One email and my emotions took a major roller coaster ride.  The huge ride of the exhiliration of achieiving a dream, the sadness that it is over, and the calm that comes with knowing that I went after it.  I guess in a way I found myself in that inky black water.    There were parts of me that I found that I really liked as in the part that found my passion.  And there were the weak points too, but I found that I can overcome those with some determination, a little grit, and some good support thrown in.  That and I’m so glad that I just tried. 

Funny to think that I couldn’t remember the actual day, but every day I wear a small rock from France that I’ve had fashioned into a necklace.  My own little rock.  I believe that it is the Greeks that have a superstition that you collect a rock from those places that you want to return.  Maybe it isn’t the Greeks but that has stuck with me.  I have rocks from all over the world, but somehow this small one around my neck seems the most important.  

I’m rambling.  I know, but I think I’m just not sure what to say.  The feelings are so strange.  Some days I pinch myself to know its true.  Other’s I sit there and think while I’m in a conversation “I bet you don’t know you are talking to one of the few Channel swimmers.” (Forgive me I know that is very egotistical) Most days it is life as usual, but with the added ritual of hooking my rock around my neck as hopefully a reminder to GO, PARTICIPATE, and LIVE.  

That’s all for now.  

How do you get used to the cold water?

• There are many ways to do this.  My usuals are by taking ice baths, cold showers, training in cold water, wearing lighter clothes in cooler weather, and avoiding using the heat in my home.
• Acclimation takes time so don’t just jump in to all the above techniques.  Take time to gradually get your self used to the cold and to determine how your body reacts.

Do you get wrinkled from the long hours in the water?

• Yes, but not nearly as much as I thought or as others may think.  It isn’t like being in a bath for 20 minutes.  The skin does get soft and a little wrinkled. 

What do you do if nature calls?

• The rules of most marathon swims is that you can’t touch the boat and they can’t touch you once the swim starts.  If we all think about these rules I’m sure we can all imagine what swimmers do when nature calls. 

What is the worst thing about swimming in salt water?

• I think that this will vary for every swimmer.  Obviously the chaffing seems to be worse for me in salt water.  However, the thing that really bothers me is the affect on my mouth.  Salt water makes my tongue swell and it starts to peel.  Not real cool and it makes food taste funky for a little while.  And I don’t even think about drinking alcohol afterwards.  The burn is awful.

Why don’t you wear a wetsuit?

• Mainly because they aren’t allowed.  On a side note, I do find them very restricting and seem claustrophobic.

Not that I personally know this, but people do ask about men and the cold water.

• According to my friends, this is also true.

How do you eat while swimming?

• This again is very individual to the swimmer.  I have a basket that is extended on a boat hook.  My feedings are then in the basket.

What do you eat?

• I eat CarboPro mixed in some liquid.  And then occasionally I add in some soft food that is really easy to eat like canned peaches.

 If you have any other questions that you are interested in knowing please drop me a line and I will do my best to answer them.

My mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law made the trip to California.  Now they arrived in town on Friday 08/22 afternoon.  I arrived a little later and of course I took public transportation into town.  Public transportation in San Francisco is amazing, except when you are lugging a 50 lb suitcase and a 20 lb computer bag.  BART was an easy trip, but it was the trolley and the walk in Fisherman’s Wharf that got a little hairy. 

One of my swimming friends, Jessica Sullivan, was super nice and helped to get the South End Rowing Club to put on a good swim on Friday afternoon.  Unfortunately, I missed the swim.  I was supposed to be there at 5:30pm, but with the public transportation and the gradually rising crabbiness I decided it wasn’t the best option to make a first impression with some potentially new open water swimming friends.   Katie (my sis), Dan (her husband) and I did go to South End to meet people for happy hour.  I LOVED this place.  It was like a museum and a sports club all in one.  And everyone was so nice.  I of course asked if any were participating in Saturday’s swim.  They politely laughed and said “No, we can swim Alcatraz for free.”  Now they did have a point.  I’m hoping that someday I get back there soon to actually partake in a swim.

Saturday morning came pretty quickly for me, but I wasn’t dealing with jetlag like my family.  Dan graciously said he would take Katie and I down to the start at 5:15am.  God bless him.  We quickly checked in and I believe my sister was seriously beginning to contemplate why she had said yes to doing the run portion of the relay.  For me, it was just great to have everyone there and do an event with my sis. 

As the sun started to come up, we started to see all the other Barracudas.  Jim Teisher, Martin Held, and Laurie Kilborn had all made the trip down for the event.  Of course I think Joe Oakes probably had a hand in some persuasion.  Dang that old man!  Jim and Martin were doing the swim only, but Martin was crazy and was going to do it all butterfly.  Jim was tackling his first-ish cold rough open water swim.  Laurie was nuts and was doing the whole thing.  We boarded the trolley for the ride to the ferry.

After a quick briefing and some waiting, we all boarded a Blue and Gold and started our trip.  Martin was a big hit on the ferry as he had a large tub of vaseline.  It seems many of the competitors had forgotten to lube up to avoid the chaffing.  Too bad he couldn’t charge people.

The ferry out to Alcatraz is really pretty quick and unlike the Sharkfest swim last June, there was a timing pad at the door of the ferry.  As soon as you hit the door, your time started.  I wished everyone a good swim and then I took off.  I did spend some time gazing around and enjoying the sites.  The South Enders are right there is no view of San Francisco and Alcatraz like one from the water. 

There wasn’t much of a current during this swim which was kind of nice.  The water was pretty flat as well.  About halfway through the swim, I noticed another fellow swimmer looking back towards Alcatraz.  I thought his face looked a little concerned so I stopped and asked if everything was ok.  He assured me it was, but I was still a little confused.  Then he came out with it…he was relieving himself.  I just started to laugh and then gave him a wide berth.  I’ve heard that guys sometimes have trouble peeing and swimming at the same time.  I think it just goes to show that men weren’t designed to multi-task.  (sorry guys!).

Coming out of the water, I decided to run.  I know…I know…I don’t run, but my sister was waiting.  I went up through the chute and there she was ready to hit the road.  We exchanged the timer and Katie was off towards the Golden Gate bridge.  Dad and I stayed behind to warm up and change (I changed and my dad held my stuff).  Dan and my mom headed up to the Golden Gate to hopefully see Katie on her journey. 

We didn’t have to wait long for Katie to return.  She was back in just under 1 hour and 10 minutes.  It was a killer time for her first long run.  Plus with the stairs up to the bridge…WOW!

After we were all back together, I had the opportunity to introduce my family to Joe Oakes and the other Barracuda swimmers.  We had some great times and then it was back to the hotel.

Saturday afternoon we took off on our holiday.  It was off to San Luis Obispo to visit my great aunt and see her home.  Talk about the best place in the world.  Her home is amazing and very rejuvenating.  I spent all day Sunday sitting and reading a book.  Now typically I can only sit in the sun for about 2 hours.  So I grabbed my book and only did some strategic sunscreen placement (I left my legs unprotected).  I wanted to recover some vitamin D stores and my legs can usually withstand more sun.  After what I thought was 2 hours I looked over at my dad and asked “Dad, it’s gotta be like what 12:00pm?”  “Um, no Michelle it’s like 3:30pm.”  Oh this was not going to be pretty.  In my relaxing mode of reading and looking out to see apparently 5+ hours had past and I have now learned how to turn my legs into jerky.  Ah good times.

Monday morning we again enjoyed the house and company before heading back up the coast to Santa Clara to visit my uncle and aunt.  They too have just a lovely home and it was great company.  Man did we have some great laughs.  Plus I got a promise that I would get the super good super yummy homemade marinara sauce recipe from my aunt.  I’m telling you this is huge.  Her family comes from Sicily so you know it is good.  I’m sure I’ll manage to botch it up somehow.

Tuesday we spent the morning enjoying a clear beautiful San Francisco morning and having lunch at Scoma’s.  By far the best meal that I had this weekend with the exception of the home cooked meal in San Luis Obispo.

Now I’m just trying to get back into the swim of things and prepare for Catalina Channel in October.

Swim Notes:

• If the event is early in the morning consider when the sun rises as you may want to pack a headlamp.  Trying to use a Honeypot in the dark is not…I repeat NOT a fun experience.
• Don’t forget your rash guard!
• If you see a guy treading water and he is ok, chose a wide path.
• Learn to multi-task.  Practice makes perfect
• Plan to take some holiday time to recharge the batteries.

Here is a really inspirational video that my friend Jessica Sullivan put together of her Channel swim.  She didn’t make it due to a rough day out in the Channel, but man she put in one hell of a swim!  She even landed herself in the ER (A&E for those in the UK) from battling so hard.  I receive so much inspiration from the people that just go after their dreams and just TRY regardless of the outcome.  You may want to grab a tissue before watching.

Me training in Minnesota in June.  Ok really this is just me fishing with the boys.  Notice that I’ve got my 4 year old nephew’s Tigger fishing pole.

The Manhattan Island Marathon Swim.  The photos are taken by Susan Egan and David Nager.   I’m #12 and my 2 kayakers have my number on them, plus they are also both in orange kayaks. 

By the way, who knew that posting pictures could be so easy if I used my flickr account.  As my friend Leroy says, I’ll turn into a computer geek yet.  I personally wouldn’t hold my breath.