Another milestone on the 'extra' day of winter

I broke the 25 mile mark today. 14 miles to go in the remaining 21 days of winter.

5 miles a week for the remainder of winter. . .

Golden Gate [X]press - Interview

Last week I got a call from a writer of a local magazine called Golden Gate [X]press. Meredith explained that she was a former competitive swimmer and wanted to interview me for an article she was writing about swimming in the bay. I was happy to oblige and eagerly answered a series of questions about: the Dolphin Club, the water temperature, sharks, sea lions, hypothermia, Alcatraz, etc.

Then she asked simply, “Why do you do it?” To my surprise, I didn’t really have a response. I wanted to convey to her the exhilaration I feel when I get in; the allure of open water; the camaraderie of the club; the beauty of sunrise from the ocean; that tranquil state of mind I experience after a long bay swim. . . the phone line was still quiet. Finally, I responded, “How about joining me for a morning swim?” To my surprise, she jumped at the opportunity.

The next morning, I met Meredith at the Dolphin Club at 6:30 a.m. She pulled on a wetsuit and shuffled, wide-eyed, toward the beach. The initial shock of the cold water, even with a wetsuit, elicits shrieks from the strongest of swimmers, she was no exception. However, as we swam away from the club, she seemed to gain more confidence with each stroke. Her experience as a competitive swimmer was readily apparent. Soon, she rolled on to her back, pushed her goggles to her forehead and resumed her interview with me in the middle of the bay!

The sun had risen and the historic ships in the bay came alive with color. There was no noticeable current or wind. I guess you could say it was the perfect morning for a floating interview. I can’t remember the details of the exchange. I suppose I was too cold, but I recall it seemed to go well. I suppose I’ll have to wait until the article is published to know for sure.

This morning, Meredith came to the club again to ask some follow up questions. This time the photo editor for the magazine, Darlene, came too. Darlene came prepared with her camera equipment, but the conditions this morning were a bit harsh. It was dark and stormy. She offered to come again on a clear morning to take more pictures. Meredith didn’t swim this morning because she had a bit of a cold, but I still have to hand it to her. Her dedication to journalism is amazing. I still can’t believe she swam in the bay to prepare for her article.

Broke the 20 mile mark

I hit 21 miles this morning. I expected a serene full moon swim. Instead, it was raining and dark. Par for the course, I guess.

Half way home, 19 miles miles to go!

Invitation to "Iron-April" 2008

“Swim 2.4 miles,
bike 112 miles,
run 26.2 miles,
brag for the rest of your life.”
John Collins – Founder of the Ironman triathlon

I invite you to participate with me in "Iron-April. As spring begins, the challenge is to cover the Ironman triathlon distance, in the three sports of triathlon, during the month of April. This is a challenging, yet attainable goal for most folks and a great way to break out of winter. What does it take?

The total miles for a typical week might look like this. . .
.5 mile in a pool
28 miles on a bike
6.5 miles running or walking

Sound like too much? There is a 2-person division (see below)

If you work out 6 days a week, your week might look like this. . .
Monday – walk 30 minutes (1.5 miles)
Tuesday – swim 20 minutes (.5 miles)
Wednesday – bike 1 hour (13 miles)
Thursday – REST
Friday – walk/run 30 minutes (2.5 miles)
Saturday – bike 1 hour (13 miles)
Sunday – walk/run 30 minutes (2.5 miles)

Of course, there are tons of different ways to get the miles. For some, it might only require working out 2-3 times a week. But, this gives you an idea of what it would take to gain the 140.6 miles of swimming, biking, and running during one month. Stationary bikes and treadmills are fine ways of covering the distance.

During April, I’ll post the names and mileage updates of all participants on a weekly basis. Just email me your weekly mileage and I’ll post your results on the blog so others can share your progress. The comment section of the blog will be open to all participants and virtual spectators.

E-mail me at kevin.haugh@gmail.com to join. I’ll add your name to the Iron-April schedule and post it April 1st. I’ll also email you on April Fool’s Day to remind you when it is time to start. Feel free to ask your friends or co-workers to join as well. This is open to anyone willing to accept the Iron-April challenge (limit 50).

Sound like too much? You can also join the 2-person team division. Just pick a team name and email me your total team miles each week.

Anything is Possible.

Kevin Haugh

My email address
kevin.haugh@gmail.com

The Blog
www.kevinhaugh.blogspot.com

Theory of Relativity

Yesterday morning, as we stood in the Dolphin Club planning our route, a solo woman swimmer walked in out of the darkness. Her skin was a discolored - bright red and blotchy white (a temporary side effect of swimming in cold water). A rush of cold morning air blew past her and I pulled my towel tight against my shoulders to keep warm. She chattered, “It is really nice out there, the water temp is f-f-f-fifty.”

As she entered the women’s locker room, my group of fellow swimmers started nodding their rubber capped heads and smiling. “Fifty”, said Mark with a smile. “Yeah, I got 49 yesterday”, said Vince. Sunny just smiled and said, “Fifty.” They all seemed pleased and relieved by the report of the apparition swimmer. I too started to smile and nod. Then I looked out at the cold dark bay, shivered, and thought these guys are insane.

I mentioned this to Jon and he replied quite simply, “Fifty feels a whole lot better coming up than down.” With that he pushed his way out the back door and into the night.

I reconciled his comment during our swim.

During the summer months, the temperature in the bay is in the high 50s and does sometimes even hit 60 degrees. As we approached winter and the mercury began to fall, 50 degrees was the mark where it was officially “f*#&kin cold.”

It seems a sub-50 degree swim is a badge of honor of sorts. In fact, I learned that many Dolphin members stop swimming when the temperature hits 50. Sub-50 is condsidered dangerously cold by many. This winter has been particularly cold. The water has been hovering around 47-48 degrees for weeks. The lowest recorded temperature this winter was 44.

As we rounded the pier, I started to get it. From depths of winter, hitting the 50 degree mark is like a calm warming after a storm. Fifty feels better when the temperature is rising that when it is falling! I peeked over at Jon gliding through the dark water and thought, “yeah, he’s really got it.”

Twenty minutes later as I made my final turn back toward the club, I could no longer feel my face, hands, or feet. The sun was finally starting to rise and I was struck by the site of frost on the dock! I watched Jon rise to his feet and wade out of the water. His back was bright red with blotchy white patches. He looked back toward me with a huge grin, nodded and made his way into the club. In that moment of ‘would-be clarity’, I was again struck with the distinct sense that my dear friends and I are all insane.

"Your going to need a bigger boat"

One of the best movie quotes of all time (and loosely swim related).

"Roy Scheider, a stage actor with a background in the classics who became one of the leading figures in the American film renaissance of the 1970s, died Sunday afternoon in Little Rock, Ark. He was 75.

He is best known for his role in Steven Spielberg's 1975 film, "Jaws," the enduring classic about a killer shark terrorizing beachgoers as well as millions of moviegoers.

Widely hailed as the film that launched the era of the Hollywood blockbuster, it was also the first movie to earn $100 million at the box office.

In 2005, one of Scheider's most famous lines in the movie - "You're gonna need a bigger boat" - was voted No. 35 on the American Film Institute's list of best quotes from U.S. movies. He also says to the shark, in the parting phrase, "Smile, you son of a bitch!"

Click here for full article.

S-s-shaky Solo Swim

Swam solo this morning. It was tough getting in alone. I almost didn't, but I had a lot on my mind and needed the swim. Apparently, there was an earthquake this morning. Although, I didn't feel anything.

"An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.1 struck one mile northwest of Pacifica this morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremor occurred at 5:31 a.m. and had a depth of 6.3 miles. There were no reports of injuries or damage, authorities said."

Article link

Almost Solo Return to the Bay

Surprisingly, local water tests yielded a ‘good’ rating and the beaches of San Francisco were reopened yesterday. Of course, the good folks at the Dolphin Club hit the waters before the announcement was made. The swim report from the Monday morning swim was good by all accounts. All except Ted whose comment was more philosophical than informative, he reported, “it was too cold to think about the sewage.”

I, on the other hand, stayed in my warm bed while the waters were tested Monday morning by those brave souls and waited for the official reopening (Monday night) before I made my return to the water this morning. . .

The club was completely empty when I arrived at 5:50. Swimming alone in 47 degree water while it is dark is not to be taken lightly. The plan was a fast .5 mile conservative beach swim. I admit I was having second thoughts.

I was in the midst of psyching myself up for the plunge when in walked another 6-amer, Jason. What a relief. My whole morning changed. We went a full mile and enjoyed the whole experience. Thanks Jason!

So, the bay passed the ‘smell-test’ and I’m now a bit embarrassed about whining about not being able to swim last week. In my defense, based on the previous spill, I fully expected to be out of the water for at least a month. I’m glad I was wrong.

How to Save a Life

Well, swimming in the bay is on hold for a while. I'm still comitted to the Polar Bear Challenge. I'll just have to get creative when the beaches open again. I'm also still bitter about the way the spill(s) occured this year. Of course, accidents happen, but both incidents seemed preventable.

Anyway, I reviewed the Hypothermia post the other day and got to thinking about a water rescue I made a couple of years back. . .

It was the day before the San Diego Marathon. We pulled over to a random beach to take in the view. Brant, my son, ran up and down the beach while my brother and I contemplated difficulty of the race ahead. Over the loud crashing of the waves, we heard a call for 'help'. In fact, we heard the plea for help at the very moment this photo was taken.

Between the wave sets, we saw a wetsuit clad woman, clearly exhausted, wearily wading out of the water. I asked her if she was alright. She coughed, gasped for a breath, and replied, “My mother, my mother is still in the surf.” I couldn’t see the other swimmer. I scanned the beach for a life guard. Nothing. What I did see was a bogie board washed up on the beach.

I stripped down, grabbed the board and crashed out into the ocean. It was rougher than it looked from the beach. I paddled and searched. Nothing. To be honest, I actually started to feel duped. Just then, I spotted a wrist and forearm of a submersed swimmer. I paddled hard and reached down to pull the swimmer on to the board. I introduced myself and paddled her back to safety.

Later, I learned the couple was a mother and daughter visiting from Canada. The daughter had gotten caught in the current while bogie boarding and fully exhausted herself while struggling back to shore. During the ordeal, she lost her board. When the board washed ashore, the mother went in to rescue the daughter and suffered the same fate. The daughter made her way out with the help of the mother. The mother, exhausted, gave up.

Shortly after the rescue, a life guard arrived in a bright yellow truck. He said, he saw the whole thing transpire from another beach and got here as fast as he could. He praised my decision to grab the board before attempting the rescue. After drying off and getting dressed, the lifeguard made a full report. The mother and daughter, still in shock, briefly thanked us, and we were off.

About a month later I received a heartfelt letter from the mother thanking me and describing the event from her perspective. I’ll keep the letter private. As for the marathon, I finished in the bottom half of my age group with a finish time of 4:45. It was my first marathon and I couldn't have been more pleased.

Lessons learned: 1) emergencies don’t always look urgent at first glance and 2) the safest way to attempt a water rescue is with the aid of a flotation device. The second seems obvious, but it makes me think about all the boats, buoys, and pilings in the bay and how these things might be useful in an emergency.

"I would have stayed up with you all night, had I known how to save a life"
The Fray

Signs posted at S.F. beaches after spill of 2.7 million gallons of Marin County sewage

About 2.7 million gallons of both raw and treated sewage overflowed from a Marin County treatment facility into Corte Madera Creek and San Francisco Bay on Thursday evening after an alert system failed to properly notify workers at the facility, officials said today.

Signs have been posted at many popular San Francisco beaches - including Crissy Field, Baker Beach, Aquatic Park and China Beach - to discourage people from swimming in the water as a precaution.

The environmental impacts of the spill are unknown, though water quality officials said today that they are much less worried than they would have been if the sewage hadn't been treated at all.

Danehy said the spill was caused by operator error. The worker failed to set up enough pumps to direct all the water out of the Mill Valley plant, he said.

An alert system notified an off-site, private dispatch service, which should have let an on-call operator know, Tang said. But the operator didn't answer and instead of calling Danehy, as they should have, the dispatcher left a message.

Click here for the full article

Too frustrated to blog. I'm so bummed. 2.7 million gallons? No alarm? I need to take a walk, because, well, I can't freaking go swimming. What was the dispatcher thinking?