10Kmarathonswim

H2Open cites marathonswimmers forum

H2Open magazine, my favorite magazine of all time, has an article this month that references the best online forum, the marathonswimmers forum.  Check it out:

The article quotes Scott Zornig, the president of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association, on the need for a common set of rules among the varying marathon swimming organizations.

But I've already given enough away. You need to subscribe. Now.

OW season over

My hardship tour to Florida is over, and with it, my open water season. Sadly. This has been the most fun I've had on a business trip in a looong time. 

Over the last two weeks I've swum 8 times in the Atlantic ocean. Plus one session in the Y. Total, a little over 14 miles. Nine sessions over 12 days. Not too bad. And there was a lot of learning.

Things will nibble on you in the ocean, like remora. Learning point. Sometimes breathing to the non-surf side does not necessarily mean you'll get an electrolyte-free breath of fresh air. Learning point. Every once in a while the current and under-toe will be such that you'll cut your workout short.

Learning point. And that was today. Today's my last full day in FL and when I was done with work I headed to the beach. The waves were immense. Looked like a great day for body surfing. And I should have stuck to that. When I walked in, I immediately felt the under-toe. It was pretty intense. I went out anyway. I felt like I was in an endless pool. It was difficult to get anywhere swimming against the current. 

I turned after 10 minutes and swam with the current. I had to warn a kite-boarder that I was in the water. The waves were huge. Height between peaks and troughs were anywhere from 4 to 6 feet. I was afraid the boarder wouldn't notice me. No matter. After about 5 minutes swimming with the current, I realized I should go back in. Way too strong current.

It took me 5 minutes to just swim back in. The body surfing was fine, but even when I was able to stand, the under-toe was so strong that I was having trouble walking in. I made the right call I think. 

Driven

I'm bumping this post up as the producers of Driven only have 3 more days to raise the 20K they need. They're at something like $11K now. I've put my money where my mouth is. I ask that you donate any amount you can. No donation too small and no donation will be refused. Help the marathon swimming community get this documentary out there!

There's a movie coming out soon about the sport I love. It just so happens one of my blog-friends is featured in the movie. The movie is called Driven, and here's the official blurb:

Without wetsuits, in the dead of night, three swimmers braved the cold open-ocean to realize a dream. 

The movie tracks the training and lives of three very different marathon swimmers as they prepare for and attempt channel crossings in the Santa Barbara channel. Seeing how there is a swim at that location in my future, I'm very keen to view the film. The producers have a trailer out, and as far as I'm concerned, it's the most interesting documentary film trailer I've ever seen.

The producers could use some help in post-production. Even if you only have a few bucks, consider giving them a little. The more you give, of course, the more you get. Want to see your name in lights? Give a hundy and you'll be listed in the credits. Have more you want to give? How about a personal home screening? How about an excursion with a world renowned marathon swimmer? If you've got the money, the producers will reward you.  But seriously, even 10 clams would help them. Please consider giving.

I know I will. 

 

Forcing yourself to take time off

I had to do it. I had to force myself to take a day off. I had swum 7 times in 6 days prior to Tuesday, so when I woke up Tuesday morning, I decided to not swim. Initially, it looked like I picked a great day; overcast, kind of cool. Perfect day to not swim in the ocean! But then it got pretty. And I started to rethink my plan. But I stuck to my guns. I didn't swim.

Why would I go through so much to not work out? Well, I've been down this road before. Back when I started to enjoy running, I'd ignore pain. "Oh, it's just a little crick in my knee. No biggie." And I'd keep running. Or I'd increase my runs by too much.  "Run through the pain," was the mantra. Then my knee would explode.

I've managed to avoid surgery, but I'm not that bright. I did this whole cycle three times before I finally gave up. But the cycle was evil. I finally started liking running! This was in my early to mid-30's. I hadn't liked running since high school. It started to be fun. Of course I wanted to keep doing it. I'd slowly build up to "long" runs, long at least for me. I'd do 5 miles once a week and 3 miles three times a week. Pretty soon, my knee would start to hurt on the 3 mile runs. The first cycle I just ran through the pain. I was able to do this a couple times before I woke up one morning after a run with a knee twice the size of normal. 

It was weeks before I could run again. And I thought I was being smart when I restarted. I "only" ran 3 miles a few times a week. That's safe, right? Nope. A few weeks later, my knee swelled again. Damn it.

So this time, I knew what the hell I was doing. I started all over again at one mile, 3x a week. Then I'd gradually increase the distance. Weeks went by and everything was ok. But as I got to 3 miles, knee did it again. Crap.

So I took lots of time off. Like years. Then cycle two began. Did the same slow increase. Even got up close to the 3 mile mark. And then it happened again. So I stopped. The final cycle, I didn't even get to two miles. Then rest. Then tried again, and at 1.5 miles the knee rebelled. That's when I quit running for good. That's when swimming really came into my life.

Here I am in FL. Enjoying the water. Ocean. Salt water. Wonderful. Swim in it every chance I get. Nothing hurts, beyond the usual soreness just as I start. But it's like that whenever I start swimming, in the pool or OW. No biggie. But I know if I had done 8 workouts in 7 days, at some point something would rebel. And I don't want that.

So yesterday, even though it finally got beautiful, I ignored it and pretended the weather was crap. I didn't even look at the ocean. I ignored her. 

But not today. 2.5 wonderful miles in some of the craziest chop imaginable. Well, to me. Funny how little waves, when you're turning for a breath, suddenly become mountains. Salty, cough-inducing mountains. Yuck.

I'm really going to miss this when I return to DC.

Never know what you'll see at the pool

Wednesday is my long day. I have been lately swimming at Chinquapin, 6000-7500, somewhere in there. This Wednesday, since I am in Florida, I swam in the morning in the Atlantic (see separate post below) and then hit the Y in the evening.  I only swam 4500, but that was enough after a mile in the morning.

I wasn't expecting to see this, though! I had to get a picture.  

You never know what you'll see at the pool!