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Ohio Woman First To Swim Length Of Allegheny River

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Aug 21, 2008 8:17 pm US/Eastern

Ohio Woman First To Swim Length Of Allegheny River

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― With the sounds of horns blowing, applause and shouts of "Katie!," 21-year-old Katie Spotz of Mentor, Ohio became the first person ever to swim all 325 miles of the Allegheny River.

With a hand up from River Rescue officers she arrived at the Point State Park fountain at 11:50 a.m. just a month after stepping into the river's headwaters in central Pennsylvania.

"I can't believe I'm here. I'm really happy, really excited - I love swimming so it's been a great trip," she said.

Her parents, were also excited and very relieved. "As her last grandma said, 'There's only one Katie and she plays by the tune of a different drummer,' " said Dan Spotz.

Her mom, Mary, was philosophical. "I guess you gotta get used to it, that's just Katie - it's very nerve wracking but she was in good hands with James," she said.

Swimming 8 to 10-hours a day with 30-minute breaks, Katie with her friend James paddling the support kayak lived on peanut butter, pancakes, pasta, trail mix, oatmeal and the kindness of strangers who let they sleep onboard their cabin cruisers the past few days. "It was the lap of luxury - people treated us to everything - nothing like the beginning of the trip," says James.

Early on the kayak floated away one night, they got separated during a lightning storm and Katie developed a weird rash. Swimming along she sometimes listened to music, enjoyed the river's beauty, and thought a lot to pass the time. "I just graduated from college so I've just been thinking about, you know, what my futures holds."

Whatever Katies future, you want to be along for the ride.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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