Grandmother, former teacher swims her 6000th mile
Text 
No Comments [ Add Comment ]ROY -- To the gleeful howls of two dozen other swimmers at the Roy Aquatic Center, 67-year-old Annabel Hofer swam down the home stretch Thursday morning, reached out, and touched the cement deck with a wide smile.
Since 1982, the self-proclaimed water baby has been getting up before the crack of dawn and going to the pool to swim laps -- lots of laps.
Thursday marked a huge accomplishment for the former teacher and great-grandmother of 10: her 6,000th mile since she started keeping track. She's now gone far enough to have swum to Honolulu, Hawaii, and back, but she's not done yet.
How does it feel?
"Special," Hofer said at 6 a.m. Thursday, as she caught her breath.
She started swimming when she was 30 and was struggling with arthritis and a weight problem. The doctor told her swimming is easy on the joints and a great aerobic activity, so she gave it a try.
She swims 45 laps a day, five days a week, switching strokes every nine laps to help her keep track. It helps with stress and just makes her feel good, though she admits it hasn't always been easy.
Now Hofer says she's set a new goal for herself: 7,000 miles by the time she turns 70.
"I just saw the doctor yesterday and he gave me a clean bill of health. He said keep swimming."
Add Your Comment
