Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Jim-Bayles-marathon-benefit

Full Text:

An Iron-Man's Commute To Manhattan, With A River View

(with cut)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown resident Jim Bayles commutes to New York City five days a week. He

usually drives part of the way, then boards a train for the final leg.

Occasionally, he enjoys taking the scenic route.

The scenic route, for Jim, entails jumping into the Hudson River near the

Tappan Zee Bridge and swimming the 20-plus miles to Chelsea Piers in

Manhattan. On September 9, the Chase Manhattan Bank real estate executive will

take the plunge again when he swims from Greenwich to downtown Manhattan. His

swim will take him down the Mianus River and through Long Island Sound. It's

being billed as the "Commuter Express."

Jim, 46, a world champion swimmer, does iron-man events for charity. The focus

of his efforts has been the battle against juvenile diabetes, which his father

suffered from for many years. To date, the Butterfield Road resident has

raised more than $45,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

This year's swim will take Jim under the Throggs Neck, Whitestone, Queens,

Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges. He will also pass through the

notoriously choppy waters under the Hell's Gate Bridge.

Two years ago, the Newtown resident swam from Alcatraz to Fisherman's Wharf in

San Francisco.

Jim's father suffered from juvenile diabetes from age 19 until the day he died

at age 75. Like Jim, his father managed to keep himself in shape and, at his

death, was believed to be the healthiest diabetic in the United States in

terms of complications caused by the disease.

Inspired by his father's determination to be healthy, Jim wakes up each

morning at 3:30 and makes his way to New Canaan's YMCA to train. From there,

he heads to New York City where he works for Chase Manhattan Bank's corporate

real estate division.

Three years ago, the 5'11", 190-pound athlete swam, kicked and pulled a full

marathon (26.2 miles or 42,000 meters) in a pool. It took him 13 hours and he

raised over $10,000. Last year, he raised the same amount by swimming a half

marathon in a pool and bicycling 110 miles, all in a day.

Swimming has been a lifelong passion for Jim, who began swimming competitively

at the age of five. He went to the nationals at Dartmouth College where he

excelled in the 400 individual medley, and barely missed the Olympic trials in

1972. In recent years, however, he has decided to use the sport he loves so

much to give something back to society.

Jim and his wife, Trina, moved to Newtown from New Canaan two years ago, along

with their three daughters Jen, Brooke and Katie.

For more information on the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation or to find out how

you can get involved in these and other events, please call 203/972-1729.