[MAX 3.0knot ebb tide @ 08.56am]
~3miles - 50:30 - another downhill swim
map http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=697117
Various stories exist for why it's the Dreaded 9th of February. Apparently a few years ago everything went wrong, the water was freezing, the weather was horrible, and it entered club mythology as a Dreaded day. It also serves symbolically as the day of the coldest water, but it would be surprising if the coldest day didn't vary. Nonetheless, psychologically it only gets warmer from here. Bring it on.
[thankyou Declan McCullagh]
Jon and I caught a ride in a new Dolphin Club zodiac with Barry from Napa, and the semi-rigid hull and the newness of the boat made it easy to remember we were in a Dolphin Club boat. 23 swimmers in and that many out I believe. Took the usual outside route on the Alcatraz line and then cut to the Jeremiah. A few ferries made it exciting, but the excellent SERC pilots circled attentively.
John and Darren were doing breastroke/sidestroke/doggy paddle/floating - the only explanation for them sauntering in a few minutes after me. I got a shout from the Roper as I swung in the opening. Arms/shoulders/back were sore from yesterday's swim. Something funny going on with forearms - I may be flicking my hands on the recovery, and getting soreness in my dart-throwing muscle. Still favoring breathing to the right if I am going at speed. Have to work on breathing more bilaterally to even out the stress on the neck, and to be able to breathe in waves, or with fumes from a boat from one side or the other. Lower back didn't hurt which is a testament to the strange torture exercises Lori is putting me through to strengthen/locate my core muscles.
9th of February - no longer dreaded.
great blog
great swim feb 9th
i need more of the same swim trail
it amazes me how more people aren't dying to do open water Bay swimming....go figure
Posted by: john walker | February 09, 2007 at 06:01 PM