Here we are in midlate mid September and the world around us seems to be going to He--...but I force myself to walk into the waters of Pickeral lake in the Pickney recreation area of lower Michigan. I start to swim, cold but not biting yet..water temp 68..air temp 75....start cruising,stretching out and relaxing into the swim...cattails and woodson all sides, a crystal sun...water tastes cool and good...check to see if I might cramp..then open it up for a 1/4 mile or so putting on some burn, then stop at some windshadowed water as flat as glass to smell the roses. Wow, what a time to be alive.
Last OW plunge coming up this weekend. I think. Some threats by regulars not to swim if water is below 57 degrees. Solution: measure temp after swimming, not before. May be a party of one. :rolleyes: In the rain.
Got in the pool again, after mostly OW for weeks, and discovered all sorts of new and good things had happened to my swimming. I'm much more tuned to the water, and movements are bigger and more decisive. How I loathed putting on the Zoomers, getting out the tiny pace clock, sigh.
Interesting neurological factoid I read in Your Brain on Cubs: the right hand (in right-handers, not sure about left-handers) tends to work in closer to the body, the left hand covers the peripheral territory. A right-hander holding a bat in the ready position actually has the right hand closer to the body than the left hand, which is why it is so difficult to change to opposite side in batting: the right hand is farther away from, left hand closer to, body. And that aint right.
Which might explain why my right hand sweeps in close just fine in swimming but left hand gets halfway there and sort of flails, seeking the safety of the outfield.
I also noticed it is no problem whatsoever to use the computer mouse with left hand. The mouse is "out there," the keyboard "in here."
:blah:
Last one!
Saturday, 7:15 a.m. Water temp 54 degrees, air around, hmm, 43? Broke through the 100-degree mark (air plus water temp) on the way down, and the three brave ones decided that was enough for this year. I may sneak another one in as a solo, but snow is predicted for tomorrow!
:whiteflag:
Regards, VB
I got to swim outside both days this weekend and plan to go again tonight. After last week, when it was cold and even flurried a few times here in CT, I thought I was done for the season, but when it warmed up to 60 F on Saturday, I knew I had to get in again. I used a rubber swim cap given to me in a race this summer, not really expecting it would keep me any warmer, but it made a world of difference! I felt like my head was sweating by the end of the swim. Sunday was considerably cooler, but the water still didn't feel too bad. I love it. My goal was to swim 100 days between may and whenever I stopped. Tonight will be number 99. My previous best was 96 back in 2006.
