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Todd Paul
 Chicago resident Todd Paul may be the only person in the world unable to complete a kick turn in the pool, but able to claim that he successfully swam across the English Channel. After stepping into the pool for lessons only a handful of times, Paul set his sights on a lofty swim goal. “Last September I was looking for a big goal, that’s just the way I work,” says Paul. “I shoot for he moon.” With just a little over a year of training, Paul successfully crossed the English Channel landing on the French coast in a time of 18 hours and 35 minutes. “The worst part of the crossing was the hypothermia. It felt like I was on a drug just cruising,” says Paul. “I didn’r realize that I was finished until my hand hit the beach. I literally swam onto the beach.”
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Mary Jo Slikas
 MJ Slikas is an Ironwoman. The Orland Park triathlete just competed in the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Her time of 12:33:57 comes on the heels of her 10:46:48 World Championship qualifying time at Ironman Louisville.
Her performance at Ironman Louisville snagged Slikas her first Ironman podium spot. Slikas stood atop her age group (F40-44) at the event. “I started coming in back to where all the spectators were gathered and I could now hear the crowd,” says Slikas. “I was checking my watch and blinking because I was sure I was seeing things. Could I really be finishing this thing in under 11 hours?” In addition to being an amazing endurance athlete, Slikas is also a committed blogger and her racing and training regiment are recounted in her truly fantastic triathlon blog: mjtheironman.blogspot.com.
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