I got an itch last night to go for a swim. I knew it would be an interesting challenge but decided to go for it anyway.
I got to the pool at 0530 and sat on the deck for a few minutes. I told myself to not get worked up, go for too much, or expect anything great today. It was getting in the water that was the goal and that will be fine.
I got in and the water was cold to me.....COLD???? What a baby!!!
I kept to my promise to myself and did 6 x 50 on the minute. The first lap felt REALLY weird and I knew it had been awhile since I had been in the water. The water felt great but I had definitely lost that feel for the water you acquire when you swim enough. I then did 2 x 50 kicking. This turned out to be a very bad idea. I did the first 50 and my legs were tired a bit. I rested then did another 50. My legs were now shot and hurt quite a bit beyond what they should feel like when they get tired from a kicking set. Put the kick board up and did an easy 100 with a "dead leg drag". I was happy to see that I did average around :42 per 50 when I was doing them on the minute.
After 500, I knew I had done enough. I'm not going to do anything stupid or push myself beyond my means. Any exercise lately takes a huge effort and despite my deep love for swimming, I had achieved what I wanted for the day so I was happy. I was even a bit tired when I got out but very proud of what I had done.
On a side note, I got to wear my swim parka for the first time. I LOVE it. It's very warm and feels great. I just need to start adding some patches to it!
500 yards today
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
11Jan13 - Front Page
Today my Ice Mile story made the front page of the Standard Examiner. I'm truly humbled by this. The story was well written and contained some information I really wanted printed.
Here it is.
Here it is.
OGDEN — On Thursday, Dec. 13, Goody Tyler IV stood at water’s
edge of the Salt Lake Marina, stripped down to a Speedo, cap and
goggles, waded into the 41-degree water and started swimming.
After two quarter-mile laps to the mouth of the marina and back, his body started shifting to survival mode, pulling blood from the limbs to keep his core warm. After the third lap, the searing pain and growing inability to convince his body to keep going were almost too much to bear.
As Tyler started the fourth lap, his body started shutting down and willpower was the only thing lifting his arms and kicking his legs. Tyler’s swimming buddies, Gordon Gridley and Josh Green, started their car to warm it up as he approached the shore 40 minutes after getting in the water. They immediately covered him, and because his legs wouldn’t support his standing weight, carried him to the car.
It took another hour to get his body temperature out of the danger zone, and for Tyler to comprehend that he was only the sixth American to complete the Ice Mile.
Four days later, Tyler started his first round of chemotherapy.
“We had no idea he was going to try the Ice Mile,” Gridley said, explaining that he and Green thought it would just be the typical 400-yard swim the group did on a regular basis. “But we knew he was going in for chemo, and he wanted this to be a memorable swim.”
Gridley got out after one lap and Tyler told him he was going to try for two more. Gridley followed along the marina wall, snapping pictures with his phone while keeping an eye on his friend in the water.
“Once I was diagnosed in November, I knew that day was my last chance to do it this season,” Tyler said. “When I finish with therapy the water will be well into the 40s and 50s, and I’d have to wait until next December for another chance. I was thinking, ‘If I can just do a half-mile today I’ll be good, but something inside of me just snapped and I went for it.”
Founded in 2009 by Ram Barkai, the International Ice Swimming Association is an organization that officiates Ice Swims around the world and aims to establish Ice Swimming as a recognized sport. An Ice Swim (or Ice Mile) is a one-mile swim in water temperature 41 degrees or below following the English Channel swim rules. Pending the processing of his paperwork, Tyler will be the 41st person in the world to have accomplished the feat, the sixth from the U.S.
“I got into cold-water swimming about two years ago,” Tyler said. “We started swimming in the Great Salt Lake at least once a week, and that’s when we found out about the International Ice Swimming Association.
“The Ice Mile was always in the back of my mind. Could I ever do something that intense? It’s just something so rigorous and so difficult to achieve.”
What most people don’t understand, Gridley explained, isn’t how difficult the swim itself is, but what happens after.
“The most dangerous part is when you get out of the water,” Gridley said. “If all that cold blood in your feet and hands goes to your heart too fast, you’ll have a heart attack.”
After a few minutes in the car, Gridley and Green carried Tyler to the marina shower and started at a luke-warm temperature. Little by little they increased the heat. As his shivering slowed and body temperature rose, Tyler’s accomplishment sank in, along with his imminent treatment for testicular cancer.
Overcome, Tyler broke down in front of his friends and released all his joy and frustration.
“It was quite an emotional time in that shower,” Gridley said. “He told us what he had been going through for the past months and just knowing what he’d be going through … it was very emotional for all of us.”
An avid marathon swimmer since his time in the Army more than a decade ago, Tyler discovered cold-water swimming in 2012. But the 36-year-old Virginia native, husband, father of two girls and Army veteran said it has been difficult balancing his treatment along with his job teaching physical education and sixth-grade world history at Navigator Pointe Academy in West Jordan.
He said swimming has helped put cancer into perspective, and completing the Ice Mile is something he draws on when the chemo leaves him physically and mentally exhausted.
“One of the best ways to describe when you’re swimming is your brain and your body go into all-out war against each other and against you,” he said. “You’re constantly fighting against your body to keep moving because it wants to stop, and your brain wants you to stop, too, and it eventually starts pulling blood from your arms and legs trying to make you stop.”
Tyler said some of his “warm-water” (50-60 degree) marathon swims can last six to seven hours and, just like the Ice Mile, draw undeniable parallels with cancer treatment where his infusions span five straight days and last six hours each day.
“I’m used to being uncomfortable for long periods of time doing these swims,” he said. “That’s a big benefit when you go in for chemotherapy. It’s an advantage I have, because you are going to be uncomfortable for long periods. You are going to be sick, and tired, and agitated, and p----- off and hungry all at the same time, and yet you have to keep going forward.”
Tyler pulls from his experiences in the water on days when the effects of chemo make getting out of bed impossible or summoning the energy to put on a pair of pants seems like a monumental task.
Aside from the tremendous support of his family and friends, Tyler is quick to point out how “unbelievably amazing” Principal Judy Farris at Navigator Pointe Academy has been in accommodating his treatment.
Farris said it’s the least they can do for one of their most beloved staff members.
“The kids think he’s absolutely the coolest,” Farris said. “He is a really great role model for these kids to look up to, and he’s also great with the staff. He’s a team player and ready to help anytime anyone needs it. We really love him.”
Tyler’s latest round of chemo took place earlier this week, but that’s not about to slow him down. Listed on his swim blog are three goals for 2013:
1. Beat cancer!
2. Complete another Utah Triple Crown.
3. At least one 20-mile swim. Most likely Bear Lake or Lake Tahoe crossing.
For most people that list would seem impossible at best. For those who know Goody Tyler, they have no doubt he’ll accomplish those goals and plenty more.
After two quarter-mile laps to the mouth of the marina and back, his body started shifting to survival mode, pulling blood from the limbs to keep his core warm. After the third lap, the searing pain and growing inability to convince his body to keep going were almost too much to bear.
As Tyler started the fourth lap, his body started shutting down and willpower was the only thing lifting his arms and kicking his legs. Tyler’s swimming buddies, Gordon Gridley and Josh Green, started their car to warm it up as he approached the shore 40 minutes after getting in the water. They immediately covered him, and because his legs wouldn’t support his standing weight, carried him to the car.
It took another hour to get his body temperature out of the danger zone, and for Tyler to comprehend that he was only the sixth American to complete the Ice Mile.
Four days later, Tyler started his first round of chemotherapy.
“We had no idea he was going to try the Ice Mile,” Gridley said, explaining that he and Green thought it would just be the typical 400-yard swim the group did on a regular basis. “But we knew he was going in for chemo, and he wanted this to be a memorable swim.”
Gridley got out after one lap and Tyler told him he was going to try for two more. Gridley followed along the marina wall, snapping pictures with his phone while keeping an eye on his friend in the water.
“Once I was diagnosed in November, I knew that day was my last chance to do it this season,” Tyler said. “When I finish with therapy the water will be well into the 40s and 50s, and I’d have to wait until next December for another chance. I was thinking, ‘If I can just do a half-mile today I’ll be good, but something inside of me just snapped and I went for it.”
Founded in 2009 by Ram Barkai, the International Ice Swimming Association is an organization that officiates Ice Swims around the world and aims to establish Ice Swimming as a recognized sport. An Ice Swim (or Ice Mile) is a one-mile swim in water temperature 41 degrees or below following the English Channel swim rules. Pending the processing of his paperwork, Tyler will be the 41st person in the world to have accomplished the feat, the sixth from the U.S.
“I got into cold-water swimming about two years ago,” Tyler said. “We started swimming in the Great Salt Lake at least once a week, and that’s when we found out about the International Ice Swimming Association.
“The Ice Mile was always in the back of my mind. Could I ever do something that intense? It’s just something so rigorous and so difficult to achieve.”
What most people don’t understand, Gridley explained, isn’t how difficult the swim itself is, but what happens after.
“The most dangerous part is when you get out of the water,” Gridley said. “If all that cold blood in your feet and hands goes to your heart too fast, you’ll have a heart attack.”
After a few minutes in the car, Gridley and Green carried Tyler to the marina shower and started at a luke-warm temperature. Little by little they increased the heat. As his shivering slowed and body temperature rose, Tyler’s accomplishment sank in, along with his imminent treatment for testicular cancer.
Overcome, Tyler broke down in front of his friends and released all his joy and frustration.
“It was quite an emotional time in that shower,” Gridley said. “He told us what he had been going through for the past months and just knowing what he’d be going through … it was very emotional for all of us.”
An avid marathon swimmer since his time in the Army more than a decade ago, Tyler discovered cold-water swimming in 2012. But the 36-year-old Virginia native, husband, father of two girls and Army veteran said it has been difficult balancing his treatment along with his job teaching physical education and sixth-grade world history at Navigator Pointe Academy in West Jordan.
He said swimming has helped put cancer into perspective, and completing the Ice Mile is something he draws on when the chemo leaves him physically and mentally exhausted.
“One of the best ways to describe when you’re swimming is your brain and your body go into all-out war against each other and against you,” he said. “You’re constantly fighting against your body to keep moving because it wants to stop, and your brain wants you to stop, too, and it eventually starts pulling blood from your arms and legs trying to make you stop.”
Tyler said some of his “warm-water” (50-60 degree) marathon swims can last six to seven hours and, just like the Ice Mile, draw undeniable parallels with cancer treatment where his infusions span five straight days and last six hours each day.
“I’m used to being uncomfortable for long periods of time doing these swims,” he said. “That’s a big benefit when you go in for chemotherapy. It’s an advantage I have, because you are going to be uncomfortable for long periods. You are going to be sick, and tired, and agitated, and p----- off and hungry all at the same time, and yet you have to keep going forward.”
Tyler pulls from his experiences in the water on days when the effects of chemo make getting out of bed impossible or summoning the energy to put on a pair of pants seems like a monumental task.
Aside from the tremendous support of his family and friends, Tyler is quick to point out how “unbelievably amazing” Principal Judy Farris at Navigator Pointe Academy has been in accommodating his treatment.
Farris said it’s the least they can do for one of their most beloved staff members.
“The kids think he’s absolutely the coolest,” Farris said. “He is a really great role model for these kids to look up to, and he’s also great with the staff. He’s a team player and ready to help anytime anyone needs it. We really love him.”
Tyler’s latest round of chemo took place earlier this week, but that’s not about to slow him down. Listed on his swim blog are three goals for 2013:
1. Beat cancer!
2. Complete another Utah Triple Crown.
3. At least one 20-mile swim. Most likely Bear Lake or Lake Tahoe crossing.
For most people that list would seem impossible at best. For those who know Goody Tyler, they have no doubt he’ll accomplish those goals and plenty more.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
1Jan13 - New Years Day Polar Plunge
I've been looking forward to this day for a few weeks now. I was worried I may not have the ability to swim or feel up to going out on New Years Day to play with my cold water buddies. Luckily for me I felt well enough to go.
Gordon has spend tireless hours organizing our 2nd polar plunge on the 1st of Jan of the year but this year he made it into an official race. It turned out to be a huge success. 8 people showed up! The course was 400 yards which is to the end of the marina and back. There were a TON of people there too. So many volunteers, family members, and even the press was there! Not just one but two media people were covering it. We've been begging for years for them to cover our events and finally they did. One was from the paper and the other from the Fox13 news.
I arrived with Patricia and my kids around 1130. There was a guy there from Fox13 news out of Salt Lake that wanted to interview Gords, Josh, and me. We took a few minutes and did some camera time. When he found out that I had cancer and am still participating in swims when I can, he was blown away. He asked if he could do a full story on me soon. I agreed.
I was humbled and tickled when I saw Josh for the first time today. He had shaven his head to show his support for me. I was truly touched.
Another thing that really got me chocked up was almost every swimmer there was dedicating this swim to me. Some admitted the ONLY reason they are doing it today was for me. You can't imagine how much that means. I thank you all. It's moments like today that DEFINITELY take some of the sting of chemo away.
Once everyone signed wavers, Gordon gave a briefing on how things were going to go then I gave a safety briefing. Everyone there we know and has earned a cap so it was a HUGE comfort that I wasn't talking to anyone that I wasn't already sure our club has confidence with the cold water.
There were 8 swimmers going in 4 waves of 2 people. Gords' wife Cathi was doing the timing and on the loudspeaker getting people to keep cheering for the swimmers. She's great at keeping people motivated.
The 3rd wave were my 2 friends I convinced just this morning to come. Kim Patterson and Anne Stanish. Kim was 95% sure she was in but I somehow pulled a mind trick on Anne and she cursed my name as she was pulling into the marina. The 2 of them took off together and Kim was alone so I happily walked along the marina walkway to cheer her on. They both did great. It was more exciting than I can describe watching my friends swim. I was a bit bummed that I couldn't swim but seeing everyone else actually did make up for it.
Gordon and Josh were last. Gords took off like a bat out of hell and ended up winning the event. After all was done, I stripped down and just got in. I ran until I knew it was deep enough, took a dive in, then turned around and ran out.
It wasn't as bad as I expected. As I was getting out, I knew I could have stayed in longer. I promised myself and my wife I would not take ANY stupid risks today and I intended to keep that promise. Chemo has taken pretty much all of my cold tolerance out of me. I get cold VERY easy now and am constantly trying to keep warm. Kinda sad how fast it has turned.
I was thrilled beyond words with how great of a turnout today was. Such an amazing job by Gordon organizing this and everyone had such a great time. I wasn't able to participate fully but being a part of today and cheering on my 8 swim friends was a perfect way to start my year. Thanks everyone!
Here are the Media coverages of our event.
Newspaper coverage -
Next is Fox13 News Fox13 News -
 |
| Josh showing his support |
 |
| Me getting out |
Here are the Media coverages of our event.
Newspaper coverage -
Next is Fox13 News Fox13 News -
Thursday, December 13, 2012
13Dec12 - Going out with a BANG!
Something happened today that I can honestly say I've been dreaming about for over a year. Today I swam an Ice Mile! I swam one mile in 41 degree F water for one mile. Only thing I had was a cap, goggles, and a speedo. No help was give or aid rendered during the swim. This is THE pinnacle of cold water swimming achievements and I did it!!!
Here is how it went.....
I start prep surgery tomorrow and chemo starts Monday so I knew this was my last cold water swim of the year. MAYBE I could get one short one in between my 1st and 2nd round of chemo but I'm not holding my breath on it. I just wanted to get one more cold swim in. I posted on Facebook that I was going to the marina one last time for a short swim. Lucky for me Josh and Gordon showed up.
I did a temp reading and it said 41 degrees.
I DID think...well if I do try the ice mile, this is what it will be like. I told myself that I mainly wanted to just do 2 laps that would equal 1/2 mile. If I did that then we'll see but doubtful. We all got in and I did some heads up to get adjusted. I finally swam normal but could only do 30 strokes at a time because my face hurt too much. It finally adjusted after the 1st lap. I did the 2nd lap and my feet hurt and hands were REALLY in pain but I felt fine otherwise. I was seriously considering calling it good and I'll do it next season but something inside of me just snapped. GO AND DO IT NOW YOU P***Y!!! Meh, let's see what happens.
I did another lap. It was halfway down the 3rd lap when I noticed I was starting to get more and more affected by the cold. My stroke was slowing and I was struggling with intense salt water leaking into my goggles. I got back to finish my 3rd lap and I really had to focus to start my 4th and final lap.
I could already tell that it would be a severe mountain to climb physically and mentally. Words will never be able to describe the level of pain I felt when I started back. I actually felt THE moment when my brain switched from "fun cold swimming" to okay....this is officially survival mode. The blood from my feet and ankles had receded and my hands were just dead weights. My chest felt fine but I could tell my body was going numb and my core temp was dropping. I had to dig deep. A beautiful but profane thing happened at the same time. My body was numb and definitely on shut down mode but my mind started to get VERY active. I started to get mad...real MAD. This is my last shot at this for an entire year. I'd do more but F-ing cancer is taking it away from me. I then was chanting the full words, "F Cancer...F U Cancer"!!! over and over. It worked. I was so stinking mad that I started to swim faster.
It was getting dark when I got out and the air temp was quickly dropping which only made it worse when I got out. Gordon and Josh were there cheering me on like mad men! It was great to have them there. I tried to get up but my legs were dead. I couldn't feel my feet and Gordon had to help me out. They dried me off then put me in Josh's van with the heater on full. It did NOTHING. I had piles of clothes and towels on me but I was too cold to notice. Luckily there is a shower facility at the marina with hot water so Josh drove us there. He turned the shower to warm and I sat in the car for several more minutes shaking violently and moaning from the pain I was in. The recovery was BRUTAL. I've never felt pain like that. Pure pain right down to your literal bones are in pain!
They had to help me to the shower where I just sat there and let the warm water slowly thaw me out. As I got warmer, I turned the water up warmer. I can honestly say that this was the first solo warm shower I've had in several months. Normally I hate hot showers but under these conditions it felt GREAT!
I had SO many reasons that I wanted to do this and I was just as amazed and shocked as Josh and Gords that I did it on what is technically a "whim" of me wanting to go out. I never planned on doing this today...it just happened.
As I was warming up, a LOT of emotions about what this swim meant to me and all the mental and emotional pain I've been through the past few months came out. I cried like a baby in front of my 2 friends and felt no shame in it. I am comfortable enough with them that I didn't care.
I don't want to go through chemo and have something to "look forward to" when I'm recovered. I want something I can LOOK BACK ON when I'm feeling miserable and use that as motivation to get better. I need to submit some paperwork but I should be the 6th person in America to ever do this type of swim since the IISA was established.
I can't thank my friends Gordon and Josh enough for being there today and helping me. There is no way I would have made it without you two. The help you gave me when I needed it was beyond friendship. I just keep thinking about how the 3 of us met just less than 2 years ago to do a 200 yard "cold water swim" at a lake when the water was 49! LOL That's a joke! Look at how far we have come as friends, swim partners, and cold water enthusiasts. It's been a hell of a ride to get to this point and I'm glad you 2 were there the whole time.
Distance - 1 mile
Water Temp - 41 degrees F
Air Temp - 50.5 at start. Below 45 at finish.
Wind Temp - 35 degrees
Time in water - approx 40 min.
Time from water entry to full recovery - 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Here are their accounts.
Josh - Utah Open Water
Gordon - Gords Swim Log
Here is the video Gordon made.
 |
| Gords and me before swim |
Here is how it went.....
I start prep surgery tomorrow and chemo starts Monday so I knew this was my last cold water swim of the year. MAYBE I could get one short one in between my 1st and 2nd round of chemo but I'm not holding my breath on it. I just wanted to get one more cold swim in. I posted on Facebook that I was going to the marina one last time for a short swim. Lucky for me Josh and Gordon showed up.
I did a temp reading and it said 41 degrees.
 |
| USP official water temp = 41! |
I DID think...well if I do try the ice mile, this is what it will be like. I told myself that I mainly wanted to just do 2 laps that would equal 1/2 mile. If I did that then we'll see but doubtful. We all got in and I did some heads up to get adjusted. I finally swam normal but could only do 30 strokes at a time because my face hurt too much. It finally adjusted after the 1st lap. I did the 2nd lap and my feet hurt and hands were REALLY in pain but I felt fine otherwise. I was seriously considering calling it good and I'll do it next season but something inside of me just snapped. GO AND DO IT NOW YOU P***Y!!! Meh, let's see what happens.
 |
| Finishing 2nd lap...halfway there |
 |
| 3rd lap finish |
 |
| 4th lap....all those bubbles are my probably my profanity |
 |
| 4th lap turnaround...getting dark. Home stretch now! |
It was getting dark when I got out and the air temp was quickly dropping which only made it worse when I got out. Gordon and Josh were there cheering me on like mad men! It was great to have them there. I tried to get up but my legs were dead. I couldn't feel my feet and Gordon had to help me out. They dried me off then put me in Josh's van with the heater on full. It did NOTHING. I had piles of clothes and towels on me but I was too cold to notice. Luckily there is a shower facility at the marina with hot water so Josh drove us there. He turned the shower to warm and I sat in the car for several more minutes shaking violently and moaning from the pain I was in. The recovery was BRUTAL. I've never felt pain like that. Pure pain right down to your literal bones are in pain!
 |
| Thawing out |
 |
| Lovin' that hot water!...and the speedo I borrowed from Josh. ( I actually forgot mine) |
They had to help me to the shower where I just sat there and let the warm water slowly thaw me out. As I got warmer, I turned the water up warmer. I can honestly say that this was the first solo warm shower I've had in several months. Normally I hate hot showers but under these conditions it felt GREAT!
I had SO many reasons that I wanted to do this and I was just as amazed and shocked as Josh and Gords that I did it on what is technically a "whim" of me wanting to go out. I never planned on doing this today...it just happened.
As I was warming up, a LOT of emotions about what this swim meant to me and all the mental and emotional pain I've been through the past few months came out. I cried like a baby in front of my 2 friends and felt no shame in it. I am comfortable enough with them that I didn't care.
I don't want to go through chemo and have something to "look forward to" when I'm recovered. I want something I can LOOK BACK ON when I'm feeling miserable and use that as motivation to get better. I need to submit some paperwork but I should be the 6th person in America to ever do this type of swim since the IISA was established.
I can't thank my friends Gordon and Josh enough for being there today and helping me. There is no way I would have made it without you two. The help you gave me when I needed it was beyond friendship. I just keep thinking about how the 3 of us met just less than 2 years ago to do a 200 yard "cold water swim" at a lake when the water was 49! LOL That's a joke! Look at how far we have come as friends, swim partners, and cold water enthusiasts. It's been a hell of a ride to get to this point and I'm glad you 2 were there the whole time.
 |
| Official swim route |
Distance - 1 mile
Water Temp - 41 degrees F
Air Temp - 50.5 at start. Below 45 at finish.
Wind Temp - 35 degrees
Time in water - approx 40 min.
Time from water entry to full recovery - 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Here are their accounts.
Josh - Utah Open Water
Gordon - Gords Swim Log
Here is the video Gordon made.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
8Dec12
I was planning on doing 2 cold water swims today but I never got info on the first swim so I was only able to meet in the GSL today. Anne already wanted to come and I had to talk Kim into it but she agreed.
Met at the marina at 1500 and there were 8 swimmers there including 3 new people. My friends Kim and Anne were there and another guy I met at the VA hospital that drew my blood a few weeks ago. I was impressed he was there. His name is Alan and most people talk about going out but few do. He actually stuck to his word and wanted to try it.
The water measured 43 and to add to the fun, it was lightly snowing on us. After a safety briefing, we all got in. Sue and Josh went to the far end of the marina but Kim didn't want to venture out that far so she stayed near the ramp. No problem. It did take her awhile to get in. She got up to her thighs and just stood there complaining about how cold she was getting. It WAS 43! I "gently" coaxed her into the water telling her that the sooner she gets in and starts moving, the faster she warms up and will be getting out.
Anne stayed near us and we chatted a bit to make the 10 min requirement easier.
Anne was handling the cold very well...at least she was faking it really well. She later told me she was pretty miserable but put on a good face. Kim reminded me twice that she is only doing this to show her support for me having cancer. I'll take it!
Alan was at the other end with Sue and Josh and a few others. He did great. Everyone hit 10 minutes and Alan, Kim, and Anne all earned a cap!
It took me next to no time to warm up. I chatted with some of the swimmers in the parking lot but by the time I had driven out of the Saltair area and was on the highway, I was fine.
I've really been impressed with not only the number of caps we have given out this year, but also the number of people that keep coming back. We have more repeat swimmers than I ever imagined. I'm loving the fact that so many people are joining us and enjoying the exhilaration of cold water swimming. KEEP COMING!!!
Met at the marina at 1500 and there were 8 swimmers there including 3 new people. My friends Kim and Anne were there and another guy I met at the VA hospital that drew my blood a few weeks ago. I was impressed he was there. His name is Alan and most people talk about going out but few do. He actually stuck to his word and wanted to try it.
 |
| Safety briefing |
 |
| SNOW!!! |
The water measured 43 and to add to the fun, it was lightly snowing on us. After a safety briefing, we all got in. Sue and Josh went to the far end of the marina but Kim didn't want to venture out that far so she stayed near the ramp. No problem. It did take her awhile to get in. She got up to her thighs and just stood there complaining about how cold she was getting. It WAS 43! I "gently" coaxed her into the water telling her that the sooner she gets in and starts moving, the faster she warms up and will be getting out.
 |
| Sue is eager to get in. She truly loves doing this as much as Josh and I do. |
 |
| Getting in |
Anne stayed near us and we chatted a bit to make the 10 min requirement easier.
Anne was handling the cold very well...at least she was faking it really well. She later told me she was pretty miserable but put on a good face. Kim reminded me twice that she is only doing this to show her support for me having cancer. I'll take it!
 |
| Anne, me, and Kim |
Alan was at the other end with Sue and Josh and a few others. He did great. Everyone hit 10 minutes and Alan, Kim, and Anne all earned a cap!
 |
| Getting out...love the lobster look! |
It took me next to no time to warm up. I chatted with some of the swimmers in the parking lot but by the time I had driven out of the Saltair area and was on the highway, I was fine.
I've really been impressed with not only the number of caps we have given out this year, but also the number of people that keep coming back. We have more repeat swimmers than I ever imagined. I'm loving the fact that so many people are joining us and enjoying the exhilaration of cold water swimming. KEEP COMING!!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
4Dec12
My "ghost fan" Anne texted me last night saying she was going to the pool and I should join her. She's wiser than me so I agreed. Alarm went off at 0430 and I used to be really eager to get out of bed and go swimming but today it was tough. I had to talk myself into it.
Got to the pool and was in the water at 0500. Water temp was 78. It was really nice. There were a lot of people there this morning. When you swim at a place long enough at the same time, you get to know people well enough. They all joked when they saw me and called out to me that the water was too cold and it was just right for me. The water was colder than normal but still too warm for my liking!
Did 500 WU
6 x 50 K
200 heads up breast
500 easy CD
1500 total
This afternoon is the GSL so I'll get some more yards in there.
Met with Gords at the GSL today. We were getting ready when Jim pulled up. The 3 of us got in and when we were halfway down the marina, Josh arrived. The 4 of us were enjoying the swim.
Water was cold but bearable. It was 45-46 degrees. My hands bugged me more than usual today but the rest of me felt fine. I got out with Gords at 16 min. I was okay with that. I plan on doing a good amount of swimming in the cold this weekend.
Got to the pool and was in the water at 0500. Water temp was 78. It was really nice. There were a lot of people there this morning. When you swim at a place long enough at the same time, you get to know people well enough. They all joked when they saw me and called out to me that the water was too cold and it was just right for me. The water was colder than normal but still too warm for my liking!
Did 500 WU
6 x 50 K
200 heads up breast
500 easy CD
1500 total
This afternoon is the GSL so I'll get some more yards in there.
Met with Gords at the GSL today. We were getting ready when Jim pulled up. The 3 of us got in and when we were halfway down the marina, Josh arrived. The 4 of us were enjoying the swim.
 |
| Jim, me, and Gords doing what I normally do in a pic...look like an idiot! |
Sunday, December 2, 2012
1Dec12 - Back to the cold!
Met with Gords, Josh, Sue, her husband Todd, and son Ryan and another newcomer Vicky. Potential for 3 new caps today. I was excited.
I haven't been in the cold water much since I had surgery recently but since I was cleared Wed to swim and I did swim yesterday morning, I knew I had to come out. I really was just hoping to get in and make it a few minutes but I was already completely mentally okay if I didn't last long.
After a quick pic, we all got in. I was walking behind Todd and told him I was REALLY tempted to splash his back! The water was 47 and it felt cold but nowhere near as bad as I expected. The youngster Ryan got in and Gords, Josh, and I agreed since he is 11 to cut his time down to only 5 min. He made it! We were all encouraging him and it was awesome to see he stuck it out and got it done. Todd made it too so we have our first OFFICIAL WFPBC family! Nice job all. I'm seriously impressed.
The new people got out but Sue was trying for 20 min. We all stayed in with her and did another 1/2 lap down the marina. The four of us just chatted and joked around. It was great. My fingers were in some serious pain but the rest of me was 100% fine. I honestly was a bit surprised that I was doing as well as I was. Felt like I hadn't missed a beat. We all got out at 21 min. So I got 21 min in 47 degrees after taking several weeks off. When we were dried off and heading back to the cars, I hadn't started to shake yet. It took me a bit to start and when I did, it didn't seem to last long. I shook for probably 15 min at the most until I was completely fine.
All this is doing is reaffirming my dream of doing the ice mile. I'm hoping the temps keep steadily dropping and I hope I can keep handling it so well. I know I could have stayed in for 30 min easy but I didn't want to do anything stupid on my first day back. 20 min was fine and the others were getting out so I was too. Play it smart. I keep thinking if I can last 30 min while just wading around and doing some light breast stroke, I should be fine doing free for 30 min or more when I'm moving and kicking a ton more. I just gotta keep goggles from fogging!!!
***Went out for dinner last night to a steak place for a big family dinner/birthday celebration. I ordered a 20oz. prime rib with 2 large side items. I destroyed the whole thing including the sides and the rest of my sister in laws steak too when she said she was done. I was STILL hungry!!! Now THAT is another benefit of ice swimming, you burn TONS of calories then you can eat like a wild-man and feel ZERO guilt! hehe**
I haven't been in the cold water much since I had surgery recently but since I was cleared Wed to swim and I did swim yesterday morning, I knew I had to come out. I really was just hoping to get in and make it a few minutes but I was already completely mentally okay if I didn't last long.
After a quick pic, we all got in. I was walking behind Todd and told him I was REALLY tempted to splash his back! The water was 47 and it felt cold but nowhere near as bad as I expected. The youngster Ryan got in and Gords, Josh, and I agreed since he is 11 to cut his time down to only 5 min. He made it! We were all encouraging him and it was awesome to see he stuck it out and got it done. Todd made it too so we have our first OFFICIAL WFPBC family! Nice job all. I'm seriously impressed.
The new people got out but Sue was trying for 20 min. We all stayed in with her and did another 1/2 lap down the marina. The four of us just chatted and joked around. It was great. My fingers were in some serious pain but the rest of me was 100% fine. I honestly was a bit surprised that I was doing as well as I was. Felt like I hadn't missed a beat. We all got out at 21 min. So I got 21 min in 47 degrees after taking several weeks off. When we were dried off and heading back to the cars, I hadn't started to shake yet. It took me a bit to start and when I did, it didn't seem to last long. I shook for probably 15 min at the most until I was completely fine.
All this is doing is reaffirming my dream of doing the ice mile. I'm hoping the temps keep steadily dropping and I hope I can keep handling it so well. I know I could have stayed in for 30 min easy but I didn't want to do anything stupid on my first day back. 20 min was fine and the others were getting out so I was too. Play it smart. I keep thinking if I can last 30 min while just wading around and doing some light breast stroke, I should be fine doing free for 30 min or more when I'm moving and kicking a ton more. I just gotta keep goggles from fogging!!!
***Went out for dinner last night to a steak place for a big family dinner/birthday celebration. I ordered a 20oz. prime rib with 2 large side items. I destroyed the whole thing including the sides and the rest of my sister in laws steak too when she said she was done. I was STILL hungry!!! Now THAT is another benefit of ice swimming, you burn TONS of calories then you can eat like a wild-man and feel ZERO guilt! hehe**
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)