Swim & Tonic

I finished my ninth Bay Swim on Sunday!  For me, it was brutally hot.  I have been training in water in the low-mid 60s in anticipation for MIMS.  Prior to the swim, the race officials said the water temp was 78.  There were warm and cold patches throughout.  I feel I’m pretty in-tune with the range of water temperatures.  My guess would be that, for the bulk of the swim, the water temp was around 82-84.  The air temperature was in the upper 80s.  The first half of the swim was fine.  Right before mile two I started to get hot.  Knowing I had MIMS in six days, I decided to back off a little.  And, of course, at that point, the current kicked up.  I had enough in me to push through the current, correct my line and stay between the bridges.  By the end of the swim, I was very hot and uncomfortable and thought…it will be much better in the cold water of the English Channel or next weekend in MIMS.  Open water swimming seems to be about extremes sometimes. 

I finished in 2:41…not my fastest time but not my slowest time.  All in all, it seems the times of the people who finish at the top every year were about 10-15 minutes slower than usual.  There were significantly less people under 2 hours.  I am very curious as to why that happened.  Was it the heat?  Was it the ebb and then flood tide?  Were there winds from the east? 

Unfortunately thunderstorms popped up at the end of the swim and over 60 people had to be pulled from the event.  One of whom was Craig Deitz, a limbless man who attempted the swim.  By all accounts he would have finished but for the thunderstorms.  I thought about him a number of times during the swim and wondered how he was doing. 

This year was a different sort of Bay Swim for me.  Knowing I have the biggest event of my life coming up…it didn’t seem prudent to leave it all out there.  So, I swam safe and smart. 

Unfortunately, one participant died either during or after the race.  He was 43 and left a wife and two children.  His cause of death is a bit unclear from what I have been able to find…but, it certainly puts such events into perspective. 

I am packing and in the final preparation for MIMS and will post more prior to the swim this weekend.

Tomorrow is the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim – 4.4 miles across the narrowest portion of the Bay near Annapolis. This is the 9th year in a row that I have done this swim (makes me feel VERY old). Next week at this time I will be in the East River! I will post an update tomorrow after the Bay.

I’ve been able to get a few open water swims in over the last few weeks.  During my Rappahannock River swim a few weeks ago, for my last feed, the crew thought it would be funny to send out some Cheese Whiz instead of my regular energy drink combination.  Much to my surprise – at the end of the rope was a bottle of Easy Cheese…so, I took the top off and squirted some in my mouth.  ICK!  Cheese Whiz and Rappahannock River water is not a good combination.  I promptly asked the crew for the bottle of mouthwash 🙂

If this little kitty can make it across New York Harbor…I can make it around Manhattan!
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/04/21/2011-04-21_feisty_feline_washed_away_in_storms_swims_safely_across_new_york_harbor_lands_on.html

I am approaching the final push…MIMS is 8 weeks from today!  My training is going very well and my shoulders seem to be doing okay (knock on wood).   What has been particularly motivating is that I have raised over $5000 so far for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and SwimFree.  I have been amazed by generosity and motivated by the comments from those who have donated.  First open water swim in the river should be tomorrow!  Water temp today is a balmy 57!

I swam 7500 meters in the pool yesterday. Two hours straight with three short stops (plus a little warm-down). I was hoping yesterday was going to be my first day in the open water this year. But, given the tornados in Deltaville and the wind…it was a no go. When I left the pool, I thought something to the effect “gosh, it sure was nice to do such a short swim today….” My next thought…”my how things have changed.”  When I was training for the Bay Swim years ago – as my most difficult swim of the season – I rarely swam more than 4 miles or 6400 meters. Now, 7500 is a “short” swim. During my first Bay Swim in 2003, the water temperature was between 62-64. I did it with a wetsuit and thought I would die from the cold. Now, 62-64 is balmy…without a wetsuit. Perspective is a funny thing.

Yikes! Shoulder pain tonight doing sprints. It is difficult to balance the significant distance training and the need to increase speed without an injury. I have iced both shoulders and taken sufficient meds! Next swim will be long and easy 🙂

In addition to Manhattan, I’ve also signed up for:

1. The Ederle Swim on October 1st – a 17.5 mile swim from Sandy Hook, NJ to Manhattan.
2. The Boston Light Swim on August 13th – an 8 mile swim from the Boston Lighthouse back to South Boston.
3.  The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim on June 12th – a 4.4 mile swim across the Bay (this will be my 9th year doing the Bay Swim).

Training is going well and I’m hugely motivated by the recent donations I received for Manhattan. Generousity is an amazing thing!  Thanks to all who have contributed so far. If you’d like to donate – please see the link above!