tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-725882175283135642024-03-13T07:24:32.382-07:00Swimming HomeBeing a log of the swimming adventures of Laura H. Picardo: Hamiltonian Federalist, selkie, whale enthusiast, and eternal optimist.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-40047021324030117942016-11-22T12:17:00.000-08:002016-11-22T12:17:33.598-08:00Laura Swims Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Swimming the English Channel, around Manhattan, or across the Catalina Channel was not the swim that made me want to become a marathon swimmer. No, it was a swim that seemed far more personal. The Ederle Swim, a 17-mile swim from Battery Park, New York City (the tip of Manhattan island) to Sandy Hook, New Jersey, a tiny sand spit south of the city. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_Ederle" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gertrude Ederle</span></a> swam this route when she trained for her historic crossing of the English Channel in 1926.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sandy Hook is a national park and recreation area that still serves as one of the first lines of defense of New York Harbor. I grew up (and Trudy spent her summers as a child) only a few miles away, and spent countless days on the beautiful peninsula. I swam, explored an old gun battery, dissected a shark at marine biology camp, performed in plays, and learned to drive all on this seven mile long sandbar that is the start of the Jersey Shore.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The night that my crossing of Cape Cod Bay was postponed, my friend Rondi Davies of New York Open Water reached out to me, expressing her sadness and understanding how difficult it is when a swim does not go as planned. She asked if there was anything she could do, and I jokingly said that helping me organize an Ederle Swim would be great. She, however, was not joking and said it was a definite possibility. Exhausted from such an emotional couple of days, I said I would sleep on it before we moved ahead. Sure enough, when I awoke that day, “swimming home” was one of the only things on my mind. We began to coordinate the logistics that week, and set our sights on August 28th. Getting back in the pool after the crushing disappointment of my swim being called off was not easy. I wanted to just swim for fun without worry for the rest of the summer, but I now had some serious work to do.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the morning of August 28th, I jumped off the zodiac right in front of Pier A in Manhattan. After a quick countdown, I was on the move. Terry O’Malley, one of the most experienced kayakers in the area was at my right, and Coach Bonnie, my boyfriend Francis, David Barra, and boat pilot Sean Makofsky were all in the zodiac on my left. We also had a full escort from the NYPD Harbor Patrol and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. I felt safe and sound, and knew I had to do what Dory said and just keep swimming.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We flew out of the harbor! We made amazing progress, as Terry, Sean, and Dave are expert navigators. But like with any swim, there is always going to be a dark place. Mine occurred as we rounded Brooklyn and the Verrazanno Bridge was in sight. I suddenly felt like I was not getting anywhere, and that it was taking far too long. My mind was filled to the brim with negative thoughts. I was convinced we were going to miss the tide, and the swim would be unsuccessful! In the middle of this mental maelstrom, we also had the task of getting safely across the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrose_Channel" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ambrose Channel</span></a>. The Ambrose is one of the busiest shipping channels in the world, and these tankers are not just going to stop for a crazy lady swimming to her hometown. At one point, I had to delay a feed and swim at a full on sprint towards Staten Island to get out of the way of oncoming vessel traffic. It was terrifying, but we got across safely, and were more than halfway there!</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The rest of the swim went on without a hitch. My feeds worked well, boat traffic cooperated, and then the best part of all: Terry told me that my family was already on the beach waiting for me. Hearing that filled my heart with more joy than I can possibly describe. I knew this would give me the mental boost I needed to get home. About a quarter mile to go, and I could see them: my mom, sister, and good friends Keith and Tom were all there on that hot and remote beach. I put the kick into high gear, upped my stroke rate, and gunned it for home. As I looked to my left, I could see the hill where we lived, to my left was my crew telling me to keep going and I was almost there. The water was still really deep, and I knew had to wait until I could see sand to even attempt standing up. When I could hear them yelling and saw the murky sand below, I stood up. Landfall. The NYPD blew their air horn, and I was there. I swam home. A dream over four years in the making had come true, and so many of the people that I love were there to see it. I thought that it had taken over 6 hours, so I immediately apologized to my mom and sister for taking so long. They informed me that they actually were afraid they might miss me because I was going so fast. 5 hours and 48 minutes to be precise. The good news kept rolling.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So a summer that started with a major disappointment got to end with my successfully completing the swim that made me want to be a marathon swimmer. The happiness even continued two weeks later when Francis asked me to marry him. He followed my serious but not really serious declaration that I did not want to get married until after I swam home. I really could not ask for a better way to end the summer.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hold Fast.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-85216491563641153292016-08-15T11:03:00.001-07:002016-08-16T06:12:00.360-07:00Learning Through Failure In The Social Media Age<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learning Through Failure In The Social Media Age</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-c56da703-937a-2c4f-7790-dbc0f86b7f4d" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Failure is going to happen. It is a simple fact of life. We don’t like it. It is not fun by any stretch of the imagination. But it will happen. Fortunately, all types of failure, the big and the small, make us better human beings. Our failures and struggles are what shape and mold our personalities. They are the building blocks of both our private and public selves, and the persona that we share with the world. I know that my first ever DNF during Stage 6 of 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim 2014 not only made me a stronger swimmer, but much more compassionate. It was my first realization that I would not complete every swim I attempted.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We live in an age in which people display all sorts of information on the internet. It is now possible to instantaneously know everything from what your high school math teacher ate for lunch to who ran two marathons in one week. This communication tool is great, but it also will inevitably lead to playing a round of The Compare Game. You know what game I am talking about. The Compare Game is when you see pictures of trips to beautiful places, or posts about engagements, promotions, and speedy marathon times, and think that you are somehow lagging behind. But remember, we very often present our most polished and proud moments on social media. We post the highlight reel, not the practice footage. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be honest, I want to see more of the practice footage, and with that, more failure. As a marathon swimmer, my day-to-day workouts are not exactly the most exciting thing to write or post about, but every missed interval, botched flip turn, boring set, and mentally difficult practice is what makes success feel good. It’s important to be proud of sticking with it through those moments!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had hoped to swim from Plymouth, Massachusetts to Provincetown, Massachusetts on July 9, 2016, but the weather had other plans. A strong ENE wind (exactly the direction I was swimming) would have diminished the probability of a successful landing, and also made it dangerous for everyone on the water. We called off the swim. I didn’t have the time, resources, or mental fortitude to organize a second attempt later in the summer, so I decided postpone until next year. I was really disappointed. Crushed, in fact. I didn’t want to leave my bedroom for a few weeks, and tried to tune everything and everyone out. But what helped bring me back to reality was simply time, sleep, and other swimmers. Swimmers who had been there. Swimmers who knew what it feels like to have put your heart and soul into something for months, only to have a change in the wind</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">take it away. Swimmers who said it was okay to never want to swim again. Swimmers who advised me to harness negative energy, and use it to get back in the water stronger and wiser than before. Swimmers who reached out to help me achieve other swim goals (more on that later). This set back is now a big part of my practice footage, part of the greater struggle that will one day lead to not only a successful crossing of Cape Cod Bay, but the other swims on my radar. Right now I want to destroy that footage in a dramatic and fiery fashion, but I have to keep it because the pain will only make the joy of a successful swim (and my highlight reel) more meaningful. Whenever that may be.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hold Fast,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laura</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PS- I apologize for the pretentious title.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-40359185932145471222016-06-24T11:09:00.003-07:002016-06-24T11:09:28.843-07:00How to Deal With "Swim Brain"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i>This post originally appeared int he 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim blog</i></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">That swim you signed up for in December is here. It seemed like such a wonderful idea as snow fell gently outside, while Bing Crosby crooned on the radio, and visions of sugar plums danced in your head. But now, those sugar plums turn to mush, as the Hudson warmed to a nice 70F. 8 Bridges is here, and you can’t help but be a little (or a lot) scared.</span></div>
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Pre-swim nerves are common, understandable, and can help, but the days leading up to a swim can be a game of mental gymnastics I like to call Swim Brain (trademark pending). Swim Brain makes it tough to focus on anything else (school, work, loved ones, not missing your stop on the train) because there is a portion of your brain solely devoted to your swim. It can be awful! As a habitual planner and over thinker, I have a few techniques that help me deal with Swim Brain that I hope can help you too!</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">DO NOT check Weather.com every five minutes</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The weather is out of your control. Worrying about the wind speed and direction will not help at all. It is so tempting to look, but try to avoid it! Rondi and Dave are the most competent race directors on the planet, and will be doing plenty of weather watching for you!</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pack and unpack and repack your gear</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">When you feel the urge to check the weather, go to that swim bag and pack/repack it. It will help you make sure you have everything you need. Spare goggles? Sunscreen? Lucky stuffed pig you’ve had since you were 7… wait, somehow I think that one is just me.</span></div>
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_2607" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #141412; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; width: 205px;"><a href="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Hamm.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Hamm" class="wp-image-2607 size-medium" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px" src="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Hamm-205x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Hamm-205x300.jpg 205w, https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Hamm.jpg 206w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="205" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #220e10; font-style: italic; margin: 0px 0px 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Monmouth County Swimming Championships 1997</span></figcaption></figure><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #141412; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: square; margin: 16px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Make it a Blockbuster night</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sit your butt down and watch a movie! It will help your muscles rest and help your mind focus on something other than the swim ahead. Some personal favorites…</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/touchwall.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="touchwall" class="alignnone wp-image-2610" height="207" sizes="(max-width: 109px) 100vw, 109px" src="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/touchwall-158x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/touchwall-158x300.jpg 158w, https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/touchwall.jpg 163w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 5px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="109" /></a><a href="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/songsea.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="songsea" class="alignnone wp-image-2609" height="210" src="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/songsea.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 5px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="142" /></a><a href="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/mc.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="mc" class="alignnone wp-image-2608" height="209" src="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/mc.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 5px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="139" /></a><a href="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/willy.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="willy" class="alignnone wp-image-2615" height="206" src="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/willy.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 5px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="145" /></a></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Paint with all the colors of the wind</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Commune with nature! Sit under your favorite tree. Walk your favorite trail. Take a relaxing, non training dip in the ocean. Get outside and reflect on how beautiful the Earth is, and how lucky we are to get to swim in the most beautiful river in the world!</span></div>
<figure class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_2614" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #141412; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; width: 274px;"><a href="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Willow.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Willow" class="wp-image-2614 size-full" height="206" src="https://www.8bridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Willow.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="274" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #220e10; font-style: italic; margin: 0px 0px 24px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grandmother Willow! I’ve come to talk to you!</span></figcaption></figure><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #141412; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; list-style-type: square; margin: 16px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Journal</b></li>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Why do you think I am writing this right now!? My Swim Brian is off the charts! All I want to do is jump in the water, but I still have days to wait! It will help to get those feelings on paper, and be really fun to read after the swim. It is also a good time to reflect on all the little steps that got you here. All the people you met along the way, the fun and challenging training swims, delicious post-swim meals, the good swims and the bad.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hopefully some of this helps you as we being </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;">the final countdown</a><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> to 8 Bridges 2016! Wishing you all swift currents, delicious feeds, and a happy swim.</span></div>
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Hold fast,</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Laura</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-61601119288025948472016-06-24T11:07:00.000-07:002016-06-24T11:07:51.204-07:00What’s On the Menu?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>This post originally appeared in the #TeamSelkie blog</i><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am taking a page out of fellow #TeamSelkie marathon swimmer Stuart Hacker’s playbook, and writing an informative post on a technical component of marathon swimming. Today’s hot topic: nutrition during a swim, commonly referred to as “feeds.” Feeds are are not one size fits all by any means! Some types of feeds will work great for you, but not so great for other swimmers. This is why it is extremely important to try out your feeds well before a swim, and see how they make you feel. That being said, this advice is based on my own experience, and I am not promoting any particular product or feeding plan.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/File_000.jpeg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="File_000" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-571" height="585" src="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/File_000.jpeg?resize=1000%2C750" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="780" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What are some popular feeds for marathon swimmers? Where do I even start?</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Every swimmer is different! Some rely solely on liquid feeds, others eat sport gels, and some eat real solid food, like doughnuts and sardines (true story!). A great place for swimmers to start is with sports gels.. I started with these because they taste great and are easily transported by tucking them in the back of your swim cap (see photos below) or in your suit. This easy means of transport makes them great for events when you don’t have a support boat or kayak, but still may need a little boost. From there, the world is (literally) your oyster! Try anything that you can swim while digesting and tastes good.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i1.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Image-20-05-2016-at-10.10-1.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Image 20-05-2016 at 10.10 (1)" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-568" height="586" src="http://i1.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Image-20-05-2016-at-10.10-1.jpg?resize=1000%2C751" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="780" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Image-20-05-2016-at-10.10.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Image 20-05-2016 at 10.10" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-570" height="586" src="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Image-20-05-2016-at-10.10.jpg?resize=1000%2C751" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="780" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i2.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Image-20-05-2016-at-10.10-2.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Image 20-05-2016 at 10.10 (2)" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-569" height="586" src="http://i2.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Image-20-05-2016-at-10.10-2.jpg?resize=1000%2C751" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="780" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How should I practice feeding?</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ideally, you should practice feeds in an environment that will closely mimic your swim. You have to be able to eat while treading or laying on your back, what I call otter style. Doing this does take some used to, so try to practice it before your event. If open water is not an option, feeding on the pool deck is fine, just try not to break too many rules. I found that eating a gel in the locker room right before I started my workout, or in the middle of it, worked well.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How often should I feed?</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most swimmers feed every 30 minutes. It really helps break a long swim down into increments. Instead of thinking, “I have hours of swimming ahead of me,” your mindset becomes “Just make it 30 minutes until your next feed.” This is why taste is really important for me. You want to look forward to your feeds! It will really help the mental game. However, this is marathon swimming, and conditions may not always allow a feed, but I do not like to go more than 45 minutes between feeds.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How much should I be consuming per feed?</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a tough one! Since everybody’s metabolic rate is different, everyone requires a different number of calories. My coach has always told me to feel “topped off,” not hungry, but also not exceedingly full. This is why practicing feeds before a swim is so important. The more practice, you will start to figure out what your body needs. Once you experience a long swim on a nearly empty stomach, you will not make that mistake again.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura, what do you eat in the water?</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I like my feeds to be easy for my kayaker to handle, but also have some variety. This is a copy of a feed plan from my swims last summer. Color coded!</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 1 (0:30)- </b></span><span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #339966; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 2 (1:00)- </b></span><span class="s3" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: magenta; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chia Vitality </b></span><span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and</b></span><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b><span class="s4" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Water</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 3 (1:30)- </b></span><span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ff6600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 4 (2:00)- </b></span><span class="s5" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: red; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Applesauce </b></span><span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and</b></span><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b><span class="s4" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Water</b></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 5 (2:30)- </b></span><span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #339966; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 6 (3:00)- <span class="s5" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: red; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Applesauce </b></span><span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and</b></span><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b><span class="s4" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: purple; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Water</b></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 7 (3:30)- <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ff6600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola</b></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p4" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 8 (4:00)- <b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s5" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: red; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Applesauce</b></span></b></b></span></div>
<div class="p6" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 9 (4:30)- <span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: green; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical</b></span></b></span></div>
<div class="p8" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 10 (5:00)- </b></span><span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: blue; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Peanut Butter M&M’s</b></span></div>
<div class="p7" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 11 (5:30)-</b></span><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ff6600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola</b></span></b></b></div>
<div class="p6" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 12 (6:00)-<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: green; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical</b></span></b></b></span></div>
<div class="p7" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 13 (6:30)-<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ff6600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola</b></span></b></b></b></span></div>
<div class="p6" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 14 (7:00)-<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: green; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical</b></span></b></b></span></div>
<div class="p7" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 15 (7:30)-<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ff6600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/ Nuun Kona Cola</b></span></b></b></b></span></div>
<div class="p6" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feed 16 (8:00)-<b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: green; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro/Nuun Tropical</b></span></b></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carbo Pro is an amazing carbohydrate drink that mixes with water. It does not have a distinctive flavor, so I like to mix it with Nuun tablets. The tablets provide some vitamins, but most importantly, delicious flavors. The Chia Vitality is for a little bit of protein, and comes in a handy little squeeze packet. My childhood favorite applesauce comes in very handy! I use GoGo Squeeze brand applesauce because they are very easy to eat in the water, and taste great. My favorite feed is peanut butter M&Ms. The amount of joy and excitement that this feed brings after 4 or 5 hours of swimming is almost indescribable. If you find yourself in the States or a duty free shop in an airport, I highly recommend picking them up.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hold fast,</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-78822248995309338952016-05-03T07:55:00.002-07:002016-05-13T18:26:31.299-07:00LP Swims P2P<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>This post originally appeared in the #TeamSelkie blog</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<img alt="Screenshot 2016-04-07 12.46.58" src="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screenshot-2016-04-07-12.46.58.png?resize=605%2C392" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On July 9, 2016 at 04:00 U.S. Eastern Standard Time, I am plunging into the chilly, dark, and foreboding waters off of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and plan to not set foot on land until I swim 19 miles to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Nineteen miles of salty water, waves, eating every 30 minutes in the water (more on that later!), and critters who will hopefully let me pass through their home peacefully. I come in peace, my aquatic friends!</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The P2P Swim or Cape Cod Bay Swim has been on my list of possible swims for about two years. I visited Cape Cod with my family when I was a kid, and fell head-over-heels in love with it. On the Cape, you feel like you are in the woods and on the beach all at the same time. Majestic humpback whales feed off of the plankton rich waters of Stellwagen Bank. Playful seals just hang out on the beach where people sunbathe. Every corner is full of the rich, nautical history of some of U.S.’s oldest settlements. The Cape was heaven on earth for a history-obsessed kid who really just wanted to be in and around the ocean all day every day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">I also had the honor and privilege to be friends and neighbors with Eileen Burke, the first recorded woman to swim across Cape Cod Bay. What are the chances that of all the streets in New York City, I would move to the same one as such an inspiring and accomplished marathon swimmer? We met swimming with CIBBOWS, but most of our time together came on 05:30 train to our respective pools. We talked about school often, since she was a teacher and I created educational videos for a living, but mostly, we talked about swimming and our beloved ocean. Listening to her impressive swim resume was inspiring, but it was the excitement about swimming across Cape Cod Bay that was most infectious.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Eileen passed away in October 2015, after a brave battle against pancreatic cancer, leaving a gaping hole in the New York and Massachusetts open water communities. In addition to her friendship, she did one very important thing for me before she died. A swim must call to me in an almost primal way before I decide to do it. It is not just because of how physically grueling it is, but because a swim requires everything you have. Marathon swims require months of lonely pool and dryland training, as well as painful (and sometimes gross) trial and error of feeds and goggles and swimsuit tightness. They require a lot of training, and this is all in addition to working a challenging full-time job. Given the time-sucking nature of our chosen extracurricular activity, I don’t think many marathon swimmers can just pick a swim without feeling some sort of connection or sense of purpose for swimming it. I am often asked when I will be swimming better known challenges like the English Channel or Catalina Channel, but in all honesty, those swims are not calling to me right now. But swimming across Cape Cod Bay? That called me. Eileen commanded the swim to call to me.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have been training in the pool for the past three months, and am really looking forward to getting back in the ocean off Brighton Beach. No, it’s not the Brighton Beach in East Sussex, although if Selkie CEO Jeremy Laming wants to fly me over, I would be more than happy to come swim. <img alt="😉" class="emoji" src="http://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/72x72/1f609.png" draggable="false" style="background: none !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; display: inline !important; height: 1em !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0.07em !important; margin-right: 0.07em !important; margin-top: 25px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; width: 1em !important;" /></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In future posts, I plan to detail who my awesome support crew will be, safety and feed plans, and summaries of my two big prep swims: 6 hours in the Atlantic Ocean and an 18-miler in the Hudson River. I am extremely nervous about swimming in total darkness, the wind not being in my favor, and the aforementioned critters, but excited about the opportunity to swim “America’s Channel,” and once again feel the euphoria that comes with a long swim.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hold Fast!</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-5893937895734836282016-05-03T07:53:00.005-07:002016-05-03T07:53:55.624-07:00The Time I Almost Turned Back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This post originally appeared in the #TeamSelkie blog.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px;">During the winter months, I am primarily focused on pool and dryland training. During these hours solitude, I very often find myself reflecting on my journey as an open water swimmer: the challenges, the triumphs, the countless bowls of oatmeal. The one story that I always find myself coming back to is that of my first open water race on May 27, 2012.</span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I returned to swimming in the fall of 2011 after a two year hiatus. I was now in a new job with more predictable hours, and was drawn to competing in long distance events after I watched a friend run the New York City Marathon. I joined a pool near my office, swam about 4 days a week, and found a great triathlon training group (<a href="http://www.jerseyshoretriclub.com/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jersey Shore Triathlon Club</span></a>) to swim with once the water warmed up. The group was hosting a 2K swim called the Lava Swim, and I decided to enter.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i2.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Wetsuit.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Wetsuit" class="alignnone wp-image-520" height="604" src="http://i2.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Wetsuit.jpg?resize=340%2C604" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="340" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Full disclosure, I wore a wetsuit for this race! My marathon swimming friends may be quite shocked at this, but I was training with triathletes, and assumed that a wetsuit came with the territory. And full honesty, I LOVED swimming in it. I was lucky to get a suit that fit me like a glove and made me feel like a superhero! I now swim fully under English Channel apparel rules, but I did have fun with my suit.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i2.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pterodactyls.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Pterodactyls" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-518" height="404" src="http://i2.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pterodactyls.jpg?resize=604%2C404" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="604" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After three Saturday open water sessions, it was time to actually race. It was one loop of a very well marked and monitored course in Barnegat Bay. I was very lucky that my mom, sister, and boyfriend all accompanied me to the beach to help cheer me on. After sitting in the rain, shimmying into my sleek Orca wetsuit, and studying the course, I got into the water with butterflies that felt like pterodactyls in my stomach. I had swam the distance in the pool and at my Saturday sessions before, but still could not imagine all of the swimming that lay ahead of me. Could I really do this? What if I got tired? What if I got lost in the scrum and someone whacked me in the face? What if my goggles leaked? When the start gun went off, I put my face in and began to swim, but immediately found myself hyperventilating. I could barely catch my breath. My heart was pounding. I questioned why I was not into a calm hobby like stamp collecting or knitting. I 100% wanted to cry and turn around and head back to the beach. But then, the faces of my mom, sister, and boyfriend came into my mind. What would I tell them if I chickened out and showed up on the beach only a few minutes after the start? They had all gotten up at the crack of dawn to watch the swim. My boyfriend had listened to me talk open water swimming for months. My mom made me an amazing oatmeal dinner the night before! I suddenly began to calm down. My breathing became easier, sighting became easier, my heart rate regulated, and I finally got into my swimming groove.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Butterfly.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Butterfly" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-517" height="404" src="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Butterfly.jpg?resize=604%2C404" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="604" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The rest of the swim was total bliss. I loved every minute of it, and gave it my all. When I finally got to the green buoy and could see the beach, I did my “butterfly dolphin dives,” and made my way up the beach and crossed the finish line. I met my family and savored every embrace. The Lava Swim helped me realize that I could swim through huge jitters, and also helped me discover out what mental games will help me through those tough first 400 meters. It is something that I think every endurance athlete has to figure out at some point in his or her own way. While I am swimming distances several times greater than 2K now, I can’t help but be thankful for the critical lessons learned that day in Barnegat Bay.</span></div>
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<a href="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/TheHug.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="TheHug" class="alignnone wp-image-519" height="404" src="http://i0.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/TheHug.jpg?resize=604%2C404" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="604" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hold Fast,</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-50171916957454163082016-05-03T07:53:00.001-07:002016-05-03T07:53:05.621-07:00Out of the Comfort Zone- 2016 USMS One Hour Swim<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This post originally appeared in the #TeamSelkie blog.</i></span><br />
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Out of the comfort zone – Laura ‘Hold Fast’ Picardo #teamselkie</h2>
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<a href="http://i1.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_2513-1.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="IMG_2513-1" class="alignnone wp-image-436 size-full" height="1040" src="http://i2.wp.com/club.selkieswim.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/IMG_2513-1-e1454274576422.jpg?resize=1000%2C1333" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 25px 0px 20px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="780" /></a></div>
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<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t like being timed. Crazy for a swimmer, right? Those hands on the clock really like to mess with my head. Part of what I love about marathon swimming is that outside of practice sets, the goal when you jump into the water is simple: just keep swimming.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So, when my wonderful coach told me she wanted me to participate in United States Masters Swimming’s (USMS) annual <a href="http://www.usms.org/longdist/ldchamps.php" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s3" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One Hour Swim,</span></a> I did not exactly bubble with joy. At this point in my open water career, swimming an hour is not super challenging, but swimming an hour in a pool with a timer? Seriously not my thing. But what coach says, I do.</span></div>
<div class="p2" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #313131; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 25px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I got to Asphalt Green, an amazing Olympic pool (home of 2012 bronze medalist <a href="http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=1453&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en-US&biosid=78560d39-3018-4277-9b74-c18729d66f85" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #005077; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s3" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lia Neal</span></a>) on the Upper East Side of Manhattan a little bit before 06:00. Due to pool hours, I didn’t get in a solid warm up. I knew that could mean trouble, but I tried to put that out of my head. My boyfriend and trusty lap counter, Francis, took his position with the stopwatch (he is a marathoner, so he understands early wake-ups and the pressure of timing), and I was off. The beginning was terrible. Absolutely terrible. I just felt tight and those wonderful little voices of doubt permeated my mind. But like in all swims, I calmed down, got into my rhythm, and found my happy place. Mentally, I was still not exactly happy that I was being watched by the specter of the clock, but physically, my body felt amazing. The strength I felt in my shoulders and legs just reminded me that this is what my body is trained and meant to do. It helped me refocus on the swim and not on that unholy timepiece.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As I finished, I felt relief, excitement, and pride that I got out of my comfort zone, and didn’t quit or break down. Even though it was not a major swim, to me it was a major step in getting over some of the self-doubt that I have had about my athletic abilities. It is that feeling of accomplishment that I will be able to take with me as I continue to train for my larger events. I guess that is why my coach wanted me to do it (she is pretty wise). But the best part is that I won’t have to do a USMS One Hour Swim until next year. Yay.</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hold fast.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-24668294721360201682016-05-03T07:51:00.002-07:002016-05-13T18:24:50.579-07:00#TeamSelkie 2016!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This post is MONTHS overdue, but I am pleased to state for the record, that I am a member of Team Selkie for 2016! Selkie Swim Company is based in the UK, and specializes in providing open water swimmers with the best kit available. I am thrilled with this opportunity, and exceedingly grateful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For more on Selkie, click <a href="https://www.selkieswim.com/">here</a>.</span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-17304344964594316432015-10-06T04:53:00.002-07:002015-10-07T07:03:25.093-07:00Dear Eileen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Eileen,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I skipped my swim this morning. No, it wasn't any of my usual excuses: out late seeing a musical with friends, or up late trying to finish a book, or sucked back under the covers by one of Francis' hugs. It was out of fear. Fear of facing a gaping hole that has been left in the OWS community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't want to go down to the subway station at 5:20, and face the reality that you would not be there. Cowardice. Really lame, Laura. But I just don't want to believe it yet. Your company on the 5:25 AM downtown C train was something I looked forward to every day, even when I knew it was unlikely that you would be there. It's great having someone to talk to at such an ungodly hour, and helps the mind wake up. It got me ready to swim my heart out. We'd chat about simple things: when your school would be on break, what story I was working on, our families, the fact that we would both rather be on The Cape than stuck in a Manhattan subway station. Sometimes it would be more serious: chemo, pain medication, if you needed help with anything when I got home from work. All of it, the good and the bad, is now something I treasure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for being such a wonderful friend and swimming mentor. Despite having a swim resume of envy, you were humble and kind to everyone who came out to Brighton Beach to swim. Thank you for being one of the greatest ambassadors of our sport. Thank you for being willing to talk to me so early (I think it helped us both wake up!). Thank you for blazing trails and establishing new swims. Thank you for volunteering to crew for me when I attempt Cape Cod Bay. Thank you for being a friend to all of us who dare to plunge into chilly, salty, shark infested water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who leave us are never really truly gone. We live through what we leave behind, and you, Eileen, have given more than you can possibly know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will try to get on that train tomorrow. You would want that. Besides, I will need to log the pool hours if I want to swim to P-Town just like you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGbsrrkZm1s">This song</a> on repeat all week. We talked about our families a lot, and I once told you about how I broke Canon Law and sang this as the prelude song at my grandmother's funeral. It makes me think of both of you: strong, inspirational, amazing women who love the ocean. </span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-17431509572088214652015-06-14T09:57:00.000-07:002015-06-15T08:12:55.170-07:008 Bridges Video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/user31190692">Click here</a> for two videos of Stage 2 and Stage 6!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My goggles look like Roy!"</td></tr>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-90460229204897393492015-06-14T05:32:00.001-07:002015-06-14T05:32:03.249-07:00My Shadow! My Very Own Shadow!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The following is a post I originally wrote for the 8 Bridges blog.</i></span><br />
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On the train to Stage 6 early yesterday morning, I was curious as to how I would know when to stop swimming. In two attempts, I had not made the final bridge of the stage. Would my Alex just yell? Would he whack my shoulder with the paddle? Would Agent Orange blow the air horn? This was all a mystery to me!</div>
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The swim started out a little rough. It was choppy and a bit difficult to catch my breath and get into the rhythm of things. The beginning of a marathon swim can be like that. You think to yourself, “So, I really have to do this for three or four or six + more hours?” You look to find your kayaker and try to stay on course. Breaths come in short, gasping bursts. After a while, things begin to even out and you find that cadence to your stroke, play that song in your head (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA6ucF8-BFo&index=1&list=PLQk_USLLO4n4u_RwYr-7x5zL7fgLwh-im" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;">this</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dE4YrrAAGk" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;">this </a>were yesterday’s tunes), and the mission of the day comes into focus: swim.</div>
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I knew that we were flying downstream when I realized just how quickly the Tappan Zee disappeared. Last year, it seemed to linger there like a horrifying specter, teasing, and taunting me with its cold steel. Saying, “You’re really slow, Laura. Get out now.” This year, the bridge was gone before I really even had a chance to look for it. At one point around Yonkers, we passed a green buoy at such speed, I thought for sure there must be a seal pushing my feet. This was going to be a good day.</div>
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When I looked to my left and saw Spuyten Duyvil, the reality that I would make the bridge officially set in. I allowed myself to look at the bridge just a little bit, and decided to make like smoke and oakum and gun it for the bridge. I wanted to feel that ending, and I wanted it NOW!</div>
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Nothing could have prepared me for the euphoria I felt when the shadow of the George Washington Bridge came over me. I felt like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mocsn5fbjsA" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;">Peter Pan</a> when he finds his shadow in the Darling’s nursery. It was “my very own shadow.” The shadow told me that I was there, I had achieved a goal almost two years in the making, and that I could truly celebrate. My brain had the dopamine rush that comes from eating frozen custard on the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk, smelling the salt air, with my loved ones close by. I want to hang on to that shadow feeling for those lonely mornings when I am walking to the pool before dawn this coming winter, because it that feeling that makes the early wake-ups and work outs worth it.</div>
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The euphoria continued as I celebrated in the water with Alex (which included eating my peanut butter M&M feed since I told him I wanted to push through the last feed and eat them at the end) and saw Agent Orange heading over to pick me up. To celebrate my success is one thing, but I could not wait to revel in the success of everyone in the open water tribe. Hugging and smiling and laughing all of those who are there with you on this journey is the watertight seal on the feeling that hits when you reach the bridge and say, “I’m done. What’s next?”</div>
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Hold Fast,</div>
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Laura</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-4538729188036841732015-06-09T06:25:00.000-07:002015-06-09T06:25:09.914-07:00The Goal Must Change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The following is a post I wrote for the 8 Bridges blog.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141412; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">On some level, I knew within the first few minutes of splashing into the washing machine like Hudson River on Monday that I was probably not going to make it to the Mid Hudson Bridge. The chop felt, in some ways, worse than last year’s </span><a href="http://www.8bridges.org/wind-ssw/" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;">Stage 6</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141412; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">. So, in that first hour, I began to make my peace with God, the Hudson, and myself. I wanted to quit right then and there. A day on Launch 5 with Rondi and the crew sounded positively delightful. But bad conditions or not, I had business to attend to. As a way of coping with the adverse conditions and still continuing to swim, I decided that the goal (and my stroke) of the swim would have to change.</span><br />
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My initial goal was to make it to the Culinary Institute of America. The school is not too many miles away from the finish so it would be a long swim, and I was also still holding out hope that my sister (an alum of their baking and pastry program) would have had students there throwing baked goods at the swimmers. Sorry that that didn’t happen, everyone. I tried! As the south wind howled with sustained winds of 15 MPH and gusts of 35, it became harder and harder to anchor myself in the water, and even to breathe. On one occasion, I took a full nose and mouth full of water and came very close to tossing up my last feed. I could not get the words of the greatCanadian songsmith Gordon Lightfoot out of my head, “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;">Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turns the minutes to hours</a>?” As we were tossed around, I figured CIA would not happen. I would have to find something delicious elsewhere…and I did!</div>
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The more realistic goal became to make it to my peanut butter M&M feed. Peanut butter M&Ms are my mid-swim treat. They taste good on land, but imagine how amazing they are in the river after spending hours battling chop and pulling and kicking with only very small and quick breaks. I nearly jumped out of the water with excitement <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIzQyskCEPs" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc360a; text-decoration: none;">Free Willy</a> style when Alex shook my blue bottle and said, “Well, look what I have for you!’ I made it! My favorite feed, and the new goal set to keep myself from ditching the river too early!</div>
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Shortly after those delicious, rainbow colored delights, I simply said to Alex, “I hurt.” I decided it was time to call it quits. I do these swims for myself and for fun, and it was starting to not be so fun anymore. I did not want to put my body through anything unnecessary when I have another stage of the swim on Saturday. Why waste all of my energy now, when I will be back in the river so soon? So I abandoned the swim about 15 of the 19 miles in. It was a shockingly easy decision, and while I was disappointed I did not make the Mid-Hudson, I was happy to have made it that far in water and wind that tempestuous.</div>
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Congratulations to all who braved the river yesterday (kayakers included since they really had their work cut out for them), especially the two amazingly strong swimmers who made it to the bridge! We are lucky enough to get to swim in this river for 7 days every June, and for that, we all come out on top.</div>
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Hold Fast,</div>
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Laura</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-21898050909084930932015-06-09T04:12:00.002-07:002015-06-09T06:35:47.807-07:00The Emotions of a Marathon Swim<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Emotions of a Marathon Swim... Told With Some Help From the Characters of Disney/Pixar's "Inside Out"</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>FEAR</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What, this swim is how long? What if there is a south wind?* What if there is lighting? What if there is torrential rain? Do sharks swim in the Hudson River? What if I jump off the boat like a duck and humiliate myself in front of all the cool swimmers?* What if my feeds upset my belly? What if I get knocked unconscious by a sturgeon? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ugh, Desitin, I love that your 40% zinc oxide keeps my skin sunburn free, but like, I just CAN'T with your putrid odor.* It reeks, and I just hate it. ICK!!! I just took in a whole nose and mouth full of river water. Ack! Ack! Get it out! Gross! Gross!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>ANGER</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STOP BLOWING, SOUTH WIND! JUST STOP! I HAVE HAD IT WITH YOU MESSING WITH THE EBB TIDE! YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME!? IF YOU THROW ONE MORE WAVE IN MY FACE I AM GOING TO LOOSE IT! YOU'VE ALREADY RUINED ONE SWIM FOR ME, DON'T YOU DARE RUIN ANOTHER!*</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>SADNESS</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looks like I am not going to make it to the bridge again. I won't get to celebrate and stroll into work like a hero in the same way. I wish I could take those final strokes under the bridge and hear the boat blow the air horn. I trained really hard for this. It was a lot of work. Maybe I am not such a good swimmer? I really just want a hug and a blanket right now.*</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>JOY</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love swimming! I love the open water! I made it 15 miles with waves crashing over me the whole time, and it was really really hard, but I love the challenge! I am surrounded by an amazing group of swimmers and have people back on land who love me just for me! I get to eat a big dinner tomorrow night and snack all day! What should I eat!? I got to spend a day doing what I love with people I love. What could be better than that!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you have it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*There was</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*This happens EVERY TIME I jump off a boat.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*I did not put it in on my face, and I got burned. I will next time no matter how bad it smells.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*This is edited a bit. In real life, there were some choice words here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*I really did almost just stop swimming and take a mini nap because I was sad. Luckily, that did not last too long.</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-59183688610238713802015-06-05T13:05:00.002-07:002015-06-05T13:05:12.094-07:00Not the Triumph, but the Struggle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>The following is a post I wrote for the 8 Bridges blog.</i></div>
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“You’re swimming how FAR, in what TEMPERATURE, WITHOUT a WETSUIT!?”</div>
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Explaining marathon swimming to people is really fun. I will admit that I thoroughly enjoy the ego boost when some of the triathletes that swim at my home pool look at me completely gobsmacked when I answer those questions. Positive reinforcement like that certainly makes the hours logged in solitary pool confinement feel worth it! But the idea I strive to get across to those hearing about our sport for the first time is that one of the many things that makes it so special is that as a community, we value the struggle over the triumph.</div>
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A quote attributed to Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee, sums it up better than I ever could: “<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” </i></div>
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This quote is incredibly important to remember in a sport where a change in the wind or weather conditions can affect whether or not you reach the finish. You can swim every day, eat the healthiest food you can find, put in extra hours of dryland, and study your charts, but if lighting strikes or you face a strong headwind, you will have to face the unpleasant fact that you will not finish the event you have been training for. You may feel upset, angry, want to curl up into a ball and hide from the world. But the fact of the matter is, you jumped into that water that day, which is a major accomplishment in and of itself. And, more importantly, you likely struggled along the way. You probably spent months waking up before the sun, and had to resist the magnetic pull of your pillow and warm blanket. You probably had to say no to a lot of fun social events because you needed to get to bed. Your bath towels probably smell like chlorine. Your grocery bill (or at least waffle budget) probably skyrocketed! You have probably doubted your ability as a swimmer and athlete on more than one occasion. But you didn’t quit. You jumped off that boat, and began to swim, despite voices inside your head telling you not to. That is the true triumph!</div>
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My hope for my fellow swimmers as we swim downstream next week is that everyone achieves their goals, and we all get to swim under those bridges with beaming smiles. But if that 100% completion rate is not met, my hope is that after getting out the negative emotions of not finishing, we all feel the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from having reached for greatness. Just by reaching for it, you are already there.</div>
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Hold Fast,</div>
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Laura</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-35216160194117156002015-06-04T15:35:00.001-07:002015-06-04T17:40:02.389-07:00What's On The Menu?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ta da! Here is my color coded, delicious, Coach Bonnie approved feed plan for both Stage 2 and Stage 6. I am feeling pretty good about the feeds. All of them taste great, and seem to work well with my body. The liquid feeds will be Carbo Pro mixed with a Nuun tablet. Nuun is awesome! It has light electrolytes and delicious flavoring. I prefer tropical (basically a pina colada) and the cola flavor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did have an...interesting... conversation when I bought my tub of Carbo Pro. I called Jack Rabbit Sports to confirm that they had some on hand. The smug gentleman on the other end said, "You know that is not a protein shake, right?" Now, in the movie version of my life, I will respond to his smugness with, "Noooo s***, Sherlock! CARB is in the name!" But real life me just explained that indeed I did know that CARBO Pro was a CARBOHYDRATE supplement, and I am an endurance athlete. Anyway, I ended up getting the tub for $7 thanks to a huge store credit from volunteering at the Battle of Brooklyn 11 miler last year. That night got even better when a hungry Francis and I split some delicious fries at Five Guys next to Jack Rabbit. We are not the most impulsive couple, especially as far as dining out is concerned, so it was quite a treat to have an impromptu yummy snack. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STAGE 2 FEED PLAN</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s In The Bag?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Green Bottle- Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Orange Bottle- Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Bottle- Plain water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blue Bottle- Peanut Butter M&M’s</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chia Vitality</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Schedule</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 1 (0:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 2 (1:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chia Vitality </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 3 (1:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 4 (2:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 5 (2:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 6 (3:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 7 (3:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #e69138; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 8 (4:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 9 (4:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 10 (5:00)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peanut Butter M&M’s</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 11 (5:30)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #e69138; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 12 (6:00)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 13 (6:30)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #e69138; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 14 (7:00)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 15 (7:30)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #e69138; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 16 (8:00)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STAGE 6 FEED PLAN</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s In The Bag?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Green Bottle- Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Orange Bottle- Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Bottle- Plain water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blue Bottle- Peanut Butter M&M’s</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chia Vitality</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Schedule</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 1 (0:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 2 (1:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chia Vitality </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 3 (1:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 4 (2:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 5 (2:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 6 (3:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 9 (4:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 10 (5:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 11 (5:30)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Tropical</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 12 (6:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 13 (6:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carbo Pro Cola</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-60276660619085312402015-06-02T15:18:00.001-07:002015-06-04T07:57:18.150-07:00Tell Me About Stage 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">On Monday June 8th, I will be swimming Stage 2 of </span><a href="http://www.8bridges.org/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">8 Bridges Hudson River Swim</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">. This is likely going to be my toughest swim yet due to its intimidating distance (19.8 miles) and not quite as strong tidal assist. It is still assisted by the tide, but it is not as strong as some of the other stages. Another challenge: five days later, I will be jumping in the Hudson again for the 15 mile Stage 6. Faithful blog readers will remember that I swam Stage 6 last year, but was pulled just shy of the George Washington Bridge. It will have to be a pretty quick recovery!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I chose Stage 2 for the challenging distance and gorgeous rural scenery, but also because I will get to swim past the beautiful Culinary Institute of America. My sister studied there from 2010 to 2013, and graduated with her degree in baking and pastry studies. I have so many fond memories of visiting her there and, of course, devouring many delicious meals! But I also have a very fond swimming memory from there. Casey and her friends from the Baking and Pastry Honor Society volunteered at the 2013 2 Bridges Swim, where I swam the hilariously short 2.5K loop. That swim fell only a few short weeks after my paternal grandmother passed away suddenly. It was very therapeutic to be with most of my immediate family at an event with some semblance of normalcy. We spent the rest of the day at CIA and ate delicious take out from the Eveready Diner, since the resident assistant extraordinaire was on duty. It was also lovely using my sister's private RA bathroom to shower post swim. After Francis and I got back to the city, I remember curling up into bed while he watched Star Trek: Voyager, and feeling incredibly lucky to have an amazing swimming support system, and to be small part of such a great community of athletes. I still think of that day whenever I hear Jerry Goldsmith's beautiful <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtVXAugaSm0">theme</a> to Voyager. I am hoping to channel that wonderful memory of family and good food when I am feeling tired or ready to quit Stage 2.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some course information courtesy of 8 Bridges. The two bridges are the Kingston Rhinecliff and the Mid-Hudson. It also goes by FDR's home and presidential library. Anyone who knows my family and its shared (well, mostly shared) love of all things historical will not be surprised that the FDR house was one of the first places we visited when Casey got into CIA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoping for good weather, calm water, and a north wind!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Host Fast,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-61887574077622783042015-05-24T06:32:00.002-07:002015-05-24T08:13:04.155-07:00Just Keep Swimming...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been months since my last post. Not for lack of swimming, but for lack of a good attitude about swimming and life. Winter training is boring, lonely, and truly embodies the phrase "nothing to write home about." Now that I have survived what proved to me a much more difficult winter training season than I expected, I feel the need to reflect on it and how it got me to a milestone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In December, I registered for stages 2 (June 8) and 6 (June 13) of <a href="http://www.8bridges.org/">8 Bridges</a>. Stage 6, as you will recall, is the stage I came very close to completing last year. Stage 2 is a brand new challenge for me. Longer in distance and tougher as far as tidal assist. What drew me to stage 2 is its beauty and that I will get to swim past the Culinary Institute of America where my sister went to school (and maybe have croissants thrown at me as I swim by). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started off the winter as gung-ho as ever, but got bored very quickly, was plagued by a never ending series of colds and mystery illnesses, and "real life outside of swimming" stressors that made the pool the last place I wanted to spend my time. In fact, my ideal day was one spent under a blanket with a book and "Once Upon A Time" on Netflix than one swimming: NOT a feeling I am used to. These were all difficult to shake. Initially, I put immense pressure on myself to "snap out of it," or "swimming will take your mind off things." I quickly learned that just had to let things run their course, while trying my absolute best to get to the pool and work hard once I was there. It was a true lesson in that time and healthy outlets of emotion heals all. Yes, swimming is very therapeutic for me, but I had to learn how to deal with things when a solid 3,000 yards just won't cut it. Fortunately, due to an amazing support system and some time, things turned around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, I got up at 3:20 AM (before my alarm!), slapped on some sunscreen, kissed Francis goodbye, and headed out to the beach with Coach Bonnie and her fiance, Gray. We met Lori, and at 5:30, I was swimming towards a beautiful sunrise. It was COLD. The water was 56 degrees (nothing I can't handle), but the air was 49 degrees and the northwest wind was relentless. Every now and then, the beach resembled the desert with beautiful swirling sands. I have done plenty of cold dips and swims, but this was different. I've never swam with such a cold wind and air temperature. The water was warmer than the air, but the wind on my back was not making it feel that way. I kept diving down to try to get in the warmer water, but I sadly do not have gills. Even with all that pain, there was still something religious and wonderful about swimming into that sunrise and being one of maybe five people on the beach and the only one in the water. I usually hate the loneliness, but I reveled in it yesterday. I finally felt like I was an open water swimmer again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My initial goal was to swim for 3 hours, but it was simply too cold, and I stayed in for two hours. While it was short of the initial goal, I was thrilled that I stayed in as long as I did. Also, I was overjoyed to hear that my stroke rate remained steady up until the very end, a feat that is glorious considering how uncomfortable I was! It was an amazing swim! Getting dressed was a comedy of errors, but thanks to my <a href="http://www.noflashtowel.com/">No Flash Towel</a> I was covered. The most embarrassing moment was asking Bonnie to put my shoes and socks on for me, since I had the dexterity of a four month-old baby. Thanks, mom ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without the struggles of the winter training season, I may have not had the mental toughness to put up with the nagging and biting cold that overtook my body yesterday. While I wish this winter could have been filled with more meets and solid workouts and fewer tissues and stress dreams, the bad prepared me in its own way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My swims are just around the corner! I am ready, excited, nervous, and finally ready to write about them. More to comes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-18587215228563848452014-09-04T15:14:00.001-07:002014-09-09T05:34:14.433-07:002014 Lap Swim Awards Night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am the first person to tell you that I welcome the end of summer every year. My favorite seasons are the fall and winter, and for the record, I was into pumpkin spice well before it became a fad! Anyway, this summer could not have ended on a better note!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wednesday August 27th was the annual lap swim awards night. Swimming friend Jia Jung brought me as her plus one to last year's awards night, and it was how I discovered the amazing parks lap swimming program! It is a huge party complete with catering from Katz's Deli, a 4x200m relay race, awards, t-shirts for those who swam 25 miles or more, and is a great change to socialize with pool friends as the season comes to a close. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night started off with the 4x200m relay. Each session (Early Bird and Night Owl) from each pool selects 4 people to compete. I can't stand sprinting, but love relays and being a member of a team, so I was honored to swim! The Lasker Early Birds consisted of two South Africans (Richard and Ted), one Brit (Paula), and one American (me, in a Wonder Woman swimsuit). Our order was strategic: Ted (build the lead), me (hold and build the lead), Paula (hold and really build the lead), and Richard (get us to the wall as fast as humanly possible). We were in the 4th heat, so we had plenty of time to watch all the other teams swim. Eventually it was our turn! My stomach in knots at the prospect of a dreaded 50m sprint, I jumped into the pool and waited for Ted to touch the wall. I pushed off the wall like a spring, and breathed about 5 times for the next 50m (Francis said he's never seen me swim that fast). I thought I was going to DIE the last 10 meters! Slammed the wall with my hand, and Paula took off, increasing our lead. Then it was time for our anchor to bring us home! No one could come anywhere near the tall and speedy Richard, and we won our heat by several body lengths! We were so excited! After getting some dinner, they finally announced the relay winners. We came in a SECOND PLACE! Go Lasker Early Birds! It was so exciting walking up to that podium with such a great group of swimmers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I should also note, that Lasker had two fabulous in water cheerleaders, Magdalena and Amy! We were on an outside lane, and they were walking along in the lane to our right. They contributed to our success big time, and were a great addition to the great people cheering from the pool deck!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The night concluded with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place distance awards. I came in second after a very dedicated swimmer named Valentina. Catherine, the mayor of Lasker came in third. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the perfect capstone to a very busy summer of swimming. The NYC swimming community is truly something special. It is full of supportive, energetic, and truly caring people that I feel honored to call my friends. Whether I am at a CIBBOWS or NYC Swim event, a Lasker picnic and pre-work swim session, I find myself feeling so thankful to be a small part of such a fantastic community. While it is lonely during the winter when I have my 5:45 AM workouts, this support system is there when I get out of the pool, and some may just even be there next to me at the crack of dawn this year. It is something I treasure most dearly, and love about New York. This city gets a bad wrap for being lonely, empty, and soulless. And while that may be true in some ways, its swimming community is full of amazing people who make the big city seem more like an idyllic Walnut Grove (minus Nellie Oleson, of course). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have one more race this summer, the Little Red Lighthouse 10K, and then it will be back to training for some marathon swims next summer. And also plenty of Lasker gatherings throughout the fall and winter months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Pumpkin Spice Season! So far, I have had three pumpkin lattes, two servings of pumpkin soup, pumpkin salt water taffy, and pumpkin fudge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2nd place Lasker Early Birds! Paula, Ted, me, Richard</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2014 Lap Swim Awards Night. Picture courtesy Nan Melville.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNI72GGkQ6M/VAjg4UWARXI/AAAAAAAAAV4/3JR5o3QVQ9U/s1600/Lasker3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNI72GGkQ6M/VAjg4UWARXI/AAAAAAAAAV4/3JR5o3QVQ9U/s1600/Lasker3.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lasker Early Bird distance winners! Andy (third man from the left) swam further than ANY of us! He is a tank! Picture courtesy Nan Melville.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trophies!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CLkN-AUrg44/VAjgX3q3rdI/AAAAAAAAAUw/v0WxRiS3JLc/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My distance trophy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me and Jia! She got first place at McCarren pool. Thanks to her, I found this amazing program!</span></td></tr>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-26452726689426807012014-08-14T19:10:00.001-07:002014-09-04T15:23:21.891-07:00Swim Footage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kayaker extraordinaire Terry O'Malley sent Charles and I some amazing footage of our swims! This is amazing since it is a perspective that I never get to see! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a long video of the end of the swim. It gets kind of foggy due to the temperature change from being in the open water to hitting land. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/103471931">Click here to view</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-69157631696132620782014-08-11T13:29:00.003-07:002014-08-13T13:25:03.697-07:00The Sandy Hookers-Ederle Relay 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On August 10, 2014, I swam home for the first time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those not keeping score at home, I swam as the anchor of a 2-person relay from Battery Park to Sandy Hook, NJ. This was not a long expected swim. Swimming buddy Charles Bender reached out to me early in July and asked if I was interested. Of course, I could not turn this down! Two hours on, two hours off. Nothing neither of us could not handle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And handle it we did! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day started at North Cove Marina. Picture perfect day for a swim. Of course, I was terrified that my swim was going to turn out like Stage 6, with waves slamming me for 6 hours. But there was good news! The picturesque supermoon was going to help us out! We could expect fast tides in our favor...as long as we made it to the Hook in time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to start the relay, so I said goodbye to Charles and our crew pretty early in the day. We had a great crew for this! Terry O'Malley kayaking (lead kayaker for the day, may I add), and an experienced observer and boater.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little while after the boat departed, the swimmers boarded a zodiac and headed down to the battery. My dad works in midtown on Sundays, and I had given him directions to where he could potentially see the swim. Neither of us thought the stars would align so that he could see us off. But surprise was on our side (Master and Commander reference). All of a sudden I heard someone yell, "Louie!' </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has called me Louie since I was a baby, a derivative of "Laura Lou" and "Lulu Bell" which my mom and grandmother called me. Well, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">there he was standing at the battery right next to the race director, Morty. Pretty awesome! I got a little verklempt. A good omen for the day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first hurdle was to get us the heck out of New York Harbor. The harbor is a madhouse of boat traffic. Think about it: Statue of Liberty ferries, Governors Island ferries, Staten Island Ferry, Seastreak Ferry, Circle Line, Water Taxis...and these are just the ones off the top of my head! I kept telling myself to sprint. Hold fast, and get us to the open ocean! Morty counted us down, and I took off. I dove under and dolphin kicked to give myself some momentum. This worked really well, and I got away from the two other swimmers flanking my right and left. I found Terry very quickly, and we found our rhythm. Out of the corner of my eye, all I could see were these gigantic vessels. I knew I was safe, but I could not help but hope and pray that I did not become fish food at the hands of their mighty propellers. But let's not think about that!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Epdw7nRcSrg/U-toYv7PvnI/AAAAAAAAASY/TLNnevhFzvc/s1600/EderleBridges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Epdw7nRcSrg/U-toYv7PvnI/AAAAAAAAASY/TLNnevhFzvc/s1600/EderleBridges.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprinting to Buttermilk Channel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made our way around Governors Island through Buttermilk Channel. It does not taste like buttermilk. Bummer. My feeds were quick, as I wanted to build us up as much of a cushion as I possibly could. Can't waste time! While swimming a relay is easier in the sense that there is more than one swimmer, you are really giving it your all for the two hours you are swimming so that you don't disappoint. Charles jumped in, and I finished the first leg about a mile or so from the Verrazano Bridge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then the trouble began...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I found out that the boat had a head (nautical term for toilet), I decided not to bring my No Flash towel (a handy poncho like device Coach Bonnie invented to make deck changes easier) to save some space. Well, the head was located in the hull of the boat. That is prime area for seasickness. I also rushed getting up onto the boat and getting situated. Your body also goes through a huge blood pressure change when you go from being in the water to land. Between the blood pressure change and changing in the hull, I was TOAST. I proudly did not throw up, but boy did I think I would. I only managed to eat a few grapes, water, and some Nuun. I spent most of the leg laying down and trying to do what George Gallagher told me to do: keep my eyes on the horizon. The support crew around the boat was great. No one made a big deal about it, which would have really gotten inside my head. I felt bad that I could not cheer on Charles more as he was in the water! He had a great leg and swam under the Verrazano like a champ. Miraculously, about 15 minutes before it was time to start my leg I felt better. That plunge back into the cool water felt like heaven!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second leg started out great. We were getting super close, and I felt much better. But we were not out of the woods (kelp forest? I need an ocean version of woods) yet. I hit a major wall around Roamer Shoal light, about 2 miles from land. It was a long, long, long, long, 2 miles. The water gets "confused" around Sandy Hook, with it traveling in different directions (ebbing and flooding). If you have ever tried to get up onto a sand bar at the beach, it feels a lot like that. It was an excruciating couple of miles. I really wanted to walk up on that beach and finish the swim, but I thought Charles was going to have to come in. It was as big a mental challenge as the end of Stage 6. Thankfully, a second wind hit as I saw the beautiful sand and trees of the Hook. I knew exactly where I was. I could see the hill I grew up on. The water felt the same. Everything started to come into place. A hot shot boater created these huge waves that I saw approaching behind me. Years of bodysurfing came in handy, as I went into the streamline position and road them several feet. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized this could actually happen!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3FbPCHDlBA/U-tojsrF86I/AAAAAAAAASg/QktNpqlBRNg/s1600/EderleOpenSea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3FbPCHDlBA/U-tojsrF86I/AAAAAAAAASg/QktNpqlBRNg/s1600/EderleOpenSea.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the same instant that I saw some brown sand, I heard Terry yell "Stand up! Stand up!" I stood up and there I was! HOME! Sandy Hook! The place where I sang "Castle on a Cloud" in front of a huge audience when I was 7, went on Girl Scout picnics, dissected two sharks at marine biology camp, listened to a Hurricane Sandy prophecy 10 years in advance, learned to drive, visited my friend Sam when she was a park ranger, got wiped out by waves that crash right on the shore, watched for humpback whales migrating south when I was an angsty teenager just wanting to get out of high school. The list goes on. It felt somewhat primitive to step on that wild part of the beach. Like I was the first woman to ever have seen it. A new world, vastly different than the one I was just in. It was also kind of like the scene in Gravity when Sandra Bullock finally reaches shore. Charles swam out to me and we both soaked in the excitement of completing the swim. We each took a shell from shore, and made our way back to the boat for the ride in.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDlcgxBHy8s/U-vJZg8N86I/AAAAAAAAASw/93JlsCUjvg0/s1600/EderleShore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDlcgxBHy8s/U-vJZg8N86I/AAAAAAAAASw/93JlsCUjvg0/s1600/EderleShore.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foggy due to temperature change, but I am standing on the tip of Sandy Hook!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My parents met us for dinner where we were presented with our Top Relay award! We came in with a time of 5 hours and 52 minutes! Sixth swimmers to hit the beach! I did roughly 12 of the 17.5 miles. It is always such an experience gathering with swimmers, kayakers, volunteers, and loved ones after an event like this. Everyone has great stories and there is such a buzz and energy in the air! You're in desperate need of a shower, and in my case, something to help drain the water from your sinuses, yet you can't help but be upbeat and want to stay forever. It is so surreal and goes by in a blur.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My night ended in as great a way as possible: pumpkin beer (the first of the season), Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, and Francis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BIG thank you to Charles Bender for recruiting me to be a Sandy Hooker. Kevin, for being a great crew member and helping when I could barely move on the boat. Davien for being an amazing observer, and snapping the money shot of the day (also my cover photo for a forthcoming album of Bon Jovi/Springsteen cover songs).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to Terry O'Malley for being such an awesome kayaker! Truly the best! Thanks to my family for the support and great messages. They also helped big time on the boat. Thank you Matt Gurry for the great tweets from a Sandy Hook ferry! And thank you to Francis, for everything from spending money to take an Uber car home from a BBQ on Saturday so he could be with me to keeping my family updated while I was swimming. Thank you to Lori and Coach Bonnie for continuing to be such an awesome support team. This is a highly individual sport that is impossible to do alone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will post more pictures and some awesome video once I have them compiled. And once I get some more food in my system. Bareburger will take care of that :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-34864447761396808982014-07-22T16:57:00.000-07:002014-08-11T13:32:52.100-07:00Ederle Realy 2014! Woo!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Summer! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope these lazy, hazy days have been relaxing and full of fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just after the 4th of July, I was full into my "swimming, but not training" mode. I started the early bird lap swim at Lasker Pool which is really fun! The pool is over 50 meters long, kind of has a current/chop, and is filled with interesting and dynamic swimmers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, a message on Facebook....Charles Bender, my friend and fellow 8 Bridges swimmer asked if I was interested in a 2-person Ederle Swim relay. As much as I wanted to coast the rest of the summer, the minute this opportunity arose I knew I could not say no! I talked it over with Francis (just to make sure this would not disrupt anything having to do with his triathlon), looked into some logistics, and said YES! This is a great way for me to preview the course and really prepare for next year's solo attempt. Plus, I LOVE being part of a team, and will love cheering Charles on during his legs of the swim!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a marathon relay, you alternate 2 hours on 2 hours off. The faster swimmer (not sure who that will be yet. The race director decides) starts and ends the swim. I am so excited! Our team name is.....wait for it.......The Sandy Hookers!! There is an awesome and respectable tri-club in Monmouth County is of the same name, but there is no copyright on the name. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could not be more excited about this opportunity! I was feeling slightly lost and a little bit directionless without an imminent swim, and this is giving me the ability to keep motivated without the long wait until getting to actually swim. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The swim is Sunday August 10th, so it is not that far away! It is exactly one week after Francis' first triathlon, so after my swim we can both actually relax/have beer together! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going to be a great couple of weeks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-44970382256920625402014-06-26T15:22:00.000-07:002014-06-26T16:06:04.813-07:00Reflections on Stage 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two days have passed since I jumped off a boat under the Tappan Zee Bridge and set off to swim to the George Washington Bridge. Two days of processing and thinking and sharing and recovering from what is easily one of the best days of my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of you already know that we faced very tough conditions, and I came only one mile short of the bridge before being pulled. In all, only 4 AMAZING swimmers made it the full 15.7 miles out of the 12 of us who jumped in. There were times when I turned to breathe, and waves would wash over my head giving me only small pocket of air in which to breathe. Other times, I would crash back down of a wave and let out a little "Woo!" which amused Teddy (my kayaker). Now, I don't mind a little chop. I grew up letting myself get pummeled by waves, and love the feeling of being carried up into them. This chop, however, created by a 10-15 MPH southeast wind severely diminished the tidal assist of the swim and made the event unusually difficult. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, let me get out the negatives of those last few miles. I had to come to terms with the fact that I would now have a DNF on my otherwise untarnished record. My arms hurt a lot. I had to deliriously ask for a song, and Francis and an awesome swimmer named Mike Gemelli sang my second favorite sea shanty (yes, I have a ranking of sea shanties. I am an old salt at heart). All I wanted to do was climb aboard a boat and curl into a little ball. I wanted to sing a very sad Paddy Reilly song about the Great Hunger (Irish Potato Famine of the 1840's) called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9InnXP64To">"Fields of Athenry"</a>. I immediately called myself a failure, to which Teddy sternly corrected me. He reminded me that I had just swam 14 miles in awful conditions, and for all intents and purposes had a successful swim. Even after this pep talk, I still responded "NO!" like a petulant two year old when he went to take this picture, while we waited for the boat to come get me. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A forced one smile. The best performance of my acting career.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then, something changed. I realized that Teddy was right. I had just accomplished something incredible. While it is not what I originally intended, the goal and plan had changed when I hit that washing machine like Hudson River. I swam further than I ever had before, kept my stroke rate at 68 and above (even when I hurt), and did not quit until I had to for safety. Roy Malinak pulled me on Launch 5, and kept me from crying by affirming that I really had done a great job and gave it my all. I really do not like crying in front of people (there's no crying in baseball!), so I am grateful that he helped me keep my pride. Then, I got a huge hug from Janine Serell. Andrew Malinak assured me that no matter what happened that day, I still had my amazing Pawnee Porpoise shirt (Porpoise Call!). My swim mom Eileen Burke told me how proud and excited she was that I performed so well in those conditions. Could it really be that I did okay even though I did not achieve the rest of my original goal? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is both the beauty and the beast of open water swimming. You plan and train and plan and train. The Beast: Something as simple as a change in the wind will keep you from achieving a fixed goal. The Beauty: You can take from that change a different goal and accomplishment and use it to become a better swimmer, and all around human. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">I listened to this while walking to the pool before every workout. It is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubybb69Wydo">intro to the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney.</a></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"> It features the vocal stylings of James Earl Jones and music from The Perfect Storm score by James Horner. My dad has been an audio engineer with NBC for over 30 years, and I used to pitch him songs to use in various pieces. In 2000, I was really into the score from The Perfect Storm. Much to my 11 year-old delight, the editors used my music suggestion! There is a line towards the end that spe</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 20px;">aks to what open water swimming and all endurance sports truly are- "Where a people value most dearly, not the triumph, but the struggle. Hold high any who dare reach for greatness."</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> I am currently in touch with the writer to explain to him just how much his beautiful piece means to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now for the positives:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Swam further than ever - more than twice as far and more than twice as long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Gained more of an understanding for people I interview as part of my job since I was interviewed by a news crew right before splash time</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Stoke rate was between 68-70 THE WHOLE TIME!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Completed a marathon swim (10K+)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* I have a text message string of comedic gold! Francis was on a boat and was keeping my family up to date. The way my family deals with anything nerve wracking (like me swimming in a wild body of water) is with humor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Bonded even more with my amazing open water community</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Wore a great orca hat</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hat made by Bobcat Hats.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Did not give up until I had to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* I communicated with a very important person in a unique way. I usually talk to people who are not there in the water. Everyone from my grandmother to people from work to my dead cat, Edward. Francis' father passed away a few months before we met, so I never got to know him. At one point in the middle of the swim, his face came into my mind, and I asked him for some help. It was a very poignant moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* I'm more amped than ever to keep this up! Even though it hurt, I am ready to keep training and going onward to the next challenges. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* My Hold Fast stayed on the whole swim!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I tell ya. The Devil's at the wheel of that there phantom ship. You better hold fast.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Francis and Mike Gemelli singing to me from the boat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>What do you do with a drunken sailor? </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you do with a drunken sailor? </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you do with a drunken sailor? Early in the morning?</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Put 'em in a long boat till his sober. </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put 'em in a long boat till his sober. </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put 'em in a long boat till his sober. </i><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early in the morning.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Woah, hey, up she rises. </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Woah, hey, up she rises. </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Woah, hey, up she rises. </i><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early in the morning.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Francis on a jet ski! I didn't get to see it, but wow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Camaraderie. Have a mentioned that the open water community is AMAZING!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Thank You List</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Coach Bonnie. Without you, I never would have made it this far. Thank you for the rides to the beach, workouts, phone calls, and blintzes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Lori King. The big sister I never had. Thank you for the phone calls and constant pick me ups. I could not ask for a better training partner. I also must add that Lori totally crushed Stage 7! She's amazing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Ted Gruber for being a great kayaker and not letting me give in!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Francis. You have gone above and beyond the role of supportive boyfriend. Thank you for dealing with my training brain, rubbing my sore muscles, and almost always saying "have a good swim" when I got up at the crack of dawn to head to the pool or beach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*My parents. Thanks for being there at the end of the swim! I was really happy when I saw you on the dock, even if I did not look it right away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*David Barra and Rondi Davies and Launch 5 for running such an amazing event. It is so much work, but you guys make it look easy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Erica Pepitone for decorating my desk at work! What a great surprise when I got to work today!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*CIBBOWS for giving me an extended family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what is next? Well, a week of no swimming. Then, I am going to try to be in the top 3 female early morning swimmers at Lasker Pool in Central Park (right down the street from my apartment!) because of the sweet trophy. More open water swimming with CIBBOWS because, duh, they are awesome. Plus, Francis' triathlon is about a month away and I want him to be ready for the Hudson. Swimming in the fall when Coach Bonnie makes her triumphant return from Cali. Training hardcore for more 8 Bridges next year and Ederle. Maybe add in some lifting/dryland activity. I hate both of those things, so that will be...interesting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Planning a few other related blog posts, but until then....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span></div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-60550907040385000632014-06-20T07:27:00.002-07:002014-06-20T08:27:06.888-07:00Feed Plan<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In case you were curious as to what my feed plan looked like, here it is! A feed plan is the schedule of what I will be eating every 30 minutes in the water. I have it mapped out for 6 hours. Hopefully, I will be finished before that! Yes, it is color coded. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">L.Picardo</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6/24/2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.850000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Splash Time- 10:30 AM </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s In The Bag?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Green Bottle- Water</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Orange Bottle- Water with Gu mixed in</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Blue Bottle- Peanut Butter M&M’s</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Applesauce</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Chia Vitality</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gu Gels- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #85200c; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chocolate </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #9900ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanilla</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Schedule</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 1 (0:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #85200c; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chocolate Gu</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 2 (1:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #ff9900; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water with Gu</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 3 (1:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chia Vitality </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 4 (2:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 5 (2:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #9900ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanilla Gu </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 6 (3:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 7 (3:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peanut Butter M&M’s</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #85200c; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #85200c; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 8 (4:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 9 (4:30)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #85200c; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chocolate Gu </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #85200c; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 10 (5:00)- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Applesauce</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feed 11 (5:30)-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #9900ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vanilla Gu</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The applesauce is a very sentimental for me. I grew up eating delicious homemade applesauce that my great-grandmother, grandmother and great-aunt used to make to go with pork chops and red cabbage (and really almost any other dinner). I now go apple picking and make sauce every fall with the same recipe. While I am using store bought applesauce in little individual pouches because they are easier in the water, having applesauce be a part of my swim makes me feel connected to them in a way. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also think about my paternal grandmother who passed away right before the open water season last year, and how she used to go "Oh Blessed Mother!" when my dad would tell her about my swimming. She said this a lot when he would tell her that I had absolutely no fear of waves when I was only 6. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all loved the water as much as I do, and while I often wish that they were here to see me become a marathon swimmer, I know that they are still here with me. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Sh40fd3nJM/U6RDL1_1k3I/AAAAAAAAAPw/bJ1L5RJXbcs/s1600/nannyread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Sh40fd3nJM/U6RDL1_1k3I/AAAAAAAAAPw/bJ1L5RJXbcs/s1600/nannyread.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanny (my great-grandmother) and I reading Mother Goose. April 1989.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTUpX113aSE/U6RC8fVel4I/AAAAAAAAAPo/c7EZPYOp0VQ/s1600/promladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTUpX113aSE/U6RC8fVel4I/AAAAAAAAAPo/c7EZPYOp0VQ/s1600/promladies.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senior Prom 2007. My shoulders were a lot smaller back then. Great-Aunt Alice (left), Grandma Kay (right)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1RjGxpIhOg/U6REpX1Q32I/AAAAAAAAAP8/aTaAq4kOx74/s1600/sauce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1RjGxpIhOg/U6REpX1Q32I/AAAAAAAAAP8/aTaAq4kOx74/s1600/sauce.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmm. I can smell it now!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-18965096242637476332014-06-19T17:37:00.003-07:002014-06-19T17:37:47.543-07:00Origins: Hold Fast<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Less than one week to go before Stage 6! Today was my last 5:45 AM pre-work swim! Francis hummed "Pomp and Circumstance" as I deleted that alarm from my phone. I am incredibly proud that I did not once give in to the temptation to take one of the many available cabs that gather outside my building so early in the morning! I am overjoyed that I can stay up past 9 tonight, even thought I know that I will probably not make it much past 10.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's post is an origin story of sorts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every open water race, Francis writes the phrase "Hold Fast" on my fingers like so...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OChsRDwRJMk/U6N4-venSdI/AAAAAAAAAPM/6nktlQz5i30/s1600/BB2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OChsRDwRJMk/U6N4-venSdI/AAAAAAAAAPM/6nktlQz5i30/s1600/BB2013.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast is a nautical term that was used to help sailors persevere in storms and battles. Sailors had to hold tight to the riggings to help their ships weather storms, so this was also a call to hold on. It comes from the Dutch "avast" (think Pirates of the Caribbean) meaning to stop. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I first came across this phrase in high school when I saw and read Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z5zczFDkKr0/U6N6yFoigeI/AAAAAAAAAPY/nQL3ofjxjrk/s1600/hold_fast_master_amp_commander___16_1171780003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z5zczFDkKr0/U6N6yFoigeI/AAAAAAAAAPY/nQL3ofjxjrk/s1600/hold_fast_master_amp_commander___16_1171780003.jpg" height="130" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old Joe Plaice (the one who has brain surgery on board, for those of you familiar with the movie) has hold fast tattooed on his fingers. He also says one of my favorite lines from any movie: "I tell ya. The Devil's at the wheel of that there phantom ship. You better hold fast." My friend John and I were obsessed with this movie! We both used to cantor and sing with a group that did music for the 9 AM mass on Sunday mornings (nerd alert!), John was getting nervous before doing his first solo psalm. Before mass, I grabbed a pen and wrote Hold Fast on my fingers. Before he went up to sing, I put my fists together so he could read the message, which made him laugh. He went on to deliver an exquisite performance of Isaiah 12: "Cry out with joy and gladness, for among you is the great and holy one of Israel.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast to me means persevering through struggle. It is my in-water reminder to focus on my swimming and not the pain, push harder, and make it to the finish. Hold Fast, along with the tried and true "Just Keep Swimming" from Finding Nemo, and the new "Let It Go" from Frozen are my three mantras that will hopefully keep me going to the finish at the George Washington Bridge, Sandy Hook, and whatever other open water challenges are on the horizon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72588217528313564.post-42366328896416585242014-06-05T17:02:00.001-07:002014-06-06T13:33:17.450-07:00The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway-2.5 Hours in 57 Degree Water<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Less than one month away from Stage 6. Some days, I feel like I could swim it without any problems, and other days I find myself wishing I still had several months left to train! I know I am ready, but uncertainty is always lurking behind every door. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only way to calm this uncertainty is to just get out there and swim!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday May 29th is a day that I will always remember. I took a personal day from work, and woke up at 4:30 to head out to Brighton Beach with Bonnie and Lori. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, made some coffee, kissed Francis goodbye, and before I knew it, there we all were staring at the beautiful Atlantic. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hills in the distance are the towns of Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, NJ. AH is my hometown! Always a great comfort out in the water!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The air temperature was a chilly 55, and the water temperature a "balmy" 57. On the beach, Lori and I figured out a feeding plan and a basic ideas for the swim. My plan was to go as long as I could go, but no less than 1.5 hours. We procrastinated as much as possible, but at 6:30 Lori and I were in the water! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It felt amazing! Cold, but as usual, I stopped feeling it after a while and was just able to focus on my swimming and enjoying the gift that is the ocean. I did my first "feed" alone about 40 minutes in. It was a delicious salted caramel GU gel that I had tucked into my cap. I have done several of these feeds before, but this one was particularly hard because I lost a lot of my dexterity and ended up tearing it open with my teeth. Another 40 minutes went by, and I met Bonnie closer to shore. I had some water and applesauce, and was able to "keep everything down" (no puking). Bonnie also told me that I was holding a great stroke rate of 70 strokes per minute. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A special shout out here to the fabulous Barbara Held (who I observed during her amazing Ederle Swim last summer). Barbara, when Bonnie told me my stroke rate, the first words out of my mouth were "Are you kidding?! That is Barbara Held high!" Thought you would like to know.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just that little bit of encouragement and knowledge that I did not look like an uncoordinated duck was able to keep me going. My stroke rate dropped slightly in the next set...but that was due to some fear. A huge flock of seagulls were swarming really close to me. I know enough about marine biology to know that means there is something really tasty right underneath the surface of the water. My question was what was exactly chasing those fish UP to the surface?? Not cool! Luckily, they stopped and I regained some focus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After another feed, I was able to get my stroke rate back up. 2.5 hours later, I was still going, but getting kind of cold and tired. The main way to make sure your body is not too cold yet is to see if you can move your pinkie to your thumb. I was able to on my right hand, but my left pinkie just wanted to stay extended. I have an amazing coach who knows exactly where to draw the line between a tough workout and hurting myself, so she told me to come on out. Being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted to keep going towards 4 hours sub 60, but I also would rather not hurt myself this close to my swim. It was an indescribable experience! I had successful feeds, remained strong, and most of all, thoroughly enjoyed myself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the swim, the three mermaids went and did what all good swimmers do: EAT WAFFLES...and talk about swimming! A swim family is really crucial since it is such a lonely sport day to day, so what better way to bond than over waffles and swapping "my worst swim" or "my best swim" stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bonnie and I then went to the New York Aquarium where we saw penguins sunning themselves, seals swimming through the water with grace, and the most adorable sea otter ever taking a nice little snooze right at the glass. These sea creatures are a big source of inspiration.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHnx7_4rP4Y/U5D8yaGQKEI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/UyX-APtlecU/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHnx7_4rP4Y/U5D8yaGQKEI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/UyX-APtlecU/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I named him Bill.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, there was one big instance of pain. But it is not what you think... I forgot to put body glide on my neck and that combined with a suit that was a too loose led to this "suit hickey" for the record books.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kraken-1. Laura-0.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wish I could say that I got in a fight with the kraken, but no. It hurt a lot. Plus, I had to go to work the next day, and did not want this showing. I busted out that concealer brush and his it the best I could. Slightly embarrassing sharing this oh so beautiful picture, but it will ensure that I never make this mistake again! Several applications of Aquaphor and Desatin later and it is almost completely healed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big thanks to Coach Bonnie and Lori King for being the best big swim sisters a lady could ask for. I am amped and feeling really ready to tackle this and any challenge, all thanks to an early morning, friends, some cold water, and waffles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold Fast, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12565343057404107029noreply@blogger.com0