Who are these people?

Saturday, 86 people did something thatpuzzled me more than the ending to the movie "No Country for Old Men."

Eighty-six swimmers entered the Beaufort River at 9 a.m. at the Port Royal Landing marina to compete in the Beaufort River Swim, a three-mile trek from the Port Royal Landing marina to the Beaufort Downtown Marina.

The average person would probably prefer to sleep in on a Saturday, taking a break from the stress of a normal work week by enjoying a lazy, relaxing weekend.

I don't know if swimming three miles is anybody's definition of relaxing, but I know it's not mine. Yet 86 participants gave up a Saturday morning to completely exhaust themselves in pursuit of a nifty, bobblehead trophy.

To channel Jerry Seinfeld, who are these people? Perhaps the better question is what motivates them?

Truth is their motivation isn't any different from a person who embraces repainting a house or fixing up old cars. Setting a goal and actually accomplishing it produces a euphoria that can't always be found in everyday life. Sometimes, you have to go to the extreme to find it.

That explains why Jack Cunningham, who had never swam in a three-mile river swim before, was joking and laughing with friends after being among the last pack of swimmers to exit the river.

"I'm not a swimmer per se," Cunningham said. "That's not really my thing. I wanted to see how I would do. ... It gives you something to work for. If you don't have goals, it's real easy to slack off."

The challenge, along with helping out a charitable cause, were Cunningham's main reasons for participating.

While all the proceeds will go to the YMCA's learn-to-swim programs, the river offered Cunningham no physical charity.

"It was about what I expected," Cunningham said. "It is a challenge, especially if you're in the back of the pack like I was."

If you're like the 2008 Beaufort River Swim champ Carlton Bruner, competitive swimming is ingrained into your personality.

The former Olympian has been swimming competitively since he was 8 years old and it became a lifestyle for him.

"I grew up doing competitive swimming," Bruner said. "Over time, (swimming) became my way of life. I love it. It's a great sport. It's something that I'm proud to be involved with."

Bruner has used his talents to help out several causes by swimming in numerous charity events.He also swims on the Beaufort Masters swim team for what he terms "fun."

But watching Bruner glide through the calm waters of the Beaufort River, you could see the same determination fueling him like it did every other swimmer in the water.

So who are the 86 swimmers who gave up a Saturday to swim three miles? They are goal-driven adventurers seeing how far they can push themselves.

As to what motivates them, that answer was surprising simple -- proving something to themselves.

Sometimes the reward is in what you accomplish, whether you win a bobblehead trophy or not.