The Final Miles | The Victory Lap

As I passed the channel to Syracuse Lake and approached Oakwood, the sound hit me: horns, sirens, megaphones, cheers. Boats packed in around me. The shoreline was filled with families shouting.

My goggles filled with tears. For almost nine hours, I’d been trapped in silence and pain. Now the roar drowned everything out. The pain disappeared. The cold slipped away. My stomach settled. My mind was spinning at warp speed. Childhood memories, fears, doubts, insecurities, happy thoughts — everything rushed through me all at once.

The crew split up. Logan and Bre moved to the land side. Ian and Aubri anchored out in front of the dock. Rikki and I paddled around Conklin Bay together, just how I’d imagined it. She guided me home, right by my side. As we rounded the western side of the bay, I told her to paddle ahead. I wanted her to be the first thing I saw when I made it back to land. And she was.

When my hands scraped bottom, I swam straight to shore and stood. The weight slid off my shoulders and vanished into the lake. I stumbled, looked out at the harbor, and pulled my earplugs for the first time in nine hours. Sirens, horns, and cheers slammed into me. I raised my arms as high as I could. It was euphoric.

I walked up the shoreline and hugged my crew, my friends, my family. And when I finally got to Rikki, I pulled her in. She whispered, “We did it.” That’s where the swim ended for me.

Seventeen miles. Nine hours and twenty minutes. History made.

I am forever grateful for the support from everyone around the lake. This is a moment I will never forget. If you're reading this and feel compelled, please reach out and send me an email. Let me know your here and lets connect, I would love to continue sharing my story.

Something big is coming and I can't wait to share it with you.

Jace

Takeaway: The finish isn’t about the last stroke — it’s about every moment you refused to stop.