Virtual Geographic Swim Series

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Mon, 22 Dec 2003 07:08:21 GMT

I'm a little confused here...how does this virtual swim work? Do you swim in your regular pool? How long will the virtual swim go on for? Thanks

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 17:46:20 GMT

Only a few weeks left for the swim series- doesn't look like I will finish Key West - only 19 miles into it as of today BUT - I can proudly say that I swam over 300 miles in 2003. I hope everyone else enjoyed the series/swimming as much as I did. Thanks to the fitness committee and the organizers for doing this. Next year, my goal is to do 366 miles or a mile a day (not swimming every day but swimming a total of 366 miles so that it works out to a mile a day). My team is challenging everyone to be in the 366 club - maybe USMS/ fitness committee would want to do a variation on the 366 theme.

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 16:29:17 GMT

Well, its better than being one of the worst swimmers that swam as a kid. At least you started as an adult. Believe me I'm pretty low average as an adult and I swam as a kid. Granted, I was pretty average as a kid swimmer.

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 08:14:49 GMT

I finally finished the Key West Swim on December 16th. I started January 1 and started to doubt, in August, if I would finish the swim by the end of the year. I was not getting much pool time in the fall but was able to step up the yardage a little later. I am sending in my stained, smeared, and torn log today and a check to certify that I am obsessed with swimming. It is amazing what a person will do for a TSHIRT. At the age of 47 I may be so slow that it took me all year to swim the distance but I am sure that I am in better cardiovascular health than 98 percent of America. Oh yes I am proud of this. Have a great day Paul

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2003 16:05:26 GMT

Hi Lizzie, Congratulations! I finished Lake Champlain, too. Ironically, I was somewhere off the shore of Rangeley Lake, Maine, when I finished my virtual Champlain swim. :) Bill

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Tue, 15 Jul 2003 15:28:29 GMT

Less than half of the year left for the virtual swims. I forgot to add up my mileage for the past few weeks - and just like that - I am done with Lake Champlain. I'll probably do some of the shorter swims next and save that really long Key West swim for the fall. I am looking forward to seeing the totals at the end of the year - and of course proudly wearing my "I swam America's waterways" t-shirt.

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Tue, 27 May 2003 06:39:24 GMT

...just checkin' in...I'm now 80 miles across Lake Champlain, with 40 to go! Hope everyone else is enjoying their virtual swims! Bill

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Mon, 05 May 2003 14:28:03 GMT

Well I was doing well trying to make Keywest then came childern, work, and household responsibilities. I finally arrived at Boca Grand today. At this rate I will make Key West someday a long time from now, but I will arrive. I want the T Shirt. Have a great day Paul

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Mon, 05 May 2003 13:50:36 GMT

Hey everyone, I hope everyone's still enjoying the virtual swims. I'm happy to report that I'm exactly halfway across Lake Champlain (60 miles of the 120 mile swim). Yee ha! Happy Cinco de Mayo! Bill

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Fri, 04 Apr 2003 07:00:06 GMT

Peter, I like the fact that you are doing the most yardage in something different than free

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2003 06:35:01 GMT

I just finished the Key West swim today! Total time in the water was 132.4 hours, average speed 1.81 MPH. Stroke breakdown 74.01% Backstroke, 17.78% Freestyle, 4.65% Breaststroke, and 3.56% Butterfly. Now I'll start the second longest one and work my way down.

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Mon, 03 Mar 2003 16:56:08 GMT

Right you are, Bert!! I have a suggestion for getting away from the drain monster. Try putting on a pair of fins and swimming (or kicking) away from it. See ya, Bill

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Mon, 03 Mar 2003 07:07:03 GMT

It's "Champ". When you do Lake Okanogan, watch out for "Ogopogo". I'm dealing currently with the "Drain Monster" at the bottom of a 25m pool, trying to get over 1000m per day.......... Bert ~~~^o^~~~

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Sun, 02 Mar 2003 16:52:10 GMT

OK, so I decided to do Lake Champlain. What can I say? It's an awesome lake!! I'm six miles into it as of today. Anyone else doing Champlain? And another question: does anoyne out there know the name of the legendary sea monster living in lake Champlain? Hint: It's not "Nessie"...but it is supposedly a distant cousin... :)

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:46:59 GMT

Hi!! I finally finished the Crater Lake Swim, 2 days ago, now I'm 2 miles into the Lake Erie Islands swim. Lake Erie is ALOT warmer than I remember it, in the winter!!:D

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2003 06:08:43 GMT

Way to go!! Yesterday I finished my swim across Pontchartrain, but I haven't decided yet which one I will do next. Anyone have any suggestions? Cheers, Bill

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Hugh — Thu, 27 Feb 2003 08:30:48 GMT

Bill, I've been in Osaka, Japan on a business trip for the last twelve days. The hotel I'm staying in has an 18-yard pool in it. I've been able to swim for about 50 minutes every morning before I head to work. I decided to create my own virtual swim. I did a search for lakes & Japan and found 5 lakes at the base of Mt. Fuji: Kawaguchiko, Yamanakako, Saiko, Motosuko and Shojiko. I did some more research and found information on their size (at least in terms of area and shoreline - I had to estimate length). I wasn't here long enough to swim around the lakes, but I did swim the combined length (approximately 11 miles) plus around Saiko (another 6 miles). I'm heading home in a few hours. Next week I think I'll swim around Clear Lake at the base of Mt. Hood, since Hood is similar to Fuji. After that I'll attack Crater Lake. :)

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Sat, 15 Feb 2003 15:52:51 GMT

Way to go, Paul! I'm now about half way across Pontchartrain, and I may do Key West next. It sounds a lot warmer than Champlain would be at this time of the year. Have Fun! Bill

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2003 12:30:09 GMT

I am trying to swim the Key West swim. That seemed like the place for me as I lived in Florida as a child and only left because my wonderful wife does not care for the state. The other swims looked much to cold for my thin blood. I am now gaining on Sarasota and depending on my work week hope to make Sarasota by the end of next week. Since locating this web site and joining USMS I figured this swim would be a good goal and give me a reason to keep my log book. Have a great day Paul

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2003 17:36:06 GMT

Hi Gil, If you would like to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to: www.adobe.com/.../readstep.html If you find you just can't figure out how to download the swim on your computer, you could try visiting your local Kinko's or Mailboxes, etc. Their computers usually have Acrobat Reader. If all else fails, let us know, and we can mail you a copy of the swim information. Cheers (from 2 miles off the shore of Lake Pontchartrain)! Bill

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 10:40:30 GMT

We were at Crater Lake last summer. It and Yosemite are our favorites of the National Parks. Just discovered the information about the virtual swims. If I can figure out how to get Adobe Acrobat Reader onto my computer Crater Lake here I come! By the way if you go to Crater Lake be sure to try the dining room. We had on of our best lunches ever there.(Salmon and salad)

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 12:43:20 GMT

Hi everyone, I have a great sense of satisfaction from finishing the Crater Lake swim today. I decided to do the "around" course and leave the rest for later in the year, if I have time. My goal is to do all the swims this year, because we will have more new ones next year. So now, it's time to move on to Lake Pontchartrain.... Everyone else must be busy swimming, but if you're doing a swim, we would still like to hear how you're doing. Have Fun! Bill

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Thu, 16 Jan 2003 12:34:38 GMT

I'm 10 miles into the Crater Lake Swim, hope to be done with the 34 in the next 2-3 weeks. :D

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Thu, 16 Jan 2003 11:03:15 GMT

I love Crater Lake and have actually been swimming there once in 1997. It was 61 degrees in the top four feet of water and then dropped to a frigid 50 degrees and colder as you went down. My crazy husband went "cliff diving" for a good 45 minutes. I, of course, got in, swam maybe 20 yards and got out! I encourage everyone to go and see the beautiful park and the most amazing clear blue lake. It's my favorite National Park. I am starting with this virtual swim also. I would love to hear about others' experiences at the other virtual swim sites.

RE: Virtual Geographic Swim Series

Former Member — Thu, 16 Jan 2003 06:56:26 GMT

Way to go!! I think it's cool that we're both swimming Crater Lake first, because it was the first swim created for this series. And we're on opposite ends of the continent! I'm sure you saw the photo on the information sheet of Crater Lake in the winter, with the snow dusted view of Wizard Island. It's a good thing we get to swim in our own pools. It would be awfully cold this time of year. Side note: I have lived in Oregon for over four years, and have never seen Crater Lake. Now that I'm doing the swim, I'm going to go visit in the summer. I hope others will do the same. It's supposed to be spectacular! Have fun! Bill