Iron-April - 2,900 miles!

Before Iron-April began I estimated the group's total expected cummulative mileage during April to roughly equal the distance between San Francisco and New York City and back again(5,800 miles).

I am excited to announce that the Iron-April Athletes broke 2,900 miles this morning! In just two weeks these amazing athletes have covered the distance from San Francisco to New York by swimming, biking and running!

Way to go Athletes! Keep it up!

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Late Post - Mimi Completes Polar Bear!

My mama, Marilyn, Mimi, completed the Polar Bear Swim too. She logged 42 miles this winter without a wetsuit. Mimi logged most of her miles in Lydgate Park on the island of Kauai.

Equipped with her trusty floatation belt, mask and snorkel she also swam in the open ocean. One afternoon she got caught in a current at Wailua Seashell beach and was swept out to sea. She kept her nerve and swam parallel to the beach to break free. She finally paddled her way on to Horner’s Corner beach a couple miles down shore.

Within the confines of Lydgate Park, her swims were much more relaxing. She fed the fish dog food pellets while swimming along. Her Aqua Lung swim mask provided ample room for a quick ‘wink’ to the passing humuhumunukunukuapuau (see photo).

Without the aid of the internet, Mimi would simply call in her swims each day. I’d be in a meeting at work and would be interrupted with my favorite phone call of the day. . .

“Hello?”
“Dis your mama. I had broke 20 and the sea was plenty rough. You had swim this morning?”
“Yes, mom. I gotta go.”
“K-den, bumby, change your mama’s miles to 21.”
(Pigeon translation – Fine, later, please update my mileage)

Congrats Mama! It was awesome doing the swim together. I think Brant was your biggest fan. He knows you did it and couldn’t be more proud of you. He told everyone at the Dolphin Club Polar Bear potluck that "his Mimi" did the Polar Bear too!

Polar Bear 2009?

Good luck with Iron-April!!!!

Go Team Hula Girls!!!

40 MILES! POLAR BEAR COMPLETED!

A common misconception about bay swimming is that it is easier to enter cold water if you are an experienced bay swimmer. It never gets any easier. This is especially true when you are swimming solo. Last night the sky was particularly ominous. Here is a photo I took just before heading down to the beach.

Wading into the biting cold water for a solo swim is strangely similar to what I felt the first time I skydived. Every cell in your body screams the act is unnatural. You feel excitement, the rush of adrenalin and fear.

The harsh winds caused major chop as I struggled to swim into the wind and across the beach. My plan was a 1-mile swim, setting the stage for mile 40 on Friday morning with my friends.

It isn’t productive, but when I swim alone all I think about is sharks. To busy my mind, I recounted as many Polar Bear swim experiences as I could – laying out my clothes each night, seal encounters, sunrises, shooting stars, cruise ships, my friends, frost, glow sticks, alarm clocks, my mom, my wife, my boys . . . 30 minutes later, I had covered my 1-mile course and was treading water in front of the Dolphin Club.

The exercise of recalling the Polar Bear season had stirred my emotions. As I turned to the desolate beach, I remember my wife saying, “If you are feeling it, go for 40!” I glanced once at the foreboding sky and once at my watch before tearing out into the bay again.

There was no fear or need for mind games during my final mile of the Polar Bear. It was an inspired and magical swim. A winter of hard work paid off in speed and power. It was my best effort. I was in my finest form and 28 minutes later, I had done it.

The second mile was not planned and neither was the emotional impact that followed. In retrospect, I’m glad I was alone. It wasn’t a very humble display. I raised my hands high above my head and cheered into the wind. I pumped my fists, clapped my hands and yelled again and again. My very own Rocky moment played out on a desolate San Francisco beach.

I did it! I did it! I did it!

p.s. – the gulls on the pier didn’t seem impressed.

Jason Completes Polar Bear!

This morning Jason completed his 40th mile. Here is a iPhone photo of Jason certifying his final swim of Polar Bear 2008. He is obviously very happy. He seemed sincerely grateful as well. Knowing Jason as I do, I know he wouldn't want me to make too big of a deal about his accomplishment so let me share the "Starbuck's Story of Good Intentions."

Last week when Nobu finished Polar Bear, Jason ran up the hill to Starbucks and got a green tea for Nobu to congratulate him. Unfortunately, as Jason emerged from Starbucks, Nobu was pulling away from the curb and Jason was left with bitter green tea.

This morning Nobu was off again. Jason remarked, "That is the problem with runners, they are always in a hurry. I was hoping the three of us could grabs some coffee." I was a bit rushed too, but acknowledging his accomplishment, I happily agreed to walk up with the hill with Jason for a hot cup of joe. As we exited the Dolphin Club, we were surprised to see Nobu holding a tray stacked with three hot Starbucks drinks!

Nobu stuttered the word, "ccccongrattulll-llationsss" and we all laughed. You see, Nobu needs more sauna time than us to rewarm due to his size. By rushing out of the sauna to retrieve the coffee, he was still as cold as when he got out of the water. It was very kind of Nobu, but he shivering so much he could barely speak. We all saw the humor of the kind gesture. What a great guy.

Congrats Jason, you did it!

Nobu Completes Polar Bear!

I first met Nobu in the middle of the bay while training for the swim around Alcatraz. I had stopped swimming and was treading water - staring into the huge black eyes of a sea lion. An unfamiliar voice asked, “Is it was safe?” I replied, “Maybe not” and started off in the opposite direction. The voice again called out, “Then, can I swim with you?” It happened to be Nobu’s very first swim in the bay.

Nobu and I became fast friends. He helped me train for my swim and I helped him train for the Wildflower triathlon. When we joined the club together, about one year ago, Nobu always swam with a wetsuit. One day, he asked how to swim without a wetsuit. I asked him, “Why would you want to?” After losing the wetsuit, Nobu struggled with the cold temperatures of the bay. On one occasion he had to walk back to the club. On another his frozen mind mistook a buoy for a swimmer. Given the challenges he had with the cold, I never expected Nobu to attempt the Polar Bear Challenge. When he signed up, I had my doubts about his chances of success. I was wrong.

Nobu hit 40 miles this morning in the exact spot I met him one year earlier. It was very dark when I called out to the group, “Are we at .75 miles?” When they replied in the affirmative I declared, “Nobu has completed the Polar Bear!!!” The group cheered in the dark water and I saw a huge grin on Nobu’s face. When we hit shore I saw him turn back to the bay in a moment of reflection. He seemed uncharacteristically unaffected by the cold. His posture conveyed strength and his face displayed contentment.

Congrats my friend!

Daylight savings time

With the end of Polar Bear drawing near, every swim counts. "Every swim counts" that was my waking thought this morning at 4:55. I woke up 10 minutes before my alarm and headed out for the club. I arrived earlier than usual. The club was dark and quiet. I decided to swim solo for a while with an eye for my friends on the beach.

As I toed the freezing cold water I almost lost my nerve. After two week of sunrise swimming, the daylight savings time change put me squarely back into the night. Every swim counts. I took off across the beach and spied the white spray of a swimmer up ahead. Thank god, another swimmer. I swam after him or her until I reached the end of the beach and realized the white spray was the waves crashing against the dark rocks ahead. My apparition companion swimmer had vanished and I was alone in the dark.

As I made my way back to the beach I saw two swimmers heading out to sea. I followed then for a while and recognized them as Sunny and Mark. I tagged along uninvited for a while before accidentally bumping Mark's foot. Even through the dark and my misty goggles, his face clearly registered fear and aggression. After he realized I was not a shark we laughed and parted ways.

As I turned back toward the club, I could see the 6 am group making their way into the water. I felt like the lone dog at the dog park playing with whichever dog showed up that day. I swam hard to catch up with the usual suspects and we circled the cove together. As the sky started to warm, a few folks headed in. Jason, Ted and I swam once more across the beach before returning to the club. Total swim time 1:05, distance 2 miles. 6.25 miles to go and every swim counts!

A New Club Record!

History was made this week when Vince completed his 30th consecutive Polar Bear swim. 40 miles every winter for 30 years. His first Polar Bear season was 1978. What else happened in '78? Sony introduced a portable tape player called the "Walkman". The Deer Hunter should have won best picture, but didn't. And another guy named John became the Pope (what are the odds?). Those of us who swim with Vince knew he would make it, but the enormity of the the record is still setting in. Congrats Vince!!!

I swam a ton this week, logging every quarter mile. I started to feel like the Monster from the Black Lagoon - more at home in the water than on land. It took its toll and I crashed by before 9 pm a couple nights. This was definitely the hardest swimming week of the year for me. This was the week I earned my shot at finishing. That said, I had a beauty of a swim this morning and I feel like I'm on the home stretch. 8 miles to go!

Ira & Lolly Lewis

Yesterday I received this email and photo from another swimmer at the Dolphin Club. With permission from Lolly, I am sharing it with you.

"Yesterday I completed the Polar Bear swim. I’m stoked. Not only cause
it was my first winter in the bay, and not only cause I made it
through a particularly cold one, and not only cause I missed half of
January due to getting the flu and busting up my knee but making up
the distance anyway. I’m especially stoked because this Wednesday
would have been my father’s 100th birthday, so I swim in his memory.

While we were growing up my dad loved to swim. He was so thrilled to
move from New York to California where he could have a swimming pool.
All those summers in the water, what great times. I remember swimming
the length of our pool under water, holding onto his back. And as far
back as I can remember he used to talk about the crazy Polar Bears of
Aquatic Park - shaking his head, sure, but with maybe a little
admiration mixed in.

The last few years of his life, Dad lived in the Fontana, right over
the cove. He spent many wonderful hours looking out at the bay,
watching the weather over Mt. Tam, the ships and boats, and of course
the swimmers. And maybe he would have looked out around seven o’clock
yesterday morning and seen me coming around the flag. I’m sure he
would have gotten a kick out of knowing I had become one of those
crazy Polar Bears myself. And I sure do love knowing he’s watching
over me.

So here’s another mile to Ira Lewis (March 5, 1908 -March 23, 1989).

- Lolly"

Pushing hard with 3 weeks to go!

I'm pushing hard now to keep the goal in sight. I swam 1.25 miles this morning and I'm heading back to the bay after work to do it again. If the timing is right I may see the sun rise and set on the same day from the water. I passed the point of no return some time ago and am fully committed to covering the distance by March 21. If all goes well, I plan on swimming everyday this week.

At this point, reflection on winter is premature but I was struck with the memory of the Christmas tree on Fisherman's Wharf this morning as I drove in. It certainly has been a long haul.