Isiah Christie 
Summer means it’s swim season for all of us, but for some, the dedication to swimming is on another level. Jim Mannoia, a marathon swimmer and Hoboken local, recently swam 28.5 miles around Manhattan as part of a fundraising initiative for clean water tracking, community access to open-water swimming, and other waterway awareness initiatives. Continue reading to learn about Jim Mannoia and his swim around Manhattan.
Photo courtesy of Loren Mannoia, Mike Verost, + Lyla Mannoia.
The Details
Jim Mannoia is a marathon swimmer and Hoboken local who recently completed a 28.5-mile swim around Manhattan as part of a fundraising initiative. On the morning of Tuesday, June 16th, he completed a swim trail around the entire NYC borough, with a full map of his swim found here.
Jim’s efforts were done to help support awareness and advocacy around waterways and swimming accesses, with funds donated to his effort going towards clean water tracking, community access to open-water swimming, and protecting the local marine environment from pollution. Jim’s fundraising initiative was organized by New York Open Water, and he reached above his target goal of $10,000.
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The Swimming Experience
Photo courtesy of Loren Mannoia, Mike Verost, + Lyla Mannoia.
Team HG had a chance to talk to Jim about how the swim trail went, and he had a lot to share. “Swimming for eight hours gives you a lot of time to reflect,” he explained. “The highs were incredibly high, [and] the lows were seriously low.”
Jim gained a lot from the experience, from bonding with his crew, seeing unforgettable views, jokingly considering shoulder surgery, and enjoying some mid-swim snacks (Encrustables + flat Coke, as he described). He explained that as he stared into the cold waters, he had some second thoughts, but the adrenaline from friends, family, and random bystanders encouraged him to jump. However, it wasn’t that simple.
“Within ten minutes, the adrenaline was gone, and it was full fear-mode, as my safety kayaker yelled at me to slow down. I had started too fast, and now the Staten Island Ferry was looming over us as it pulled out… they notoriously stop for no one! A giant orange boat blocking your way definitely has a way of making you feel small,” Jim described about the start of the swim.
As Jim continued, he noticed how beautiful the New York City architecture looked from his perspective, and opted to backstroke under each of the 20 bridges to savor the moment. As he swam and the current occasionally carried him, he tried to identify each building he passed. “Stuy-town, Empire State, Chrysler, UN, and Billionaires’ Row on 57th. It was the most epic sightseeing tour I’ve ever taken of Manhattan, but way too short!”, Jim shared.
Photo courtesy of Loren Mannoia, Mike Verost, + Lyla Mannoia.
He explained that “Hell’s Gate” at East 91st was considered the most critical part of the swim, as it’s where the East River, Harlem River, and Long Island Sound converge, causing a violent swirl of currents. “If you don’t arrive before the tide turns, your swim is over, because you could never fight the East River current. But if you get there too soon, you have to fight against the Harlem,” Jim explained to HG. ‘Unfortunately, I arrived too soon and ended up fighting the current for over an hour, clawing my way for each yard, counting each rock in the wall I passed. As my shoulders started to burn, I tried not to think about the six hours still ahead of me, and the fact that if I stopped, I would be carried backwards.”
Jim said that the Harlem River was a more narrow, shallow swim, where random viewers would stop and chat with his support crew. Eventually, when the tide turned, he was swept north towards the Broadway Bridge, meaning he was over the halfway point as family cheered him on. He then had to return to the Hudson River, where the temperature dropped, and the Jersey City skyline felt especially far away. However, it was at this point that his daughter, Loren, offered to swim with him.
“It’s hard to describe how grateful and proud I was,” Jim said. “How many kids could – let alone would – jump into cold, choppy water and swim for an hour, just to encourage their dad? Loren, you’re amazing!”
Jim’s pace picked up, swimming alongside Loren, and by the time she got out, he was approaching Central Park. It was at this point that he was his most exhausted, but as he saw the Stevens University dorms, he knew he was in the home stretch. At this point, the wave directions were completely unpredictable, but he powered through as he neared the starting point at Pier A in Hoboken. As his family, friends, and onlookers cheered on, he made it and thought about how he wanted to do it all over again. “Honestly, it was so much fun it seems like it should be illegal! I’m secretly plotting my next swim, but don’t tell my wife,” Jim joked.
A Locals’ Q&A with Jim
HG: What inspired you to pursue swimming at the marathon level? How long have you been swimming?
Jim: “I don’t know that I ever intended to become a long-distance swimmer, but it’s addictive! I played water polo and did triathlons back in high school and college, and started doing triathlons again a few years ago to get back in shape. I quickly realized I hate running, but I’m not a terrible swimmer, so I started doing shorter swims and was always itching to go further! Since my wife likes warm beaches and I like swimming, we made an agreement to start doing vacation where we could do both. I think she feels cheated now: what started as Turks & Caicos, the Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas has now ended up in the Hudson!”
HG: How was your experience swimming in Key West, Florida? How did it compare to the Manhattan swim?
Jim: “I’ve actually done a bunch of long-distance swims. Some of the longer ones include 10KM around Harrington Sound in Bermuda, 20KM around Key West, 25KM from Vermont to Canada and back (passport required!), and 10KM from Yonkers to Inwood (with Loren!). What I love is that each time you get in, it’s a completely different experience, so you never know what you’re going to get! Around Key West, a nurse shark swam with me for a while, and definitely helped me pick up the pace! By the end, the side-to-side swell from the open ocean made me seasick, and I had a lot of trouble keeping my food down. The toughest part may have been afterwards, though – I missed a spot around my goggles with my sunscreen (actually Desitin diaper cream!), and ended up with a C-shaped blister that looked like a Mike Tyson tattoo!”
Photo courtesy of Loren Mannoia, Mike Verost, + Lyla Mannoia.
HG: Given that you had to swim through the Hudson River, did you have any concerns about cleanliness or safety during your marathon?
Jim: “I had zero concerns about water quality. The water quality is actually as clean as it’s been since the Civil War (and yes, the records actually go back that far). As part of my training, I swim out at Coney Island (shout out to CIBBOWS!), and was lucky enough to have a dolphin follow me for almost ten minutes by the pier! My kids sail on the Hudson, and see them all the time there too. That’s actually part of why I swam; I want people to know how clean the rivers are, and for more people to get in and have fun!”
“In terms of safety, there is a lot of boat traffic, particularly in the Hudson. Whether it’s commuter ferries, barges, cruise ships, jet skis, or sailboats, these waters are some of the most heavily trafficked on the eastern seaboard. That said, New York Open Water – the governing body – has an amazing crew. They know the tides, currents, and conditions like no one else, and have great relationships with everyone on the water. I knew if anyone could keep me safe out there, it was NYOW.”
HG: As a Hoboken resident, what are some things you love about the city? How long have you been in Hoboken?
Jim: “We have been in Hoboken since 2010, and in the NYC area since 2004. We love the big city + small town feel, and it’s been a great place to raise our four daughters. We live close to Church Square Park and Washington Street, and love the safety and walkability of the city.”
HG: Any favorite local businesses in Hoboken? Spots to eat at?
Jim: “Hoboken Grace on 14th is such an amazing and welcoming community. Our kids love all the activities available to them, but also the ways they’re able to get involved and give back themselves. The Hoboken Sailing Club by Maxwell Place is a hidden gem – it’s an amazing way to get out on the water, and also a really great community. My wife ADORES her F45 crew at the Monroe Center… I can’t keep up with those guys, but they’re a lot of fun! I’m not much of a foodie, but I love Thomas’ Ice Cream on Jefferson, Zack’s at 3rd + Willow, and Lola’s on 14th.”
Photo courtesy of Loren Mannoia, Mike Verost, + Lyla Mannoia.
HG: Do you have any words of advice for other swimmers, athletes, or anyone working towards a fitness goal?
Jim: “Mind over matter: you are capable of way more than you believe about yourself. You may not believe this, but I’m actually afraid of open water! Nothing specific like wildlife or currents, but I had an overwhelming sense of dread when I first started going out on my own. So for me, being out there is less about being an athlete or chasing a fitness goal, and at least in part about literally changing my mind. Even now, I still feel trepidation when a cloud passes overhead, suddenly darkening the water, but I also can’t imagine not being out there! I’m already itching for my next adventure, and while I know fear has its proper place, acknowledging and moving past it allows you to do things you never thought you would, and have unforgettable experiences!”
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