I did it!

I did it - I swam 4.4 miles in the Chesapeake Bay! The water was 76 degrees so I opted out of wearing a wet suit, which was the right decision for me. I felt really well-prepared and the race was nearly over when I was ready to be done swimming. 

Here's a video that a teammate sent with some highlights from the Bay. 

Results are available here. I'm thrilled with my two hour time and 30th place overall finish for women. 

My #1 fan!

The great ladies of the Flying V!

Resting - 4 Days until Bay

Last night at practice I swam only 3,000 SCY and felt tired. Coach Max advised that Bay swimmers get out after 2,500, adding that, at this point, you won't get in any better shape or lose anything.

My plan is for 2,500 this afternoon with a friend, off on Thursday, maybe another 2,500 in Michigan on Friday, and off on Saturday.

Wake on the Lake

My incredible cousin, Tommy Steele, is training for a 24.3 miles swim across Lake Erie! Called "Steele's Wake on the Lake" this intense swim is making my 4.4 miles in the Bay seem pretty doable. Also, clearly a lot of good swimming genes in the Austin clan!

5 Days Until the Bay

DCRP teammate Michael and I went to the Bay Ridge neighborhood in Annapolis on Saturday afternoon after practice and got in 1.25 miles along the shore. Couple take-a-ways:

1. It's salty, but not too bad and didn't bother me.
2. My wet suit felt great.
3. It really does feel like you're swimming in a washing machine.
4. The Bay was warmer than the pool I swam in on Saturday morning. I would really love to wear a wet suit on Sunday, and am hoping yesterday's rain cooled it down just enough to keep it below 78 degrees.  
5. I'm a lot less nervous now that I've actually done a little swimming in the Bay. 

A Swim Meet! and 9 days until the Bay

Two weeks after the Bay Swim, my masters team is hosting an indoor meet. All area swimmers are invited to participate in the 33rd Annual Long Course Swim Meet on June 27! More information is available here. Not as fun as swimming outside at Hains Point, but the pool is much nicer and faster.

Fueling for the Bay Swim

11 Days until the Bay Swim

In my Googling I also found the great post, How I Fueled to Swim Across the Chesapeake Bay. It talks a lot about hydration, which I'm worried about. [Truth, I'm nervous about most aspects of this race.] Increasing salt intake in the 24 hours leading up to the race is not something that would have occurred to me, but it makes sense. I will also add a sports drink, which I rarely consume. The Fueled post is really thorough, and I will definitely reference it again in the next two weeks.

Swimming for Scientists

I stumbled upon this post by the Mathlete about how to perfectly swim across the Bay. The math is way over my head, but this I understood: 

The race is usually timed so that the majority of racers will start out with a bit of tidal current pushing them north, swim the majority of the race during the wonderful still water of slack tide (when the tide is changing directions) and finish as the tide starts to go out, creating a current pulling swimmers south. 

So I'm adding it to my collection of Bay Swim knowledge.  

Recommended Reading

As I searched for training guides for my upcoming Bay Swim, I remembered that someone recommended Lynne Cox's autobiography. In Swimming to Antarctica, she writes about her myriad cold water and long distance swims around the world. Knowing that this woman swam for eight hours across the English Channel and in 35 degree water in the Arctic reassures me that I can certainly swim for two hours across the Bay in probably 60 degree water. 

Recent Workout

Including below a recent workout I wrote that I think is good prep for the Bay Swim. 

600 swim

6 x 100 – 50 kick/50 finger-tip drag free

6 x 50 – 25 three strokes-six kicks on side/ 25 back swim

Main Set - Twice through

3 x 300 @4:15/4:30/4:45 free - pull or swim – descend 1 to 3

50 EZ

4 x 100 IM @1:45/2:00/10 sec. rest

50 EZ

4 x 50 @1:00 25 underwater/25 swim

=4500 yards

Unpleasant

At practice last night Barb provided some additional info about the Bay Swim, specifically the finish. You can smell diesel and hear the traffic on the bridge. The water is mucky. You're TIRED. She recommends mentally preparing for this aspect of the swim, but quickly added that by the time you're there, you're almost done.

Barb also talked about being mentally prepared for how to navigate/attack the currents. Beyond being physically in shape, this race requires mental preparation as well.

JMLS 2015

The start of the 2-mile race

With DCRP teammates Bob and Allison

It was a beautiful day for the JMLS. The water was a bit chilly at 69 degrees, so I happily tried out my wet suit. The Bag Balm worked really well, I just needed more around the zipper at the top of the neck. My time was three minutes faster than last year and I would like to chalk that up to being in better shape, and not just the wet suit. I was chatting with the swimmer next to me right before the race started, talking about wet suits, and I admitted I'd never used one before. He told me I would love it. And I did! Results from the swim are here.

My tip for a first-timer friend was to wear an older suit that you won't mind getting lake gunk on and having it generally not smell that great after the race.

To Wetsuit, or Not to Wetsuit

Jim McDonnell Lake Swim

In preparation for the Bay Swim I am swimming the Jim McDonnell Lake Swim this Sunday in Reston. I swam it last year and it was (and still is) my only open water experience besides lake swims at Camp. My plan has been to wear my wet suit this weekend to get comfortable in it before the Bay. However, meet officials don't allow wet suits if water temps climb above 78 degrees. We're currently at 76.

Last night at practice I was talking to a couple teammates who have both done the Bay without a wet suit. So it can be done, but do I want to?

USMS's monthly newsletter posted an article about "the wet suit factor". They definitely have benefits. And I want a boost.

Training Plan: To-date

Wilson Aquatic Center, NW DC

Starting in May I increased my pool workouts to twice a week, about 4,300 yards (or 4,000 meters depending on pool configuration) on average. The plan is to increase to three times a week in June. The Bay Swim is Sunday, June 14.

This is in addition to three times at week at the Bar Method. Adding barre classes to has certainly helped me get stronger and feel more confident. My flip turns feel especially fast from all the core work. Of course, there aren't any flip turns in the Bay.

Bay Swim tips

Another tip (#4) to add to my collection comes from Fran. To prevent chafing with your wet suit, use Bag Balm. Apply more than you think you'll need.

The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim 2015

I've decided to pull the trigger and sign up for the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim 2015! I've been looking around for sites that have training programs, or even race tips, and I can't seem to find any. So, I'm just going to start compiling them myself. As someone who's never done it. Let the informal polling of friends and strangers begin.

Tip #1 - from Max - Don't go out too fast. Conveniently, in the USMS monthly newsletter this month there's an article about techniques for recovering without stopping. The Serenity Now section seems the most applicable here because it talks about the chaos of a mass start. And I certainly appreciate the Seinfeld reference.

Tip #2 - from Anna - "I did some serious back floating in the middle of the Bay."

Tip #3 - also from Max - Decide if you want to finish or race it? Woah, going to need more time to think about this one.