Mike Humphreys has dreamed about swimming the English Channel ever since he flew over it in a plane as a child. The 49-year-old Kirkland man has had a passion for swimming—among other vigorous outdoor activities including hiking, bicycling and running marathons—throughout his life. Why? His explanation is simple: He does it because he believes he can.

Humphreys moved to Kirkland in 2001 to work for Microsoft after living all over the world – including Austria, India, New York, Florida and Atlanta. He has attempted to swim the Channel three times before, in 2006, 2008 and 2010. The massive body of water is a 350-mile-wide stretch of the Atlantic Ocean that runs between England and France. Humphreys added that only 1,400 people have ever completed the English Channel swim.

“I was ready and waiting in Dover in the summer of 2011 [to try again],” he said, “but the weather never cleared sufficiently to make an attempt, so I came home empty-handed without even getting wet.” But that didn’t stunt Humphreys’ determination. He’s eager to complete the swim because, in his words, it’s “the top swim in the world.”

On days when the weather allows here in the Northwest, Humphreys typically swims three to four times a week to prepare for the Channel, cross-training on off days, and taking only one to two days off every two weeks. He does this year-round—and yes, that also means in the middle of winter when the temperature is less than 40 degrees in waters such as Lake Washington, Bellingham Bay and elsewhere in the Puget Sound. He usually begins a day of training around 6 a.m., a brisk time even during the summer for climate in the Pacific Northwest. Not many are motivated enough to brave such elements, though they are readily available to us in our area.

A “short” swim for Humphreys’ training is a minimum of four hours, according to Microsoft co-worker Tim Duerr, who sometimes lends his boat or accompanies Humphreys on his training days.

“Being from the UK, I am aware of just how special this swim is, with not many successful attempts,” Duerr said, “and I think his drive and determination will see him successful this time round. He seems to be increasingly fine-tuning his nutrition; staying hydrated and nourished on the swim seems to be a challenge for anyone attempting the Channel.”

Arne Anderson, a long-time friend who also provides a boat to assist in training, adds that Humphreys puts in the time to train for the Channel not only physically, but also mentally by learning all that he can about its history and networking with others who have defeated it. Humphreys has even written a book that will be published after his upcoming swim about the swimmers, crews, Channel boat pilots, and others he’s met along the way in his Channel expeditions.

“He researches the best way to train and over the years has built an impressive network of friends and colleagues of other channel swimmers and the army of people involved in their success,” said Anderson. “I think [he] takes a cold shower year round as part of his training for the Channel water temperature.” He added that Humphreys has also put on 20 extra pounds necessary for the swim as part of the nutritional aspect of his training.

Humphreys left for England earlier this month. There, he will wait for clear weather until he is able to pursue the swim for what he hopes will be the last time. Kirkland may be in store for an Olympic-like champion of its own upon his return.

M.J. Hoecherl is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.