On Thursday, I was contacted by Dave Radcliff, a good swimming friend.  He mentioned that he and his wife, Nancy, would be available for a swim on Saturday at Trillum Lake.  I was already preparing to swim 2 hours out at Hagg Lake, but I was not going to pass up the chance to have a kayak buddy, a swimming buddy, and a colder lake.  I honestly had not heard of Trillum Lake.  Dave informed me that it was up by Mount Hood and that the forest service was estimating a temperature of high 50′s.  PERFECT!!!

Saturday morning came along and I met Dave and Nancy at 7am at the Tualatin Hills pool to start our journey.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  I was thinking perfect day for a swim.  Granted 2 hours isn’t that long of a swim, but I’m baby stepping my way back into the long distances.   

On our journey up to Trillum Lake, Dave and Nancy told me about many area lakes that would probably be good for my training.  We even stopped by Roslyn Lake in Sandy to check out the water temp, 58 degrees.  This lake was only 20 minutes further than Hagg Lake and was non-motorized.  While I enjoy playing a real life game of Frogger in Hagg Lake dodging boats as much as the next person, it would be nice to know of some place a little more quiet. 

We reached Trillum Lake around 9:00am.  I couldn’t believe the amazing setting.  Trillum Lake is a gorgeous lake that has this amazing view of Mt. Hood.  With the sun shining down, this picturesque setting, and good friends I was very excited to get moving. Dave and I walked to the waters edge to check the temperature…60 degrees.  A little warmer than Roslyn, but well within the needed range.    

While at the water’s edge, Dave mentioned to some fishermen that we would be swimming and that I was training for the English Channel.  Now I’ve had some strange looks in my day, as is expected as a 6 foot Amazon woman, but the looks on these fisherman’s faces.  I thought for a second that I had turned green, sprouted horns and a tail.   Oh well, I’m sure I gave those fisherman a true tall tale.

With the kayak unloaded and Dave all suited up, we started out for the 1st hour.  The water wasn’t too bad getting in.  We started off at a nice pace.  I had told Dave that I wanted my first feeding around 50 minutes and that I also wanted to do some sprint training…bad idea.   After a few minutes warm up, Dave took off in the kayak.  My job was to chase him down.  I just kept thinking “Get him Michelle! Get him!”  Now I never did catch him and I’m certain that he had to slow down for me, as I was struggling.  When we reached the other side of the lake, I came up puffing for air.  I’m sure I sounded like a whale blowing air after a long underwater swim.   Unfortunately I wasn’t a whale and I hadn’t been holding my breath. We turned and started heading towards Mt Hood.  Again with more chasing.  Fortunately, the cold wasn’t bothering me.  It was more my stroke.  I felt like I was struggling.  I had a rhythm.  My shoulder felt good, but something felt off.   Luckily there were lots of salamanders (or very large tadpole turning into frogs) to keep me occupied.  Dang I wish I had that tail that the fishermen saw. 

Dave stopped me for my first feeding after 55 minutes.  I had made up a concoction of hot tea, honey and Carbo Pro (a carbohydrate powder). I quickly took a gulp.  Just as quickly, I began to spit the liquid out all the while stuttering “Hot, hot, very hot”.   Notes for Michelle:

1. Boiling water is not necessary to make tea

2. The thermos will keep the tea at pretty much the same temperature that you made it at – BOILING.

3. When the body is cold, warm temperatures seem even warmer.

4. Blisters on the tongue from hot liquid are not going to feel good in salt water.

Dave helped me cool off the liquid and we swam into the boat ramp.  Time for a crew change.  Nancy was going to get in and kayak.  Dave was going to suit up to swim for the last bit.  While waiting for Dave, Nancy and I took a quick half tour of the lake.  It was during this half tour that Nancy shed some light on my situation.  When I came up puffing, she just looked at me and said matter of factly “We are at altitude.”   Well I’ll be, I keep forgetting about altitude.  It was never a factor in my previous swimming career.  Sure a college may be located on some hill in MN, but it never changed the swimming.  I felt much better about being Moby Dick after this point.   ”Thar she blows!” 

We circled back to the boat ramp and there was Dave in his full wetsuit, neoprene cap, and fins.  I kept thinking to myself, he isn’t going to need fins to keep up.  I didn’t begrudge him the wetsuit though, as it isn’t everyone’s dream to be a human popsicle.    We swam for about 30 minutes before my lats started to scream.  I, of course, then got upset with myself as this was only a 2 hour swim and I was already whining.  Dave and Nancy asked if I wanted to turn in.  My reply was “No I want my 2 hours”.   Dave continued to calmly state “Let’s just take it nice and slow”.  It really is a huge help to have kayakers and swimmers with me in the water.  It is nice to turn and breathe and see a friendly face, even if you do want to trade in your lats for an upgrade.  

It was also during this last 30 minutes that I smelled a campfire.  I then began to think about smores and how much I wanted one.  This then occupied me for a good 15 minutes as I had to think about how I was going to make smores at home (gas burners on stove), the ingredients I was missing in the pantry (chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows), and how many I would eat (not disclosing). 

We finished the two hours and Nancy made a feast for us.  I’m pretty sure that I ate everything that they had, especially those vanilla oreos.  Perhaps I wouldn’t need smores later.  

On the car ride home, I made a valient effort to stay awake (and failed).  Those that know me well know that in any moving vehicle, I fall asleep in an instant regardless of swimming or not.  I got to spend some of my awake time learning more about Dave and Nancy. It was such a pleasant conversation and I felt truly blessed to have such good friends.   

Side Note:  Those of you should all note that Dave Radcliff swam in the ’56 Melbourne Olympics and at 73 can lead the swimming pack most of the time.  On occasion, I do beat him.  Nancy is a true supporter of all the Oregon swimmers and makes every meet a special one. 

On my first long distance open water swim in Lake Minnetonka (5 miles).  I had a few things that continually repeated through my mind for the whole 2.5+ hours. 

1. Just Keep Swimming.  Just Keep Swimming.
   • I’ve never hated Disney so much as I did this day.  Now it has actually become a fairly funny mantra that I’ve passed along to as many people as possible.  I’m pretty sure that they don’t always have happy thoughts of me when Dori’s thoughts are running through their heads.
2. Little Fish, Big Fish swimming in the water. Come back here and give me my daughter.
   • Ah the only words that I know to that PJ Harvey song.  Let me tell you this is not an inspirational song for swimming.  In fact, it kind of freaked me out.
3. Why aren’t Katie and Dan driving the canoe straight?
   • I quickly realized that I was the one going crooked.

Now mainly when I swim in long distance, I try not to think about anything.  The first thoughts are to breathe in for 3 counts and out for 3 counts.  This helps me get over the gasp reflex when hitting the cold water.  Then I start swimming and continually state in my head 1-2-3 breathe, 1-2-3 breathe, 1-2-3 breathe, 1-2-3 breathe.  I know this is very profound, counting strokes and then breathing.  Other thoughts will come and go and I’ll definitely keep you all updated with any good ones, but the rhythm of 1-2-3 breathe tends to keep me calm and helps me focus on my swim stroke and keep my mind off the pain. 

Since last June, I have been training for one of my all time dreams.  I never really thought that I would ever do it.  I thought that it was just one of those dreams that you shove in the back of your mind and think if only life were different.  Then June 2006 happened.  I read the book No Opportunity Wasted and attended a training class that made you think “What would you do if you didn’t have any obstacles?”  The answer for me was simple…I would swim the English Channel. 

That pesky little dream wouldn’t go back into its proper “only if” box after that.  After about a week of sleepless nights, I made some phone calls to a coach who had coached a woman across the Channel twice.  He gave me the name of a boat captain.  I called and got a slot for the Summer 2007 season.  Some of you may be doing the math, yes that is this summer and yes, I have known about this for over a year now.  So after getting a slot on a tide, I decided I should probably check to see if I can even swim anymore.  At this time I was swimming with Nike Masters 2 days a week.  I quickly signed up for the Minnetonka 5 mile lake swim and for an 8.2 mile swim in Alaska.  Minnetonka was to prove to myself that I could swim long distance and Alaska was to prove that I could do it in cold water.  Somehow both came back with a resounding yes.  I was on my way.

At the end of last summer, I began the task of getting my crew in place and determining costs of the trip.  Unfortunately my dream wasn’t going to come cheap.  I told a few very close friends about my crazy endeavor and then I asked them to keep it secret.  I thought that people just wouldn’t understand my dream and perhaps would even make fun of it.  I also tend to be a very private person and I knew that the fewer people that knew the fewer people I would have to tell if I ultimately failed.  It has come to my attention that I was wrong.  (Please note that I’m admitting it).  I need the support of others, spiritually, emotionally, etc.  I can’t do this alone. 

Thank you to the few friends that have known about this as long as I have and kept it secret.  I now know that this was causing strain on you as well as me.    I have learned that friends and family will support me no matter how crazy my dream is to them.  They will help me through those rough times and cheer me on even when I don’t think it is possible.  I realize that they will help me shout it from the rooftops and remind me to breathe. 

So here it is I’m shouting it.  “I’M SWIMMING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!!!”

I’m guessing that some of you are stunned.  I know my family was when I finally told them almost 6 months after signing up.  Here are some particulars that I think people find interesting.

1. I’m the first swimmer on the second tide in September.  This means when the weather is good, I’m the first swimmer that has a shot at that tide.  The tide dates are September 16-24.
2. I’m flying to England on September 9^th to get acclimated and hopefully train with some Dover Harbour swimmers.  I’m dying to meet the Queen of the Channel, Alison Streeter (43+ crossings and counting) and her mother, Freda “The General” Streeter.  The General helps to train all swimmers in Dover harbour for their channel attempts.
3. No I can’t wear a wetsuit, which will now explain why I’ve been swimming without one.  I can only wear one standard swimsuit, one latex cap, one pair of goggles and as much grease as I can get my crew to slather on me. 
4. I will have a crew on the boat that will give me my feedings.  Yes I realize that I sound like a dolphin by calling it feedings, but this is what it is called.  I believe I will be feeding on hot tea with honey and carbo pro as well as shot blocks.  Feedings occur about every 45 minutes to 1 hour.
5. Reg Brickell is my boat captain and his vessel is the Viking Princess. 
6. Yes, the Channel is expensive especially since everything is in English Pounds Sterling.  For an idea, just the boat is costing me about $4000 after conversion. 
7. The Channel temperature will be around 60 degrees.
8. I’m mentally preparing for a 14 hour swim.  It could be longer. It could be shorter.  It all depends on how I hit the tides.

I’m coming into some very difficult training periods where I have to spend 6-10 hours in the water swimming at one time (no stopping) and practicing feedings.  This has been made all the more difficult due to a hiccup with my shoulder.  It has decided to start acting up…I can’t imagine why.  So now I’m walking the fine line of training hard, but not hurting my shoulder further.  And as my few friends that knew can attest to…I’ve been a little mentally nuts lately.  This is part of the reason that I need all of you. Thank you all for coming along on this ride.  I can’t do it without everyone’s support.  I’ll need swimming buddies, beach buddies, joke buddies, inspirational quote buddies, you name it I’m going to need it.