Wednesday, November 11, 2009

On Healing...

In my last post I had said that my goal was "to heal".
I have had the great fortune to have my NOVA team mate Julia Juliusson of Sports Science Lab to treat my hurt shoulder...I mean rotator cuff. I have learned that the rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles. These individual muscles combine at the shoulder to form a "cuff" over the joint. The rotator cuff has function of stabilizing the shoulder as well as elevating and rotating the arm. Each muscle originates on the shoulder blade (scapula) and inserts at the arm (humerus ).
The four muscles that form the rotator cuff are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.
Without the diagnostic benefit of an MRI, Julia was able to tactilely determine that I had at the least, an impinged supraspinatus tendon. She has been treating my injury with ultrasound, massage, prescribed stretches and now strengthening exercises (ball and weights). She has also gotten me in the pool with a device called a "bell" that is like a multi-sided paddle (It really feels good to be in the water too!)
Today she had me swim a few lengths of freestyle and saw that my hurt left arm was doing the evil "crossover"! I was kind of shocked because I have read so many articles about avoiding that! I know my stroke has not been like that in the past and I had no idea that I had developed such a bad stroke! On subsequent laps, I brought the left arm out, held my core and rotated more. I still felt a bit of the "pinch" (impingement), but nothing like where I was even last week.
With Julia's help, I will be able to fix my stroke and do more long swims!
Julia is the best! Without her input, I would have likely jumped in too early and tried to swim through the pain and would have hurt myself more. This could have resulted in a lifetime condition of chronic shoulder issues!
I completely recommend Julia and Sports Science Lab to anyone facing any kind of rehabilitation issues!
They are the BEST!!!




Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Why did I do that and what's next?

I have been on the road to this for over two years since I first read an email account of Jim McConica's Catalina swim exactly 5 years before mine (and I thought: "why in the world would anyone want to do that?" )
A few months later (October 2007) my friend Scott Zornig sent a mass email requesting crew for a crossing from Anacapa island to Santa Cruz island. I was just out of a really depressing relationship and I thought "why not"? So I got to kayak...it was a little more than I had bargained for! The winds were 25 knots, the sea had 6-8ft face swells, and the water was 57F!
I got tossed by a wave and had to roll the kayak back, hop on and catch up! I thought I would be able to contain my motion sickness with ginger products (wrong!) and threw up at the 5 mile mark. Scott's swim was only 6 miles but it was one of the most intense things I had ever been through and I was only the kayaker! I dry-heaved all the way back to Ventura Harbor, where I miraculously recovered and said "that was fun, let's do it again!"
I was invited back the following month to kayak for a relay crossing from Santa Barbara island to the mainland. On that relay I actually got to meet Jim McConica, Rendy Lynn Opedyke, Peter Attia, and Marc Lewis ...all amazing marathon swimmers! The relay was not successful but the experience was a positive one for me, anyways!
I went on to do a few more channel crossings as kayaker and official observer. My swim was the 10th channel crossing that I did.
My joke that it is that this is the sport of menopausal women! (1) I have insomnia, why not swim? and (2) HOT FLASH! Unfortunately I was not graced with any hot flashes, although I can't say that I was really tired.
A lot of people have said: What's next? And my response is: "To heal". I hurt my shoulder so I want to get better and then fix my stroke so this does not happen next time!
After I heal, I would like to organize and participate in a relay we will call "Girl's Night Out". Obviously all women ocean swimmers...Any volunteers???
:)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Video! Video!

Here is the video that my crew members shot of my swim! It is so interesting to see it from this angle after having been support on so many others! I am still eager to help others achieve this! What a great thing to get to do!

And here are some great pictures (thank you Brad Arshat)
http://multisportsoc.smugmug.com/Nova-Masters/Open-Water-Training-Racing/Lynns-Catalina-Crossing/9896936_xgrzH#674420692_d9LX8

I am so lucky to have been able to do this.
Thanks to a GREAT crew (and a great swimsuit) and the blessing of a mostly healthy body!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Are we there yet?

I could hardly believe that the night of my swim had finally arrived. As we headed toward Catalina, I went below to try to rest up. The humming of the engine and the gentle thumping of the boat should have been soothing, but thoughts kept invading my mind. I was saddened that the swimmer out the previous night out had not been successful in his attempt. I was really worried that the west wind a few days before had dropped the ocean temperature five degrees from 70-72F to 65-67F. I had done some tapering swims in the newly cooled water and thought I could swim through it. As we got closer, I settled into the rhythm of the boat but never entered into a full sleep.

Having assisted on 4 other solo swims this year, I was acutely aware of the sound of the Outrider’s engine dropping down from full throttle to the gentle hum that signified that we had arrived at the island. I wanted to be excited and happy, but felt my heart sink a bit. I heard the rattle of the anchor chain being dropped, so I came up and looked around and found out that we had arrived at about 11:15pm. I didn’t want to leave at 11:30pm because the previous night’s swimmer had started around that time. It felt like bad luck to start then, so I asked to leave closer to midnight. I went back down below to “rest” but I kept wondering if the “real swimmer” was going to show up.

I finally got up and started preparing. I was going to wear a black bubble cap that my main observer David Clark had brought along but it seemed to constrict my forehead so I switched to a white bubble cap that I had briefly trained in. My assistant observer Beth Weber helped me grease up with A&D ointment (15.5% lanolin) and my first escort swimmer Patsee Ober got ready. I had decided to swim in Szuszi-Stephanie’s “Sportkini” at the last minute too. I had trained in it and thought it would keep me from getting strap rash. David Clark warned me that they had seen a sea lion but that did not worry me too much. I am not sure what time we jumped off the boat, but the 67F water was definitely not the warm embrace of 70F. I did not feel the “love”, but knew if I kept swimming I could get through the discomfort.

Patsee and I swam to the island. I have seen this so many times before from different perspectives: as an observer and as a kayaker. It was completely surreal to be the swimmer. I felt outside my body at that point. The water was beautiful and clear and I saw a few shadow fish dart past. I walked up onto the beach to make sure I was way past the waterline, raised my hand up to signal the start and then moved back into the water to swim.

I knew I was never going to get any time record, so my main objective was just finishing. Patsee and I swam up to our kayaker, Ralph Lufkin and then to the Outrider.

It was a beautiful, clear night just past the full moon. I could see Ralph, clearly outlined against the night sky on my right and Patsee and the Outrider over to my left. The starboard side of the Outrider was festively lit with multi-colored glow sticks that hung over the side attached by long strings. The water was clear and I saw strange figurative vertical lines of kelp that dropped below the water. I swam over bits of seaweed but they did not scare me because I was used to that from my training. As we got further out, the phosphorescent bubbles danced off my fingertips like the stars in the sky. I remembered reading Lynne Cox’s description of her disorientation during her first Catalina swim in Swimming to Antarctica. It was such an amazing magical view of the sea and the sky. I was trying to imagine how I could translate that into my artwork.

I smelled coffee fragrance coming off the boat and remembered that Outrider’s pilot, John Pittman called me the previous evening and said he would do “Galley” (food) for my crew.

My first feed (and all the rest) was warmed Perpetuem and Heed. It has a creamy neutral taste and it felt good. My feeds were scheduled every half hour so I was able to gauge the time at that point. Patsee paced along side me nicely and I felt good but a little chilled. I am not sure what time she got out though.

My second escort swimmer, Ray Meltvedt got in after Patsee. He wore some little fins to keep up with me. He had a glow necklace and bracelets and I was able to see him easily. He swam a little closer than Patsee and I felt like I had to swerve a bit to avoid him sometimes.

I looked over at one point and realized Ralph was missing. I flipped up to do backstroke and saw that that he had capsized. I knew it would be hard for him to flip the kayak because there was an ice chest with my feed bottles strapped on. I kept swimming and Ralph soon appeared back on my right. The feeds were getting cooler and cooler and I was feeling colder and colder. Patsee came back on deck and asked if I could “pick it up”. I felt really bad because at that point I noticed an unfamiliar pain in my left arm and couldn’t push too much past that.

Ray got out and Patsee got back in. I think of that point as my “pre-dawn crisis” because I had been so cold and my arm hurt I wondered if I could pull this off??? Patsee told me to go to the big boat for my next feed. I was handed a cup on a rope and the feed was delightfully scalding. I could feel the warmth enter my core and emanate outward to my fingers and toes! It was MAGIC! I felt the warmth become a shield that protected me in the last of the dark hours.

My ocean swimming buddy, Roni Hibben had taken on the task of preparing my feeds and that was what kept me going. I was so grateful to my crew that every time they handed me a feed I tried to remember to say “thank you”.

I have heard from many channel swimmers that the sun coming up is a big boost and so it was. I saw the water change from the moonlit blackness to gray and the sky began glowing. Patsee got out and Natalie Merrow got in. I was thinking at that point, I didn’t need escort swimmers, but had asked other Catalina aspirants and friends to come along to share the adventure.

During one feed I made the mistake of looking back and Catalina still looked really big, like I hadn’t gone very far. I never looked back again. At a point I saw my crew pointing off to my right. I breast-stroked and heard them say “Whale!” I never saw the whale but I know from other swims, wildlife is something the crew gets to enjoy, though not the swimmer. I was really happy that they got to see that!

My left arm hurt a lot the whole swim. I had a couple of Tylenols during the swim and at one point they gave me some big green Advil gelcaps. That seemed to alleviate the pain a bit. I never really got over being cold either. The warm feeds helped though. I had my first-ever jelly fish stings. The first was on my right foot and the second was on the underside of my right arm. It felt like glass had gashed my flesh. I didn’t stop or look. I didn’t mention it to the crew either, because I knew there was nothing they could do about that and the pain would go away soon enough.

I never thought of getting out, but I remembered Penny Palfrey saying that you have two choices in that instance: you can either be miserable in the water or you can get back on the boat and be REALLY miserable!

I remember my lanemate Alex Chueng getting in and swimming with me. He is a much faster sprinter but paced alongside me very nicely. I was happy to see him. My kayaker, Ralph got out and Brad Arshat took over kayaking. I remember him smiling over at me when I breathed to my right and that made me feel happy. I tried to smile back a few times but I was so cold I was not sure my face was working properly. I was afraid that I might look like a snarling dog baring its teeth.

I completely lost track of time. My crew had switched my feeds to every 20 minutes but it felt like every half hour to me.

During one feed, David Clark asked me what color my car was. I was thinking “I know that move…he thinks I am hypothermic!” I said “sage” and they laughed. I was not sure why until afterward; I was told that Patsee told David that my car was green.

At one point we swam past a little kelp patty and I saw a really pretty school of small fish. That was the only sealife I clearly saw.

Kayaker-Ralph got in though I don’t remember exactly when. My nose was kind of stopped up so when I was exhaling in his direction I wondered if he could hear me “honking” toward him. Natalie got in to swim but she swam so far ahead of me I rarely saw her. After a while Ray got in to swim and he swam along side me and sometimes underneath me. That made me start laughing!

I noticed the sun was edging past what I knew was noon and maybe past two. My original time projection was to get in around 12-14 hours. I saw the shore getting closer out of the corner of my eye and during feeds but I knew not to look up and risk discouragement.

We came into a murky opaqueness that was a bit of a red tide. I remembered that Anne Cleveland had commented on that during Penny Palfrey’s swim from Santa Barbara Island the previous week so I knew I was within a few miles!

I was excited when I saw someone in a red cap jump in. “Who is that?” I asked. It was Beth Weber the assistant observer there to see me in. I had seen that beach before but coming up to it as “the swimmer” was an entirely different experience. Someone had constructed about a half a dozen tall stone cairns at the edge of the rocks. Aside from a few people on the beach, the sentinel sculptures looked like my formal "welcoming committee". I wended my way through a bit of kelp and then came up upon the mossy rocks. I got blasted by a wave though managed to crawl back up over the edge and finish.

I heard the Outrider’s horn blast but I was so cold, I didn’t know what to feel. I looked for a pretty rock as a memento which I handed to Beth and then headed back quickly because I was starting to shiver. I remember Forrest Nelson mentioning that you have to crab-walk back out on your butt, except I got blasted by three waves before Ray reached out and hauled me through the surf. They asked if I wanted a “kayak-tow” back to the boat but I just swam it.

When I got back on the boat, they swaddled me in many towels. I felt someone put some cozy Ugg boots on my feet and I just shivered hard for a while. They eventually got me under a hot shower and helped me dress. After that, my crew wrapped me in a sleeping bag bundled like a baby burrito.

I am so grateful to my crew. Most of these people I have known less than two years and have met in the process of training for this swim and just from our swimming world in general. I could say “I did this swim”, but it is more accurate to say “we did it!”

When they said I “broke 16 hours” I was a little shocked and unhappy. This was over two hours more than the slowest time I had anticipated. I guess my sore arm and the cold took its toll that way. My time was 15 hours, 53 minutes and 38 seconds….the slowest time this century! I need to work on my stroke so that the next time I do this I will be less prone to injury and will do it a little faster!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Taper!


Earlier in the season, I attended an Art Opening at Peter Blake Gallery and was chatting with my friend Bob Pece (http://www.scagallery.com/sca_artist_bobp.html) . He introduced me to Joe Emley, who is a chiropractor and head of his volunteer fire battalion in Emerald Bay (friend of swimmer friend Bruce Newell who is head of his volunteer fire battalion in Modjeska Canyon). anyways Dr. Emley offered me an adjustment before and after my Catalina attempt.
Last Friday I got the courage to go to his office (in Laguna Beach at the corner of Thalia and Glennerye) and ask for the adjustment.
I've never been to a chiropractor before but it seemed like he unleashed the inner popcorn popper in my spine. Wow! That felt good! Well, some of it hurt a little too but there was a nice warmth afterward. He said to come back for one more adjustment before my swim!

The next day when did an ocean swim with Patsee, she said it seemed like I was swimming faster...OOooohhh! I just want to be able to get there.

Friday, September 25, 2009

You mean I don't have to kill myself?

Nick Adams (who swam Catalina AND English Channel this year...English Channel many times) sent me the note below. I was contemplating doing another 8 hour swim this weekend, but he (and others) advise against it. There is nothing that I can do now that will make me swim farther, faster or give me any more stamina (except getting lots of rest and good food).

Lazy-lethargic-Lynn is saying "Oh goodie, let's have a Guiness or three and a nap!" and Stern-work-ethic-driven-Lynn is moaning..."no, no, no...you'll swell up like a whale and they will have to gaff you out of the channel!"

*************************************************
Dearest Darling Lynn

You are a hero! Personally I wouldn't be doing so much distance this close to a swim. You've done plenty and will be fine on the day. Rest now, eat lots to get fully fuelled for your swim.

Give your body time to rest and repair. You are so strong mentally and physically, that you'll do what's required on the day, but you have to start the swim fresh and injury-free.

You really are one of my heroes. I have never met anyone with such a sunny personality and someone that smiles as much as you. Belive in yourself like we do; don't best yourself up before the swim believing it's the only way.

With all my love
Nick
PS Hug hug hug

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Friends from "down unda"!

Facebook friends, Penny Palfrey (Santa Barbara Is. to Palos Verde Sept 24-25) and Chris Palfrey (Catalina Sept 28-29) are out visiting for channel swims. They are from Townsville, North Queensland, Australia...
I was going to kayak for Chris' swim, but had signed up before scheduling my own swim and Forrest talked me out of that.
I am going to update Penny's Facebook for her via updates from her observer Anne Cleveland starting tomorrow! That will be fun to be in on the progress of her swim. I hope the ocean lays down calm for her.
Last night (Sept 22-23) Carol Sing went out for her swim but the conditions were so choppy she was getting sick and and had to let the attempt go. I was sad to hear of that, because if she had been successful she would have set the record for oldest person to swim the channel at 68. I hope she tries again!
Tomorrow night Chris Palfrey will be joining us for our kayak-led night swim. That will be fun having a guest from "down unda"! Too bad it's in the dark and Chris won't be able to see how beautiful Laguna Beach is...

Sunday, September 20, 2009

8 hour swim

This was my longest swim since I hurt myself! 8 hours...and this is the way it went:
6:57-7:48 (51)
7:50-8:40 (50)
8:42-9:31 (49)
9:33-10:24 (51)
10:26-11:17 (51)
11:19-12:12 (53)
12:14-1:08 (54)
1:10-2:03 (53)
2:05-3:16 (71)
All of the legs were Oak to Main and back (approx. 1.65 miles) except the last, which included the rocks past Brook Street and back (2.25 miles)
483 minutes (8 hours 3 minutes) for 15.45 miles!
I saw lots of Garibaldi, pretty schools of fish and some interesting looking sharks. Not too many people and the guards are gone (I miss them).
As I was getting out, an overly-tanned man said "Are you tired yet? I watched you swim since 10am!" I guess I was tired but my arms were sore more than anything. In the middle of the swim my lower back hurt a lot, but I would roll-stretch and do some backstroke...that didn't help but the pain went away eventually. I am wondering what the channel will feel like more than anything.
16 more days.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Falling into place...

I am so excited! I just got an email from Paula Selby of CCSF:
********************************

Hi Lynn,

This message is to confirm that David Clark has been assigned as your primary observer, and Beth Weber as your assistant observer for your Catalina Channel swim scheduled for Tuesday, October 6 – Wednesday, October 7 on the Outrider. As time and logistics permit, Beth can probably assist with paddling as well, if needed.

Please advise David and Beth as to when Outrider is scheduled to leave the dock in San Pedro. Best of luck to you with your training! We’ve had a highly successful year so far this year, so the Channel Gods are smiling down upon us! On behalf of the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation, we wish you the best of luck with your upcoming solo swim!

Cheers,

Paula Selby

Support - Catalina Channel Swimming Federation

********************************

David was the Observer on Chris Robert's swim when I kayaked. I got shoved out into the dark roiling void saying "I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared..." He didn't think I would last 15 minutes and I went on to pull through several hours into a beautiful sunrise (though the conditions were still pretty crappy).

So David is among one of the more experienced CCSF observers and teaches the observer kayaker class. I feel honored to have him as my observer.

Friday, September 18, 2009

OMG...why am I doing this again?

I was trolling the Channels Swimmers group and found this list of helpful tips:

1) Embrace your fear/worry/anxiety/self doubt. You wouldn't be doing
it if were easy. And we all have them.
2) Don't worry that you're tired all the time that you are in
training - you're training to swim the Channel for god's sake!
3) On the day don't get overwhelmed. Don't think "Oh my god, I'm
going to be swimming for 14 hours". Instead think, "Hey it will all
be over this time tomorrow!" (doesn't count if you're doing a
two-way/three-way!)
4) Don't wear a watch during your swim. Never ask how far you've
swum/how far you have to go. It doesn't make any difference and the
first half of your swim may have no bearing on the second half
5) Keep your feeds as short as possible
6) When you get close to Palos Verde don't keep looking at the coast - it
doesn't get any closer for hours and you'll just get frustrated
7) Keep telling your crew how you are - they probably won't ask you,
but keep telling them (briefly) anyway.
8) Many people are ill and still keep swimming - if you are sick,
don't panic. You can keep swimming. Adrenalin is an amazing thing.
9) When you are getting really tired and miserable, think "Is there
any reason that I can't keep going?" If the answer is no, then KEEP
GOING!
10) Remember that the only bit worth swimming is the last bit!

But wait! There's more!
- swim from feed to feed -
- and remember, a feed IS JUST A FEED as Sal says - it is NOT a rest!
- just keep moving your arms and legs - until you get to the other side....
- and to quote a very good friend of ours, Dennis from Connecticut , USA -
" Start steady - and taper off at the end"!
- and to quote good old Charlie
"don't peak too early!!"

And:
"Prepare for the worst - and hope for the best!!

...oh!
"just swim till there is no more water".


Two nights, two night swims!

Swimming in the dark.
There is something about it that is scary and there is a point where fear becomes irrelevant because "it" is a thing you have to get through. Fear gets in the way of the thing that need to be done.
Soooo...last night I was very lucky to have Beth Weber kayak for me! We put glow sticks on the kayak and I put a glow necklace on her. I like the kayaker's torso right at my side, that keeps me in a place of comfort. I need to figure out a better feed delivery system because the 16oz. screw top water bottles are awkward. I may hit the dollar store tomorrow and see what I can find...
We went about 2.3 miles last night:
This evening I met up with Ray Meltvedt. He had on a glow necklace and I had bracelets and a glow stick pinned to my back. We swam straight out and I swam right into the buoy! (clang!!!)
That felt stupid, but at least didn't hurt much! We swam all the way to the rocks but a little less distance, since we left out at the tower. It was a lot harder to spot Ray with the necklace and I had to do some headup swimming to spot him a couple of times.
He offered to swim straight out from the buoy so I could get some of the really dark training in that I should do. I postponed for next week when we have a kayak (my new security blanket) to go out with us.
I am so very grateful to Ray and Beth for helping me get some of the nighttime kinks out!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Getting back up to speed?

This is the longest ocean swim since I got hurt. Took 3 hrs 42 minutes (222 minutes). This was after a 4100 yard workout at UCI this morning ("the donning of the Flowered Caps" for Ellen and Jenna's birthdays). I hurt a bit this morning but did ice/heat for about an hour and felt NOTHING at all in the ocean! I am happy for that right now.
I did 4 laps and on the last I was going to go to the rocks but ran into a floating mylar balloon. I did a catchup drill into the balloon to bring it into shore. I could have popped it but it was much more fun that way. The surfers seemed to like it anyways.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Night Swims!!!

Bring your own glow stick (BYOGS).
Thursday (9-17) AND Friday (9-18) nights!!!
Main Beach Life Guard Tower. If we go south there are no rocks to worry about.
Sunset is around 7pm, so meet at 7:30pm

Healing

It was a BIG week last week. I was hurting but was able to kind of take it "easy" with 2 back-to-back channel crossings for Joe Locke (Sept 8-9)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CvryimGzZA

and David Livengood (Sept 9-10)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTDueGHNWEU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym4FkTI8gHg

I saw my doctor on Thursday and he said he said to stay off of it for another week (oh well) and gave me a 7 day prescription for a strong anti-inflammatory. I didn't swim Friday and attended a funeral for a friend's father (the ceramics teacher from my high school), Cliff Hilliard.
Saturday I met with my coach Ahelee who helped me work out a revised training schedule. She believes that I have a solid training base and that even if I don't do any more "big swims" between now and then I will be able to do the channel! That was a HUGE confidence boost.
Sunday I did the Gatorman (3 mile) at La Jolla and the conditions were really rough. This was the first time I had swam since the previous Monday and I felt the pain enough to just go slow (my time was a terrible 1:50.something).
Monday I just did a 3000 kicks with arms at sides and iced all day.
Today (Tuesday) the 15th I did 3150 in my normal lane. I still feel it but not nearly as bad as Sunday. I may go out for an ocean swim later on today (or stay home and ice/heat the area some more).
I am trying to get some folks together for some Night swims this week. I need more of the dark training!!!
It is getting so close.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Hurts to breathe, Hurts to swim

I am not sure how this happened, but I woke up with it this morning.
Today was a glorious day and I had planned on a 4-6 hour swim but my body said: NO!

I took off at 7am and the water was a balmy 70-72 at least....clear and gorgeous. A PERFECT day!
except...
What's that pain in my chest?
My friend's father had passed away the night before and I cried a bit...was my heart hurting? Yes and no...this was on my right side. swim swim swim.
Made it to the Main Beach buoy but with significant pain. But the water was so beautiful...schools of fish and ouch, ouch , ouch. I can't continue. But I didn't want to get out and walk.
I made it back to Oak street and conceeded that my swimming day was done.
I chattted with a cute older surfer guy (who was an Army Medic in the day) strained muscle...take it easy.
I do not have that long to "take it easy" though. I am a little worried. My massage Therapist friend Kathy, felt it up and said it felt tight and to compress and ice.

I have 2...count 'em, two back-to-back channel crossings Tue-Wed (Joe Locke) and Wed-Thu (David Livengood, love that name) this week. I was supposed to be a kayaker for Joe but got promoted to Official Observer! that is good because kayaking could hurt my "owie" more if I had to go out and work those muscles
This thing has a week to heel up. I still need to do a 10 hour swim and night time training. Not much time...I may have to defer to next year if it still hurts.

I so want to do this, but I do not want to be crawling in excruciating pain. I want this to be a joyful thing.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

A herd a flock a pod...

8 hr swim today. A herd of sunbathers, a flock of rays, and a pod of dolphins.
Not in that order.
And an inanimate object rescue.

I overturned the sign at Lap 5 and retrieved it to give to the lifeguard on lap 6...

This morning as i was putting on the A&D ointment I saw a pod of 4 dolphins going south about 100 yards out. The whole set went like this:
6:48-7:38 (50)
7:40-8:30 (50)
8:32-9:23 (51)
9:25-10:18 (53)
10:20-11:15 (55) saw sign and dove to turn it over. I saw the rays near Main Beach...at least a dozen grey rays with one beige ray that didn't seem to get along with the others (Crikey!)
11:17-12:13 (56) swam back to the sign and gave it to the guard (cute guy but likely my son's age)
12:15-1:11 (56) chatted with cute (older) paddleboard guy who had paddled from Victoria Beach
1:14-2:10 (56) chatted with two swimmers Peter (the dad), and Conner (the son, maybe 10)
2:12-3:10 (58) 2 huge military helicopters with open sides flew really low over me...one on each side!
483 minutes 8 hours 3 minutes, 14.85 miles (including chat and stuff)

I felt like I had the energy to go further but my arms were hurting a bit so decided to stop. I had the energy to do my laundry after that...so does that perhaps mean I might have the energy to do the remaining 5.15 miles?

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Training Tomorrow

I am apprehensive about this 8 hour training swim tomorrow.
The hardest part is getting in...I've got pre-mixed bottles of stuff (16 oz bottle, 1.5 scoop perpetuem, 0.5 scoop heed). I ran out of perpetuem but have ordered more.
Sunscreen goes on before I leave the house.
Remember the A&D at straps and under arms.
Remember earplugsRemember pad of paper and pen to write down times on shore-breaks.
It will be 9 or 10 laps depending on currents and surf.
Early to bed....

Friday, August 28, 2009

Oops! Don't talk to Strangers?

Okay...normally I don't pick up my cell phone with a strange number but this is the second time I have done this and the caller is the "priceless" Forrest Nelson!

He called me just now to check on my training this last week, I let him know about my 6+ hour swim and future plans...and he has some GREAT ideas for future training.
I have to get up to a 10 hour swim at minimum and some dark swims too.
There is a NOVA Labor Day party coming up and I will come with a calendar to recruit escort swimmers and kayakers for training swims.

every night I have to review how closer I am to swimming this channel.
I can do it...
(can I do it?)

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Lanolin?

a note on the Lanolin.
Many people have told me to go to WALMART PHARMACY to get Lanolin.
So it figures that I would find the one lubricant-challenged Walmart in Southern California! I asked the pharmacist for Lanolin. "What's Lanolin?" (uh oh! a test) "Uh...a dermal excretion from wool-bearing animals such as sheep?" ..."we don't carry that." "Well no, many people have told me you special-order it?", "No, we don't carry it". After a small conversation in the back I was directed to the infant section. "It's over by the breast pumps". I am thinking "Been there, done that" but with no where else to go, I settle for the A&D Ointment (15.5% Lanoline)
At least I wasn't chaffed today!

6+ Hour Swim

It was that times seven.
I was awakened at 3:00am this morning by the loud crashing waves down the street. "Oh no" I thought...I could pick a better day to do this swim.
stress...stress....stress. And I could pick a worse day too.
I got up at 5:30am. I gulped some coffee and oatmeal and got my nutrition bottles ready.
When I got to the beach the waves looked as big as they sounded. I put some A&D ointment on my neck and arms and dove in - Oak Street at 6:55am. Getting through the waves was fun but the water felt a lot colder than the 70F that was displayed on the website for Shaw's Cove (north of Oak Street).
The neat thing about this swim was I saw ""I could have picked a better day" fall away to "I couldn't have picked a better day"
The first lap was really unpleasant but I saw the sun rise over the houses spreading light rays through the sea mist. Second lap was a little better, felt a little warmer. It took me 2 minutes on the sand to write down my times and get food and get back out. Third lap the winds died down. The guards had arrived in the middle of the fourth lap and I saw a red flag go up at Main Beach. I did 7 laps total and on my way in I got slapped around by some waves and lost my goggles (good time to quit).
I felt pretty good except for all the sand in my suit, ears, etc, from getting rolled. Next time goggles go around my neck, not on my forehead!
It was not steady because the conditions changed throughout the day. Currents turned...(I could tell because of the way the kelp flowed).
The way it went was:
6:55-7:45 (50)
7:47-8:41 (54)
8:43-9:38 (55)
9:41-10:35 (54)
10:38-11:33 (57)
11:35-12:30 (55)
12:33-1:28 (55)

So with food, ins-in-outs I was 6hours, 20 minutes...and around 11.55 miles from rough Google Earth guess. I can't figure the getting in and out of the waves factor but they were pretty big!
Next long swim will be 7 hours (but I will be shooting for 8!)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Projectile Vomit practice????

I got an email from Forrest this morning about a swimmer making an EC attempt:

...swimmer made an attempt this month and wrote this recap: "got violently sea sick, could not stop wretching, pulled ligaments in my back while vomiting, zapped all my energy after 30 mins of it, had to give up at 3 hours, just treading water being sick with nothing left to come up"

Who's to say why this happened. Motion illness? Wrong fuel? Bad meal the day before? Stress? Boat ride to the start? Boat fumes during that ride?

But, as we discussed, that's why you practice. You actually want a training swim to go wrong, just so you can recover and gain confidence. Just as you did the other day.... this swimmer had never before been sick in the water and within 3 hours was finished... they hadn't practiced the projectile vomit portion of the swim...

I've gotten sick but not to the point of throwing up, and I went for a couple more hours. I guess I have a lot more to practice...

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Checklist

I got a concerned call from Forrest Nelson last Sunday with a list of suggestions; a checklist of things I need to accomplish and skills I need to get comfortable with prior to my swim.

-6, 8 10 hour swims
-More night swimming
-Feeding off a kayak
-Swimming with a kayak in the dark (sighting off a glowstick)
-Feeding off a kayak in the dark

This week I'll need to do a 6 hour swim and eventually work my way up to a 10 hour swim. I think I can pull an 8 hour ocean swim off (in 4x2hour blocks) but I think I will do the 10 in the pool. The ocean gets to me when I am all by myself and I don't think I can do a 10 as a solitary thing (I think I can do an 8). He recommended having a gallon of double strength feeding solution to add to warm water in case I need a warm feed (mixed w/ hot water). Also need to do more dark swims and practice feeding off a kayak and feeding off a kayak in the dark. I am going to hit up my kayaking friend on Beverly for that. Also just need to get in more dark swims. Jen's training partner "Uncle Dan" had done no night training and consequently got motion sick while swimming in the dark (just sighting off glow sticks and the boat). I wonder how I will do?
I wasn't sure if he was trying to talk me out of it or not. I don't think so...still I am scared.

A note from my Swim Team friends...

Dear all,

Hope you all have a great weekend! Thanks for staying tuned! Here are the updates:

The band: Surfin USA, if you want to see their recent performance, follow the links here!!

http://www.postyourmusic.com/myvideos/video/1113/Fun-Fun-Fun

http://www.postyourmusic.com/myvideos/video/1114/Surfin-USA

1) Concert location: swimming family comes to rescue again! We are very lucky to be able to use the area by Waters Restaurant, by the lake!


2) Concert date: 9/20/09, Sunday, from 12pm to 4pm.

3) This concert will be a charity concert and by the rules of the location we are not allowed to soliciate money in public, so donations will be appreciated! here are the donations details:

i) Contribute to Lynn's swim: please make the check to "Lynn Kubasek", noting it's for the Catalina channel swim, and please send them to:
the following PO box; (I am taking the responsibility for some accounting for the time being) or better yet please pass them by me during practices

Attn: Alex Cheung,
P.O. Box 7010, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

please note all the proceedings will be contribute toward Lynn's expansese for the swim; any additional money will be contribute to Laguna College of Art and Design as a scholarship

ii) To contribute to Laguna College of Art and Design schloarly directly, please make the check to Laguna College of Art and Design (Patsee please make sure I get this correct and if any additional details are needed) and please also send the checks to me at the above PO Box.

4) We plan on doing raffle tickets!! There will be art prizes and other prizes, please stay tuned. And if you have any other ideas please please let us know!!!

5) Final thought: please please spread the word to everyone!! This is going to be a FUN FUN FUN event and for a great cause! It will be great if we have a big crowd!


6) Couple requests:
can someone help with making flyers? Stephanie I know you have softwares etc, do you have time to do it or do you need some more help??
T-shirts: can someone help with making T-shirts?

please let us know if any other details I am missing out....

REALLY appreciate your help and support!! Thanks!!

Cheers,
Alex

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Different Challenges

We were hoping to do a 10k (6.2 miles) but the conditions were pretty rough. Today's swim had it all, and was truly a "roughwater swim" in every aspect. Some of the challenges:

1. Swimming against the current. We went north to south & the current was south to north.
2. A slight upwelling resulting in water a little colder (64 degrees) than we expected.
3. Wind chop. Wind out of the south resulted in a pretty bumpy swim. It was worse at the end - kinda like swimming in a washing machine.
4. Big waves. The predicted large surf was beginning to roll in. Made the beach exit a little more exciting.

I started shivering after we got out and decided to let it go for today...a little disappointed. I spoke with Forrest Nelson (a channel swimmer and member of CCSF) about my upcoming swim and he suggested to write down my 3 biggest fears (and think of ways to address those fears) and 3 biggest confidences every week and note that it will change every week. So...
Fears:
1. Hypothermia - I don't think I can do a whole swim in 63F water. I am hoping for 67+, I would have to put on some weight to handle the temp.
2. Giving up - I am afraid of giving up before I am truly spent
3. Motion Sickness - I usually don't get sick in the water but I know it can happen. I remember some swimmers taking Dramaine Lite before the start of their swims. I wonder if that can hamper performance.
Confidences:
1. February Fitness Challenge - I swam 37,000 yards February 1st of this year. It was over three workouts in three different pools and not in the ocean but still...21 miles.
2. I've been doing a lot of training swims by myself so the critters don't scare me as much.
3. I don't know.

It was a pretty good swim overall today though. I hung with Brad Arshat and Ray Meltvedt. Ray is the only one who went back to do the double. I've asked both Brad and Ray to be escort swimmers on my swim too.
OMG...I really am going to do this!


Thursday, August 20, 2009

some kind of training...



Yesterday morning I went out at CDM with some friends and swam 3 box laps at 6:15am:

I went home and had 3 packets of Oatmeal and some coffee and left from Oak Street at 10am to Crescent Bay (had some Gu) and back to Oak Street at 12:00.
The conditions were really flat and I saw 2 small leopard sharks, a bunch of rays, Garibaldi & schools of fish. I had 16 oz of Cytomax and a banana and left out again at 12:05.
The wind had picked up and I could tell I was swimming into a choppy current. The Dive website said the water was 70F which worried me a little because it felt more like 65F. The water was not as clear but I still saw quite a few Garibaldi. I got to Crescent bay at 1:10 and had some more Gu. I chatted with a standup paddle board girl who said her boyfriend wants to do the Catalina paddleboard race! Right before I got back to Oak I saw a dark grey shark on the bottom of the water about my length (5'5"). The lifegaurds said that it was a Horn Shark. I'll have to look that up. I got in at 2:15 and had another 16oz of Cytomax, but my stomach was upset so I decided no solid food. I went out at 2:20 and swam a little past Main Beach and back.
I could tell the current was fairly strong because the kelp I swam over was being pulled south at about a 30degree angle. At least the swim back was nice.
I got the sunscreen and the Vaseline right this time but my stomach was upset and I threw up when I got home. I think it was the Gu and salt water. Maybe I was a little dehydrated too...
I am going to have to start swimming with the "crack bottle".

Next swim is a 10K (6 miles) with friends CDM Crystal Cove and Back this Saturday.


Saturday, August 15, 2009

4 hours


10:21-12:21 (snack 20 0z Cytomax & a banana) 12:26-2:30. There were some breaks chatting with kayakers and standup paddlers. It was a great day starting out overcast but beautiful clear water (lots of fish, Garibaldi, Bass, minnows and grunion) and ending up sunny with a windy chop and a strong current home (yea!) Now I am thinking about where I need to put the Vaseline next time.
Need food and then a nap. Not sure in what order?

Jen's Finish


Yesterday (08/14/09) I went down to Palos Verde (just below Terranea resort) to see Jen Schumacher's finish. It was fun watching her come in with a police escort!

I swam my deposit in a Ziploc bag out to John Pittman on the Outrider for my swim October 6-7. OMG! ...

Soooo...today I am doing a 4 hour swim. As far as I can go up the coast for an hour and back to my start point (assume that will be another hour) for cytomax and a banana and then out again for another stint!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Pick it up!

We swam 4000 yard this morning at WAC and this afternoon I did 8 box laps at Corona Del Mar in 2 hours 10 minutes. I got a little cold chatting with triathletes but felt really good after the first hour. I probably could have stayed longer but was expecting some friends (who didn't make it...darn!).
Oh well...probably best not to "kill myself" at this new start!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

October 6-7


Well...I got something on Monday that looks like a job offer for next year. And my Nova team mates are getting really enthusiastic for my swim...so I decided to book a date.
I called John Pittman and spoke with Carol Sing of CCSF (who will be doing a swim this year at 68 yo!!!).
Now I have to focus on getting my distances back up and getting confident with night swimming! I went out with Ray Meltvedt and his daughter Sierra last Friday for about an hour at San Clemente pier last Friday night (August 7) for a BYOGS (Bring Your Own Glow Stick) swim. We made the lifegaurds nervous, I think, because they kept flashing us with high beam lights. There were lots of stars out and we saw the moon rise!
My neighbor, Patsee has offered to go out for midnight swims with me to get a sense of the ocean at that time. She has offered to escort swim and kayak.
Now I have to start BIG training (and remember to eat and rest)
I feel really good about this...

Monday, June 8, 2009

June Already?

Last week I got a message from one of the partners from my last job. Kris Weber said that there may be a water quality opportunity coming up. I found out that it is contingent on a sub-contractor getting contracts. If I can nail that down this week I might commit to a Catalina date this year. I need a decent job to self fund the crossing. Otherwise, next year will have to do.
I did two swims out of Oak Street this weekend. Saturday the temperature had dropped 5 degrees to 56F (according to the local dive website) and it felt like it. I had an icecream headache and was pretty chilled by the time we reached the Main Beach buoy. I was happy for the current that made the return trip much quicker. My neighbor Pastee and I swam with a new swimmer from the Santa Cruz area, Ray Meltvedt. He wants to organize some Moonlight swims once a month! That sounds great to me!
Sunday I ended up going out by myself and the water had warmed back up to 63F or so. There was a good wind and a lot of chop. The water was clear except for flowing sand from rip-currents. I did see a few Garibaldi though.


I hope that job comes through this week...cross your fingers or fins for me!
:)

Friday, May 29, 2009

Oak Street Continued


I got to swim last Saturday with my wonderful neighbor, Patsee Ober and the amazing channel swimmer Christopher Roberts!
http://catalinaswim.myphotoalbum.com/
http://geekindeep.blogspot.com/
I got to kayak for him last August and he is such an inspiration.
I will have to blow off Catalina this year unless some kind of miracle occurs. I know I can do it. I feel so ready after February but I am too fiscally conservative to take it out on credit. I need to find a job. Next year I may feel differently? Maybe later in the season I may have a change of heart.
We will swim tomorrow morning at Oak Street again! 8am!
:)

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Oak Street!!!

This shouldn't be such a big deal...I moved to Oak Street in March. I have yet to do a swim off of my "home beach". This morning I will be swimming with my neighbor, Patsee and maybe a few Nova swimming friends (I posted it on the Nova blog) and on my Facebook. I am so excited!!!
More later...

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Okay then...

Ugh!
Still looking for work...
But I want to think I am still training for this thing! Catalina...
I am but I am not sure how I will foot the bill. It may end up being next year and I can deal with that.
I took the CCSF Observers Training course last Sunday; got my CPR certification; met some Channel Swimming icons! Anne Cleveland (oldest person to do do a double English Channel) Rendy Lynn Opedyke (swam Manhattan Island, English Channel and Catalina Channel in a 34 day time span), Carol Sing (oldest woman to swim Catalina at 55, but she is doing it again this year at 67!!!)
I will do it some day, I know!
Today I did a short (2 mile) training swim at Corona Del Mar. The water is a delightful 64F with variations. I got to swim with Jim Fitzpatrick (English Channel. Catalina Channel and first ever Catalina to Orange County swim).

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

HAPPY Spring!

I miss the FFC swim schedule. It kept my mind off of not having a job, moving, and a variety of other things that I get obsessed about. My skin does NOT miss the FFC though and feels like it is back to "normal" with the once-a-day swim schedule. I am really pleased that my shoulders don't hurt at all too! I have swam only 37 miles so far this month - a little over 10% of last month.
I was afraid I had lost my cold water acclimation with all the warm-pool swims and weight loss but I've done two ocean swims with friends this month in 56F water. I was surprised that it wasn't that bad at all!
It is hard to get motivated to swim in the ocean on my own for some reason. I NEED to check out my new local beach at the end of Oak Street, but I get consumed by the online job search...and Facebook....and speaking of Facebook, I will have two FB friends from the East out to swim, maybe on Saturday and definitely on Sunday, in Laguna Beach!
The local dive site says that the water has warmed to 57F.
Tomorrow I will swim at Corona Del Mar with the Tri guys in the evening.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

360...a perfectly round number



So I had friends say "why not 365 for the days in a year"...because that is not constant! (leap years?)
Degrees in a circle feels solid.

I showed up to Nova workout this morning and said I only have 14,250 yards to go and Mike said...okay over there. 14,000 yards. READY, GO! He was just kidding but we got a good pyramid set in with 4500 and I did a 50 warm down. I left to get FOOD and then hit the 24 hour fitness at Ocean Ranch.

I split the lane circle swimming with a good swimmer and an older aqua-robics lady. It worked out suprisingly well and I chatted with the swimmer a bit in the middle. The aqua-robics lady, her mom...was scheduled to have heart surgery later this week. We chatted about how agressive and mean non-swimmers who take up swimming can be. It was a pleasant interlude. The last few thousand yards were tough and the sun felt harsh. My skin really hurts.

I was happy to finish it out though and did a "gratitude 100 IM" to the gods at the end.

I had a message when I was done from Jay Sagen at Coastline Community College. I will be in an art show in March and he needed me to get my work over there. Good thing it was a short day! An image of my work will be on the mailer too! Cool!

Marching on!

Friday, February 27, 2009

I'm not like this in real life

The February Fitness Challenge is almost over. This evening started out super-crowded and suddenly I noticed I was the only one in the pool...for a very long time. The Friday guard was not sad to see me go that is for sure!
I have suffered aches, pains, cuts, rashes, burns, and general oddness just to break my 50-54W age group record. My last year's mark was 240.1. The record for my new age group was 262 miles...I am at 351.9 miles now. 8.1 more miles and I will call it finished. 360 miles sounds good. A mile for every degree in a circle.
I saw Jim Fitzpatrick (the alltime record holder for this event) at the beginning of this swim in the far lanes at the LBHS pool (never seen him in chlorine before) and then remembered him saying at the outset of his Catalina to OC swim: "I'm not like this in real life". I thought that was the height of absurdity then, but I think I get a sense of this now, because I am not like this in real life.
But I have the keys to my new place now so time to move soon!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

People I get to swim with

How cool that I got to share a lane with Pat Sparkuhl the other day. He is a local mixed media artist who I am fond of:
http://www.patsparkuhl.com/
I also saw Marlo Bartels (wow he is tall). He is a local tile artist and his works are easily recognizable all over Laguna Beach:
http://www.marlobartels.com/
I also ran into David-who-paints-backdrops-at-the-Pageant-Of-The-Masters. His stroke has improved alot over the last year!
Community pools are interesting. There is such a huge mix of swimming styles and abilities. I think I have gotten spoiled swimming with Masters Swimmers who (mostly) have a clean style and have lane etiquette thing down. today I shared a lane with the "Human Tsunami"; his jerky, spasmodic stroke created a gigantic chop and caused me to alter my breathing to the other side and I tried to consider it faux-open-water training. Later on in the day, I got stuck in a aftershave slick. You know those guys that have some thick smelling 70's fragrance slathered all over (Brut, anyone?), and usually have some big bling chain to top it off. In the water, up your nose that smell is just nasty. I also had one of those "Lane Joggers" next to me. The ones in the floaty belts, positioned upright, flailing their legs about as if they might go somewhere soon.
I ended the day as the last lap swimmer between 2 lanes of waterpolo kids. This meant occasional balls in my lane and sometimes a dozen or more tangles of ten-year-olds swimming beneath me like animate seaweed.
I am at 336.39 miles (592,050 yards) with 2 days left to go in the February Fitness Challenge. This has been tough and my skin hurts.
I need to go get some food now!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Mind versus Body

Last night I had guests drop in. My good friends, Randie (a soapmaker and owner of an all-natural bath and body care products line: http://www.randhillnaturals.com/ ) and Neil (a talented and creative photographer: http://www.rankinsphotography.net/ )


They will be moving from Carpinteria to Crescent City next week. I will miss them very much. They have been wonderful hosts when I had swimming events in the Santa Barbara area. I decided to start the swimming day a little late to have breakfast with my them. I ended up doing 24,500 today...Marcy's wicked set (18,200) plus 4x1500, and 300 wd. It all boiled down to the mind and body arguing over the last 1500.

B: No way, can I pull out another 1500, I'm spent! Toast! Burnt!
M: Hmmm, what if we throw in fins?
B: Fins and paddles?
M: You hate those sets! Why now?
B: I'm tired...oh and make every other 100 kick with board.
M: So you'll do the 1500 then?
B: And I want more beer!
M: Well...you do need the calories.
But then you'll have to do a 300 toyless warmdown to stretch out. For the beer!
B: Ugh...


Today I surpassed my age group (W50-54) record of 262 miles held since 1996! I am at 269.15 miles (or 473,700 yards).

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Just another day...

THIS was more of a typical Southern California sun-shiney day! Far too sunny. Far too bright. Far too intense. I have started wearing a long sleeve rash guard to protect myself from the rays.
I ran into Stephanie K. of http://www.zswimwear.com/ at Laguna Beach Community Pool today (sorry Steph...that felt like it hurt!).
Ugh...I am trying out a supplement my Dad recommended called Xtend. I bought "Refreshing Lemonade"...it tastes harsh, like you might imagine a citrus floor cleaning product and I am drinking it. Yuck. Sigh...supposed to be good for you? I don't know.
We got chased out of the pool for a girl's CIF waterpolo thing early...sigh! I was 1,977 yards shy of breaking my last year's personal record for the February Fitness Challenge. I got back into the pool early at 6pm and hit my last year's record around 6:40 pm. I am now at 427,000 yards or 242.6 miles. I think my goal is still 300 miles, but we will see.
I have some house guests arriving tomorrow evening, so may have to shift priorities for a day or two. They understand my obsession though!

Monday, February 16, 2009

What day is this?

I'm loosing track of days and without the workday regimen it is all blending together. Today it was cold and rainy. The water felt cold. the rain on my back felt cold. I could smell fires from fireplaces and imagined this would be a really nice day to curl up with a book in front of a fire next to someone...but none of that. I get to swim. Today is the day I topped 200 miles.
I swam 27,350 yards and hit 382,200 yards or 203.98 miles. I think my goal is 300 miles, but better just to say the goal is "to finish" (Jim McConica said that was his goal on his 2008 Anacapa swim; I liked that).
I ran into Catalina channel aspirant Beth Weber at LBHS this evening and the thought of swimming the channel somehow gave me renewed energy (though I think I need to ice my shoulders now).
I was thinking of renaming the days of the week for us atemporal types...Whatday, Whoseday, Whenday, Worseday, Whyday, Betterday, Huh(?)day.
Twelve more days in this month...I guess I am not so atemporal after all. Twelve more days of this swimming mania and twelve more days until I move!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Valentines Randomness

Today I only swam 15,000 yards, but I was able to pick up a small paying freelance gig that will cover gas and food for a few weeks! I am tired and my skin hurts and I need the break anyways. I have ventured up to Long Beach for this opportunity and thought that I would have been able to hit the lap swim at Belmont Plaza Pool...But alas, Belmont was not. The ominous "Meet Parking This Way" sign gave a hint of lack of accessibility. Rats!
I ended up hitting the evening swim at LBHS. Tressa, one of the managing guards let me swim a little longer. They all know me now. It is kind of fun to have a cheerleading section with my February swim. It was neat that one of the guards, Peter...acknowledged that my stroke was improved over last year!
I gave a spare cap to a woman that had forgotten hers today. I gave my "Swim For Life Foundation" silicon cap to Alicia. I have been stuck capless before so it felt good to help someone else out!
I also saw my future neighbor Patsee, swimming. She has joined Nova Masters but is recovering from rotator cuff surgery...you wouldn't know it but she is 60 going on 6! Super energy and I am so happy to get to have her as a neighbor and future ocean swimming partner!
I am at 308,650 yards or 175.something miles. My goal is 300, I think...barring injury I may make it?

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Monday, Monday...

A quick note about my toughest day (February 9th) so far this month! I went to Novas for my first swim of the day and got in 3,650 yards. I left for LBHS and only got an hour in before we had to leave the pool for thunder. I decided to go to an indoor 24-hour fitness (near Spectrum) and met up with another aqua-robics class. I had to wait 20 minutes to get in. I only lasted 2 hours in that pool. I couldn't stop sneezing and my skin felt as if it was on fire! It also burned off all my arm hair. I only got in 12,800 yards but decided that was enough for the day!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The Sign Says...


The LBHS pool is across the street from a church. Last week when I went to swim the six "Pool Patrons Only" spots were taken up with gigantic SUVs that didn't say "swimmer" to me. This morning I went over to the pool at 9:30am (the pool opens at 10am on Sundays). Partially to get a spot and partially to see who was taking up the swimmer's spots. I was leaning toward a passive-aggressive approach like citations from youparklikeanasshole.com but then I decided to do direct confrontation. Nothing hits a church person like the naughty finger! (that is your index finger waving side to side).

The first car that drove in was obviously church-goers...I looked at them with huge eyes and pointed to the Pool Patron sign and they left the lot. I explained to the passengers in next three vehicles, that the pool was open at 10am, etc, etc...they left and found other parking. More church-goers with large families arrived and pretty much ignored me. I heard one person say "I just don't care". The last confrontation was with a couple that pulled up in their cream colored Escalade. Just a man and a woman (with no kids...obviously not doing their church-relatied duties). I explained to them that they were, in essence "stealing" from others...the woman (dressed in a bizarre designer frock with a weird collar and shoes with 6" contortionist heels) meekly said "thank you" as they trotted off to church and while staying in the Pool Patron spot.
I should have asked them to say a prayer for the swimmers that they were stealing parking spots from...

So as of today I am at 192,900 yards and 109.6 miles (100 miles was my goal last year)

Friday, February 6, 2009

Friday Night - PAAARRRTTTYYYY!!!

Hey Friday Night! Time to party! Let loose! have some fun!

WOO HOO!

Well no...I am at the Laguna Beach Community Pool swimming my third workout of the day. In fact, I am the only swimmer and feel a tiny bit self-conscious.

I don't look up but I can almost feel the glare of the somewhat curmudgeonly guard waiting for me to call it quits. It is raining...no it is pouring. The drops on my back are so fast, huge and cold I wonder if it will turn to hail?



I am in a perfect zone though. I could swim this rate forever...Pulling up and down some pyramids...500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 500, 400, 300...then an unexpected WHACK!!! on my feet...
"Gotta get out now!" The guard says "I heard rolling thunder twice and I'd hate to see you fried". I hop out of the pool and dash to the showers. I have never-ever heard of anyone in a pool getting electrocuted from lightening. I think tonight it may have been just a lifeguard who really wanted to go home!

Workarounds

I have been told, over and over and over again that when you start out too hard, you're bound to get hurt. I guess that holds true in in more areas than just swimming...
So a couple of days ago I strained my triceps muscle. I thought it was just lactic acid soreness and tried to power through it but that made it worse. I had to reduce my yardage the other day. I changed out some of my workout yesterday for kicking and one-arm pulling.
Julia (a friend on Novaquatics who is a physical therapist) said it did not feel serious. I just need to give it a rest (rats!) I will hold to my schedule of kicking. I will make it to my goal (whatever that is) it may just take a little longer than I had planned!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Transitions and (small) Disappointments

Yesterday was the last day at my old job. I probably should have felt more emotional for such a passage, but 2/3s of the employees have been let go prior to me (and I was chair of the Employee of the Month Committee!). But I was too zoned out from having swam 24,000 yards before that.
A friend had me over for dinner (that sounds funny...eh hem) and then I went to bed early.

This morning I thought I was going to be putting in a BIG day, but my body told me otherwise! I did a double workout with Irvine Novaquatics. My left triceps hurt terribly. I am almost giddy that my shoulders feel strong and intact but the muscle thing was killing me. I did 7200 between the two workouts and went home and iced my arm.
I went to 24 Hour Fitness for the next workout after that but the arm pain wouldn't go away. I did another 9100 and decided to call it quits for the day. I am icing and heating the arm now...I expect it to be fine tomorrow (positive energy!)
:)

Monday, February 2, 2009

Obstacles

This morning, I did a double workout with Irvine Novas and got in a 6,600 yards between the two workouts. I had to go into work after that to clear a few more things out of my cubicle/my home-away-from-home and tried not to get too teary-eyed.

After that I was trying to figure out where to get the next workout in...Novas, LBHS or 24-Hour Fitness. I opted for the 24-Hour, because I thought I would get the longer time-chunk to swim. Unfortunately I was met by a pool of bobbing apple-doll people, taking up all 2.5 lanes of the outdoor 25-yard pool.

"Join us!" they said. No thank you., not unless I could reasonably convert the vertical thrust to a horizontal yardage? I had to wait a half an hour for the ladies to exit the pool and the lane lines to be reset.

When I finally did get to swim (1 wicked 18,200 set plus an easy 200) I had an odd series of lanemates: big Splashy guys (BSGs), Lane runners and bobbers, 2-length sprinters (then off to the jacuzzi). It was mostly entertaining, but a little distracting. I think next time I will just hit the Nova pool...