Great Chesapeake Bay Swim 2014

What a wild ride it was! The 2014 Bay Swim tossed me up and down, slapped me around and put up a good fight. In the end, the Bay won....but I'm not feeling defeated. 

 

The big take-away for me from this year's swim was that it's not "all about the current," as I had thought. The waves and chop can also take a toll on forward progress. But I was so focused on the current---especially after last year's swimming-in-place adventure---that I figured that's really all I had to worry about. And this year's swim was timed for maximum avoid-the-worst-of-the-current success. What could possibly go wrong?



Here We Go!

When I stepped on the beach at Sandy Point I felt well prepared for success. I was swimming faster this year, thanks to some strength training and probably the stroke-tweaking I got at the Sheila T workshop. And while the water wasn't as calm as last year, it didn't look bad. We seemed to be in for a perfect day on the bay. With the current hitting later in the swim, I was sure I could do this!



Z Bay Swim Crew

Adding to the fun -- we had a nice crew of Team Zers swimming!

The Rappin' Rabbits Will Rock It!

Team Rabbit was in the house, Tracey was back for her second Bay Swim, and  Janet, Rich, Carol, Mark, and other Zs and significant others had come to cheer us on!

Thanks, guys!

Here's how it went this year:

Mile 1 - The current was pushing us in the right direction as we swam for the bridge. I felt like I was swimming into some small rollers, but I managed to avoid much contact with other swimmers. So far, so good.

All was well as I turned left and began the swim between the spans.

Made it to the Mile 1 buoy in 38 minutes, right on track.

Mile 2 - This was the best stretch of water we encountered during the swim. I'm guessing it was slack tide because the chop seemed to calm a bit. It did pick up in the channel, as expected, but I wasn't feeling any current yet, unlike last year at this point.

The slack tide was with me at Mile 2

Mile 3 - It got rougher after the 2 mile buoy and just kept building. I started to feel the pull of the current and swam over to the right side of the "lane" to compensate. Approaching the 3 mile buoy I checked my watch. I had been swimming over 2 hours and my energy was waning. I decided that once I cleared the 3 mile marker I would move farther to the right and then stop for a GU.

This is where Kayak Escort Guy joined me. He was keeping an eye on me and another yellow capper who had been swimming nearby for most of the swim. It's always nice to have some company!

Mile 4 -  By now the chop had kicked in full force and we were getting some whopping rollers. Unfortunately, the rollers were coming from the same side as the current, so we had to fight both.

Where Things Got Interesting

One of the kayakers wrote this about the conditions in his blog:

While air temps and humidity were pleasant, the bay was choppy with strong currents, which was swept by brisk and steady winds that generated 1.5 ft chop and some 2.5 ft rollers.  

I was really feeling the current, but it didn't come close to the ridiculous current at Nanticoke or at last year's Bay Swim, so I felt confident I was going to make it. Yes, I would finish this year's Bay Swim! Redemption for last year's DNF! I just knew it. There was no way I wouldn't make it at this point -- I had plenty of time to finish and beat the cutoff. ETA would be right around 2pm (3 hours, 30 minutes). No worries.

So...I decided I would have time for a brief GU stop. I popped up and Kayak Escort Guy paddled over. He asked me my name and gave me a quick pep talk as I tried to hang on to the bucking kayak and take my GU. I knew this would set me back a bit as the current began sweeping the kayak toward the other side of the swim lane, but I kept it quick and knew that I could fight my way back into position. Still no worries.

But while the current was fightable, the washing machine chop, swells, and waves were taking a toll. Perhaps I didn't realize how much it was slowing me down because I was having so much fun! I was getting wacked by the rollers coming from the right. Lifted up and smacked down in the chop. OMG! It just kept coming! I was getting thrown around like a toy boat. It was a wild, rockin' ride and I loved it.

Between Miles 3 and 4

I knew I would be cutting it close so I kicked and pulled harder and tried to pick up my turnover and just punch through it. Yay for weak-side breathing practice because breathing to the right was proving too difficult. I was closing in on the 4 mile buoy -- it was just a few yards away. Yes! I was doing this!

Until I wasn't.

"Sally, Sally! We're getting pulled." I glanced up to see Kayak Escort Guy next to me and figured he was kidding, so I kept swimming.
 "Sally! Sally!"
"Whaaa??"
"You have to stop. We're getting pulled."
"Wait -we're what?"
"You missed the cutoff. You're gonna have to get out."
"Seriously? But the buoy is right there! I'm so close -- just a few more strokes.."
"Sorry. It's 1:46. The cutoff was at 1:45."
"But I'm almost there..."
"Sorry - they're saying you have to come in."

I checked my watch and sure enough, I had been swimming for 3 hours, 15 minutes. The 4 mile cutoff was at 3:15 into the swim (1:45pm). Rules are rules. Sigh.

A guy on a jet ski pulled up to give me a ride to one of the boats that would take me in.  I looked back and couldn't see any swimmers behind me. Glanced up ahead and saw a swimmer just beyond the 4 mile marker. A couple of other swimmers were fighting the current head on to get to the final left turn for the finish line. They seemed to barely be inching forward.

Keeping it real here, I doubt I would have made the finish line cutoff in the half hour remaining, given that final swim into the current. But I was pumped that the other Zs made it! Congrats to all!

What's Next?
When I got pulled during last year's Bay Swim, I immediately knew I would be back this year to try again. But, sipping a Gatorade on the fancy boat ride in this time, I wasn't feeling it.  I was thinking maybe my 3 year love affair with swimming was over. Maybe it's time to move on to other adventures....get back on the bike....start knocking off some continents on my marathon list....

But I've always said when it stops feeling like a big adventure, I'll stop doing it. And the bottom line is, I had a blast on my journey across the bay. I didn't make the finish line, but I had fun trying! Another Bay Swim adventure in the books.

Will I be back next year? I'm not sure. Maybe I'll let the lottery decide for me. Or maybe there's a nice calm lake swim calling my name...

Jim McD 1 + 2 Mile Lake Swims

May 25

Memorial Day weekend. Two weeks before the Bay Swim. That means it's time for the Jim McDonnell Lake Swim! Once again, I had signed up for the 1 miler followed by the 2 miler.

After the crazy currents of Nanticoke, a lake swim seemed downright tame. But I still managed to get a case of the nerves, thanks to the overkill training I got in the week before the Jim McD. 

Out of town the weekend before Jim McD, I was going to have to find a way to squeeze in a long swim when I got back. That Tuesday I flew in to BWI, drove straight to the FedEx pool, and swam 8,000 yards. 

8,000 yards = 320 laps = 4.5 miles. Shew! It took me 3 hours, 15 minutes, but I got it done.

Then came swim practice on Thursday at Stone Ridge,where we now have a whopping 3 lanes instead of the usual 2.  For reasons that have nothing to do with speed, I wound up in the fastest lane with 2  guys who were easily swimming a pool length ahead of me. My lame attempts at keeping up with them actually resulted in  my fastest 100s this year. But I was wondering if I would pay for it at Jim McD.

Turns out I swam my fastest Jim McD times yet. Here's how it ended up:

1 Mile - 38:50, a three minute improvement over last year
2 Mile - 1:26:25, a four minute PR

So, another Reston swim in the bank. Next up: the Bay Swim!

 

Nanticoke River Swim

May 4

I just love hopping in my car at the crack of dawn and driving across the Bay Bridge as the sun comes up.

Checking out the water below, I picture myself swimming a perfect line between the two spans. From the bridge it's Highway 50 all the way to the turnoff for Nanticoke.

Sun roof open, radio cranked, I'm on another big adventure. My third Nanticoke 3 miler -- a warm up for the Bay Swim and my first open water of the season. How would it all turn out? Could I conquer the current and, for once, finish the full 3 miles? As usual, it was a roll of the dice. Maybe the third try would be the charm.

Here are the pertinent stats:

Water temp: 62 degrees
Air temp:     50's -60's
Wind:          Cranking up to 15 mph
Tide:            Going out
Current:     1 -2 mph

I met up with the only other Zer doing the swim and we scoped out the river to assess the challenge before us. From the shore the water looked fairly docile. We could see all of the buoys and clear across to the other shore. Maybe we won't have a lot of chop? But then there's the wind, which seemed to keep picking up as we got closer to swim time.<Nervous laughter> But still, quite an improvement over last year. I'll take it!

Unlike the Bay Swim, Nanticoke starts at 10am every year, regardless of what the tide is doing. And it requires that you swim in triangular course and make adjustments on each leg to deal with the current. For me, that's the most challenging aspect of it. Especially when the current is strong.

And We're Off!
After swimming out past the jetties we turn right to begin the triangle pattern across the river. The first leg was upstream, right into the current. Wham. But the wind was coming from the same direction we were swimming, so I'm assuming that helped push me along a bit. Still, it took FOREVER to reach the first turn buoy - 37 minutes to go 9/10ths of a mile. Fine. Keep it coming,

Heading to the second buoy I kept reminding myself that the current would be coming from the right, so I would need to angle into it. However, the waves made it hard to see up ahead and figure out whether I was angling enough.

Helpful Kayaker Guy intercepted me as I struggled toward the green buoy marking the midway point of the leg. "M'am, I need you to swim straight for the buoy."
"Um...say again?"
"You need to swim in a straight line for the buoy."
What was he talking about? Couldn't he see me aiming straight for the buoy?
"You'll get there faster if you swim in a straight line instead of zig-zagging." 
Really? Wow, I hadn't thought of that. LOL

So I decided to try breast stroke (my version of it ;) so I could see the buoy better and  maybe swim straighter. I did this for what seemed like forever---and noticed I was barely inching forward. Damn current!

Where The Hell Am I Going?

I finally reached the next turn buoy and made the final turn for the shoreline. At this point I had been swimming about an hour and doubts about making the second loop were creeping in. Confusion was also setting in. Am I swimming for the right green buoy? Am I going out of my way and wasting energy? Is the current pushing me too far south? Where the hell is the marina?!

I noticed another swimmer just ahead of me who appeared to be scanning the water for the right buoy too. "Hey! Are we going the right way?" She wasn't sure either. So off we went, swimming in a vague direction toward the shore and hoping for the best!

I finally spotted the orange buoys leading into the jetties off in the distance. Yikes. I could tell I had been swept too far south by the current. Helpful SUP Guy pulled up next to me and told me I couldn't do a second loop and would have to swim in. No worries!

Keeping it real here, I have to admit I wanted to give up toward the end. I was so close to the jetties--yet so thoroughly exhausted swimming into the current trying to get there.  Helpful SUP Guy was right next to me, so all I would've had to do is wave him over to rescue me and put me out of my misery. Talk about tempting!

Finish Line!

It took forever -- and every bit of energy I could muster--to make it to the jetties.  And then finally-- the final stretch for the finish line!

Hallelujah. I was so exhausted and happy to finish that swim! Another Nanticoke in the books. Two miles of suffering = great training for the Bay.

 

A few days after the swim we got an email from the race director. He wrote: 

"For those of you that completed the 3 mile swim and are doing the bay, the bay will be a “Cakewalk”.

That says something about how hard Nanticoke is!! 

 

Tour de Cookie!

May 3
 
The Tour de Cookie combines biking and cookie eating with a good cause. What's not to love? Plus there's bling AND the Cookie Monster!


Forget the usual boring water stops; this ride has cookie stops! You could ride 40 or 12 miles...and we opted for the shorter route, which follows the Millennium Trail around Rockville.


And we're off!

                                               A typical cookie stop looks like this:

 

Tables covered with cookies and more cookies! Chocolate Chip, Sugar, Shortbread, Gingerbread, Oatmeal -- you name it, they had it.  Even Lego cookies!

The trail did get a bit crowded at times, but it was fun to see all the kids having a 'sweet' time.

 

So..here's my final haul of cookies and bling:

 

Tour de Cookie finish line pose!

 



Pikes Peek 10K

April 27th

I've spent every Tuesday night for the past four months sprinting around a track, doing hill repeats, and trying to stay warm. When it was snowing, we ran. When the wind chills were close to zero, we ran. When the freezing rain was coming down, we ran. When the track was covered in snow and closed, we ran around a parking lot a couple of blocks away.

Now it was time to see if all that winter suffering...er, speed work...would pay off. The Pikes Peek 10K would be our big test!

The weather was sweet - temps in the 50's and sunny skies, with a slight tail wind all the way to the finish line. Yes!

I was ALL kinds of amped up about smashing my 10K PR--- until I looked it up that morning on Athlinks.  At the Jingle All the Way run in 2009 I supposedly ran a 10:27 pace. Whaa?? I don't remember that. Maybe it's a mistake?!

Anyway... I figured a 10:27 pace would be impossible, so I decided to try to beat my next fastest 10K time, which was my 11:22 pace at Two Rivers in March.  But secretly, I was really hoping to run an 11 minute pace or  maybe just a little under. And secretly, I didn't really think I could do it. But I tried to keep both of those thoughts a secret from myself. LOLOL


The course runs down Rockville Pike from Shady Grove to White Flint Mall. You're mostly running downhill, but there are a few annoying hills along the way.

I made the mistake of not wearing a water belt (it's only a 10K!) and regretted it because it got hot during the race. They had two water stops, which helped. Note to self:  Practice running and drinking.

I really pushed myself to try to stay ahead of the 11 minute pace guy...and tried to keep the 10:30 guy in sight. The last two miles I just wanted to slow the pace but OMG--I kept pushing. Sheesh! In fact, the entire 6 miles I was uncomfortable and felt like I was running too fast and would bonk any minute.

So happy to see the finish line!

I was happy with my finish time -- which came out to a 10:35 pace, my fastest 10K in 5 years! Not a PR, but I'll take it. I think the winter speed work REALLY paid off!! Hallelujah.

Ahhh Spring

Good riddance, Winter. Oh how you sucked--on so many levels. But no need to elaborate, because the 2 or 3 people who read this blog probably don't want to relive it. These pics along my usual running routes pretty much sum it up:

Had it all to myself! (The other Zs are all up ahead)

Well HELLO SPRING! Bring on the warmer temps, sunny skies, clear trails, green trees...give us the full treatment! We deserve nice weather, finally.  2014 owes us that much.

What better way to celebrate Spring than with a run? Or maybe a few runs.  Carderock was my first official Team Z run of the year. We ran north on the tow path.

I was thinking--why haven't I run from Carderock before? Plenty of parking, lots of trees, a nice, soft path. I love it!


Three miles up the path is Great Falls...and that's where the trail got busier.

You can't beat the scenery!

Past the falls I had the path all to myself again.

Helpful fact:  if your Garmin crashes, this building is exactly two miles north of the falls.

And that's where I turned around. Five miles out, 5 miles back. The best part of the year starts now!

Two Rivers Race Report

March 15th

The Two Rivers Race Festival in Lackawaxen, PA had lots of options, from a 5K up to marathon distances. What a perfect weekend:  running and more running with back-to-back races over two days! My plan was to run the 5K followed by the 10K on Saturday and run the half marathon on Sunday. The goal? Just see how fast I could go! And soak up the scenery...

I hit the road Friday after work, drove 4.5 hours to the Poconos and stayed overnight at a random hotel. Lackawaxen (I just love saying that name) is a tiny town off the main highway, down a two lane road and through the woods at the point where two rivers converge. So pretty!

You run on a road next to a rushing river with "mountains" on either side. Hard to believe it was mid-March with all the snow and extra cold temps!

I parked my car at the general store, picked up my packet and asked where the start line was. No one seemed to know....not even the volunteers! Let's just say this race was WAY laid back.

Finally some random guy yelled out, "If you're doing the 5K, follow me." So we followed him about 30 yards or so down the road to an orange line painted on the road. "Alright. Ready? Go!"
The course is described as flat, so I was a bit surprised by the annoying false flat/hill we were running up. We had a head wind going up, but a nice tail wind coming back. Finish time for the 5K:  32:30/10:27 pace.

A few minutes later the race director called for the 10Kers to head to the orange line, same drill. I was still out of breath from the 5K but hey, this is what I signed up for! I really tried to push my pace and it hurt! But it hurt so good. Finish time:  1:10:38/11:22 pace.

Being the only one in my age group for the 5K I came in first! And with only two of us in the 10K, I got 2nd in my age group. Winning is fun, even if you didn't have any competition.


Adding to my pint and sock collections- cheers!

I never made it to the half marathon the next day. A couple of hours after the 10K I had to rush home because Boudreaux had taken a turn for the worse. I drove like a maniac and cried the whole way. It was the longest drive ever - 4 hours fighting traffic, trying to hurry up and get home before he died. I miss my sweet boy. He had been part of my life for 15 years.

How do you cope with the loss of a best friend? You go for a run. And that's exactly what I did the next day.