This weekend we were in Long Beach visiting family, friends and the ocean. On Saturday we went to Seal Beach and my sister swam along the shore with me for about an hour. The water temp was warm and had the usual cloudiness. On Sunday we all went to Bolsa Chica/Sunset beach. Mother brought her multi-colored umbrella for a shade covering and it served as a good marker for our starting location. Jim and Nate went out into the waves on the sponge board and the surf board and dad, sister, and I went for a swim north along the beach. Dad kayaked while Gen and I swam. It took us 30 minutes to get to the watertower looking house at sunset beach and then 40 minutes to get back to the umbrella. Next nate hopped in the kayak and dad swam and we went south along the beach for 30 minutes and then back again to the umbrella. For the last lap dad went back to the beach and nate escorted me one more time up to the watertower house and back. The inflatable kayak that we were using was very uncomfortable for him and did not steer well and he was struggling the whole time. So after the 3rd lap we got out and all headed up to the umbrella.
Overall it was a great swim. The water clarity was about like Seal Beach (not so clear) and the temperature felt a touch colder. We saw a few dolphins at the start of our swim but beyond that no other wildlife sightings other than a few birds gliding over the ocean waves. There was enough wind and wave surge that kept it exciting and forced us to stay off shore a fair distance. With foggy sky and murky water I felt a bit nervous swimming there at first. In part my nervousness was likely the newness of a beach where I had not previously swam because on the 2nd lap I was already feeling better and by the 3rd felt as comfortable as being at Seal Beach on a sunny day (which is about as comfortable as I get in the ocean).
Natomas Swim (11miles) 5-31-08
Sunday afternoon Kate, Jack, and I set out from the Sac. State Rowing center for a swim at Lake Natoma. Nate and Sarah joined us in kayaks. There was very little wind and the water was calm and in the downstream part of the lake was a comfortable temperature. However when we got about 2.5 miles up stream the temperature started to drop . As it got colder, Nate gave us come cups of warm honey with an energy drink (perpetuem) to help keep us warm. We swam up almost to the corner before the beach at Negro Bar and then decided to turn around and swim back to the warm waters for a while. When we reached the end of the rowing center buoy line Jack and Sarah headed towards the rowing center and Kate and I went back up lake for another lap around the island. The last trip down the buoy line always feels endless. This time I tried to watch the colors on the buoys and know that when they changed color I had made it farther and before long I could see the white tents of the rowing center on my left. We both got out of the water feeling pretty good. I was tired and hungry but the swim felt pretty comfortable. That night my left elbow and right wrist started to ache but by morning that ache was pretty dull. I'm glad we conquered a new distance (about 1/2 the distance of Catalina) - now just add some wind, waves, darkness and sea life and we're all set.
Memorial Weekend SF Bay Swims
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)