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Training News
November - December 2007 |
November 19, 2007:
Open water swimming is not a glamor sport. Coming from a triathlon
background, I recall what it was like showing up to the Ironman in
Arizona, surrounded by the fittest athletes in the world, riding the
most expensive bikes. How quickly things change...
In the past 3 months, I have gained 20lbs. With 20lbs more to go in
the next 2 months, allowing me to continue to swim in the Pacific.
I've been absolutely destroying every bit of food I can get my hands
on and trying to keep it as healthy as possible thanks to my
nutritionist (thanks Kelly). As the temperature dropped below 60
degrees this weekend I feel like I have a new idea on what cold really
is.
Dave's Calorie Colada-
1 cup frozen berries
1 banana
1 cup raw oatmeal
soymilk
1 handful almonds
1 raw egg (gross i know)
Here's a few pictures of my home town and Catalina Island.
December 13, 2007:
Two weeks away from Christmas. Making snow men, drinking hot chocolate, snuggling with my 90lb weimaraner by the fire. Activities that ran through my mind during an open water swim today. The ocean is nasty cold. Skin burnin, brain freezin, eyes buggin, not sure where my man hood is, Cold. After 2 miles in the ocean my teeth ached from clenching my jaw the entire time. I wasn't swimming anymore, just whipping my arms and legs as fast as possible to keep the icy water from getting to my heart.
On the way back I hit a patch of kelp, roughly 200 yards long, and became stuck in the middle. Engulfed in 60 foot underwater trees with hundreds of slimy and spiny leaves swarmed my entire body. Something that used to freak me out, now i laugh at. In chilly water, you feel so vulnerable - your body learns to stay as relaxed as possible.
Now more than ever I have realized that this event is something greater than myself.
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