River marathon man swims into Cape

Martin Strel promises that if he ever writes a book about his fantastic adventure as the first man to swim the entire length of the Mississippi River, he will dedicate an entire chapter to his time in Cape Girardeau.

It wasn't just a promise for show, either: This leg of Strel's 2,340-mile journey included the trip's first real downpour and a life-threatening brush with lightning.

"City of lightning," Strel joked in his thick Slovenian accent, moments after he crawled from the river into Tuesday's equally wet downtown.

Strel was greeted by city officials, his land crew and a handful of curious onlookers.

Strel, a marathon swimmer who swam the Danube River in Europe in 2000, entered the Mississippi River July 4 at Lake Itasca in north-central Minnesota. He plans to swim to the Gulf Coast by Sept. 7. He only stops to eat and sleep.

Despite a slight case of conjunctivitis and the fact they are about two days behind schedule, the trip had been relatively smooth sailing until he was three miles north of Cape Girardeau as the rain began to pour.

Strel said that rain doesn't really inhibit his swimming -- "I can't get wetter," he joked -- but it did make it more difficult for the three kayakers to navigate. It also brings more debris to the river, which can be dangerous.

But the real trouble came with the lightning, which hit a buoy that was about three feet from Strel. The kayakers said the lightning caused their hair to stand up seconds before it knocked Strel from the water and dumped him back in about five feet away.

"It pushed me off the water," said Strel, a 48-year-old former music teacher. "It was very scary for me. It was a big problem for us, for my team."

Strel, the kayakers and the driver of a boat raced for shore, where they took a break and ate lunch.

"It was shaky scary," said one of the three experienced kayakers, 39-year-old Byron Curtis of Prescott, Wis. "It was a fear that manifested itself in adrenaline that got us to the shoreline."

Honorary captain

The near mishap aside, Strel arrived in Cape Girardeau in one piece, emerging from the river in black wet suit and goggles. He spent a few minutes in the office of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he was given information about Cape Girardeau and a citation and was named an honorary captain of "Girardot's Navy." Strel presented the city with an ornate glass bowl.

Strel is traveling with a group of about 10. Most of them drive in a van and meet Strel at various stopping points. The group includes his son and daughter. In addition to trying to make it into the record books, Strel is promoting "peace, friendship and clean waters." He also is being paid by sponsors, including health food, sports drink and cell phone companies.

The team spoke of Strel in admiring terms.

"He's going as strong as ever, day after day," said kayaker David Hale of Minneapolis. "He's got incredible physical stamina. But his mental health is top notch. It's incredible to watch on a day-to-day basis. People really have no idea."

Strel said he has "many stories" that go through his head as he swims 10 hours each day. Mainly he thinks about anything other than the fact that he has miles to go.

Residents also showed awe at Strel's feat.

"It's fantastic," said Giulio Venezian, a Cape Girardeau resident who showed up to meet Strel. "But I wouldn't go near that water myself. The river goes by so fast. If he kept at it in that storm, it's really something."

Kathy Ransom also was there, but mainly to meet Curtis, whom she met last year when he was kayaking down the Mississippi.

Mark Langenfeld, a professor in the Department of Health and Leisure at Southeast Missouri State University, wanted to meet Strel, too. Langenfeld is working on a literature review on ultra-endurance exercise.

"It's fascinating what human beings choose to do," Langenfeld said. "This is one of the world's great rivers. No human has taken on the challenge, and we had a chance to see him swim through town."

Langenfeld said Strel is probably burning about 8,000 to 10,000 calories a day.

Strel plans to pick up the pace now to gain lost time. The finish date is not negotiable. He also knows he has more challenges ahead. About an hour after he got here, he was gone, back to the river, another mile closer to his goal.

"I have learned why they call it Mighty Mississippi," Strel said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137