cheers to E = H2O - great 2011

e = h2o amassed an incredible swim resume in 2011... I am aware some persons don't particularly want the limelight, but i did want to recognize a super 2011 season which included the catalina channel and the tampa bay marathon. I had the pleasure of meeting the man himself at the Catalina banquet yesterday. He told a story that all present will remember for some time. Well done, Bob! Onward to 2012...

That is indeed impressive! In addition, E=H20's advice on this board made me a much better swimmer in 2011 -- as did the advice of the previous two posters on this thread. Thank you.

That is indeed impressive! In addition, E=H20's advice on this board made me a much better swimmer in 2011 -- as did the advice of the previous two posters on this thread. Thank you. Anything you want to share, srcoyote? I'm genuinely curious.

....and probably E=H2O's first OW swim of 2011 of which I'm proud to say I was a part of.... a short little splash from the GG Bridge to Aquatic Park last March! So.... what's happenin in '12?

Thanks everyone for your kind comments, and for the help of a number of people on this forum. Special credit goes to David who convinced me that jumping into the 52° water of the Bay in March was a good idea. If nothing else it makes 58° water feel warm(er). In 2012 i hope to build my speed up. I was away from swimming for 15 years after developing a shoulder problem (nerve impingement). After the surgery I never regained my full strength & stability of the shoulder. As it turns out taking 36,000 - 38,000 continuous strokes is just what the doctor ordered. It is now stronger and more stable than it has been since the injury. No more excuses for not swimming harder. In 2012 I scheduled to do MIMS on 6/23/12. As with Catalina last year, everything is focused on that event. Since it is so early in the season I'll only be able to do one swim before it: a local 4K race in on 6/3. It should tell me if my efforts to build speed were effective. On 7/15 I'll swim the USMS 10K in Southern Oregon, and then a week later I will do the Portland Bridge Swim again. Finally, if my wife will allow me, I'll head off to Bend in the end of July to do the Cascade Lakes Series. 3K, 1.5K & 5K. However, I may be adding or changing out one of those swims. I am in the initial stages of penciling out another possible swim. In August I'll backing off for a month and then starting up my training for the EC in 2013. However, my greatest challenge now is losing all the extra weight I put on this past year for Catalina. In the end I don't think I needed to gain so much, and I surely didn't need to gain even more over the holidays.

Thanks everyone for your kind comments, and for the help of a number of people on this forum. Special credit goes to David who convinced me that jumping into the 52° water of the Bay in March was a good idea. If nothing else it makes 58° water feel warm(er). In 2012 i hope to build my speed up. I was away from swimming for 15 years after developing a shoulder problem (nerve impingement). After the surgery I never regained my full strength & stability of the shoulder. As it turns out taking 36,000 - 38,000 continuous strokes is just what the doctor ordered. It is now stronger and more stable than it has been since the injury. No more excuses for not swimming harder. In 2012 I scheduled to do MIMS on 6/23/12. As with Catalina last year, everything is focused on that event. Since it is so early in the season I'll only be able to do one swim before it: a local 4K race in on 6/3. It should tell me if my efforts to build speed were effective. On 7/15 I'll swim the USMS 10K in Southern Oregon, and then a week later I will do the Portland Bridge Swim again. Finally, if my wife will allow me, I'll head off to Bend in the end of July to do the Cascade Lakes Series. 3K, 1.5K & 5K. However, I may be adding or changing out one of those swims. I am in the initial stages of penciling out another possible swim. In August I'll backing off for a month and then starting up my training for the EC in 2013. However, my greatest challenge now is losing all the extra weight I put on this past year for Catalina. In the end I don't think I needed to gain so much, and I surely didn't need to gain even more over the holidays. I've been following your swims and am so impressed! I hope you have a great year and are poised and ready for EC next year! Will be rooting for you! :cheerleader:

Bob, you are inspiring. I'd love to run into you at Hagg Lake... not really run into you, there'll be enough of that, but maybe a chat after we're out of the water. Have a great 2012.

Darrin Sounds great. Let's touch bases when we get closer to the swim