Meter Mania

43,900 meters. One more day. Hmmm. Should I go for 50,000?

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So, I swam 3,200 meters at 6am today, just to get things going. That leaves, yep, 2,900 meters to achieve the mystical 50,000 meters.  It's an arbitrary goal I wouldn't have even considered had I not totaled up my meters on Sunday for the month and saw I was close to, well, 50,000.  

It's Meter Mania at PCA this month
If you are trying to find my numbers in the photo, it's kind of hard because I am showing the names associated with the second column, and cut off my name on the far left.  Look for Josh L on the right, that's my row.  The top number I show is how many meters I did for that day, and under that, I put my total in for the month.  You can see I did 4,000 meters on Sunday, with my good buddy Rich E.  He's on pace to complete 200,000 meters as of today.  That is A LOT of meters.  Maybe the most of anyone at the club.  Something like 150 people signed up for Meter Mania.  I would guess I may be in the top 10.  I am not sure.   The other thing you might notice about my row above is, there's a bunch of blank days.  Those are days I didn't swim, first because I was in Barcelona for a week, and then in Tahoe for 5-6 days.  I think I missed 14 days out of a short month. 

For more background and previous years on Meter Mania at PCA, click here.

The Challenge
So, my challenge to myself and you.  I will swim again today, 100 meters for every follower I have.  Those who are already following, I have you covered.  The problem is, that only gets me to 2,700.  I need two (2) more followers to accomplish my goal.  See where you come in?  Over on the right, click on follow.  It's real easy.  If it seems confusing, just guess, you'll be right.  No, you won't get extra emails or anything.  You are just part of the cause, and I thank you!

Jib Jab
I made 50,000 meters.  I also had two firsts yesterday.  First time for swimming twice in one day, the 6am workout and the 6:45pm workout. That's kind of pushing it, because I have done consecutive swims on the Saturday workouts, and have on several occasions done all 3 Saturday workouts, but the nuance is, I don't have to get out of the pool between workouts on Saturday.

The other first is an interesting one.  
First time to do the evening workout.  I would say I am not a night person, and say it without too much conviction, but the data is, well, fascinating (to me).  I have been swimming masters for about 15 years, mostly at PCC.  PCC has about 20 different workouts a week.  I have done all of them many many times.  Except the evening ones.  Lots of times, I've said to myself, okay, well, I missed my regular but will go to the evening one, and it just never happens.  I've even arrived at the gym, looked at the evening practice, but didn't get in.  Kind of weird when I think about it.  None-the-less, I broke the ice yesterday, and did the evening workout.  Actually, the drama continues.  I only needed another 750 meters when I started with them, so I only finished the first set, 400 meters more than I needed, but I got out after that.  :-)  Another first still available.  The whole evening workout.  I love a challenge.

$10 Million Morning

PCC Friday Morning

Another great day in paradise.

This photo is after the 6am swim.  At 6, it was dark and foggy, and calm.  You hear a few swimmers warming up as you come in.  It's so quiet and peaceful, and exuding the plethora of opportunities the day holds.  Such a good part of the morning.  Get in, go back and forth.  It's such a great way to wake up, head clearing, and getting centered.  The darkness and fog helps to keep me centered on me.  Fog  lifting, daylight inching in.  Happiness filling my veins.  Life is good.

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Preparing for the South End Rowing Club Alcatraz Swim

This is my PCA masters group doing a Sunday (Aug 22nd) morning San Francisco Aquatic Park swim.   As you can see from the pic, you don't need to bring much.  Googles, cap, swimsuit.  Front right is Damon, my Zola buddy, and I am front left, and coach Mike, 2nd from left front.  Mike, thanks for bring us up!

I think this will be my 4th Alcatraz swim coming up, Sept 18th.  Each one is it's own adventure and I'll get into that in a bit.  In the past, I've made the crossing with others.  This is the first time I am trying to lead a couple swimmers, from Colorado.  Pablo and his friend Bill.  This post is for you guys, and anyone else planning to do the swim.

What to bring for the swim:
- avoid trying something new.  use your regular suit, goggles, cap.  Having said that, take a look at the below and try out what you may use before race day.  You have enough time to order this stuff and try it, if you act soon.
- wear a thermal cap.  What's that, you say?  It's a swim cap made from wetsuit  material (neoprene).
This one looks good.  It actually looks better than mine.  If you can try one on before purchase, ideal.  If not, get something like this.   The key is flexible.  Mine is too tight.  Warm, yes.  Too tight takes it's toll on race day, and for days after, because of the chafing.  Over top of your thermal cap, you will wear a regular rubber cap from your race packet.
- I have a new pair of goggles I used for my last open-water swim.  They are from my favorite goggle manufacturer, Aqua Sphere.  These are called Kayenne.  They are nice for a couple reasons; they are super comfortable and seal well.  They have a wide field of view, nice for open water.  As far as lens color, clear would be ideal for Alcatraz, but not essential.  I am sure even the smoke would be fine.
- That's pretty much it!  They will give you ear wax to use race day, with your packet.  I have always used mine.  I asked around about why, and basically you want to not let your inner ear get too cold.  Bad things happen if you do.  (I don't remember what.)  It might be disorienting for one.  The other is, as you get cold, you start to get, well, dumb.  It gets harder to concentrate on your stroke, and navigation and so on if you get too cold.

Specific race day stuff
This is where Alcatraz is really cool.  Around 7am we all gather to walk from Aquatic Park area to the Red and White fleet, or whatever color it is.  It's about a 6-8 block walk to the ferry, and essentially you're doing it in your speedo.  Some people do it with a cheap pair of flip-flops.  You could do it in an old pair of socks too.  I'm too Irish for all that, and just walk it bare foot.  We actually follow some bagpipers along the way.  It's all very inspiring, walking through the famous SF waterfront with a bunch of other swimmers, the music and energy is really awesome.  Oh, and some wear a throw-away tee shirt, and I've seen some wear a trash bag to stay warm.  I think you can take a bag with a number on it too, and then try to find it at the finish.  For us, we will have our cheerleaders carrying a towel and clothes for us.

So, anyways, we get on the ferry, and it's about 15-20 minutes over to the Island.  Alcatraz.  The ferry isn't allowed to get closer than 50 feet or something like that, for eco reasons.  It's plenty close.  Totally awesome to see it like this.  At the same time you are looking back at San Francisco Bay, the city, the Bay bridge, and so on.  It's pretty amazing, until you start thinking, you are getting back to the city in the water!!  Yahoo!!  We float around on the ferry until the organizers decide the current is as close to slack as possible.  Usually, just a couple minutes, but seems really long.

Get in!
The start is somewhat non-eventful.  Of course people start snuggling closer and sort of pushing toward the boat gates.  There are two, one on each side of the boat.  The opening is wide enough for 3 to jump off at a time.  Fasties get in first.  Just wait.  You will be in the water within 2-3 minutes even if you are in the middle of the pack.  So, once you get to the gate, jump in.  It's about 7-8 feet above the water.  I hold on to my goggles, going in feet first, and then, as quick as possible without panicking, start swimming.  Now, you may have to do a little breast stroke until you catch your breath, and sight your finish line.  I sight on the two big apartment buildings behind Ghirardelli Square.  you can't miss them.  So, right now, do not swim too hard.  In fact, you probably want to swim as slow as you can for the first 3 minutes or so, until you settle into a pace without losing your breath.  Don't worry, you will have plenty of time to hit it harder later.  It's going to take about 40 - 60 minutes to get across.

Navigation
This hasn't always been a good thing for me, except last time.  My strategy worked.  Essentially, 20 strokes, then spot, 20 strokes, then spot.  For my strokes, to go as straight as possible, I found when I get tired, my hands start to cross.  To avoid this, I point my hands from entry to exit in sort of an A frame.  The top of the A, me, and the bottom, my hands, so pointing them wide, which, in actuality, probably puts them right where they are supposed to be.  Regardless, it worked.  I swam straight as ever, and it made for something I could concentrate on.

More later, Guys.  Let me know what questions and comments you have.

At 2:42  you can see my master's team, PCA.  At 4:40 you can see the apartment buildings I mentioned for sighting and navigation.