Tech Power Couple to Row From California to Hawaii

The co-founder of real-estate website Trulia and his wife, a former software product manager, are preparing for an extreme couples challenge: They aim to row from Monterey, Calif., to Hawaii. Others have made the rowing journey across the Pacific, but Sami Inkinen, 38, and Meredith Loring, 34, would be the first couple to do so, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Their 1,400-pound boat—2,900 pounds with all their stuff in it—has neither engine nor sail; the couple will depend on their rowing skills to make the 2,400-mile journey to Oahu. They plan to set off this week if the weather is amenable.

Fortunately, both are serious athletes. Inkinen is a triathlete—one of the top amateurs in the world for his age, the Daily Mail reports—and Loring recently won Nepal's Mount Everest marathon in the women's division. Their first overnight date was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. "Both of us were looking for a new and difficult adventure that would push our mental and physical capabilities," says Inkinen. They're also hoping to raise awareness and money for their campaign for better nutrition. Inkinen found out he was pre-diabetic several years ago and now "won't go near sugar," says a website dedicated to the row. The biggest challenge of the 60-day trip may not be physical, however. "I think the biggest threat will be to our relationship," Loring notes. (More Trulia stories.)