently read :A Pearl in the Storm – How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean” by Tori Murden McClure. Hope to read your book when you decide to write it.
“A fulfilled life is measured not by its extent,
But by its content.
Not by the length of years,
But by what we put into them.
Lives just give us time and space…
It is up to us to fill them.
With every heartfelt wish!!!! Geraldine Powers, Beachwood, Ohio
Hmm that’s amazing but actually i have a hard time understanding it… wonder how others think about this..
@mike D ! How very lovely this last one, for Katie, and for all of us, as we row sometimes without an end in site… As we do the umpteenth load of laundry, and work our way into ever present unknown territory, may we, pull, and pull, each day, for one more day with one more prayer.
Hi Katie,
I remember hearing about your planned adventure last year. Today’s update in the News Herald prompted me to congratulate you on your amazing progress in this huge test of determination and endurance! I am praying for you to stay well and to arrive safely at your destination. Looking forward to the good news!
Bill in Willoughby
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