Let's Play Catch Up...

It's been a bit of time since I have last posted.  I have been swimming, but much of my time has been limited due to issues with my left shoulder.  Since I have last posted I did do a few things along with keep up with my regular weekly swims.  My long swims have had a bit of a damper on them as I have been struggling to make it past 3.5 to 4 miles the last few weeks (maybe even month).  It has definitely been difficult for me to get over. 

I have made a couple of attempts so far to hit 7.5 to 8 miles non-stop, both fell short.  My first attempt stopped at 6 miles and my second only made it to about 4.5 miles. 

Something I don't think I have talked about yet...I am being documented by two independent film makers for my Anacapa Channel swim.  I was being filmed on one of the days I attempted 7.5 and I only made it 4.5 miles that day.  That was a tough pill to swallow.  

Since those failed attempts I have been giving my shoulder a lot of rest...or trying to at least.  I tried for a few other long training swims with little success and my distances seemed to be getting even shorter.  I had been feeling blah about my swimming and defeated. 

I did go have my stroke analyzed at Think Physical Therapy.  It was worth it for me to do this.  I saw in an under water video what I potentially had been doing wrong on my left stroke that is causing me my pain.  I have been now more aware of how narrow my stroke is and I am improving. 

A few fun swims I did was the La Jolla Cove Pier to Cove swim.  Although I was disqualified I had a blast.  I was DQ'd because I started early.  There was a guy and his wife who were looking for another swimmer or two to start early as he was a disabled swimmer.  Jeremy had polio when he was younger and it affected his right side.  His disability coupled with his wife only being in the ocean a couple of times (they are from Arizona) they felt more comfortable to have someone else swimming with them.  I volunteered because I wasn't doing the swim for a time...I was there for fun!  

The waves were rough getting out that day.  It took me 14 minutes to get to the edge of the pier and along the way of being pummeled by waves I lost Jeremy and Allison.  I stopped and asked one of the kayakers for the swim if they saw anyone else heading out.  He didn't and I waited a couple more minutes with no sign. So off I went solo with no kayaker or swimmer to go with me.  It was okay though.  I figured that at some point I would have others pass me up and then I wouldn't be solo anymore.  That never happened.  I did see at least a dozen sting rays and saw the most beautiful jellyfish I had ever seen.  Of course that freaked me at first.  I was afraid of being stung so I swam abruptly right to avoid it not knowing if there were more to come.  It was huge and a beautiful purplish brown color.  I stopped a few other times to look back, but I never saw the two swimmers I started out with.  Bummer!  I finished feeling really great and no shoulder pain.  In fact for the first time when I got out I was the first one to finish!  That felt GREAT!  ha, ha.  Of course it only lasted a few seconds because I had to tell the race directors I started about 30 minutes early.  It was then I was DQ'd...boo, but again its okay I had a great day.  Met new friends and spent great time with old friends.  Jeremy and his wife made it out and finished the swim strong.  I got to see the two of them finish side by side.  I was really happy to see them finish so happy together. 

The weekend after La Jolla I did a road trip with Lynn up to Arroyo Grande to swim at Avila Beach with Rob's group.  It was a great time.  I had the privilege of meeting a few new friends and spent some fun time in the car with Lynn.  We had hoped for cooler water and it was up to 59 degrees, which was a lot warmer than we thought it would be.  Lynn and I were hopping for 54-55 degrees.  I got about 1.5 miles in. 

So that for the most part gets me caught up to date...

Double the cracks...double the swims

Today started with and ended with Shaw's Cove in Laguna! What a way to welcome June!!

Another beautiful day at 6 am with warm and clear waters.  What was special about today? Well today I decided not everything is about training and it was a day to remember why I am in the water vs. thinking.  With that said...what I mean is it was a fin day. I downsized my fins so I don't get as much of an aid, but definitely still an aid. I wanted to keep with the group this morning so I wore them because it is fun to keep up. Best part was it allowed me to shoot the crack this morning. Yay!! When I say 'the crack' this is the crack between the rocks at Seal Rock aka Ray's Crack. Oh my goodness what fun it was today. I went for it following Patsee's lead. I figured if Patsee was going do it I will take it as an unspoken dare and follow. So I did. It was awesome! I have done the crack a handful of other times but never like it was today. Don't get me wrong it was safe, but maybe felt like it wasn't the best idea mid way through, but by then there was NO turning back. I kicked and swam like I would never swim again. Getting out of the crack Steve asks me how it felt...what went through my mind was 'depends could you see the look of fear in my face as the waves were churning up around me? Because if you couldn't...it was great!' Although my response, and it was definitely honest, was 'put it this way that crack was tougher than the entire swim' everyone got a good giggle and there I was still catching my breathe. Haha.

It was super fun this morning!!

I double downed at Shaw's today and went back for more after work for a night swim. It was fantastic! I got there late from some of the swimmers. So I walked to a far corner of the south cove and just thought okay no turning back again just go for it and swim back in with the group. Had the water not been calm again I wouldn't have been able to safely get in where I did. I caught up to the group and swam but also just felt like we were playing for a while. We went to the Giggle Crack. At this crack the water sucks you in and then spits you out. Julie went fearlessly in at first as Patsee and I thought the tide might not be right...of course after she did it we couldn't help but do it. Again a lot like today I was being pulled in almost by a 'dare' from Patsee following her. Well I can see why it is the Giggle Crack. I laughed and screamed out woohoo's in and out. It was super fun!

We saw quite a few sting rays and a bat ray while in the water. Before I got in I did see a dolphin in the cove, but I do have to admit when I first saw the fin prior to getting in the water I waited to have assurance the fin was welcoming vs unwanted. Turns out it was a dolphin so I wasn't worried of being in.

After fun, food, conversation, and nothing but laughter along with some fulfillment talk we all jumped in once more for a night swim.

It was a great night with lifetime friends full of crack shoots!

Calm and Clear

What a great way to end the month of May with a morning swim bright and early with 13 other Oak Streakers!  The water was refreshing, warm, clear, and low tide!  You could nearly see the bottom.  (Funny comment about seeing to the bottom...Lisa asked me a few weeks ago what songs I sing in my head when I swim.  I gave her my range of artists I sing while swimming and told her one fall back when the water is clear is definitely Will Smith (Big Willie) "Miami"...replaying the lyric in my head of 'water so clear you can see to the bottom' whenever I can see such depth in the water.)  Today was a Big Willie day at moments.  

Kelp seems to be starting to die off, which is sad, but also nice to know it won't be in the way as much.  There were tons of schools of fish in areas.  The water was so calm most of the group swam the crack of Seal Rock...I just played around the reef watching the wildlife.  Of course this was because I was trailing behind a little and didn't want to shoot the crack without someone close to me.  Safety first...I opted to not chance getting scrapped by a wave pushing me into the rock.

Total trip of my morning swim was probably about 1.25 miles.  Short, but well worth the early morning wake up call.  Swimming back to shore about 75 yards from the shore I saw a baby ray just chillin' in the sand.  Reminds me to never forget about the string ray shuffle and to continue to embed the rhyme in Matthew and Samuel's heads...especially at Shaw's Cove.   

Shaw's Cove about 6:05 am on May 31, 2012

Back in the pool!

Well with nearly 3 weeks off I finally made it to a Newport Masters Swimming practice.  Coach Jim added a handful of swimmers since I last caught a workout. Of course I am still the slowest and I know virtually no other stroke,but my dependable freestyle. I did try his lap workout for a quick flutter of breast stroke with the arms and freestyle kick. That was interesting for me to say the least!

Great news even though travel for work, swim camp, and my passion for the ocean had kept me away from the pool my speed actually remained the same and in some 100's even improved by a whopping 2 seconds. I am still holding 1:40 to 1:42. I am so happy about this.

One mental note I should really work on my flip turns so I actually look like a swimmer since there are other teammates now. 

I did about 2900 yards tonight. About 30 min left and coach came over to me and offered some variation for me suggesting some laps with my gear. His comment was since you only have one gear do you want to use your gear to kick it up? (Hee hee I really do think that was funny and oh so true...I have one speed and it is slow,but it is everlasting) I played with my new FINIS paddles I got from swim camp and really liked them. I managed to keep them on my hands and they didn't kill my shoulders! With my gear on my 100's went from 1:40 to 1:28...still not as fast as some there tonight, but for me I felt like LIGHTENING!!!

It was a fun workout.

Day 2&3 Swim Camp

Okay so it's a little later than I would have liked to post and out of order with my random thought posted but here it is anyway...it goes without saying LOVED Jamie's swim camp. The weather was perfect and so was the group of swimmers who attended.

I was there with so many accomplished swimmers from fastest in their age group to multiple channel swimmers.  The best part of the camp I would have to say was getting to know these amazing swimmers. They were all so welcoming to everyone including me who is slowest in her age group and aspires to be a multiple channel swimmer.

The group there was training from anything between pier to pier swims to the Catalina Channel or the English Channel to the Sea of Cortez! Yes remarkably the Sea of Cortez...one of the wildlife to keep watch for on this swim is the giant squid!  They travel in groups which could pose a problem...I am excited to see updates of Paul's swim once it starts!!! Jamie himself is doing what is being called Tahoe 360...swimming the perimeter of Lake Tahoe nearly 70 miles non stop. As you can see I was in elite company for the sport of marathon swimming.

I got the most swimming in day 1, but averaged probably 4-5 miles a day. I felt great that my body held up really nicely for a 7.2 distance day 1 about 5 day 2 and maybe 4 day 3!

It was a no stress weekend with swimming at your will until your heart or body was content, whichever came first and great food!

Definitely a memorable weekend with new friends made! I am already signed up for next year to hopefully see all of the same faces and even more hearing about what fantastically crazy swims have been concocted since Jamie Patrick's Swim Camp 2.0!

Sand = LOVE

So at this point in my life at any point even after a fresh car wash I have sand in my car. I love it! It is a reminder to me every time I see it of all the adventures the ocean brings to me and I am living life!!

Day 1 Swim Camp Review

What a great day! I had a blast day 1!!

Morning session I swam 3.6 miles...followed up with a great food break and power nap leading to another 3.6 miles! 7.2 miles!!! The most miles in a day I had ever done. I felt great too.

Although fresh water swimming is a little harder than ocean swimming. The salt helps with your buoyancy so I felt like my legs kept sinking.  It was still great though!!  Granted not like swimming on Saturday with dolphins 2-3 feet from me...spraying with the splash of their blow holes almost hitting me, but it is a great day when you get to jump in a lake at any point to just swim.

I could get used to this!!!