een busy lately and lazy other mornings but had no excuses to not swim today.
4 x 100
3(2 x 50 K then 200 IM)
12 x 75 First 4 on 1:30 next 4 on 1:25 then last 4 on 1:20 SLOW times I know!
easy 50's and 100's to get to 2500.
Felt really good today actually and glad I went. Curious how I'll do with full day of work then climbing gym after work. Haven't done this kind of busy workout day in awhile.
2500 SCY
Goody's Swim Log - The "natural" swimmer
My open water adventures and pool workouts
Monday, February 25, 2019
Thursday, January 24, 2019
24Jan19
Patricia was in Florida last week for work so I was doing the single parent gig then I was not feeling that great earlier this week.
I felt good yesterday and had a great night sleep so no excuses to to swim this morning.
5 x 100 WU
6 x 75 (free, breast/back, free x 25)
50 hard
500 (100 free then 50 breast repeat. Last 50 was hard pull)
10 x 50 on the :60 hitting under :45 per 50
Felt good to be swimming. I'm still finding more joy climbing right now but hoping if I can discipline myself to go to the pool more that my motivation will slowly shift.
I did keep thinking about a comment a friend I climb with made. I offered to take him swimming in the summer and he said that I was a 5.14c swimmer and there was no way he would want to swim with me. It was a climbing difficulty scale reference and it made me laugh.
2000 SCY
I felt good yesterday and had a great night sleep so no excuses to to swim this morning.
5 x 100 WU
6 x 75 (free, breast/back, free x 25)
50 hard
500 (100 free then 50 breast repeat. Last 50 was hard pull)
10 x 50 on the :60 hitting under :45 per 50
Felt good to be swimming. I'm still finding more joy climbing right now but hoping if I can discipline myself to go to the pool more that my motivation will slowly shift.
I did keep thinking about a comment a friend I climb with made. I offered to take him swimming in the summer and he said that I was a 5.14c swimmer and there was no way he would want to swim with me. It was a climbing difficulty scale reference and it made me laugh.
2000 SCY
Thursday, January 10, 2019
10Jan19
I've been sick the past few days and breathing has been difficult so swimming has been out. I've been resting a lot but felt good enough last night I knew I could go today....but take it easy.
500 WU - no time
5 x 100 on the 2:00 (back, free, breast, free)
10 x 50 on the :60 keeping under :45 for each 50
1500 SCY total
500 WU - no time
5 x 100 on the 2:00 (back, free, breast, free)
10 x 50 on the :60 keeping under :45 for each 50
1500 SCY total
Friday, January 4, 2019
4Jan19
Getting out of bed this morning was really tough. It was easy on the 1st when I knew I could go home and nap but I work today after swimming so it was harder to get going. I dragged my feet all morning which I knew would cut into my swimming time but simply did not care.
I got to the gym and I had to set up my membership for the year again. That took some time then Sue gave me a tour of the facility since they remodeled quite a bit since I've been gone over the past year. The new place and layout looks great.
Finally dragged my sorry butt to the pool and got in.
10 x 50 on the :60 - hit around :43 for each. Not bad actually
4 x 100 on the 2:00 - Went 1:27 for each. Also not bad but the 4th hurt a bit. I'm REALLY out of swim shape!
50 back to breast
50 free
1000 SCY total
I got to the gym and I had to set up my membership for the year again. That took some time then Sue gave me a tour of the facility since they remodeled quite a bit since I've been gone over the past year. The new place and layout looks great.
Finally dragged my sorry butt to the pool and got in.
10 x 50 on the :60 - hit around :43 for each. Not bad actually
4 x 100 on the 2:00 - Went 1:27 for each. Also not bad but the 4th hurt a bit. I'm REALLY out of swim shape!
50 back to breast
50 free
1000 SCY total
1Jan19 - I'm back baby!
My year hiatus from swimming is over. I did the mini UTC last year and only swam 3 times for exactly 1 mile each and that's it.
I discovered a new sport I thoroughly enjoy and don't plan on stopping even though I plan on making swimming my main sports love again. Sorry rock climbing, but my main squeeze is calling, :)
Got up and went to the Kearns pool for the annual New Years Day swim. The swim that coach Becky had planned was 119 x 50......no thx! I'm not in shape for that.
I visited with my swim buddy Sue at the front desk some then headed to the pool. Forgot how much I love the smell of chlorine.
Chatted with Becky some and several others who were genuinely glad to see me again. It was good to be back.
I just wanted to get in and not do anything crazy for my first day back. I got in the slow-poke lane which was set on a 1:05 timer. LOL Nice and easy.
10 x 50 free
10 x 50 back down free return then breast down free return
5 x 50 kick
5 x 50 free did some "harder" pulling on a few of them but nothing crazy.
I'm glad to be back and my only real goal for January is to get in the habit of getting up early a few times a week to actually go swimming. We'll see how it goes.
Saw this sign and it made me laugh. We do SO much hypoxic work while swimming that this sign is a joke.
1500 SCY total
I discovered a new sport I thoroughly enjoy and don't plan on stopping even though I plan on making swimming my main sports love again. Sorry rock climbing, but my main squeeze is calling, :)
Got up and went to the Kearns pool for the annual New Years Day swim. The swim that coach Becky had planned was 119 x 50......no thx! I'm not in shape for that.
I visited with my swim buddy Sue at the front desk some then headed to the pool. Forgot how much I love the smell of chlorine.
Chatted with Becky some and several others who were genuinely glad to see me again. It was good to be back.
I just wanted to get in and not do anything crazy for my first day back. I got in the slow-poke lane which was set on a 1:05 timer. LOL Nice and easy.
10 x 50 free
10 x 50 back down free return then breast down free return
5 x 50 kick
5 x 50 free did some "harder" pulling on a few of them but nothing crazy.
Easy mile done |
I'm glad to be back and my only real goal for January is to get in the habit of getting up early a few times a week to actually go swimming. We'll see how it goes.
Saw this sign and it made me laugh. We do SO much hypoxic work while swimming that this sign is a joke.
1500 SCY total
Monday, September 11, 2017
9Sep17-UTC24!
Before I even start with the blog on this, I want to give credit to the person who helped me cook up an idea as idiotic as this! Grace Van Der Byl and I though of this together several years ago when I was a guest at her home. It was mostly a "what if" joke but each year, we would somehow mention it and the more we talked about it, the more it seemed like it could be done. Well Grace, it is done! Thanks for the inspiration and guidance during this several years journey.
I will just start with a few days earlier and give a brief recap of the days leading up to this swim.
Thursday the 7th - I met Gordon at his mom's house and we drove to his in-law's family cabin near Bear Lake (BL). We stayed up late watching TV, catching up, and relaxing.
Friday the 8th - Woke up early in hopes of being tired in the afternoon so I can nap for several hours and then rest for the swim starting at midnight. Didn't work out that way. We did get up early, ate breakfast, then went to a secluded spot behind the house and fired off guns for an hour. They were all Gordon's guns and ammunition so I took it easy on shooting. I didn't want to spend energy firing guns as much as I wanted to and besides, it was Gordon't ammo so I don't want to be a jerk and use up someone else's ammunition. Gordon did most of the firing and it was relaxing and FUN!
We then headed into Logan so I could contact my family and then run a few errands. When lunch came, we went to an all you can eat buffet and I ate quite well. After that we went to a movie to kill more time. We then made a quick ice cream stop then back to the cabin. Nap time...only, I did not nap well. I forced myself to stay on the bed with my eyes closed for 2 hours but sleep was minimal. My nerves were starting to get to me. I finally gave up and watched TV. Gordon woke up awhile later and we started packing.
We left the house at 2215 and headed to BL to meet up with Joelle.
We met her at 2300 and she got in the front seat and I got in the back to lie down for a short nap. I woke up and we were at the start. Time to load up the kayak and grease up.
The air was chilly but we did a water reading and it read 68 degrees. So much warmer than usual for this time of year. I was afraid of the cold being a factor for this swim and it turned out to be a complete non-factor.
Gordon counted me down from 1 minute and as midnight hit, I got in. I tried walking in like a badass but actually slipped on the first rock, fell forward, and nearly busted myself in the first 3 yards! I recovered and just got on my belly until it was deep enough to start swimming. I adjusted quickly and off we went.
The BL swim went perfect. There was a slight current for a few hours but nothing major. Joelle made small corrections and we stayed on our course target. My goal was to just swim smooth and not kill myself. I wanted to finish around 4 hours and we hit land at 6.6 miles at exactly 4 and hours and 1 minute. Perfect!
We loaded up quickly and dropped Joelle off at her car on the way to Deer Creek (DC).
I fell asleep quickly after drinking some recovery fluids and Gordon woke me up as we were at the boat ramp at DC. I texted Becky and she was walking down the ramp ready to go. We got the kayak loaded up and then it was time to grease me.
I will just start with a few days earlier and give a brief recap of the days leading up to this swim.
Thursday the 7th - I met Gordon at his mom's house and we drove to his in-law's family cabin near Bear Lake (BL). We stayed up late watching TV, catching up, and relaxing.
Friday the 8th - Woke up early in hopes of being tired in the afternoon so I can nap for several hours and then rest for the swim starting at midnight. Didn't work out that way. We did get up early, ate breakfast, then went to a secluded spot behind the house and fired off guns for an hour. They were all Gordon's guns and ammunition so I took it easy on shooting. I didn't want to spend energy firing guns as much as I wanted to and besides, it was Gordon't ammo so I don't want to be a jerk and use up someone else's ammunition. Gordon did most of the firing and it was relaxing and FUN!
We then headed into Logan so I could contact my family and then run a few errands. When lunch came, we went to an all you can eat buffet and I ate quite well. After that we went to a movie to kill more time. We then made a quick ice cream stop then back to the cabin. Nap time...only, I did not nap well. I forced myself to stay on the bed with my eyes closed for 2 hours but sleep was minimal. My nerves were starting to get to me. I finally gave up and watched TV. Gordon woke up awhile later and we started packing.
We left the house at 2215 and headed to BL to meet up with Joelle.
We met her at 2300 and she got in the front seat and I got in the back to lie down for a short nap. I woke up and we were at the start. Time to load up the kayak and grease up.
The air was chilly but we did a water reading and it read 68 degrees. So much warmer than usual for this time of year. I was afraid of the cold being a factor for this swim and it turned out to be a complete non-factor.
Quick Selfie 5 min before start. |
The BL swim went perfect. There was a slight current for a few hours but nothing major. Joelle made small corrections and we stayed on our course target. My goal was to just swim smooth and not kill myself. I wanted to finish around 4 hours and we hit land at 6.6 miles at exactly 4 and hours and 1 minute. Perfect!
We loaded up quickly and dropped Joelle off at her car on the way to Deer Creek (DC).
I fell asleep quickly after drinking some recovery fluids and Gordon woke me up as we were at the boat ramp at DC. I texted Becky and she was walking down the ramp ready to go. We got the kayak loaded up and then it was time to grease me.
The weather said partly cloudy but I did not want to take any
chances so I put a good layer of Desitin on me.
Yes, that is the baby butt cream but it is 40% zinc so it is an amazing sunscreen. It is also good grease so that is all I
needed.
After
taking care of some last minute “business”, we were off. We started just before 0630. I knew this was going to be the toughest of
the 3 swims so I kept myself motivated and focused on what I was doing. Becky did an amazing job. She critiqued my stroke when needed which
saved me the most important things, energy and time!
I
hit the halfway point quickly and I was feeling strong. I hit the turnaround point for this swim
faster than when I did this a few weeks ago for the SLOW swim event. We even went farther past the turnaround
point. As we were heading back, the
winds picked up and the current did too.
We got to an open spot and Becky told me to pick it up a bit to get to a
point nearby where the land formation around the lake will protect us from the
wind and make it easier. I picked up my effort
but when we got to the point, Becky looked down and said, “Turns out I lied”! She didn’t lie to be mean, it was just a bad
guess. I had a chuckle and started
back. This time when I tried to pick up
my stroke, I could feel my energy fading a bit.
I asked for my high calorie feed and a buzz bite. They helped some but I knew I was not going
to be coming back anywhere near as fast as going out.
Starting |
Heading back |
Even the fish are jumping for joy as I finish! |
We
just plugged away the miles. Once we hit
the main bay that takes almost 3 miles to cover, my GPS watch she was wearing
started to act up. It was still “working”
but I am 100% sure it was not being as accurate as before. We got to where I know the turnaround for the
1 mile event is and the GPS watch said I had over a mile to go. This made me mad. I have gone farther in my distance along the
shores and where we turn around to head back and yet my distance was not the
same. Becky was patient as I yelled at
her about the watch screwing me over. We
got to the boat ramp and I could see Gordon but somehow in her magic coaching
ways, convinced me that instead of getting out (even though I knew I had gone over 10 miles), to
actually TURN AROUND and swim more. No
idea how she convinced me of that. We
need to keep it so there is NO doubt I did 10 miles. I swam 5 minutes out and 5 back. When I could see the boat ramp again, she
signaled that 10 was on the GPS watch and she had finished timing. So 10 *cough 10.5* was done at DC and now on
to the Great Salt Lake (GSL).
I
don’t even remember trying to get comfortable or even leaving the parking lot
of DC. I just woke up and we were at GSL
and I could hear Josh talking. I slept great for that drive.
I was too tired to even remove my cap! |
Now THAT is a true friend! |
Did I miss a spot? |
I
got out and Gordon helped put more Desitin on me and then I added more
lanolin/vaseline grease to offset the high level of salt at GSL.
I felt good but was tired. The water was really warm and the marina
website read 78 degrees. Felt even
hotter. I took 2 strokes and my arms
were screaming at me. No tricking myself
for this one, my body knew it had already swam 16.5 miles.
I
followed Josh out and he navigated me through the first lap. I will admit that when we hit the first turn
around spot, it took a lot longer than expected. I decided to pick up my pace going back. I made it back significantly quicker than
going out but paid the price. Heading
out on my 2nd lap, Josh paddled in and Patricia took over. We argued a bit over spotting but kept going
anyway. I was mainly cranky because I
wanted to get it over and I knew my energy was dissipating. We finished the 2nd lap then Josh
took over again.
When we hit the last
turn, he told me that from now on, I can flip off each buoy as I passed it
because it will be the last time I saw it.
I had to ask him to clarify because when he first started explaining, I
could not hear him well and all I saw was a double barrel of the middle finger
right in my face!
I
was too tired to flip off the buoys and the sun was now gone as I was a few
hundred yards from finishing. I could
hear him yelling for me and also my support on the shore. My father in law was there with his wife and
so were my wife and kids next to Gordon.
Finishing |
I
hit the last buoy and turned into the marina and headed to the boat ramp. When my fingers hit the bottom, I just
kneeled there for a second unsure if I was going to be able to stand. The cheers from my family and friends helped
motivate me to get on my feet. I slowly
walked up the ramp and when I was clear yelled, “We did it!” This goes back to remembering Jamie Patrick
in that no swim like this is done alone.
This event is a team effort. No
exception for this one. I picked a great
team and every person pulled their weight beyond asking and that was the
biggest key to my success.
I
started to dry off and I felt a bit light headed and wobbled a bit. Gordon stepped up with a towel and started wrapping
me up and holding me up. I put my arms
around him and starting sobbing uncontrollably.
The emotional high of finishing something so grueling and mentally
taxing was too much to handle at that moment.
He just held me up and told me how proud he was of me. He helped walk me over to the dock so I could
sit. I just sat there crying for several
minutes. My girls were genuinely
confused as to why “daddy is crying so much”.
It reminded me of finishing the ice mile and having Gordon and Josh
helping me out of the water and crying then too! I cry too much.
We
packed our gear and headed home.
BL
– 6.6 miles…I’ll say 6.5 in 4:01.00
DC
– 10 miles in 6:44.23
GSL
– 7 miles in 4:58.49
Driving total - 216 miles
Total time for event - 20 hours and 34 minutes
Thanks:
Not
to be funny but I really do want to thank God for this swim. I prayed a LOT before this swim and even more
during the swim that I would make it. My
energy did fall but I never stopped moving forward. I also truly believe He blessed me with the
best weather and water conditions imaginable.
Joelle
– Paddler for Bear Lake. You guided me
through the first step of this journey and were not only happy to be there, but
eager to be there. You have now been on
the crew of my 3 most difficult swims I have done. You are my good luck charm! Thank you for your help and thank you for
your friendship.
Becky
– Paddler for Deer Creek. You were
apprehensive about paddling for me but after a training session a month ago,
you did great. You were amazing in your
guidance and keeping my spirits up. Even
when the winds and currents turned against us, you still had a smile on your
face. That helped a lot. Great pics too! Thanks for being such a good coach and friend
to me. I still do hate you though. J
Josh
– Co-Paddler for Great Salt Lake. You
were always in a good mood and smiling at me.
You kept my spirits up when I was getting at my lowest points. At one point of the swim, I really felt like just lying there for an
hour but you leaned in and yelled encouragement to me. I asked if you could believe I was going to
finish the event. You said, “I never had
to believe it, I always knew it”. Those
words echoed in my head all the through the home stretch.
Lisa
– Training partner for this event. You
had a prior commitment so you were unable to attend and I missed you
greatly. There is no simpler way to put
this, without all the miles we logged together at Jordanelle Reservoir, there
was no way I would have been prepared to finish this. No matter what distance I wanted to swim, no
matter what unholy hour I wanted to start, your answer was always, “Okay, see
you then”. You were nothing short of
spectacular for how you helped me. We
got to the point where a 6 mile swim wasn’t even hard anymore! We were loose swim buddies before who swam
together at random times, now I consider you a solid swim friend that I will
respect forever.
Gordon
– Driver, cheerleader, grease-applier, and 100 other jobs! You got me into ultra-marathon swimming and
look where it has us now years later.
You took time off work to help me relax and prepare for this swim. You drove me everywhere and helped me with every single small detail to numerous to
count that helped me succeed. You are
one of my best friends and it was the greatest honor to share this whole
experience with you. I love you and you truly
are my pal forever. (Sorry I trashed
your van!)
Patricia
– Co-Paddler for Great Salt Lake and most important for last. This whole journey over the past several
years could not have happened without your support. When I told you that this was the year for
UTC24, it was nothing but help from you.
I know I ruined every good sleep you had over the summer because you had
to listen to the alarm going off as early as 2 in the morning so I could go
swimming. You let me swim whenever I
needed and nap daily to help recover.
Everyone else helped tremendously but all pale in comparison to the love
and support you have shown me while I trained for this. You are my greatest love and my eternal
companion, thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting up with me and
giving me nothing but love. I promise I’ll
“try” to do a smaller swim next year. J
Thank
you also to all the people cheering me along the way. All posts of encouragement during my swim
helped me greatly. Thanks to Phil Cutti
for nutrition advice. Thanks to Jed and
his wife for coming out and cheering for me.
Also thanks to my girls for making posters of encouragement for me. It was great.
Thank
you everyone who helped me along the way and God bless you all!
23.5
miles OW
Monday, September 4, 2017
4Sep17
Went to JN this morning at 0500. Easy swim planned for today. I did not even grease. As I was putting my goggles on, SNAP! There goes the nose strap. Put my backup goggles on and prayed they would not snap or that would be the end of it. They held and I got in the water. Felt a chill but was adjusted within 20 seconds.
Swam out 1k yards then back.
Easy day. Later today I will re-strap all of my goggles and try them out in the pool tomorrow.
2000 yards OW
Swam out 1k yards then back.
Easy day. Later today I will re-strap all of my goggles and try them out in the pool tomorrow.
2000 yards OW
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