19Mar13

Went to the GSL today after work.  I met up with Gords, Sue, and Chad.  I got there early and spend several minutes just staring out at the water.  I almost teared up.  I was back at the lake I love.  I spent so much time thinking about the Great Salt Lake when I was going through chemo and all the swims I've done there and the countless more to come.  Being back today just made me realize how much I had missed her.
I took a temp reading and it was 53.  This time last year when the water broke 50, several of us went for a few miles because it was "warm" for us.  Well we have all slacked this winter and so all our cold endurance was gone.  53 was freezing to us!  How sad!!!  I got in first with Sue and we both made more noise than we should have.  Gords just looked nervous.
He got in and just took off like he normally does.  Chad, Sue, and I just stood there laughing at each other and ourselves for how soft we had become to the cold.
Sue took off after Gordon came in and started his 2nd lap.  I waited a bit and I finally took off.  I didn't have my goggles with me so I just did heads up breast to the end of the dock then back.  I didn't want to do anything risky.  Getting in then getting out there was enough.  No need to be stupid right now.  Chad finally got in after I came back and was floating on my back mocking him.

Me and Chad relaxing after our "swim"

I spent about 15 minutes total in the water.  11 of it whining and 4 of it actually IN the water!
I had more fun than can be described.  I was telling my wife how much fun it is to just be out there with my swim friends sharing the love we have for swimming with each other.  I truly missed it.

18Mar13

Was in the pool at 0520.  It was a bit rough getting out of bed this morning but I had made a mental commitment to do two things today.
1) swim
2) swim more than 500 yards
I got in and did 10 x 50 on the 1:15.  These weren't too bad but I did start to feel them a bit after lap 8.
I then did 2 x 50 kick  These wore me out a bit
2 x 100 easy
1 x 200 real easy

Grand total today was 1000 yards.  My finger counter hasn't seen the number 20 since 2012!  I was happy with how I did and felt I did a decent workout without going to the point that I felt like my heart was going to explode.
That was something I was talking to Patricia about yesterday and I'll need to chat with my Dr's about this week.
When I try to exercise, I feel my heart straining to the point where it hurts and I can feel it trying to beat out of my chest.  Is this because my heart took such a beating from chemo that it's weakened or is it because I'm so out of shape that my heart is just not used to putting forth effort like it used to and needs to be whipped back into shape.  I want to push myself past the "My heart feels like it's going to explode" phase but I'm worried that it was genuinely weakened from 20 rounds of poison being pumped directly into it so I better let it heal a bit more before working it too much.
I'll find out this week and go from there.

1000 yards today!

13Mar13

Was at the pool at 0520.  Met Annie there and she was already in the pool.  I've spent the last couple of days working on a weekly workout schedule for her to help her get ready for the GSL 8 miler.  She's excited to be doing her first true marathon swim and I'm excited to be helping her achieve this goal.  I'll also be her paddler which honestly makes me a bit sad to not be able to swim the event this year but I won't have recovered from more cancer surgery by that time.  I should be well enough to sit and paddle though....hopefully!
I'm still a little bit bitter about something that happened awhile ago.  I won't use names but there is another person that swims at the OAC on a somewhat regular basis.  Several months ago he made some negative remarks about the WFPBC and people that try to earn a cap.  If it's not your thing then fine.  Just don't sit there and trash it and our club or the people that like doing cold water swims or like being part of our group. I doubt it would ever happen but I would have some serious objections of this individual ever tried to join our SLOW club.  I just don't think we need any back biting jerks in our group.
ANYHOW....
Energy is slowly coming back.  The last round of chemo and recovery was extremely brutal and it took a LOT out of me.  It was a huge celebration to just be able to walk after a week from how I felt.  I didn't feel like pushing it today.
I did 6 x 50 with lots of rest.
1 x 100 which I finished pretty well but could feel my arms starting to die toward the end.
2 more 50's nice and easy.
500 yards total.

Still feels really good to be in the water and swimming.  I'm looking forward to building up some more endurance and lung capacity before my surgery and I'm out of the water for 2 months.

6Mar13

Met Anne at the pool today at 0515.  She was already in the water and I was only there to do a short swim.  She is registered for the GSL 8 mile race this year and excited that this is her first true marathon race so I am going to help her train.  I also will not be ready to swim by the race date so I'm going to be her paddler too.
We chatted a bit about training, feeds, trusting me, etc.  I then started to swim.  I was already tired when I got to the pool and low on energy.  This made it worse.  I could only do a 50 at a time with lots of rest in between.  This last round of chemo REALLY took it out of me and I'm still feeling myself recover.
5 x 50 the 2nd one was kicking and the last one was breast.

250 yards
Done!

15Feb13

Met Annie at the pool today at 0530.  My goal was to do 50's on the 2 minutes.  I felt pretty good with the rest I was getting and was averaging around 46 seconds per lap.  I did try to go "fast" one lap and hit :37 seconds.  I needed a few more minutes of rest after that endeavor.
I then did a 100 free and hit 1:34.  My arms tanked on me the last 10 yards.  Mixed in 2 x 25 kicking.  Free down and breast kick back.
Overall I did a 500 total.  Feels so good to be in the water even though I have no energy or ability to swim much.
I'm even more excited about the swim meet tomorrow.  I'm positive I'll start each event in the water and I'll probably need help getting out after the 100 but I don't care, I'll be there mainly to support my SLOW teammates and do the best I can.

500 yards today.

13Feb13 - Mental Day

Texted Kim last night to meet me at the pool.  She was up for it.  Met at 0530.  My energy is a bit low today and I was just happy to be at the pool.  I arrived to find my other buddy Annie there.  She was already swimming and we chatted a bit.  Kim soon arrived and I got in.  

Did 100 free 

rest

50 free 

rest

100 free

rest

50 breast

rest 

50 free

I was pretty tired after each 100.  I'm going to swim a 100 free for the upcoming QUAC meet this Sat but I'm definitely not going to be setting any records.  Both 100's my arms started to give out and my energy started to tank around the 85 yard mark so I just coasted in.  Pretty sad my energy is like this but I was just enjoying my time in the water.

I was pretty worn out after only 350 so I hit the hot tub.

Only 7 laps today but I know I can do each event for the swim meet and just being able to swim ANYTHING is a big deal right now so I'm happy.....tired but happy.

350 total

26Jan13 - Polar Plunge

Went to the North Davis Prep Academy Polar Plunge this morning.  Gordon was the only one that was able to make it out this year with me.  Despite our small number, we represented our club well.  Both of us wore our WFPBC hoodies and our red caps. 
We had some time to kill so we chatted a bit before it was time to get in.  It was nice to just relax with my swim buddy again.

Gords and me with the NDPA mascot

It was finally time to get in.  The school had a TON of their kids there and even cheerleaders!  They did a short cheer on the ice next to the hole that had been cut out.  The ice was thick but I'll be honest, I was secretly hoping it would break and a few cheerleaders would fall in.  That would have been hysterical!
We were getting ready to get in when some random guy dressed as a fur trapper wanted to take our pic.  After some posing we got ready.  Gords and I jumped in and the first thing I noticed wasn't the cold water, it was a "Bountiful lake smell".  Pretty nasty actually.  We waded across the water and got out.  The whole thing lasted less than 10 seconds but during those 10 seconds I felt pure joy.  It was so much fun doing that.  I wasn't really cold and once again loved sharing a cold water dip with my friend.  He was all smiles too. 
We were there for over an hour to jump in for 10 seconds.  Worth it!