raves and rants, your favorite, least favorite or most interesting ow swim from 07
Former Member
Lets gather together around clutching our favorite warm drinks and discuss our recent swims! As the ow season in the USA draws towards its close some of us are already thinking about what we want to try next year, give us some suggestions! I'll lead off,
Best swim by far was 8.2 mile Pennock Island in Alaska, the water was cooler than Tahoe but the people warmer, the whole town seemed glad to see us, there was a continuous swell of camaraderie and support out welling for locals, officials and fellow competitors from start to finish and the fantastic banquet afterwards. The water and air are fantastically clear and the wildlife an added adventure. Well worth the price and it’s a fundraiser, you may even meet the people who benefit from it.
the worst swim I've ever done is the 11.5 mile (we measured it at 10 miles)trans Tahoe this year, the area seems to be all about money and many of the folks seemed downright hostile towards the swimmers, the race itself had too many chaotic churning powerboats piloted by amateurs (the fact that i was run over by 1 and my kayaker narrowly avoided a second doesn’t help my outlook). This swim was about and for the Olympic club if you're not a member..I'd skip it. In addition to the pricy entrance fee you should know you’ll need to find & pilot your own boat (which makes the power boat renters chortle) and it will cost upwards of $600 plus fuel.
Okay so what sticks in your mind, what do you reccomend for try in 2008? Short, long, warm or cool.
Parents
Former Member
A few years ago, I swam with my friend Dave Thomson on Haloween in Lake WA, here in Seattle (it was a saturday, as I recall). I remember being chilled to the bone when we got out.
After a great summer of OW training swims this summer of 2007, a few weeks ago (its Nov 2 today) I jokingly mentioned that we should try to do a swim in November this year, to beat our prior record. Dave never let me off the hook. I kept saying "sure, if the weather is nice".
We did our usual 1.2 or so miles each way at lunchtime on Tuesday this week in beautiful sunny weather as a test swim. No problem, but it was only October 30. I did decide to get a neoprene cap though.
The weather the rest of the week has been colder. Thick frost on my car this morning. Lots of marine fog in Seattle today. But it all burned off and the weather was great, so we made a break for it.
The water temp has definitely dropped a few degrees this week. It was probably 58 degrees or less. I was fine on the way out. On the way back, after our usual rest break at a beach, my left hand started increasingly losing fine motor control, but I kept going. My left arm stroke was less efficient, but not too bad. Dave's wetsuit unzipped (brrrrrrrrr) partway, and we had to get him rezipped. My core body was very comfortable after the first few minutes, but my hands and feet were not functioning properly at the end, although not in any discomfort. My feet are still not quite up to normal body temp at 4pm.
But we DID IT. Not a bad way to take a lunchbreak.
A few years ago, I swam with my friend Dave Thomson on Haloween in Lake WA, here in Seattle (it was a saturday, as I recall). I remember being chilled to the bone when we got out.
After a great summer of OW training swims this summer of 2007, a few weeks ago (its Nov 2 today) I jokingly mentioned that we should try to do a swim in November this year, to beat our prior record. Dave never let me off the hook. I kept saying "sure, if the weather is nice".
We did our usual 1.2 or so miles each way at lunchtime on Tuesday this week in beautiful sunny weather as a test swim. No problem, but it was only October 30. I did decide to get a neoprene cap though.
The weather the rest of the week has been colder. Thick frost on my car this morning. Lots of marine fog in Seattle today. But it all burned off and the weather was great, so we made a break for it.
The water temp has definitely dropped a few degrees this week. It was probably 58 degrees or less. I was fine on the way out. On the way back, after our usual rest break at a beach, my left hand started increasingly losing fine motor control, but I kept going. My left arm stroke was less efficient, but not too bad. Dave's wetsuit unzipped (brrrrrrrrr) partway, and we had to get him rezipped. My core body was very comfortable after the first few minutes, but my hands and feet were not functioning properly at the end, although not in any discomfort. My feet are still not quite up to normal body temp at 4pm.
But we DID IT. Not a bad way to take a lunchbreak.
