An Ohio woman will make history later this year by rowing across the ocean.
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Back in 2010, Katie Spotz rowed across the Atlantic Ocean. She plans to row across the Pacific in December, according to Cleveland CNN Newsource affiliate News 5.
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When she does, she will help those in need of clean water.
“This journey is part of something bigger. There’s a lot of mental restructuring that happens when you talk yourself into doing something uncomfortable,” Spotts said.
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She’s no stranger to discomfort, News 5 reports.
“One of my biggest challenges was rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean, spending 70 days at sea and running 11 ultras across Ohio in 11 days. Most recently, I did a 200-mile non-stop run and swam the Allegheny River,” Spotz said.
As an endurance athlete, the U.S. Coast Guard veteran has a mission.
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“To date, more than 50,000 people around the world have gained access to clean water through these endurance challenges,” Spotts told News 5.
Her fundraising efforts have had an incredible impact while testing her body, but it’s her biggest test yet.
“The upcoming challenge is to help 100,000 Fijians have access to clean water. When we achieve that, it will mean everyone has clean water, so this is a humanitarian priority,” Spotts said.
What does her epic feat mean?
“In December, I’m going to sail across the Pacific from Lima, Peru, to Papua New Guinea. So, it’s a 10,000-mile row, no follow-up boat, completely unassisted, unsupported, non-stop,” Spotts said.
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She knew it would be a challenge.
“I would paddle about 10 to 12 hours a day, all by myself on this 23-foot boat,” Spotts told News 5. “I could get into 40-foot waves. Sometimes, I’d have a bucket of water on my head the whole time.”
For Spotts, it’s not just about making history, it’s about making other people’s lives better.
“Yes, it’s hard, but there’s a lot of joy. There’s a lot of purpose and gratitude in being able to do this.”
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