Sharkfest June 28

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:50:20 GMT

Another thing to try is eating plumbs,.....it does not prevent you from getting sea-sick,..but your vomit is colorful!:banana: Baaa haaa haaaa! my ralphs were clear. I will try plums. lol! I got onto these chat boards to find any potential remedies today because I am soooo so motion sick today.:badday: Dr. appt at two thirty. I can now swim 2.13 miles in 1:27 in the pool. I am going to sign up for Sharkfest tomorrow for San Diego. anyway, I barely made it to my locker and as I was taking the lock off I got soooo nauseated and had to sit down. started salivating right away, ran to the toilet and lost it. Next, sat there a few mins, stuffed things into my swim bag... got outside the gym.... made it almost home and had to pull over. lost it again. Got home, hugged the porcelain throne til my hubby helped me crawl to the bed. barely got onto the bed, motion made me lose it again. I am seeing the ENT today as my current Rt ear "cloggage" regimen remains Zyrtec-D, Flonase, and auri dry drops. I am so temped to go get some candied ginger and try it. Also, heading for sushi after the appt. Seems It may just be my severe allergies (living her in Phoenix, Arizona).

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:15:59 GMT

This sounds absolutely awesome, I would do this swim, but - I would FREEZE. I know I wouldn't be able to handle that 52F water. No way. I'd still do it though. I don't know what would make me swim faster, the cold or the thought that probably the 3rd best place to see Great White sharks on this planet is about 40 miles due west: the Farallon Islands. Awesome...

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Alliswim — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:33:41 GMT

Congrats to everyone who completed the swim! I had an incredible experience and came in just over 47 minutes. I overshot to the left a little and spent more time battling current than necessary, but I suppose it was better than going too far to the right and getting swept out of the park. Swim25-- sorry I missed you! Glad you had a good race though. Oh and I can't imagine any shark would want to come near 800 flailing bodies in the water... I didn't see any signs of sea life the entire time. The WWS practice on Thursday was very valuable. When I got in, I seriously thought I would not be able to do Saturday's swim in a sleeveless wetsuit, but 5-10 minutes later I was acclimated. I'd been regularly taking cold showers in the weeks before and I think those helped. I acclimated in about 2-3 minutes on Saturday -- getting in just once beforehand really helped. I thought the water was 57 on race day...yikes. I'm going to upload a race report in a few days; I'll post the link when I've done it. And some pics -- from his kayak, one of the coaches got one of me in the water with Alcatraz in the background!

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:27:38 GMT

Congrats to the Sharkfest finishers! I think I would just cry and slowly sink to the bottom if I had to swim in 52 degree water. :drown: .

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:37:44 GMT

As I got out I felt drunk I had no idea where I was. All m friends were screaming and talking to me but I just looked at them with a blank stare almost didn't know who the were. The cold water never did affect me. Can't wait till next year. I'll be shooting for 40's.

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:44:36 GMT

WOW!!!!!!!!! 52 degree water at the Island,..I was about the 15th one off of the ferry I was on,..treaded water for at least 12 minutes,. As we were treading water, waiting for the ferrys to empty someone started a war cry that spread like fire thru the group,it was truely motivating and warming. It was overcast, a bit windy, air temp in the high 50`s, and moderate chop. Once I was underway, I sort of warmed up and not to long after that my fingers were getting numb,.but the rest of me felt fine,...I over-estimated the current and had to do a mid-course correction to the west,..I hit some really cold water just as I entered Aquatic Park and was not feeling great,..finially my hand struck sand, 54 minutes after the start. I fell down after getting out and had a hard time getting my legs. As I walked towards the bleachers things got wierd..uncontrollable shivering and weakness, I couldn`t pronounce words, had no digital dexterity, but otherwise thought I was fine. My wife threw a blanket over me, then a robe, force fed my hot chocolate , snagged a cab within 20 minutes was in a sauna at the hotel. ( she loves me!). Tht evening we had dinner at Ruth Cris Steak House, and dancing @ The Saloon. BTW ,..I finished tenth out of 12 in my 55-60 year age group. :^( Oh yeah,..I wore a gps and have a map of my swim,...thanks Gary !!! Life is grand!!!! :bouncing:

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:54:29 GMT

So how did you guys do? What an amazing experience that was! It took me 57 minutes. Not bad, I was estimating an hour so I did better then that. I finished and that's all I care about. You'll never get me out of my shirt.

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:33:26 GMT

HERE WE GO!!

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:50:38 GMT

CORRECTION: Head to the LEFTSIDE of Aquatic Park!

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:32:01 GMT

I swam with Pedro`s group last nite @ 7,..the water was said to be 58 but felt colder,..it was overcast and the air temp was in the 50`s. Two of us swam "naked". We all did a mile. When I got out 40 minuted later my core temp dropped and I had trouble getting my clothes on,..I hailed a cab and spent 20 minutes in a hot shower at the hotel. Pedro`s advise for tomorrows race,...get off the ferry quickly,...it gets drawn to the backside of the island and if you bail out last you have a lot further to go to reach the start line, could add 20 minutes to your swim. Do not head directly towards the opening to Aquatic,...head towards the far rightside of the sea wall by the Balcutha and let the ebb carry you to the opening to Aquatic Park.

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:15:05 GMT

60 degrees. At first my heart stopped and it was COLD but after swimming for a minute I warmed up pretty good.

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:03:07 GMT

Alliswim Use the search engine on this site and enter "Garmin Forerunner" and you will find Gary Emich`s experiences with one. I tried to cut and paste the thread but failed. Thursday evening will be the first time I use mine. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Swim 25 What was the water temperature @ Aquatic Park??

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Alliswim — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:48:59 GMT

Also, I'm swimming with Water World Swim at 6pm on Thursday in Aquatic Park. I've emailed them, and they are VERY friendly and helpful -- answered all my questions about Alcatraz. They run a practice at AP 3 times per week, which I think will be a huge help to someone who's never done this before! www.waterworldswim.com

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Alliswim — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:46:38 GMT

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:33:46 GMT

I would have loved to try to swim with that group on Thursday but I have to work that night. In regards to sighting I kept my head up a little to be able to see what was going on around me and I seemed able to see pretty well. People who find out that I'm doing the swim say the same thing to me. "Watch out for the sharks around you." Yes there are sharks in the area but they are way out by the Farallon Islands, about 50 miles of the coast. There is no reason for them to come into the bay. Not to mention all the sewage dumped in the bay and the recent oil spill that happened by the bay bridge, there is nothing advantageous for the sharks to come into the bay. I have done a lot of research on sharks in the past. So in response there are no sharks in the bay. Of course it is still in my mind. We should try to meet up, I'll be in a ZOOT wetsuit, not that helps any.

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:05:00 GMT

Great advice, ya'll! HILARIOUS about eating plums before the swim...I think I'll be fine with my usual coffee, bagel, peanut butter, and banana finished 2 hours before the swim. :) The race sounds like so much fun. Swim25 (are you 25? I am), you're going to fall in love with open water swimming. I did my first OW race in a lake two years ago, and I like it more and more every time I do it, and as I try more and more challenging races (I've since done a swim in the Atlantic ocean and across the Chesapeake Bay). Ron -- is the Garmin 305 waterproof? This the Forerunner? When I made this I was 25 now I'm 26. I went swimming in Aquatic Park yesterday to try out the wetsuit and feel the water. Man is that water cold. Alittle seal kept pooping his head up every 100 yards ahead off me. I think with everyone around and the adrenaline I think it will be fine. I have a lot of people around me trying to pysche me out, I don't know why, maybe they're jealous. Alliswim have you done this race before?

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Alliswim — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:46:53 GMT

When I made this I was 25 now I'm 26. I went swimming in Aquatic Park yesterday to try out the wetsuit and feel the water. Man is that water cold. Alittle seal kept pooping his head up every 100 yards ahead off me. I think with everyone around and the adrenaline I think it will be fine. I have a lot of people around me trying to pysche me out, I don't know why, maybe they're jealous. Alliswim have you done this race before? That sounds awesome. I've actually never been to San Francisco. Since most east coasters don't know much about Alcatraz, they keep saying to me, "Aren't there sharks?" and "I thought no one ever successfully completed that swim." I think it's going to be great fun. I did an ocean swim last weekend and the current was so strong my open water mile was 14 minutes slower than it should have been. Having practice in that type of current was great prep for Alcatraz. And yeah, with 800 other people I don't think we have much to worry about. I'm a little concerned about sighting, but I've had a lot of OW practice this season -- I guess my strategy is that it's better to be safe than sorry and sight more than you think you should so that you don't get too off-course. You might want to try to swim with this group on Thursday evening: www.waterworldswim.com/.../default.asp I signed up for it and it sounds like they'll teach you about current, help you acclimate, etc...I don't know about anyone else but I do much better with a group.

RE: Sharkfest June 28

fatboy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:20:27 GMT

You will be fine. I swam it in 2005 and 2006. Had a great experience both times. I agree with Ron, once you hit the water you will have no worries. On the ferry ride find a veteran or two and talk to them. They will be happy to give tips. Enjoy it!

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Swimmy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:28:55 GMT

You will do fine. Don't worry. Just go in and do your best. When I did it 2 years ago, I was very nervous too. Once you get in the water you will be fine. It was a pretty easy swim compared to other races I have done. It may have been an easy year, because the water was pretty calm. Relax and just keep swimming! :cheerleader: Swimmy :cheerleader:

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:53:17 GMT

"So Ron had you done any open water swimming before last year." Yes,..the Oceanside Pier Swim,..it is held every Labor Day for the past 77 years,..I have done it 4 times,...came in 245 out of 260 the first time I swam it, I was just happy to have made the 1 mile swim. My nick name is Pokey,...I`m slow. " I am starting to get nervous here. I haven't done any open water swimming before. Fitness wise I know I can hang but all the other factors I don't know. I plan to go swim tomorrow (Mon) in Aquatic park, but feel I didn't do enough to prepare. I'm not looking to win but, I don't wanna drown. Just pre-swim jitters, sorry to vent." Everyone who has ever swam Alcatraz has experienced what you are experiencing,...just wait till you get on the ferry,...talk about nervous! Once you hit the water, the anxiety will melt,..once you hear the tremendous war-cry from all the swimmers as the starting horn sounds, you will have an experience of a life time,..I kid you not! Have fun,...spear the water with each stroke,..visualize your hand striking the sand in Aquatic Park. It is truely an emotional experience. You can tell all your friends that you did what had been considered impossible. I`m flying up Thursday morning and will be in the water at Aquatic PArk Thursday evening,..I believe that there is a group that regularly swims there Thursday evenings. Look for me,...long-sleeved white rash guard top and blue knee length speedo`s . I wear the white rash guard for visibility reasons. Thruout the winter I have swam in the Pacific @ La Jolla Cove,..my wife sits on a bench on the small bluff above the cove and can clearly see me as I swim out the 1/2 mile bouy. Saturday, I`ll be using a Garmin 305 GPS to track my swim. Life is grand! forums.usms.org/.../user_offline.gif forums.usms.org/.../report.gif

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:10:08 GMT

So Ron had you done any open water swimming before last year. I am starting to get nervous here. I haven't done any open water swimming before. Fitness wise I know I can hang but all the other factors I don't know. I plan to go swim tomorrow (Mon) in Aquatic park, but feel I didn't do enough to prepare. I'm not looking to win but, I don't wanna drown. Just pre-swim jitters, sorry to vent.

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:38:36 GMT

Another thing to try is eating plumbs,.....it does not prevent you from getting sea-sick,..but your vomit is colorful!:banana:

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:46:00 GMT

Ginger snaps really help? No I'm not to worried. This is the first time I have swum open water before, so just nervousness/anxiety/excitement. Actually, ginger is an amazing help for motion sickness. You can also get it in capsules at any health food -type store. I suffer horribly from mal de mer and ginger is the only thing that has consistently worked for me. -LBJ

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Swimmy — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:26:43 GMT

I get dried candied ginger from the Chinese food section in the grocery store. I eat a few pieces before open water races. It can't hurt. Try it.

RE: Sharkfest June 28

Former Member — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:37:55 GMT

Ginger snaps really help? No I'm not to worried. This is the first time I have swum open water before, so just nervousness/anxiety/excitement.