3-17-11
After dropping a little at the first of the week from another storm passing through the water made up lost ground and was a cool 50 degrees. As strange, or even crazy, as it sounds the last few weeks I have been a little let down not really feeling any effects of our swims. It's not that I want to put myself in serious danger but the reason I'm participating in this group is to be a part of something few people even try, and to push my limits. Today I reached that limit and tip-toed over the line, venturing into the unknown. Gordon walked down the boat ramp and started swimming towards the island, while Josh and I made our way to the south pier where we would join him on his return. The swim was on par with previous attempts; the initial shock of the water, breathing was under control, etc. The last 75 yards I was really starting to get used to the cold and slightly counteract the effects. When I reached the finish at the ramp my body had the usual tiny bumps but to my surprise I couldn't really tell any difference in my skin pigment. Trying to get out and take my goggles off that seemed to be glued to my eye sockets I was a little off balance and thought it was just the slimy rocks I was trying to avoid stepping on. After falling a couple times I walked out and over to my towel. While standing there a got a little dizzy and was still off balance for a good minute or so...mild hypothermia. I only went about 180 more yards than last week but that extra couple of minutes seems to be the boundary for me personally. Look forward to seeing how far I can go next week!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
>200
3-10-11
With a temperature just a couple of tenths below 50 degrees I can no longer justify the prefix 'Polar' to our swims. Our little winter swim team has grown by a couple members in week 4. All afternoon the weather was perfect for a nice long relaxing swim in the pond. But as fate would have it the clouds rolled in and the wind kicked up. Betrayed by the weather our addiction to the numbing caress of the water overpowered flight. We walked to the east pier as we have used the past few weeks and Gordon walked on to the south pier. For our two new members today was their first experience. Heidi took center stage and did a plunge for her first taste of the experience. After she had successfully gotten out and warmed up; Josh, Goody, and I stood in the whirling wind and awaited Gordon to swim to our pier where we would join him. He quickly reached us and Josh dove in, followed by Goody, and finally myself and we headed to the boat ramp at the northeast tip. About 50 yards away from shore we tread water and made sure everyone was still above water. During this time I raised my left arm out of the water to see if I could notice any change of color in my skin, however with my dark goggles and cloud cover this proved worthless. Before starting again I turned to Josh and asked if he was gonna do fly the rest of the way. He smiled and said no. Thinking back on last week remembering that I wasn't sure my muscles had the mobility I wanted to try this week. So with curiosity, and a bit of wanting to showoff, I did a few strokes of fly and finished the last few yards with free. Even though I more than doubled the distance from the last attempt I felt great and immediately wished Josh and I would've joined Gordon at the farther distance. Making no haste in getting out of the water I walked up the slippery ramp and over to where my towel was. My skin was red and littered with tiny numb spots, but don't recall a single shiver. I am continually amazed at the incredible resilience of the human body. I hadn't even whipped myself off with my towel but just wrapped it around my shoulders and chest not more than 30 seconds and already the spots and the redness were gone. My body had already recovered any heat that was lost and once again I was warmer standing in a dripping suit half naked against the wind than I was before the swim in a beanie and sweatshirt.
With a temperature just a couple of tenths below 50 degrees I can no longer justify the prefix 'Polar' to our swims. Our little winter swim team has grown by a couple members in week 4. All afternoon the weather was perfect for a nice long relaxing swim in the pond. But as fate would have it the clouds rolled in and the wind kicked up. Betrayed by the weather our addiction to the numbing caress of the water overpowered flight. We walked to the east pier as we have used the past few weeks and Gordon walked on to the south pier. For our two new members today was their first experience. Heidi took center stage and did a plunge for her first taste of the experience. After she had successfully gotten out and warmed up; Josh, Goody, and I stood in the whirling wind and awaited Gordon to swim to our pier where we would join him. He quickly reached us and Josh dove in, followed by Goody, and finally myself and we headed to the boat ramp at the northeast tip. About 50 yards away from shore we tread water and made sure everyone was still above water. During this time I raised my left arm out of the water to see if I could notice any change of color in my skin, however with my dark goggles and cloud cover this proved worthless. Before starting again I turned to Josh and asked if he was gonna do fly the rest of the way. He smiled and said no. Thinking back on last week remembering that I wasn't sure my muscles had the mobility I wanted to try this week. So with curiosity, and a bit of wanting to showoff, I did a few strokes of fly and finished the last few yards with free. Even though I more than doubled the distance from the last attempt I felt great and immediately wished Josh and I would've joined Gordon at the farther distance. Making no haste in getting out of the water I walked up the slippery ramp and over to where my towel was. My skin was red and littered with tiny numb spots, but don't recall a single shiver. I am continually amazed at the incredible resilience of the human body. I hadn't even whipped myself off with my towel but just wrapped it around my shoulders and chest not more than 30 seconds and already the spots and the redness were gone. My body had already recovered any heat that was lost and once again I was warmer standing in a dripping suit half naked against the wind than I was before the swim in a beanie and sweatshirt.
(As always Gordon has the video on his blog)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
1:33/258'
3-3-11
I already posted about this swim yesturday but now that my ego is back in check and my little tantrum is over i'm going to revise it. I arrived at the pond after Gordons son Jake had just dried off from jumping in. My dad and I were a few steps away from the east pier when there was a splash. Looking out towards the water we saw Gordon had dove in and was on his way to the boat ramp which he measured before hand to be just over 200 yards. For a lot of people that distance wouldn't even be a warm up, but when you add cold water to it it becomes a whole different monster. The water was 45 degrees, 4 degrees warmer than the previous week. A few strokes away from the finish Gordon had slowed down, not from lack of strength but due to the effects of the cold water. With no further effects he made it triumphantly to the end. Josh was up next and was gonna attempt the same course. As soon as he entered the water Josh began to sprint towards the goal. Again not a long distance but over 4 times what any of us had done the week before. Walking along the trail percieving the water had no effect on his perfect stroke and was able to keep it as smooth as ever. I thought I had noticed him drift a little farther from shore and after he reached the ramp and told us the distance my perception was comfirmed. 211 yards. Soon it was my turn. I was struggling with what I was comfortable in trying to accomplish, this being only the second week swimming. My goal all week was 100 yards which would've been a little more than double last weeks achievement. After watching both Gordon and Josh complete the 200+ yards with relative ease I had more confidence that I could make it as well. When we got back to the pier the small doubt that still lingered got the best of me and I decided to just be safe and go with my original goal. The ladder was lowered and after a graceful belly flop I was off. While swimming away from the group I looked over my shoulder to see how far I had gone and without any idea of the distance I decided to keep going. One thing I regretted about the first swim was not taking the time to really feel the water. Keeping this in mind I took a few more strokes, stopped and wadded in the pond feeling how the water felt around me. Showing my pleasure and enjoyment in the water (and since I wasn't moving, to let them know I was OK) I raised both arms out of the water and gave the group at the pier two thumbs up and started back. A few strokes within the finish I thought about showing off and doing fly to the end but to be honest I didn't think my muscles had the mobility to pull it off. Every swim I slip farther into the intoxicating lullaby of the cold water and leave yearning and needing more.
I already posted about this swim yesturday but now that my ego is back in check and my little tantrum is over i'm going to revise it. I arrived at the pond after Gordons son Jake had just dried off from jumping in. My dad and I were a few steps away from the east pier when there was a splash. Looking out towards the water we saw Gordon had dove in and was on his way to the boat ramp which he measured before hand to be just over 200 yards. For a lot of people that distance wouldn't even be a warm up, but when you add cold water to it it becomes a whole different monster. The water was 45 degrees, 4 degrees warmer than the previous week. A few strokes away from the finish Gordon had slowed down, not from lack of strength but due to the effects of the cold water. With no further effects he made it triumphantly to the end. Josh was up next and was gonna attempt the same course. As soon as he entered the water Josh began to sprint towards the goal. Again not a long distance but over 4 times what any of us had done the week before. Walking along the trail percieving the water had no effect on his perfect stroke and was able to keep it as smooth as ever. I thought I had noticed him drift a little farther from shore and after he reached the ramp and told us the distance my perception was comfirmed. 211 yards. Soon it was my turn. I was struggling with what I was comfortable in trying to accomplish, this being only the second week swimming. My goal all week was 100 yards which would've been a little more than double last weeks achievement. After watching both Gordon and Josh complete the 200+ yards with relative ease I had more confidence that I could make it as well. When we got back to the pier the small doubt that still lingered got the best of me and I decided to just be safe and go with my original goal. The ladder was lowered and after a graceful belly flop I was off. While swimming away from the group I looked over my shoulder to see how far I had gone and without any idea of the distance I decided to keep going. One thing I regretted about the first swim was not taking the time to really feel the water. Keeping this in mind I took a few more strokes, stopped and wadded in the pond feeling how the water felt around me. Showing my pleasure and enjoyment in the water (and since I wasn't moving, to let them know I was OK) I raised both arms out of the water and gave the group at the pier two thumbs up and started back. A few strokes within the finish I thought about showing off and doing fly to the end but to be honest I didn't think my muscles had the mobility to pull it off. Every swim I slip farther into the intoxicating lullaby of the cold water and leave yearning and needing more.
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