I spent this weekend swimming at Aquatic Park in San Francisco Bay. The water temperature was reportedly 53 degrees but there were fluctuations in the way it felt from morning to evening and in different parks of the swimming area. On Saturday morning, Jack and I swam a few loops around the park and a few loops on the buoy line (about 3 miles). We saw a very large sea lion at the opening that appeared to be looking at us but probably was more interested in looking for fish. In any case, our close encounter increased our speed on the second part of that lap as we sped back towards the shore. We met the same (I'm assuming the same - but have no idea if it really was) sea lion that afternoon when we met up with Susie and Orin for an escorted swim around the breakwater. When we got out past the break water the sea lion came cruising by us again just as a boat of people started yelling "shark". The water also took on a very fishy taste. I imagine that it's the taste of sea lion bad breath.
On Sunday, I swam with Stephanie for 2 loops and one down the buoy line. After we sat in the sauna with the South End Rowing club members that had just returned from their bay bridge swim. That afternoon, I returned for a short swim (2 loops) and even shorter sauna.
By Monday, the whole experience was becoming routine (morning swim and sauna, eat, run, afternoon swim and sauna) I had really become hooked on the cold salty water followed by the hot dry sauna. I was feeling comfortable in the bay waters but no matter how comfortable I continued to have a very predictable reaction. After 30 minutes the fingers on my left hand separate. After 1hr the fingers on my right hand do the same and my speed slows down as my dexterity is impaired. I have tried drinking hot liquid, turning my arms over faster, kicking my feet, and even thinking really hard about re-gaining control of my hands but none of that has been very helpful. This weekend I tried to just think about using my forearm as a paddle and not worrying about my flopping out of control fingers and useless hands. Knowing that I could hop out of the water and walk into a warm shower and sauna made it much easier to not worry about the cold and just enjoy my time in the water and the opportunity to swim with friends.
Davis/Sacramento Area Swims (Fall/07-May/08)
In the Fall of 07 most of my open water swims were at Lake Berryessa with friends and fellow swimmers from the Davis/Sacramento area. Nate also escorted us on the kayak for several swims. I tried out a few 2 hr swims but made them shorter as the water temperature got colder. By mid winter we were only swimming 30 minutes and the water temp. reached a low of 48 degrees. The feeling of the water on my skin was a mix of sensations including burning, numbing, and tingling. I made sure to swim at the lake every week and after a while the feeling became routine. I knew that at first it would feel cold and I'd swim fast, then I'd start to numb and slow down a bit, then I just had to hold that constant rate until I returned to shore. When I got out of the water, the wind would send me into shivers within 5 minutes. That was the time to quickly bundle up, drink something warm, and hike up to the car. Sometimes the shivers would last (for me) almost 30 minutes after swimming. Because I could not handle the colder temps for too long I started swimming longer hours at the pool. I would swim long sets at the Saturday or Sunday lap swim (longest =5.5miles) and made a habit of swimming double workouts during the week (5-6,000yds total). On occasion, Kate and I would swim a set at the pool and then head up to the lake and swim another 1-2miles.
As spring temps brought warmer waters, Kate and I started swimming more at Lake B. and less at the pool. By then, Kate had also officially made the decision to attempt a Catalina Crossing, so we slowly started increasing our time in the water from 1.5-3hrs. We began carrying water bottles in the back of our suit and Kate carried chocolate and apple cinnamon gel for us in the front of her suit. We would stop every 30 minutes and share a drink and squeeze from the gel bottle.
When Lake B. warmed to an almost too comfortable temperature, we tried out a longer swim (8 miles). Duncan accompanied us on the kayak and Lyra and Allen met us in their boat. Lyra swam with us for a long time and it was great to have her company. Allen motored us across the channel in the boat (which had become dangerously thick with speeding boats) and Duncan was our constant eyes and ears and safety watch. The swim was exciting and a great accomplishment for us both but was also a big signal that it was time to switch lakes to a place with less or no boats.
Since that swim, Lake Natoma has been our main training ground (or water). We have done several 2hr, a few 3hr and one 5.5hr swim there. We have also met and started swimming with Jack (who is training for the English Channel this September '08). In the months to come we hope to continue swimming at Natoma, add more swims at Aquatic Park (San Francisco bay) and Santa Cruz, and trips to Southern Cal. beaches as well.
As spring temps brought warmer waters, Kate and I started swimming more at Lake B. and less at the pool. By then, Kate had also officially made the decision to attempt a Catalina Crossing, so we slowly started increasing our time in the water from 1.5-3hrs. We began carrying water bottles in the back of our suit and Kate carried chocolate and apple cinnamon gel for us in the front of her suit. We would stop every 30 minutes and share a drink and squeeze from the gel bottle.
When Lake B. warmed to an almost too comfortable temperature, we tried out a longer swim (8 miles). Duncan accompanied us on the kayak and Lyra and Allen met us in their boat. Lyra swam with us for a long time and it was great to have her company. Allen motored us across the channel in the boat (which had become dangerously thick with speeding boats) and Duncan was our constant eyes and ears and safety watch. The swim was exciting and a great accomplishment for us both but was also a big signal that it was time to switch lakes to a place with less or no boats.
Since that swim, Lake Natoma has been our main training ground (or water). We have done several 2hr, a few 3hr and one 5.5hr swim there. We have also met and started swimming with Jack (who is training for the English Channel this September '08). In the months to come we hope to continue swimming at Natoma, add more swims at Aquatic Park (San Francisco bay) and Santa Cruz, and trips to Southern Cal. beaches as well.
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