Marathon Swim Project

 My favorite movie of all time is You've Got Mail.  I saw it at least 5 times in the theater.  Obviously if I had spent more time studying and less time at the movies I probably would have graduated with higher marks.  And the movie doesn't have anything to do with anything, other than when I sat down to write I was reminded of Kathleen Kelly's monologue... because it's exactly what I'm going to do... right now....

I like to start my notes to you as if we're already in the middle of a conversation.  I pretend that we're oldest and dearest friends as opposed to what we actually are...

It's been a minute.  

Not quite as long as I thought... but long enough.  I've been writing all along.  But in an actual journal.  With paper and a pen.  And much more private thoughts and musings.  I love to write.  Even when it's in digital format, it's still just me putting thoughts on paper.  A diary more or less.  

Last time we spoke I was in the middle of my trail running season last fall.  I was trying to reconcile my  desire to WANT to be a trail runner with the fact that I wasn't enjoying any of it.  I had a miserable 50k.  I dropped out of my 100k.  And as a last ditch effort I signed up for (and finished) a 50 miler-- just not in a fast enough time to enter the 100 miler that I desperately didn't want to do anymore anyway but I said I wanted to so I had to try, right?  If ever there was a case for self-sabotage.  

I think I just lost steam after SCAR and TransRockies Run (TRR).  I think I just wasn't excited about the goal.  I realize now I never even wrote about TRR.  I think I came off of that week and was just in a different place in my life.  Happy.  For the first time in a long time I could look at where I was at and what I was doing and know that it was exactly the life that I wanted.  I was content.  And contentment breeds complacency.  

Or does it?

What if contentment is not a bad thing?  What if the thing I had been looking for finally landed in my lap?  Should I not run with it?  Every damn day for 2 years:  Inhale joy and contentment.  There it is.  Contentment.  I had been seeking it out.  Expanding it with my focus.  Of course it's going to show up in my life!

So I took a step back, backed off the trail running, quit my job, moved to the beach.

Yeah.  I did that.  I swear in a very calculated manner, and not in the midst of a mid-life crisis which I know is exactly what you're thinking.  Trust me, I have had that thought too, but I just needed a change.  Arizona was never meant to be my final resting place and it was time to go.  

So what now?  

Well... ironically, I went back to the trails- only this time as a thru-hiker, not a runner.  I spent the first week of July hiking the 171.4 mile Tahoe Rim Trail.  I feel this deserves an entire post dedicated to it, so I'll just leave you with the link to a podcast I did with YogiTriathlete until I have time to put those thoughts onto paper.  Er, or screen, rather.    

And being in the mountains surrounding the gorgeous blue waters of Lake Tahoe reignited my desire to do some more marathon swimming.  I had reached out to the Pacific Open Water Swim Company in January to express my interest in swimming across Lake Tahoe (they coordinate all official swims of the lake).  Dates for 2020 didn't work out because the only week they had left was the same week I was in Washington Island for the bff's big bike race.  I am focusing my energy on securing a date for 2021 and in my research I came across something that resonated.  

The California Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming.

1.  Lake Tahoe 21.3 miles

2.  Santa Barbara Channel, Anacapa to Mainland, 12.4 miles

3.  Catalina Channel, 20 miles

The minute I read about this challenge I knew I wanted in.  I felt excited about a training goal for the first time in a long time.  It made me want to jump into cold water and go for a swim.  All of these swims follow the basic guidelines for channel swimming.  No wetsuit.  No touching the support boat.  No drafting.  No artificial aids of any kind (cheater panties, pull buoys, etc).  It's just me and the water from start to finish.  

One cool thing about marathon swimming is that, similar to ultra running, I can have a support swimmer.  Generally after the first 3 hours or so, I can have a friend hop in and swim next to me for an hour at a time.  They are required to take breaks between support legs.  I remember how cool it was to swim side-by-side with Melody for about 9 miles out of our 17 mile day at SCAR last year.  I love idea of having a support swimmer-- someone who can swim close enough to my pace to stay warm, loves swimming, and doesn't mind spending 12 hours on a boat.  

There are a few logistics involved in arranging a marathon swim.  Hiring a boat.  Hiring a kayaker (for Santa Barbara and Catalina).  Applying for approval from the various swim associations.  Medical clearance.  Paying the fees to the boat captain, and the ratification fees to document the swims.  Not to mention training to swim in cold water at night.  With my experience at SCAR I feel confident that I can train to handle the distance.  And living on the ocean gives me the opportunity to train in open water.  

So that's what's happening here.  I'm hoping to document my training and planning as things develop.  I am hoping to do at least 2 swims next year-- but I'm dependent on the availability of a boat captain that can successfully guide a channel swim.  Either way, there will be a lot of open water swimming going on!  

 

Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run: At the heart of #findingaloha

One of the things I love most about working with Hillary is that I can bring ideas to the table and she will give me a "yay" or a "nay" on whether or not they'll work into my training plan.  I've almost never received a "nay" -- she believes in gaining fitness through racing, thankfully, so I'm allowed and encouraged to race regularly throughout the season.  Obviously we try to be smart about what races I'm doing and where they fit in so as to maximize the meat of my plan.  

Pre Race!  Obviously cold for us Arizona girls.

Last fall I approached her with the idea of fitting in the Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run 55k into my July schedule.  She said yes, and even volunteered to enter the lottery herself.  On January 1, we both were accepted into the race.  At the time I imagined she'd win the race and be chilling at the finish line after a nice shower and lunch by the time I rolled in.  I did NOT imagine running side by side with her for 7.5 hours (at my pace).  Let me say, it was a blast!!  

Not quite the half way mark.  #trt100

We brought a couple of girlfriends along for the weekend and spent 90% of the time laughing.  (The other 10% of the time was spent sleeping).  What happens on girls weekend stays on girls weekend, so sorry... no details.  But it was very refreshing, and we enjoyed every second of our time in Lake Tahoe.  And sharing my favorite trail race with my friends was icing on the cake.  

Final aid station.  Had to get off my feet for 30 seconds.

For the first time I stuck around to witness the 100 mile finish and seeing the runners come through the final crew stop at mile 80 and into the finish line hours later solidified in my heart the desire for this particular race to one day be my first 100 miler.  

On the descent from Snow Valley Peak.

This year for me has been about finding joy and enjoyment (#findingaloha!) in everything I do-- appreciating the simple fact of being able to do the things I love.  Looking back, I think this pursuit has been really life-changing for me.  I've been accused of being pessimistic though I will always argue that though I am not an optimist, I see myself as a realist.  It's enough of a topic for it's own post, but after waking up for weeks on end feeling down on myself and down on life (last fall), actively choosing joy has been a huge part of my recovery and my success this season.  This also means that I have to recognize when something / someone in my life is not bringing me joy-- and I've been working to eliminate those things whether it's hiring someone to help with household chores, or unfollowing friends on social media who constantly post about politics, or getting rid of that toxic "friend" that you don't love but feel guilty about abandoning.  Life is too short.  Being in the mountains definitely brings my heart peace and joy.    

A little swim in chilly Lake Tahoe.

When we weren't running, we swam in the lake, ate at some unique eateries (#sassafrass) and just enjoyed the scenery.  Each of us girls is in a different phase in life.  Single vs. married.  Retired from professional racing vs. actively pursuing goals vs. training and racing for fun.  Too young for kids vs. decidedly no kids vs. in the trenches of family planning.  But together we can encourage, listen, laugh, cry, and just be there for each other.  These are the friendships that are forged through sport.  

The end of my racing season is quickly coming into view with the World Championships being 9 weeks away.  My training volume and intensity is reaching peak.  I am tired... a lot of the time.  I can no longer remember what's on my plan tomorrow or the next day, which is probably a good thing because when I look ahead it gives me anxiety.  

PR up Mt. Lemmon!!

Despite being tired, I am feeling stronger every day.  Last weekend we had a team smashfest in Tucson-- biking Mt. Lemmon and then racing in the pool.  I beat my previous best time up Mt. Lemmon, holding higher watts than I ever have and keeping up with teammates that I probably shouldn't be keeping up with.  And my times in the pool matched my previous best times for the workout.  I have a few more key workouts before I get a bit of rest for Ironman Coeur d'Alene in 2 weeks.  

A little team rivalry never hurts when racing!

If you missed my last post about meal planning, you can check it out here.  I am looking forward to sharing my plans for 2017 as there are some exciting plans on the horizon, but I'm not quite ready yet.  :-)  Soon!  

Summer Smashfests

July 15.  According to the calendar summer is half over.  Despite the fact that my schedule really doesn't change, we still seem to travel a lot more during the summer.  Shortly after my Grand Canyon trip with the #bff, the hubs and I met up with my parents for a long weekend in South Lake Tahoe to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.  We joked that the whole family was invited but my sisters both have kids (read: obligations) whereas we are free as birds.  Trip to Tahoe?  We're in!!  I love that about my life.

A toast to life well lived.  45 years and counting.

The weekend was so relaxing.  Equal parts resting, eating, and exploring my favorite trail... the Tahoe Rim Trail.  My parents love to hike so I mapped out a 10 mile route for them, out and back on the Marlette Trail, while I started with them and circumnavigated 18 miles to end up back at the starting location.  There is something peaceful and magical about spending hours alone running on a beautiful trail and I savored every second of it.  The hubs is recovering beautifully from his Achilles' procedure last fall, but is not yet allowed to explore the trails.  The uneven surface puts a lot of strain on the tendon and we are not ready to push the envelope just yet.  So he enjoyed a little elevation training on the bike path from South Lake to Emerald Bay.

Selfie on the way to Snow Valley Peak

Marlette Lake in the foreground, Lake Tahoe in the background.

Happy Anniversary, mom and dad!!

After Tahoe it was back to work and time to get back into training mode again.  Not that my training ever stopped but with the GC and Tahoe I had a bit of a mental break.  Contrary to popular belief I was not burned out after Texas, but I think my body took more of a hit than I even realized.  It took me 7 weeks to feel normal again.  I had been missing goals on nearly every workout.  I just felt sluggish and not like myself.  Not even in a way I could really describe.  Then one day (July 3rd to be exact) I woke up, did my workout and felt completely awesome.  Normal.  Myself.  I messaged the boss and told her that it was like someone flipped a light switch.  I have no idea why, but my body was back in the game.  

Best I can think of:

1) it didn't get hot in Arizona until June and it took me that long to adapt to the heat.  Normally this adaptation would be done slowly in April/ May as the temps gradually increased.  This year it stayed nice and cool and then *BAM* it was hot and humid all at once.   

2) it took me longer to recovery from Texas because of the heat illness and dehydration experienced during the race. 

3) I restarted my multivitamin supplement and was probably getting some minerals that my body was lacking. 

Either way, I am so thankful that my body has caught up with what my mind would like it to do.  I've had a ton of fun training with my Team HPB teammates this summer.  Several weeks ago we bribed my friends' kid to SAG for us on our long ride to Sunflower.  It was a learning experience... teaching a 16 year old what it means to "leapfrog" and then when my ride was over, hopping in the truck beside the 16 year old driver while the boys finished up.  Now I know how my parents must have felt when they turned over the keys to me as a teenager!

Long ride to Sunflower.  #fastcats

   

Over 4th of July weekend we all headed down to Tucson, aka The Dirty T, for a long weekend of training.  Another teammate rents a house every summer to train in Tucson so we booked rooms at a nearby resort with access to our very own lap pool!  No one goes to a resort for the lap pool... everyone else could be found at the swim up bar and lazy river.  

Mt. Lemmon... ready, GO!

We arrived on Friday evening and met the gang for drinks and dinner.  On Saturday morning we got an early start and headed out from Le Buzz to climb Mt. Lemmon.  Summerhaven hosts an annual 4th of July parade and fireworks celebration so it made for very light traffic on the descent.  We each had our marching orders and agreed to meet up at the top before turning around.  

I held my watts as planned on the climb and though I started out in the back, I picked off teammates at mile 5, mile 9, and then caught Kona Dawn at Windy Point and stayed with her through the top of the climb.  We rendezvoused at the visitor's center at the top, drinking cokes and watching traffic filter into town for the parade before turning around and heading back down the mountain.  I've really been working on my descending skills and having a nice, steady wind (as opposed to the gusty winds and cross winds that can sometimes occur) and minimal traffic helped me have my best descent yet on Mt. Lemmon!  It was a PR for the climb, a PR for the descent and my first time under 4 hours total for the ride.  Very happy girl!  

Dawn and I goofing off, attempting to be "serious".

We nailed a quick transition run and then had lunch at Le Buzz before heading back to the resort for a few recovery laps in the pool and an early dinner.  

Recovery swim!!

Sunday proved to be a very long day.  We met at the boss's house in the morning to start our ride.  Instructions were to ride the Shoot-out loop with Madera Canyon climb, and then on the way back, add on the McCain Loop and a trip up and over Gates Pass.  118 miles total with over 7000 feet of climbing.  My legs were still tired from Mt. Lemmon on Saturday and I struggled to keep up with the group from the start.  Rube's lovely wife was our SAG driver and kept eyes on all of us so I didn't worry too much about falling off the back.  

Sunday Smashfest!

The climb through Madera is about 13 miles of false-flats and one steep pitch upwards at the end.  There were moments when I was certain I was going to repeat the camp episode and fall off my bike.  It was SO steep.  We stopped to refuel in the parking lot at the top but kept it brief because it was actually chilly up there, and starting to rain.  We warmed up again when we hit the flat roads back to Tucson.  After about 70 miles my legs started to come around and I felt a little bit better.  As long as my hubby wasn't pulling on the front I could keep up with the group.  

All day long I fretted about the Gates Pass climb.  It is a short but steep and if you're already tired it kicks your ass.  I climbed it back to back at camp and the first time was no big deal.  The second time I was seeing stars at the top and my heart was going to jump out of my chest.  We stopped for our last refuel with 10 miles to go, just before starting the climb.  

Since I was the "slow one" I headed out just ahead of the group.  Dawn agreed to come with me.  I stayed behind her and just focused on keeping a quick cadence.  Turns out, that climb was nothing compared to Madera!  I was freaking out for nothing, as usual.  We crested the top and I pumped my arms like a Tour de France stage winner before we rolled into a fast descent on the other side.  

118 done... and done!!

Our ride was over, and the women's soccer team was just starting the finals in the World Cup.  We had our sights set on a little bar across from the resort.  With lightening across the sky and rain pouring down we decided that our recovery swim was cancelled.  We showered quickly and fell into a booth with some cold beers and tacos.  The team nominated me to tell Coach that the pools were closed for lightening.  She responded quickly with, "don't worry, it won't last too long".  Suddenly our visions of having our feet up for the rest of the night faded.  

We did enjoy watching the women destroy the World Cup finals, and our beers numbed our aching legs.  Slowly we began to wrap our heads around getting in the pool.  (Turns out, coach was right... storms never last long in the desert.)  We had the pool to ourselves and enjoyed as many laughs as laps before finally hitting the pillow for some well deserved sleep.  

Getting ready for our sunset swim.

Monday morning we had one last task... the forever swim set.  The forever set is a team favorite.  It involves creating massive fatigue in the upper body while racing each other, band only, 25 yards at a time for about 10 minutes, and then sprinting 200's for time.  Over and over and over and over.  By the end your arms are literally falling off and you can't clear your fingers on the recovery.  My body was so tired from the previous two days that my 200's were about 10 seconds slower than normal.  It was almost comical.  

We started as the sun was rising and finished with just enough time to shower, load the car and drive back to the Valley to be at the shop by 10 am.  I love long weekends like this.  Having never played sports growing up, I totally love the team atmosphere and cherish any opportunity to train with friends.  We have as much fun smashing each other as we do laughing and chatting afterwards.  And it's great to have strong, talented teammates who challenge me to work hard and chase my goals.

And last but not least... #selfiewithmoo is half over!!  It started with a photo I took... a selfie with my cat, Moo.  It was not January 1, but it was early in the year- maybe mid to late January.  The next day I took another one.  And then it became a thing.  My 2015 thing.  Since I don't do resolutions, I try to pick one thing per year to focus on... still a self improvement type of activity.  Two years ago I took up flossing.  The habit stuck and I still floss daily.  (I can't believe I didn't floss daily before!!!)  Last year I taught myself how to do flip turns in the pool.  I decided if I was going to hire a coach who happens to be a phenomenal swimmer- I needed to start doing flip turns.  Now, I can't believe I refused to learn for so long!!  2015... well it's the year of #selfiewithmoo.  (He can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  He's becoming quite famous.  At least in my mind.). 

 

Kissing my little Moo.

My gorgeous baby with his green eyes, freckles, and little pink nose!!

I'm not entirely sure what I'll do after the year is over.  Do I continue?  Wouldn't it be amazing to have a chronicle of his entire life?  I started when he was about 8 months of age... what will he look like when he is 8?  Or 18?  The thing I love most about this project is every night when I come home from work I call out, "Moo!  It's time for your selfie!" And Moo comes running and jumps into my lap.  All he knows is that he's getting attention, and he loves it.  All my boys are friendly and LOVE people, but #selfiewithmoo has created an even stronger human-animal bond.  If I am sitting down, he is in my lap, purring, giving me kisses.  

Anyway, that's all I have to catch up from the last few weeks.  We're in a good place with training, and life, and we look forward to the next challenge that heads our way.