Date: Friday June 3rd

Today is a mixed bag of swimming indoors and out, first up is an early morning dip in the indoor lap pool, focus pace control and picking up the speed……

Session 1: 6:00am Masters Swim Practice = 2750 meters

5 x 50’s Drill 25 Fist Drill/ 25 Catchup Stroke with 10 seconds rest

400 Aerobic Cruise 75% effort

21 x 100’s on 1:40 Interval, every 3rd and 6th Good effort, every 7th Ez

Session 2: Green River Reservoir

Paula and Deb survey " Italy's Boot Route"

 Late in the day it is off to the Green River Reservoir to meet Paula and Deb, Paula is paddling today and we are off to explore a new arm of the reservoir, I decide to name it ” little Italy”, because it’s shape looks like Italy, I remember from school,  the saying, ” Italy kicked Sicily into the sea”, well there is no Sicily at the Green River Reservoir but it sure looks like a boot, check it out……

Italy's Boot, see it.... in the lower right corner, that's me taking the photo!

 Paula and Deb discuss the course, then Paula gets in the kayak ready for a ” push out to sea”, meanwhile I am looking at the trees swaying in the wind, their leaves look like a pack kindergartners on their first day at school, all excited and darting furiously from one direction to the other, yip that is what the trees look like. Then there are the waves, white showings of color at the top of each, looks like hundreds of seagulls riding the top of them, ” “white caps”as I was taught to call them, as  I am looking out to the water Deb announces the following ” just a few white horses today”,” just a few !”I say to Paula, “looks like the cavalry out there”, we laugh and Deb states matter of factly,” I see the positive”, she does and that is one of the many reasons she is such a great support….. I saw  white caps, she saw the areas there weren’t any, she was right!

 Fortunately I rather enjoy the fight of the waves, it sparks me to swim harder and I am always warmer in the rough water, so we head out, off to conquor Italy’s heel, the wind is behind us and we zoom down the long narrow inlet, so narrow I can see lots of scenery on the shoreline, an island here, a point there, very entertaining. Then we arrive at the boot, Paula asks me if I want to swim into the heel ” absolutely”, we do and it gets very shallow, for fun I launch off the bottom with the highest vertical jump I can ” look I can touch”!!

 Then we head for home, now is where the work starts, Paula is battling in the kayak against the headwind,  it is holding her at a snails pace, we weave our way up the boot and pass Blueberry Island, PHEW not long now, we are less than half a mile from the canoe launch but the wind is stronger now and Paula, “Flat Stanley” and the kayak are barely moving, I slow down my stroke, I stop and tread, I turn my head and look back towards Paula, I want to stay by her and am getting so cold waiting, I swim ahead a bit spinning my arms fast to warm up, then turn and wait, by now I am at the point, at the mouth of the canoe inlet, Paula is nearly with me, we are going to make it, we paddle in together.

 My teeth are chattering, I head straight to the mini to get warm clothes on, I warm up quickly today, good reminder to us, I have to keep moving to keep warm.

Next up 2 Hours at 10am, I am excited, this will be my longest 60 degree swim to date, how will we do and where will we go, I’ll keep you posted.

Swim Time: 1 Hour 15 minutes

Air Temperature: 61 Degrees

Water Temperature: 62-64 Degrees

 Today we are swimming to Italy, it

Date: Tuesday May 31st

Time: 4:00pm

Temperature: 60-64

Location:Indoor Lap Pool/ Green River Reservoir

Today’s Distance 15,084 meters (13.5 Miles)

Channeling

 One thing is for sure, when you’re Channelling ( this is what I use to refer to activities or tasks I am doing in preparation for the Channel, it may be swimming, researching or planning training swims/events, anything to do with preparing I call ” Channelling”), so when you are channelling you have to get creative, with life to juggle along with training often times you have to be creative as to how to squeeze it all into the day…. work, family time, day to day cores.

Today is one of those ” SQUEEZE IT IN DAYS”, to achieve what is on today’s docket, I am maneuvering my training  swims in, first one early 6:15am, while much of the town is still sleeping or enjoying coffee and a leisurely read of the paper, the next swim is with our local Masters group, then work…emails, calls, meetings and those unexpected tasks that rear their ugly head during the day and at the end of it all a dash to the Open Water to get that final swim in, before heading home to the family at 7pm…..laundry, dinner, kids on homework, me working or posting an account of the latest adventure or burning the midnight oil with work , then pack up for the next day to do it all over again, bags packed, lunch made and off to bed to rest up for tomorrow…. PHEW!

 That brings us to today, Tuesday, it will take 3 time slots to fit in today’s goals, they are:

• Endurance Training 15,000 plus meters
• Feeding in under 25 seconds
• Cold Water time, 1 hour or more

 First Workout of the day: 6:15am in the indoor lap pool…4000 meters, one hour

10 x 400’s on the 6:15 interval

Then out of the Pool to teach a Kranking class

Second Workout of the Day: Swimming with our Masters Group….4000 meters, 1 Hour 25 minutes.

6 x 50’s Drill

21 x 100’s Every 7th pick up the pace

8 x 200’s Pull with Paddles on the 3:00 Interval

Third Workout of the Day: Open Water Green River Reservoir, 1 Hour 45 minutes

Green River Reservoir~ 19 Miles of Shoreline

OK I admit it I am mentally drained when I pry myself out of work and arrive at the Reservoir late this afternoon, I meet Paula and Deb and we get situated with the boat, sun lotion on, we are off, we have had a good dose of thunderstorms over the last few days and I want to be sure we wrap up this last swim of the day before another one strikes, I checked the radar before I left Stowe and we look clear until 6:30pm.

 This afternoon our destination is Picnic Island, a big long open straight of water where I can really stretch out, Paula is paddling she steers me past the point and into the cold water springs, that’s right, you read correctly, there are cold water springs splattered all over the reservoir, how can I describe them to you? BRRRRRRRR! The good thing about them is that they make me speed up, I like to zip through them as fast as I can.

Naked Guy Rock

I have swum the island loop many times before and today I am enjoying taking it all in, the familiar line of the hills, the shape of the trees and the various inlets along the way, then there is the ” naked guy rock”, when I see it I know we are close to picnic island. Last year Cara and I were out training, she was paddling and I was swimming, I usually head straight down the middle of the lake but on this particular outing Cara decided to hug the shore, checking out all the wildlife, well she got more then she bargained for when she paddled alongside ” naked guy rock”, sprawled ontop of the rock was a guy not wearing a stitch of clothing, legs sprawled apart, his manhood on display for all to see, I with foggy goggles am only aware of a blurr on the rock,” hmmmm what an unfortunate looking beaver”, I think as I breathe to the side and resume swimming…..since them we have called it ” Naked Guy Rock” and I giggle every time I swim by it.

Down to the Island, Paula counts my strokes at 20 minutes, 68 strokes, at 25 minutes she give me the” pick up the pace sign”, I swim harder for 3 minutes, 74 strokes per minute, then 2 minutes easy and it is my 30 minute signal to feed, down the hatch!

 Around the Island and back to the point, feed number 2 and home towards the canoe launch, how long? 1 Hour and 16 minutes, but not yet time to get out…..

Company in the Water

Picard ready to set sail

 

 Paula lands the kayak then switches with Deb, Paula returns with her suit and we get to take a lap of Blueberry Island swimming together, WHAT FUN!

 An added bonus Picard rides in the Boat with Deb and I get to feed on a banana during the lap of Blueberry Island, what a treat, it tastes sweet!

Total Swim Time: 1 Hour 46 Minutes

Next Open Water Swim= Friday, will the conditions be kind or will I be battling the wind and waves?

I’ll keep you posted.

Date: Monday May 30th, Memorial Day

Time: 12:30pm

Weather: Sunshine

Water: 60-64 Degrees

 I am excited to swim today, no more first swim of the spring jitters, Green River Reservoir is buzzing with activity, Vermont has had a long wet spring and it seems that ” everyman and his dog”,( that means in Kiwi that there are heaps of people) are out and about today drinking in the great out doors and the novelty of sunshine.

 Today’ route is 2 laps around Blueberry Island with an hour of swimming and feeding practice. I am lotioned up with factor 85 SPF ready to go, hmm maybe worth popping on a little baby oil just to give me that edge over any thoughts of cold ( it helps me mentally and the smell is familiar and cozy, like a fuzzy soft baby blanket, yes definitely oil on today). Paula hooks me up and slops on the oil, with that I slither on into the water……I dive under and am off, I feel GREAT today, I am so pleased.

 Paula and I are soon upon Blueberry Island, I can feel the water temperature warm as I approach the shallow water of the island, now I recognise the familiar trees and can see the bottom, I like it there. Lap 1 complete and a 25 second feed, that is 30 minutes down we are off again and it is soon time for feed number 2, my feed has been travelling along on the top of the kayak just behind ” Cat Stanley”, it is in a pop top container that is duct taped to a rope, when it is time for me to ” gulp’ngo” Paula throws me the container, only this time the feed has been sitting in the sun, it is luke warm and smells HORRIBLE, I gag as I pop the top, pour it in, it comes straight back up not even making it down my throat. I gulp determined to get the foul brew down, I do and spend the rest of the lap concentrating on keeping it down. Lap 2 complete, Paula shouts ” what do you want to do”, , ” Please sir can we go again” I reply, with a smile that you would expect to find on the face of a wide mouthed frog who was very pleased with himself.

Gulp'n Go Feed

 With that we are off and complete lap number 3 of Blueberry Island, what a wonderful outing, we swam for 1 hour and 15 minutes and covered 3.3 miles, tomorrow we are back again and this time a new course, to Picnic Island and back, HOORAY I love Picnics! What’s on the menu, something new, how will it sit, I’ll keep you posted!

" Cat Stanley"

Sunday May 29 th

Temperature: 70 Degrees

Conditions: Thunderstorm watch, Rain & Clouds

Water Temperature: 60-64 degrees

Today is Sunday, my rest day…..NOT. This week it is the first spring swim in the Green River Reservoir, I have been outdoors in the lap pond a few times already this spring but I am yet to take that first lake/ reservoir swim.

 I awake to heavy rain, it is ” chucking it down”, also tossed in are flashes of lightening and the rumble of thunder, under the covers I am remembering how chilling the cold water was last fall during my 50 degree last dip of 2010 in the Green River Reservoir.

 I take a 9:00am Yoga class and by the end of class I have myself convinced that today’s swim will have to be postponed due to the weather, yet after class I still head home to  pull on my bathing suit and get all my supplies ready. I am feeling uneasy, I am uncertain if it is the unsettled weather or simply me dragging my feet about today’s upcoming swim.

 I scan the weather radar and call Paula ( my training crew team member), ” we are on Paula, looks like there is a window of time between storms from 12:00-2:00pm, lets go out and if it looks questionable we will make the call as a team, not just my decision…remember I tend to get things set in my mind and do them regardless, you me and Deb will decide together”

 Paula replies, “agreed, see you at 12:00pm”. I arrive early and wait down by the water, I tie Turtle up to a tree and let him tell my fortune:” Oh wise turtle what water temperature will I swim in today”, turtle is a bit slow to respond, finally he tells all, ” 64 degrees shoreline”, ” bloody marvelous” I think that sounds very nice indeed.

 Paula and Deb arrive, kayak in the water, we are set to go, Deb is paddling today, Paula is land support, Deb brings here life sized fake cat and sets it right on the front of the boat, she starts paddling out, I dawdle into the water, so as a snail, finally I shout to Deb, ” are you waiting for me?” “YES, any time now”, she replies, I laugh…we are off. Paula shouts” have fun” as I dive in.

 As soon as I dive in all inhibitions wash right off me, the water is silky smooth, welcoming me back, familiar smells, familiar view underwater, black dark water, it looks as black as the night and I feel at ease. Within a few minutes my goggles fog over, ” Rats, I am out of practice I forgot to wash out my goggles with dish soap and water last night”, I learnt this tip from a previous Channel swimmer last summer and it has worked well for me. Never mind, I can at least make out the shape of the emerald eyed cat, I now name you : “Cat Stanley”, like flat Stanely except you are a cat and not flat. So that is my swim me and Cat Stanley, out to Blueberry Island and back, navigated by Deb of course, but I can’t see her, to me it looks like ” Cat Stanley” is pilot, it makes me giggle, I am having fun, just as Paula told me too.

 As we approach the canoe launch inlet, I make out Paula’s bright blue pants on shore, I should not be peaking but I do, I know the swim is nearly over and I am excited with our outing. I am SO excited I dolphin dive the final 10 meters into shore, excited to have this first swim under my belt, excited that the water felt so comfortable, not cold at all and most of all excited to be back in the open water, the beautiful shoreline views and my friends the loons, who have returned after being away from the winter.What a relief to have that first spring swim complete.

Swim Time today: 30 minutes

Next Up: Monday May 30th Memorial Day, my plan a 1 hour swim with 2 feeds, has that “gulp’n go ” feeding in the pool over the winter paid off, am I faster feeding than I was last summer, we will find out tomorrow…I’ll keep you posted.

Date:Thursday May 26th
Location:The Indoor Lap Pool and The Lap Pond

                                                                                   
Today started with an early morning Pool swim of 8000 meters, the goal: endurance, feeding and getting some cold water time in.
The lap pool was a balmy 82 degrees…
Set 1
10 x 400’s on the 6:15 interval
with the goal of a 20 second feed on # 5 & # 10

then a swim with the masters group…..

Set 2

3 x 400’s on the 6:15 interval

4 x ( 200 Free on 3:00 )

        ( 150 Free on 2:15)

        ( 100 ez stretch on 2:15)

5 x 200’s pull on 3:00 with paddles

then out of the tropical lap pool waters and into the cool waters of the” lap pond”

150 Trout in the pond waiting to swim with me!

set 3

10 x 200’s “Flip & Go” no interval today

One lap of the pond is around 200 yards, 10 laps is my goal today, the air temperature is 66 degrees, the skies are over cast and the water looks decidedly murky.

 In goes the turtle thermometer, I strip down to my two piece suit, I’ve ditched my one piece to get maximum cold on my belly today. Cap on and I venture down the the waters edge to see what ” wise old turtle is telling me today”, normally he looks sympathetic when he is reading the water temperature, today he I swear he is smirking….

Turtle, are you smirking under water?

 62 degrees….or is it 60 degrees, it’s still dropping, oh well ” bottoms up” ,and with that I am off. In I dive, today it is like a comfortor wrapping around me, but it is not warmth…it is COLD.

 Down and back I swim, there are areas of water where the surface feels so lovely, warm infact and others where the temperature drops, the cold water aches. I long for the sun to break through the heavy dense clouds and warm my back, it doesn’t, it stays defiantly hidden, I feel bone cold.

 Time to change my head space, no more thoughts of the cold, I start wondering what the 150 trout are thinking of me thrashing up and down in what is usually their tranquil pond. I giggle as I imagine them following me playfully like a swarm of bees, I them swimming together and making shapes out of all their little trout bodies, like a giant tick under water saying ” you can do it”!

 I laugh under their, I feel warmer inside, yes I am feeling better. Before I know it I give myself the, this is the last lap notice, I swim the the edge and stop, hanging in the water and letting my body relax and hang just below the surface, I made it, cold water swim done for the day, I am most pleased!

Today’s distance… 8000 meters and 2000 yards

Next up my Memorial Weekend, swims indoors and out!

Today’s Date: Saturday May 28th

Time 8:00am- 10:30am

Location: The Swimming Hole, Indoor Lap Pool

Swim Buddies: Cynthia, Sue Ellen & Jennifer

Today’s Workout

Warm Up 500 EZ

4 X 500’S on 7:45 Interval 75 % Effort

1 x 1500 meters Good Effort Swim

10 x 200’s on 3:15 Interval

1-5 Recovery Pull with paddles

6- 10 Descend, with # 10 being a good push

10 x 100’s on 2:15 interval goal time 1:30 with # 5 & 10 being a beat the tide pace

5 x 100’s recovery pull on 1:45 interval

 Today is one of my last indoor Saturday training swims, after a long Vermont winter it is time for me to get outdoors and hit the lakes, the ice has thawed, it is time to change gears and that means no more long swims indoors on Saturdays WAHOO, I will be out with the loons, the beavers and the fish, I have been waiting for this for months, over 6 months, the long indoor swims over the winter were torturous at times and I can’t believe this is one of my last for a while, change is upon me.

 I thought I would be wildly excited about this but today I am subdued, I find myself reflective, as I swim my warm up I fondly look around the pool, ” WOW, I know every tile on the bottom of this pool, I am able to sense when it is time to turn at the wall and I don’t have to look, I know the water so well, the way it feels, like silk, smooth on my body, I LOVE this pool”, I look around again, like I am seeing the pool with a whole new light, suddenly this 8 lane 25 meter pool looks & feels tiny, like a little holding pen that has been storing me, nurturing me all winter long, keeping me in the best possible shape so I am ready for my release into the open water, like a mother raising their young this is the time to let go, today is that day….my last Saturday swim, I am going to enjoy this one.

 We start on the 500’s, my target pace is 7:15 for each 500, the first 2 repeats are right on the money, number 3 & 4 a little fast at  7:12. Then it is time to move onto the 1500 meters, a good effort swim.

 We have a Meet coming up on June 24th, the New England Masters Championships at Middlebury College in Vermont and  I have entered the 800 & 1500 meters, a good chance to get some speed work in. We push off for our 1500, I have planned to swim 7 minute 500’s today, I have picked a lane close to the pace clock so I can see my 500 splits times when I flip at the wall, I know a 7 minute 500 will feel comfortable to hold, so I let my brain think that is what it is on the menu.

 I come in for my 200 split, yip ahead of target pace, next my 500 split, a 6 minute and 50 seconds, a check in on how I feel, strong, not out of breath, some discomfort but manageable, “Ok then, I made my bed time to lay in it, this is the pace for the first 1000 and then for the last 500 I pick it up, the last 100 ” Go for it”!

 The 2 nd 500 I swim in on 6:55, time to pick it up, stronger pull, tighter streamline off the walls, snappier turns and a faster stroke rate, into the last 100 and it is ” step on it time”, I hit the wall to finish and turn to the pace clock, a 20 minute and 30 second 1500, good, I am pleased.

 Onto the recovery pull set, followed by 5 x 200’s descend, the last one I put in a good push but my time doesn’t reflect it. Then we finish with our easy stretch 100’s, 45 seconds of treading water in between each one, I feed twice, 250 mls down the hatch at each feed, the first takes 20 seconds, the last is down in 15 seconds, ” not a drop lost on that feed Charlotte” , says Cynthia, I am grateful she is keeping an eye on my the carbo/protein blend going down, it is no help to me if I spill it into the pool and not into my mouth.

 We finish up with a lovely easy stretch of 5 x 100 Pull with paddles on a 1:45 interval mmmm, dreamy.

 Out of the pool, shower up and outside to play, a 5km run, I am thrilled to be out and about.

Tomorrow my first swim in the Green River Reservoir since October 2010, I am edgy thinking about it, is it excitement or nerves? We’ll fin

Date: Saturday May 14th
Time: 8:00am
Location: The Swimming Hole, Indoor Lap Pool

 The Workout: Steak Dinner set
  Today’s focus is..

• Pacing, swimming easy, swimming hard
• Changing gears, practicing swimming slow, then putting the pedal down and swimming hard, a ” beat the tide pace”
• Treading water in between swims
• Feeding, gulp and go feeds in under 30 seconds while treading water

 Packing my swim bag….
 In my swim bag is my new black TYR suit, I am planning to swim in it in Ireland and want to break it in so it is a little worn, molded to me and less likely to chaff.
 Also in my bag is my feed, 4 servings of Maxim and water, these are in two pop top bottles with a wide mouth, there are levels on the bottles marking 250 and 500mls so I know how much to chug each feed, I also have a water bottle and a recovery drink of Gatorade and whey protein.
 Finally the workout, written in pencil on canary yellow lined paper, no ink jet printer, it doesn’t fair well after flip turns….. all the ink runs

 Here is the workout, intervals are set for a 25 meter pool

10 x repeats on the 6:15 Interval ( my swim is 10 x 400’s)
#1 – 9 75% effort Feed after number 4 & 9
# 10 Threshold Swim 85% effort+

10 x repeats on the 3:15 Interval ( my swim is 10 x 200’s)
# 1 – 6 Recovery Pull with paddles
# 7- 10 Good Effort Swims

10 Repeats on the 2:00 Interval ( my swim is 10 x 100’s)
# 1- 6 Ez Stretch, steady pace
# 7-10 Descend, # 10 Good Effort swim

10 x Repeats on the 1:15 Interval ( my swim is 10 x 50s)
Odd Ez stretch
Even Sprint, hold your time, last is your fastest

10 x 25’s with 15 seconds rest ( swim down fast, ez back)

Swim Buddies
Swimming with me today is Cynthia, she is the best to swim with, super positive and good energy, Cynthia started swimming less than 2 years ago, she is an amazing athlete and unstoppable, she has taken swim lessons, joined our masters swim workout group and practiced, practiced, practiced and it shows, what fun!
 Also in the water is ” Fast Phil”, he is a monster in the water, his strongest stroke is his backstroke, it amazes me every time I swim with him, he also has a strong freestyle too, that combined with a terrific work ethic makes for a terrific swim bud.

We begin
 Cynthia and I arrive early and knock out the warm up, Phil arrives at the perfect time we are just about to start the 10  x 400’s.
 Goal is steady aerobic pace for the first 9, 1 through 4 are all 5:45 to 5:55 swims, after number 4 I feed, treading water I navigate gulping down my feed, I have 25 seconds to get it down, done, bottle down and gone. # 5, # 6, # 7, # 8….OK, 1 more 400 then I am going to feed again and after that it is time to push out a ” beat the tide threshold swim”, my goal to feed in under 30 seconds, then swim 400 HARD and NOT THROW UP!
 Number 9 swim complete, I grab the bottle ” tread and gulp”, the feed pours out, I gag it down, throw the bottle on the deck and push off the wall as hard as I can. My heart pounds, my arms spins, I can taste the feed, I hold it down, BAM I Punch the wall…a 5:25, I am pleased. I grab my water and begin to tread while I drink.

Next Set & welcome Sue
Sue joined us mid way through the 6:15 set, now we are a pod of 4, next up…
10 x 3:15 Interval Repeats ( my swims are 200s)
1 thru 6 are recovery pull with paddles, it feels like a nap in a big down comforter, dreamy, with all good things they go too fast and before we knew it we were onto 7 thru 10 good effort swims.
 I am planning on descending, with a feed after number 9, here is how it goes..

• # 7 2:50
• # 8 2:45
• # 9 2:40
• # 10 2:35 and feed stays down!

Three Musketeers
Phil punches out after 2 strong hours of swimming, he has other commitments, we say our farewells and it is on to….
10 x Repeats on the 2:00 minute Interval ( mine are 10 x 100’s )
1- 6 Recovery, again these were delicious, times 1:30s
7-10 Descend

• # 7 1:30
• # 8 1:25
• # 9 1:20
• # 10 1:15 in the thick of it another feed.

We are close to the end, one more feed and 10 more sprints, armed with red cheeks from the hard swims we move on to our second to last set!

10 x 50’s on the 1: 15 Interval
# 1,3,5,7 & 9 are ” nice and easy
# 2,4,6,8 & 10 are sprints, the goal hold….. time for the first 4 and punch it on the last one
The first sprint is too slow, my goal time is 38, I swim a 40, time to ” man up”
# 4 38 seconds
# 6 38 seconds
# 8 37 seconds
#10 35 seconds Excellent

Homestretch
10 x 25s ( Down easy and fast back)
The sprints are breakouts, strong off the wall, sprint three quarters of the way down the pool without a breath, then easy to the wall, these zip by, finally it is # 10, ” what the heck, all out and no air for the whole 25 meters on the last one….success, WAHOO!

Wrap up & Chat
 We made it, all the feed bottles and water bottles are empty, all that was prescribed on the canary yellow paper is complete, we chat, after swim chats hanging over the lane lines are the BEST. We hang out long enough to cool off, then push off for a cool down, then it is out of the pool, into the hot shower and for me a 5km run…it is not in my training plan but I love to get outdoors and I love to run, I enjoy it very much.

Feed Me!
 12:30, I am showered and dressed after my run, time to get home and refuel, I am starving! Next up lunch and a good dose of it.

What’s coming up tomorrow, 9am Yoga and a day off training, 40,000 meters complete for the week. Coming up next planning..Ireland! Oh and why is called the ” steak Dinner Set”? …Guess what I am having for dinner!



Yum Yums



November 2008
Location: Stowe, Vermont, USA
Goal: Swim Faster

Summer 2008, I decided my  goal was speed, I wanted to get faster and I had a few specific events in mind, the 800 and 1500 Freestyle were top of the list. I had been swimming some open water and a good lashing of pool swimming,  good old “pull up your socks and put in the hard work” training.
 I knew there was more, as a coach and swim instructor I kept up with the terrific flow of information from the American Swim Coaches Association and USA Swimming, I was lucky enough to attend conferences where presentations were made by Olympic Coaches and viewing them working with athletes in the pool, it was great.
 I was searching for instruction and coaching from someone who lived and breathed swimming, someone with a passion and had experience, swimming experience with a masters swimmer( aka swimmer 19 years and over!)…..I needed someone to give me feedback and instruction to improve my technique, I needed HELP!
  I researched, read reviews of clinics and programs, there are some terrific programs, coaches and instructors out there, I found the best of the best…Karlyn Pipes- Neilsen, I read that she lead clinics around the world, had set over 200 world records and was World Masters Swimmer of the Year, yip my gut told me to find one of her clinics.
 Almost as if it was meant to be I received a New England Masters Club newsletter the very next day, Karlyn was leading clinics on the East Coast the very next month, I signed up for a clinic in Maine December Sunday December 7th. The clinic was 12:00-4:30pm, my cunning plan was to get up early on Sunday morning and drive to Maine that day and drive back after the clinic. I set my alarm for 5am, drive 6 hours, arrive at 11am, eat food and hit the clinic then drive home. What I didn’t factor in was the possibility of a winter storm, it arrived and it was a doosie, I ended up getting up at 3am, leaving around 4am and made it to Maine at 11:30am a cool 7.5 hours later, after a white knuckled, slow driving road trip. The closer I got to Maine the more cars I saw off the road, each time I spied an abandoned car I shuddered, as you can imagine I arrived a little fatigued but I made it and was determined to learn as much as possible.
 I checked into the clinic early, and sat quietly in the room with a couple of other eager early arrivers and patiently waited as Karlyn was setting up for the clinic, I instantly liked her, she was alert, organised and sharp, not only did I know she was fast from her records, she looked it too! I couldn’t wait.
 I obesrved the other clinic goers, all shapes and sizes, huge variations in experience and ability, the cool thing was we were all in this together…… to learn, it didn’t matter if you were a struggling new comer or National record holder.

 So How did it go?
 The clinic was great, I learnt lots of new stuff , but here is the best thing Karlyn guided me to feel, even with techniques I had learned about from some of the US Olympic coaches presenting at recent conferneces ,she was cutting edge and delivered the information in a digestable way and helped me “feel”, that combined with real time feedback lead to big improvements in my freestyle and yes I got faster!

How much Faster?
YES! Instand results, I had a New England Championship Meet at Boston University 5 days later, I was thrilled to break the New England Record for the 800 meters Freestyle, but here is the cool part, check out my time drop….

2008 800 meters Free time 11 minutes, 4 seconds
2008 800 meters 5 days after Karlyn’s clinic 10:30.67

 So what happened then, Karlyn also attended the championship meet setting a world record, I congratulated her and thanked her for all she did for me, since then I have attended multiple clinics with Karlyn and each time have left faster

2009 800 meter time 10:24.88
2010 800 meter time 10:20.77

 I was impressed by Karlyn’s ability to deliver stuff in a simple and easy to digest way, she showed a real passion to bring the joys of swimming to others.
 We became friends and she comes up to Stowe when she is out east to lead a clinic and visit, I am fortunate to catch some training swims when she is in town and I LOVE IT!

 How did April’s training swims with Karlyn go….I’ll keep you posted!

Date: Friday May 13th, 2011
Air Temperature: 74 Degrees
Water Temperature: Blind Random,  who knows for sure!
Swim Distance: 2000 Yards
Swim Time: 28 Minutes
Location: The Lap Pool

The Lap Pond gives me a brisk welcome on Friday the 13th, 2011

2 Months Rushed by…
 It is almost 2 months since I was exploring the beaches and bays in Santa Barbara and San Francisco, when I arrived back from fighting the current in San Francisco Bay I had a new punch in my stroke, it was a ” swim for your life effort” and I brought it back to my pool training and it was fun, faster times than I had swum before, yes like a kid in a candy store. The weeks went by fast and it wasn’t long before the monotony of long pool swims crept back in, 40,000 meters per week,40,000 meters per week, each week rolled into one, will this winter ever end?

Spring Arrives….
 Winter held on until the bitter end here in Vermont, but finally Spring burst out, this week has been sterling, clear blue skies, sunshine and a warmth in the air.
 Yesterday after 3 stellar days I convinced myself it was time to take a drive to the lap pond, I threw in the Turtle thermometer and studied the water, dark, cool, and what is that, a jelly fish? I took a closer look, it looks like jelly fish alright but it isn’t, it is a big clear glob of what looks like hundreds of little bugs, ” I do hope they are not mosquitoes!”, I say to myself.” I’ll worry about that when I come back to swim”.
 Turtle said, 62 degrees for a water temperature, I can hardly believe it, I zip away excited at the prospect of a Friday the 13th swim tomorrow.

Dawn and the Day is a real Beauty
 I can’t believe I am finally swimming outside today, new scenery, weird little jelly like cocoon things to look at and multiple fish jumping, yes I am going to have lots of company swimming today.
 I decide a lunch time swim is the way to go, I dig out the 2 piece swim suit to get maximum cold exposure on my mid section, get lathered with lotion and off.



Cap, Goggles, Ear Plugs and favourite towel

  The sun is warming me as I drive to the pond, I park and lolly gag my way down to the edge, turtle goes in and I start fiddling around with my towel, my cap, my goggles, my sun glasses, I lay out my shorts, T shirt and fleece jacket, I fold them neatly, too neatly…yes I am stalling big time! I laugh at myself, ” time to get this show on the road”, I fish out turtle who has taken it upon himself to get a head start, he has floated defiantly away from the shore, I wade out ” Oh dear, this is not 62, turtle” , I say as I feel the cold envelope around my legs, I have no doubt that turtle was telling the truth, it did feel balmy and warm on the surface a sure fire 62 degrees BUT, underneath it is cold, ” well old girl, you know you are going to swim today regardless, do you really need to know the temperature below the surface is…hmmmm NO, just go for it”, and I do.
 Turtle was tossed aside and I am in and swimming, in with the weird clear jellies of bug like things, in with the jumping fish, and I am loving it!
 10 strokes, WOW this is like a tempid pool, another 10 strokes WOW this feels not so tempid, WOW this feels like I am swimming on ice, you get the picture… balmy, icy, balmy, icy, yes it is blind random, some parts feel dreamy other parts frigid.
 “Ok 10 laps I can do it, I can do it”, my plan is to use phantom walls at the end of each lap, that is when you do a flip turn without a wall, you flip then kick super hard to get moving again in the opposite direction. My first turn is coming up, I get ready, “accelerate, dive down the head and FLIP, AGGHHH, ice cream headache!” When I dive down to flip the water temperature plummets, wow this is intense.

 How will I be able to last this one out? Well nothing hurts, there are the occasional warm pockets of water and I had learned yesterday that the creepy jellies were just wee polliwogs.
 A polliwog is a tadpole, they are young amphibians with no arms or legs and have dorsal fins, they swim like fish and gradually grow limbs usually the legs first followed by the arms, they respire by internal gills, lungs develop about the time the legs grow, then they start hanging out at the surface and breath air, the mouth changes, next step frog, or wide mouth frog as I like to describe frogs. I was curious to know how long frogs live, most sources say 4 to 15 years and a giant toad from 7 to 24 years, I bet they are wise frogs.

Trout Fishing
  I asked Eric what the fish were in his pond….here it a snippet from the email to him

Day: Friday March 18th
Weather Conditions: Snarly
Wind: 7 kmots with 11.1knot wind gusts
Air Temperature: 46.2 Degrees
Water Temperature: 53.6 Degrees
Current Location: En Route to the Golden Gate Bride


Golden Gate Bridge on the horizon



WAVE TO THE PORPOISES
 The waves are growing larger the closer we get to the Golden Gate Bridge, when we started this boat ride the bridge was tiny in the distance, now it is looming up before me, a symbol of power and stability, a tower of strength. As we approach another swimmer sights porpoises playing just beyond the bridge, ” soon we’ll be joining them” I think!
The waters below the bridge are uncontrolled, random swirls of water mixed in with swells that tilt the boat to one side and the other without any choreography..it is blind random.
 The boat pulls up under the bridge, to the right there is a whirlpool wider than the boat, it looks like a huge invisible wooden spoon is stirring the water in a giant cauldron, the water seems to be screaming out to us on the boat” I’ll get you my pretties ha ha ha ha haaaaa “.
Leslie is scanning the water for a JUMP zone for us, ” we are moving back to the other side of the bridge, with the Tsunami hitting the West coast last Friday the water is unpredictable”.
 The boat motors back under the bridge and we stop, ” 10 minutes to jump time” Leslie shouts over the wind gusts.



” 10 Minutes to JUMP”

  “OK,  time to get sorted”, I think to myself, but what first, it does not seem like a good  idea to stand here in my black one piece suit counting down the seconds for 10 minutes, (on the other hand I might be so uncomfortable by then that the prospect of being in this water just may be better than shivering on the boat!)
I decide to start with cap, goggles and ear plugs….there done. OK, now shoes, socks and fleece leggings off…. easier said than done, I am swaying from side to side in an attempt to navigate lifting up my foot to get my shoes off, after 3 attempts I manage to get my shoes off and into the plastic bag, next up the ice breaker New Zealand super toasty socks, darn those sock are legendary and now they are rendered useless in the bag. Just a few minutes to go, vest off, the only thing left is my Burton aqua blue zip up under layer….it’s staying on right to the last few seconds!
 I home in on instructions from Leslie, ” the waves are big, you won’t be able to see the support boat but we’ll be there”, then she shouts ” do we want to do this?”, a bit of a pause them some shouts YEAHHHH…. “best not to process that question”, I think to myself, ” I am taking the plunge and you can be darn sure I am making it to shore one way or another!”

 I look over at Dave Barra, he is on my boat and I am happy about that, I recognized his name from the list of swimmers that was emailed out a few days ago, and also from the 10 mile Greater Kingdom Lake swim held in Lake Memphramagog, Vermont, he swam the event in July 2009, I swam the July 2010, our times for the course are similar, I am hoping we will be of similar pace, he has much more OW experience than me and I am pleased he is in my pod.
” Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two ,One” Leslie counts us down, it is time to take a leap of faith, I JUMP!

Check out some of the other pod swimmers jumping off the boat here…….

 There are hectic shouts to the kayaks, YOUR SWIMMER IS THERE, BARRY YOUR SWIMMER ARE OVER THERE”, then it is just a blur of wind, rain and waves….. head down and I am off, ” let’s get this show on the road” I think, time to bust it to shore, ” where are the other swimmers in our pod, I see Dave and Christian, we are underway!
 I do a body scan, hmmm nothing feels miserable or cold, the rough conditions help me to feel good, it always seems to warm me up and it makes it feel like an adventure, I feel good. I laugh to myself, ” out of all the issues I have right now the cold is at the bottom of the list, here is the unofficial list:
# 1 Current
# 2 Waves
# 3 Swell
# 4 Seal Lions
# 5 53 degree water
 …… I laugh again, no issues, I am on a mission to the shore, game on.

  It is challenging and exciting all rolled into one, the water is turbulent, I feel the current thrusting me forward, it feels like someone has pushed the fast forward button on the remote control and I am the movie being fast forwarded, it is a frenzy of activity, I am EXCITED!
 I look over to my right Dave B and I are stroke for stroke, I like swimming alongside him, his experience shines through as he navigates the waves with long relaxed strokes. Every now and then a swell picks me up and Dave is gone, then I sight him again and a swell picks him up and he disappears, this happens over and over.

 I breathe to my right and take in the Golden Gate Bridge, I command myself to “NOTICE” the bridge and not my unofficial list of issues, just this moment and the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge, how fortunate I am to not only see it but to be swimming under it, I choose to live in the moment and it feels great!



The Bridge

    Before long I notice Alcatraz while breathing to my left, ” I must be making it down the shipping lane” .
 I am chasing the yellow kayak and starting to set my eyes on the land mark that is my cue to begin the turn towards the opening to Aquatic Park, you know the one that Leslie told me NOT TO MISS.
  I am not getting very far very fast, ” Holy Crap Dog”, this current is not pussy footing around, I dig my hands deeper and pull hard, ” I AM NOT MISSING THIS OPENING!”.
 I feel my obliques straining as I pull, I kick hard, I sprint giving it all I have got, I fight and finally make it to the opening of Aquatic Park.
 The yellow Kayak guy says ” Well done fighting the current”, I relax and start thinking about that hot shower at the South End Rowing Club. To my left is the bow of a ship, I notice it as I breathe to my left while picturing the steamy HOT shower, good times, good times!
 I take 20 more strokes and breath to the left again, hang on…….didn’t I just pass that ship? I did, it is now infront of me, the penny drops…I AM GOING BACKWARDS! The current has got a hold of me and is pulling me back towards the open water of San Francisco Bay, I instantly begin to sprint once more, pulling hard, spinning my arms fast and fighting to get to shore, I feel the bottom and pull myself to my feet and make a beeline to the hot shower, ….WOW feels like a million bucks!
 I shower and I shower, finally I pry myself out of the shower and into the sauna, it fells wonderful. After an extended bake in the sauna I pluck up the courage to get out and dressed, I regroup with some of the  other swimmers in the entry way of the South End Rowing Club long enough to catch a photo and swap a few stories, they are all off to breakfast together and kindly invite me I would LOVE to join them but the clock is ticking and I have a conference to attend, we say our goodbyes and head off in differnet directions.
 My clothes are drenched, my suit is trashed and I am exhilerated….what a great morning!



Me, Julie and Amanda at the South End Rowing Club after ” The Swim”


Next up? Karlyn Pipes Neilson in Stowe
 Back East and back in the pool, in less than 2 weeks my friend, swim clinician and coach Karlyn Pipes Neilson is coming to Stowe visit, I am excited to see her and if I am lucky we will catch a swim or two, she is as fast as a phone call with over 200 World records, a world class swimmer and teacher, when I swim with her I practice ” Monkey see, Monkey do…. I can’t wait!

How will it feel being back in the Pool at 82 degrees? I’ll keep you posted!