Swim Updates

I think I've cracked my open water training strategy...Wildcat Lake (5 min away) has people swimming almost every night (crappy weather they swim at the pool). Last night I met a guy just getting in and asked if I could swim with him, the course is straight out for half mile (it's marked for races) and back, it took us just under 30 minutes. Everybody wears wetsuits, but me, and the water temp was 64. It felt a little cold, but I was more tired then cold; he was trying hard because he didn't want this chick to show him up (I think) and I was trying hard because I didn't want to lose him and swim alone. It does get me to know that I'm not even close to being ready for this relay. That was just a mile and only half an hour. I'm going out today and I'm going to try to do it twice in an hour.
Enough about me...how are things going with you?

2-hour swims

I know by the end of July 4th weekend everyone will have completed their 2-hour swim. Woo hoo!
here are the updates I know: Peggy has done a 6000+ workout. on 6/23 Peggy did two workouts in one day a "double" day. Margaret has 2 2-hour swims under her belt and is coming back on Saturday for another.

Okay Coronado crowd how about some updates!!!!!

OK, I did it...snuck in on an openwater training swim with about 50 women mini-triathletes, I was the first one in and last one out, I knew a few of them and word got out why I was there (mainly because my lake is a little creepy with weeds)...talked to one who submits articles about these kind of things so there may be a little human interest story in our local crab wrapper about our relay...I swam for an hour and fifteen minutes in a big rectangle and I think the water was about 67 degrees. I'm thinking about coming out to the East coast and swimming with Margaret and Liz, it would be nice to have that qualifying swim behind me. So there's my first blog...here's to you, Deb... and you Coronado girls better get on it. GO TEAM! Also, congrats to Liz on her Chesapeake swim, why am I not surprised? Later.

June 14, 2009

Thank you Deb for creating this blog. It will be fun to share accomplishments, frustrations, concerns and workouts from now until August.

I feel honored to be a part of this team. Without a doubt, we will get this done.

The water is cold here in Long Island Sound. Have now completed two long swims at Hammenasst Beach with Marcy and other swimmers, Morris and Jim. Yesterday another swimmer joined us, in a wet suit! Course, I was in no way swimming "with" these swimmers, but hung in there to go "close" to the distance. Marcy was so encourging, I am one of the luckiest, 54 year old swimmers alive.

Hi everyone,
I am here in MD doing the Chesapeake Bay Swim (4.4 miles -- yes I know, hardly worth getting wet --only kidding). Weather tomorrow for the swim will be pretty bad -- very choppy. These are the days we need to be out there training -- there are no mill ponds in the Channel. If conditions for the swim are as they say it will be a rough go for many. The water temp is 73F and most of the swimmers will be in wetsuits.

Begin to pray to the Channel Gods.

Websites

Liz had posted these on the other site last month. They're good resources:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=62304

http://www.doverlife.co.uk/

Dover life has a direct link to Channel Swimming - They've already posted todays successful crossing by a two person relay. It was the 1st successful crossing this year and accomplished by two 18 year olds; Tatum and Ryan, from Nevada!! They flew across in 10hrs 40mins!! Awesome and the 1st to sign the wall at the White Horse!

I hope this gets you excited because the 2009 season is here!!

Chanel No. 51 Blog Site Launch

Hi all, (Team Chanel No. 51),

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Debbie, the so called cat herder. I've helped Peggy and (she's helped me) on Lizzy's two double Channel crossing attempts the past two years. Thank goodness for team work because we both needed it! I started this blog as a place for everyone to get to know each other through posts. It's an easy forum to update each other on what you all are doing for training, motivation, cold water acclimation tips, just to say hello, etc. It's really no more than a private chat site.

I got your email addresses from email yesterday after we scored rooms at Victoria House. You have no idea how lucky we are to be staying together in Dover. I'm sure Audrey and Bill will ask us to breakfast in two shifts, but it will be great to camp out at the same place.

This site is private and we are the only authors so you can write whatever and no one outside the group will be able to access it. On the channel swimmers site, all kinds of questions are asked by "newbies" so ask away. Lizzy is the expert and Peggy and I have seen a lot from the boat.

Happy training!