Allow me to reintroduce myself

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For as long as I can remember I have always been drawn to the water. A profound passion that afforded me many opportunities such as swimming for UC Berkeley and the US National team.  

I walked away from pool swimming still loving the water and the sport (high thanks to the innovative swimming and life coaching from Teri McKeever). 

About a year later, 2016, I joined the Dolphin Club, I had found my post- collegiate athlete niche. Cold water, long distances, strong sense of community, and beautiful views. It didn't take long for me to meet the "greats" of the Dolphin Club and the South End Rowing Club and to be inspired by their amazing feats. Getting to know these people and their stories encouraged me to create my own "big goals". 

I then started "Beyond the Blackline" and that page has been a wonderful chapter. The name of this page came from the transition of pool swimming to open water swimming and challenging my comfort zone, going beyond the safety of the pool and the blackline telling you where to swim and instead forging my own path and stepping into the unknown. 

Over the past 7 years I have been able to travel the world and explore waters locally while going after long swims. This journey has been the most rewarding of my life and I hope to keep pushing the limits of endurance swimming and my own limits. I want to inspire and motivate others to see what they are capable of. 

I am passionate about the sport and about making it accessible to all people. The water has always been a calming place for me and a safe haven and I believe everyone deserves that opportunity regardless of race, gender, and socioeconomic status.

I also feel strongly about protecting the ocean and the creatures in it, it is their home and we are merely visitors. 

My goal is to bring awareness and funds to organizations that align with my goals and passions while inspiring others to go "beyond the blackline".

It is time though, for Beyond the Blackline to say goodbye. As I write this, tears well up in my eyes. The little page that started as a swim log while training for the length of Tahoe turned into my identity. People recognizing me, sharing personal stories with me through DM's, tagging me, using my journey as inspiration. 

As I rebrand and restructure, I feel a sense of confidence, albeit shrouded by fear of the unknown, that I am stepping into a new chapter, a part 2 if you will. 

Catherine Breed is who I am. Beyond the Blackline was a lovely photo blog of a girl who loves the water. 

I am so much more than swimming and reclaiming my name and my identity as an endurance and adventure athlete, in addition to water woman, is the ultimate way to go beyond the blackline of societies structure.

Thank you all
Catherine