Welcome to the epic quest to swim 1000 metres in 1000 pools

1,000 pools

1,000,000 metres

Well, at least it gets me out of the house

1 man

Here it is, and by golly it’s exciting.

The greatest pool conquering challenge ever undertaken.

Namely, to swim 1000 metres (one kilometre) in 1000 different pools around the globe. There are few quests that take 50 years to complete, but this is one of them.

Rarely has a challenge both bemused and caught the passion of the general public. Seldom have swimmer and non-swimmer been brought together in disbelief and confusion as they silently mouth, ‘Why, for goodness sake?’

You might be thinking (and it’s a commonly held belief) that because we have split the atom, invented the Slurpee, mastered the Macarena, that there are no great challenges left for humanity.

But I say the road of great challenges still stretches out before us. It’s a road with no end in sight. And it’s a road waiting to be swum – if you can imagine such a thing.

My motto is ‘They can’t build them as fast as I can swim them’, which on examination is fairly trite and pointless. But when said with heart and accompanied with a stern gaze, it carries a certain no-nonsenseness that befits this EQ (Epic Quest) and makes it all seem not just possible, but, by golly, inevitable.

And so it is. In my 70’s, perhaps my 80’s, or God-willing even my 90’s I’ll still be swimming. If not actively moving all my limbs independently, then at least allowing the current to carry me back and forth.

Thank you for coming with me on this noble adventure. Think of me when you pass your local pool. Drop me a line and ask, ‘Walrus, have you done this pool? Is it already a pool scalp hanging from your Speedos?’

I’ve a long way to go, but I am focussed and the pools can’t hide. Wish me well.

Aquatic regards,

Kenton ‘the Walrus’ Webb