Passed 59th Street Bridge.  Passed 4th swimmer, in third.

She is in the water.  The air and water temperature is about the same–71.  That is a little warmer than Michelle would like considering she trained in Nahalem Bay with water temps in the high 50′s and low 60′s.  Jane and Cathy have her in sight (the first 20 minutes of the race or so, Michelle is accompanied only by a kayak).  She has passed the Brooklyn Bridge looking strong. 

Michelle, Jane and Cathy have made it to New York.  Michelle concluded a conversation with me by saying: “I have to get off the phone now.  I have to breathe.”  She was anxious.  She said Jane was the most calm.  That makes sense.  Jane has been in more events of this type.  Jane knows Michelle is prepared and ready.  Jane knows what to do.  Thank goodness for Jane.

The plan for today is to participate in the swimmers’ session from 1:00-3:00 and then relax before the race tomorrow.  The race begins around 9:15AM or when the tide is right.  Jane and Cathy will be at the pier by 6:00AM to meet the boat that will accompany Michelle.  The large boats meet up with their swimmer in the East River someplace.  They depend on the kayakers to help them find their swimmers among the field.  It is good that Jane knows Michelle’s stroke and I believe she will be able to pick her out easily.

Until later. 

OK just for a brief recap, for those who don’t know me, I’m Leroy ( yeah yeah you already know that!), Michelle’s, strange friend from across the pond, and yes I’m a procrastinator. I’m also an example of why you should not respond to people sying hello on MSN that you don’t know. Three years later, she’s still trying to get rid of me.

I had the privilege of updating Michelles website, when she made her swim across the channel, I still say it would have been easier to take the ferry, but nooooo she wouldn’t hear of it. She informed me that it would take about roughly 12 to 14 hours to cross. So therefore I thought there would be time in the middle to meet some friends for previous appointment, and allow the folks back in the US some nap time, and come back to report on final 6 hours of so. Nooooo Ms Macy decide’s to confound everyone and do one of the fastest times that year! 10 hours 2 minutes

So anyway as you can see from the map, this swim is 28 miles, 7miles longer than the channel swim. However as this will be done with the aid of the tide, Michelle is expecting to do it in roughly 9 hours. So adding what I know of michelle , I reckon knock an hour off that sucker… they’ll probally be checking her for hidden propellers.

Anyway the course details can by found at this link http://www.nycswim.org/Event/Event.aspx?event_id=1804&from=course, but I have posted below a brief summary of what Michelle will be doing on the 7th.

The Course

The race starts and finishes at South Cove in Battery Park City on the Hudson River. Swimmers begin at South Cove, navigate around the Battery then head north up the East River, counter-clockwise around Manhattan Island. They swim north into the Harlem River, through Spuyten Duyvil, and then south down the Hudson River to the Battery. There are 4 check points: Hell’s Gate where the East River meets the Harlem River, Spuyten Duyvil where the Harlem River meets the Hudson River, the 79th Street Boat Basin in the Hudson River, and the World Financial Center.

I hoping she doesn’t follow the course I marked out, as thats actually 29.4 miles!

Anyway in conclusion , yet again I find myself amazed that I know someone, that does such amazing things, which inpires me, to get off my behind and hit the gym, which is a miracle if you know me All my best wishes and those of Chelsea Football Club, of which she is a proud fan ( OK that last bits a lie, but I’m 3000 miles away, so got a good head start )

OK heres a swimming poem to finish off,  an no I did not write it , google is your friend, all hail the mighty google.

Swimmingly

Swimming is feeling grace in water,
smoothly slipping thru light blue fluid,
propelled by kicking feet
and winged arms.
Measured breathing
in sync with rhythmic strokes,
swimming is a dance with slippery water,
my partner in physical exultation.

Harlan Simantel

PS It seems I have been informed that I did not try hard enough getting pics of Manhatten! Seriously guilts trips from 3000 miles away, butI adore her anyway … So with acknowledgements to flickr, some gerat shots of the wonderful city, michelle will be circling :

The toes and fingers are painted, bags are halfway packed, and the flight is tonight at 9:30.  I couldn’t find “The Lifeguard Makes Me Blush” nail polish (The EC nail polish), but I think I found adequately named ones.  The nail salon couldn’t believe that I was picking colors based on names, but I never was normal.  On the toes we have “Grand Central Carnation” a lovely deep muavy purple.  On the fingers “See ya later Sailor” which is a soft iridescent blue.  Now all you marathon men out there, it is time to take the plunge and get a signature color on those toes and fingers!  (Come on Mark you know you want to!)  The nail person did give me a lecture about placing too much on the names of the nail polish.  I just smiled and nodded.   For the record, I don’t think a nail polish name is going to get me around Manhattan, but if it makes me smile and think happy thought and gives me a giggle, well then I’m all for it.

What else.  Oh yes, I need to post a map of Manhattan outlining the course.  Um I don’t have time for that now.  Perhaps if Leroy is procrastinating he can get one up here for you, as he still has access to do so. 

Mom will be posting updates of the swim, but don’t expect the google pinpoints.  She will explain things the best she can from the information that Jane and Cathy provide. 

Ok, I have to finish up some work stuff and the packing.  I’ll talk to you all when I get to Manhattan.