This is the first in a series of blog entries by Katrina Murphy, who is going to swim the Straits of Mackinac in August 2010 wearing an XTERRA WETSUITS Vector Pro X2 Fullsuit.

Sitting here looking at the water moving through the Straits of Mackinac, I feel the butterflies in my stomach, fluttering around asking me what in the world I am thinking. I would have to ask myself that same question. Why am I swimming these treacherous waters of the Straits? Suicide prevention and mental health awareness is the answer.

I took my first test swim in the Lake Huron side of the Mackinac Straits on May 10, 2010. Thank goodness for my Vector Pro X2 wetsuit. The waters in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are around a chilly 42 degrees this time of the year. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about how warm a wetsuit could keep someone in these temperatures. I am happy to say that I was more than very pleasantly surprised. It kept my core so warm it was amazing. The suit was also surprisingly comfortable and fit really well.

When I started swimming in the water, I was also surprised by how buoyant I felt. I was only in the water for a half an hour, but I really got a feel for how the suit will work out. I also could feel a bit of the currents in the Straits. Nothing like I will experience on the day of my August swim, but none the less I got an idea of how strong they have the capability of being. Just looking at the water you can see how fast it moves. I am not a fast swimmer and hope to be able to complete the four mile, point to point crossing in around four hours. Right now, I am swimming a mile every half an hour. In reality, I know that with the currents there I will not be able to hold that same time.

Seeing that open water season is upon us, my open water training begins now. I will be pulling a homemade water parachute and kayak behind me, which will have all the essentials for good and safe open water practices. Enjoy the open water and take time to smell the breeze.

I hope to educate the general public and health care providers about mental health illnesses. I also hope to be able to bring hope to the many out there who feel so hopeless when it comes to their depression and mental anguish. I am also doing this swim for me. I have struggled with my own mental health illness and the open water is a place in which I feel free and in control. Please check out my fund raising page at and check me out on Facebook at Long Distance Open Water Swimming .

San Diegens Julie Dunkle and Whitney Handy both qualified for the 2010 Ironman World Championship at Ironman St. George earlier this month in XTERRA WETSUITS Vector Pro X2 triathlon wetsuits.

Dunkle placed second in the 40-44 age group in 11:39:18. She rocked the swim in her Vector Pro X2 when she was the second female amateur to exit the water in 55:17!

Handy earned her Kona slot after taking the top podium spot in the 18-24 age group. In her first ever Ironman, Whitney had an impressive 58:28 swim in her Vector Pro X2 on her way to a 12:25:30 final time.

Big congrats to you both!

XTERRA WETSUITS is excited to outfit Katrina Murphy in a Vector Pro X2 triathlon wetsuit during her quest to swim across the Straits of Mackinac in August, and eventually become the first woman to swim across the middle of Lake Michigan (50 miles continuous) in 2011. Katrina, 31, resides in Caledonia, Michigan, is a stay at home wife and mother of three young children whom she home schools. She will be sharing her journey with XTERRA WETSUITS in bi-monthly postings right here on the XTERRA WETSUITS Blog.

Katrina had only been training in a pool until Monday, May 10 when she did her first open water swim in the 42 degree waters of Lake Huron for 30 minutes in her Vector Pro X2. While she’s swimming 12 miles per week right now, her goal is to be swimming 33 miles per week toward the end of summer.

Until just one year ago, Katrina had little swimming background, but had dreamt of swimming across Lake Michigan since she was young. Her dream is now becoming a reality after meeting her swimming hero, and now coach, Jim Dreyer, who has successfully swum across all of the Great Lakes.

Katrina’s Straits of Mackinac swim, a prelude to Lake Michigan, is a four mile point to point swim between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. The Straits are some of the most treacherous waters in the world due to unpredictable and strong currents. She plans to make the swim August 15-19, depending on conditions.

Katrina is doing all of her swims to benefit The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is a strong supporter of the organization and of bringing awareness to mental health illnesses. Through education, Katrina hopes to eliminate the stigma that often accompanies mental health illnesses. Consequently, she believes that more people will have the courage to come forward and ask for the help they need. Katrina’s mission is close to her heart because she tried to commit suicide in 1997. She now believes that where there is a life, there is always hope.

Get frequent updates by joining Katrina’s Facebook group Long Distance Open Water Swimming, and of course check back here regularly for Katrina’s blog postings!

After 140.6 miles of pure fun, XTERRA WETSUITS Pro Team member Meredith Kessler earned second place overall in 9:46:58 at the inaugural Ironman St. George on Saturday. She was also the third female out of the water in her Vortex 3 triathlon wetsuit. As Kessler’s second Ironman as a professional triathlete, she started her day with an impressive 51:54 2.4 mile swim, less than one minute behind the leader.

With a water temperature hovering near 55 degrees, the swim offered a chilly race start. “The swim was gorgeous, blue and smooth, but indeed very cold,” recalls Kessler. “ The comfort and warmth of my XTERRA WETSUITS Vortex 3 allowed me to forget about the cold and instead focus on hanging with the lead pack. It was an honor to be in the likes of Gina Crawford and Heather Wurtele during the swim, and to come out third shortly behind them,” added Kessler. “My Vortex 3 came off quickly in order to start the challenging bike course fresh and relaxed.”

2010 marks Kessler’s first complete season as a professional triathlete and first year with the XTERRA WETSUITS family. On April 18, she placed fourth at Ironman 70.3 New Orleans. In 2009, she conquered the amateur field in every race she entered, including Ironman Coeur d’Alene, Wildflower and Vineman, and placed seventh in her pro debut at Ironman Arizona in 9:37:09. Kessler holds the amateur course record at Ironman Arizona and the age-group course record at Wildflower half Ironman.