tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41895794619337998052024-02-20T08:34:15.518-08:00Katie Can Too!Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-7025099284530859162016-03-01T05:32:00.000-08:002016-05-29T15:30:35.452-07:00Rotto: The DuoI have fluked swims before, but nothing on this scale. Rottnest Island is 19.7km as the crow flies from Cottesloe Beach. Hence Cotto to Rotto or, to be formal, the <a href="http://rottnestchannelswim.com.au/">Rottnest Island Channel swim</a>. <br />
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What started as a solo attempt was thwarted by the black dog: my first bipolar depression relapse since diagnosis 4 years earlier. So I'm very pleased to say we raised over $5,000 for the <a href="http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/">Black Dog Institute.</a><br />
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I had a boat but no-one to swim with. Nicole had no boat, but wanted to swim. It was a match made in heaven - for many more reasons than mere practicalities.<br />
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To say my prep was inadequate is an epic understatement. I could bore you with the litany of illnesses and injuries which kept me out of the pool but that would make for the most boring blog post ever. Suffice it to say I made it to two squad sessions in February.<br />
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By the time the race rolled around I had busted my back. This was diagnosed 3 weeks out. Some intense physio meant I could walk and swim up to 500m without pain! Woot! At the 500m mark I had to jump out and stretch out my back. It turned out this was the perfect prep for a duo attempt, because you're constantly changing over.<br />
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I manage the flight over okay. Though people must have assumed my bladder was the size of a peanut given how often I walked the aisle.<br />
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Test swim went okay with only a little soreness, but it was the longest continuous swim I had done in months.<br />
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Race day dawned beautifully, setting the stage for a perfect swimming day and I headed to the harbour to meet our captain, whom I shall henceforth call The Dude, because that is what he was. Our amazing support crew, Mel and Emily met me there. Super early, because Nic had allowed in excess time. I cannot adequately describe what it is like joining the most epic flotilla possibly ever assembled. 600 boats. As many paddlers. And 2500 swimmers. It was a huge festival atmosphere with boats as far as the eye could see in either direction. <br />
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And we're off. Murray, our incredibly generous paddler who was motivated by our cause to come back to the race after a break inspired by some spectacular bratish behaviour by a soloist had this amazing pink dive stick which made it easy to pick Nic from the pack. We hit the beautiful masted marker and it's changeover time.<br />
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Shifts 1-3 pass without pain. Well a few stingers but whatever.<br />
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Shifts 4-6 pass without pain.<br />
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I'm stretching and well medicated. I have a hot water bottle under my back. But it's coping.<br />
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Nic is swimming up a storm. Her stroke is a thing of efficient beauty. She is covering almost twice the distance in her 15 minute slot than I am in my 10 minute slots.<br />
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We hit half way in under 4 hours. We are performing better than expected when we're both at full strength. And I am hardly that.<br />
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But at halfway, I discover my strength. I know I'm going to make it without pushing into agony. So I pump up the stroke rate, bung on the kick and start to swim faster.<br />
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The water is unbelievably clear and generally wonderfully warm. But hoo boy there are some cold patches. Nicole having almost no insulations starts to suffer. So we swap shift lengths so she can get warm. And I am super glad I packed my hypothermia kit.<br />
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Given we had planned that Nicole would have to swim the lion's share (probably 15km to my 5km) it was such a wonderful thing to be able to step up as the weaker member of the team.<br />
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But as we said farewell to our boat and The Dude who managed to get to the last possible buoy, I was struggling a bit. There was a bit of pain. But I was so close I knew I could push through. Awesome team work til the end, Nicole let me draft off her feet and then slowed so we could cross the line together. Stroke for stroke.<br />
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And what a finish line it was. We were hoping for 8-9 hours and went 7:50. <br />
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Thank you so much to <a href="https://rottnestswim2016.everydayhero.com/au/RottoDuo4BlackDog">all our donors</a>, our unbelievably awesome crew (Steve - The Dude, El Capitan; Casey - first mate; Murray - Paddler; Emily and Mel - crew extraordinaire), our amazing chauffeurs, our coaches and swim squad, our support crew on both sides of the continent, and the Pacific ocean, any my incredible hosts who opened their hearts,family and home to me. You made this possible.<br />
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In particular I'd like to thank my physios, who signed off on me going when everyone was against it, Pete Dunne and Kate Smart who were resolute in their belief of me, Charm Frend whose back is completely $@^$%&@#^!$#@%^$@$&@$ stuffed and taught me how to swim with a bad back and above all, the wonderful Nicole. I tried so many times to pull out, convinced no-one can pull Rotto out of thin air. She was determined I would swim. Even if it was 1km. In the end it was 11km for me and 13km for her, 1km of which was shared. It was a beautiful partnership. And I never had so much FUN! Seriously, duo'ing is stupid amounts of fun! Neither of us could believe how much fun we had!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade flag</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready as we'll ever be</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matching Suits - Sam and Nic post test swim</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Noble Steed with enormous Shark painted on the side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9K3ZLuJsgyKX1HRDo4_AyAnNrfU4RvAWnAbgOLK56gTvsqeXkhOLOE1fZt8AgWPvQVvuV3YPOKuMNEURVGz9fNDy9dDteH1rz9K3qZX8-ZEWmD5AKTDLEW81-rdqXArm1r7GMLUfNVEo/s1600/thumb_IMG_7313_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9K3ZLuJsgyKX1HRDo4_AyAnNrfU4RvAWnAbgOLK56gTvsqeXkhOLOE1fZt8AgWPvQVvuV3YPOKuMNEURVGz9fNDy9dDteH1rz9K3qZX8-ZEWmD5AKTDLEW81-rdqXArm1r7GMLUfNVEo/s320/thumb_IMG_7313_1024.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flotilla assembles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful day dawning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0lf02bCBqkBdGChxbDkj4BZRdUFViLagB57u4uZG-e9lUgENL3wICRX6j_rSP13GazCr_LfuBNYuz5t_W0f2wNQQ_OwVnt62S7WGrzfvwZ-VWs5zGXHg2PKMPs_VoeiAn69f2O6aifw/s1600/thumb_IMG_7320_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0lf02bCBqkBdGChxbDkj4BZRdUFViLagB57u4uZG-e9lUgENL3wICRX6j_rSP13GazCr_LfuBNYuz5t_W0f2wNQQ_OwVnt62S7WGrzfvwZ-VWs5zGXHg2PKMPs_VoeiAn69f2O6aifw/s320/thumb_IMG_7320_1024.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halfway in under 4 hours</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoo-MryorR5an8D24QANYQBYPYz_q8b0jHTwhE1CkbzeIdVyOyVhbL1bcLPeJ5wJl4dZXKc-Gc8rXdb-pIxj6Y9YYJlFlD-KvgWbt-o9P6B-RRxIEbSeSnygB_qbtiAZ9_FUQHAPW27H4/s1600/thumb_IMG_7324_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoo-MryorR5an8D24QANYQBYPYz_q8b0jHTwhE1CkbzeIdVyOyVhbL1bcLPeJ5wJl4dZXKc-Gc8rXdb-pIxj6Y9YYJlFlD-KvgWbt-o9P6B-RRxIEbSeSnygB_qbtiAZ9_FUQHAPW27H4/s320/thumb_IMG_7324_1024.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14km mark. Nic swimming up a storm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mel signalling 2 minutes to change over</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD_tPqCgk9Qdb0KtXKuUprsh1e_1fnRGGg_EnhgimZ2Uve5dBKuvUdOGzXPJWWSYwYe6NIYPPB2RBu5GYufqfvUReswhaxgvdelYLnOTUBOhC4s5lddvIdS4ALWEamb6feQ6kG5bjrsA/s1600/thumb_IMG_7330_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD_tPqCgk9Qdb0KtXKuUprsh1e_1fnRGGg_EnhgimZ2Uve5dBKuvUdOGzXPJWWSYwYe6NIYPPB2RBu5GYufqfvUReswhaxgvdelYLnOTUBOhC4s5lddvIdS4ALWEamb6feQ6kG5bjrsA/s320/thumb_IMG_7330_1024.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The V for Victory sign that forms the basis of the Black Dog Logo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgMk9PomNrWfnAxtA8VWJujBxfrmLqdoTU9oZzi5OxwqIf6ki89AtJd1hgAeuXNnnlzo_Md2foBq8hnde89DBdr7YUWrtWmcMeF6g8L2DcKSydn8z7mCqL6GJJL5utYbFzjPmMHn_e3c/s1600/thumb_IMG_7354_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgMk9PomNrWfnAxtA8VWJujBxfrmLqdoTU9oZzi5OxwqIf6ki89AtJd1hgAeuXNnnlzo_Md2foBq8hnde89DBdr7YUWrtWmcMeF6g8L2DcKSydn8z7mCqL6GJJL5utYbFzjPmMHn_e3c/s320/thumb_IMG_7354_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very important colour co-ordination.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj94k7w43RBeS_MbPbKeWLOmADo1XAEhyphenhyphenicqruy-QHqdwao5sbO6QNKiZQ7g1vtCIh7CT4RRwZD4yLfWR7PKv2TKqOIUpAqJvfYBbRbHez0TiIo6eifMzET7im_BWgcCX_GLZooJU8aCk/s1600/thumb_IMG_7368_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj94k7w43RBeS_MbPbKeWLOmADo1XAEhyphenhyphenicqruy-QHqdwao5sbO6QNKiZQ7g1vtCIh7CT4RRwZD4yLfWR7PKv2TKqOIUpAqJvfYBbRbHez0TiIo6eifMzET7im_BWgcCX_GLZooJU8aCk/s320/thumb_IMG_7368_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A source of endless inspiration: a very big hero, Pete Dunne - soloist for the umpteeneth time. On Rotto Island with myself and Nicole </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCUDookH9BTphyphenhyphenktEXiuGZX7mtUwoDZsm-d9gsCI8uULZzdrwSr_5giwUH_UDQROx-FBTgoVVxXdIeWXmbCK4gQJgK5cABqjp2EwgOoMPn4VIZs0CImCzrDfkKDmjrKQybOrJ0Gw9FQ8/s1600/thumb_IMG_7374_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCUDookH9BTphyphenhyphenktEXiuGZX7mtUwoDZsm-d9gsCI8uULZzdrwSr_5giwUH_UDQROx-FBTgoVVxXdIeWXmbCK4gQJgK5cABqjp2EwgOoMPn4VIZs0CImCzrDfkKDmjrKQybOrJ0Gw9FQ8/s320/thumb_IMG_7374_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off the Red Eye and straight to Cloey for training. </td></tr>
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<br />Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-34007792165996612812015-09-20T04:59:00.000-07:002016-05-29T16:35:05.406-07:00HawaiiA truly fabulous holiday but the planned ocean swim events did not go to plan. Our first 4Seasons overseas trip together was a seriously awesome time, but pushing yourself to withstand colder and colder water is a terrible idea right before a tropical swimming holiday. There were LOTS of dolphins though.<br />
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<br />
Firstly, the Roughwater ocean swim was cancelled because the water was too rough. Worst case of naming since the Never-Ending Story. Where's Lionel Hutz when you need him?<br />
<br />
A couple of friends from the surf club swam it anyway and found there was some super rough sets out the back so the decision to cancel was totally justified. However, it had clearly been made the night before and so they allowed last minute regos up until the minute of the announcement. Imagine paying $150 to enter on the morning of a swim and not even getting time to collect your timing chip before they cancel it. Absolutely bollocks organisation.<br />
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We made the best of it, walking the course with some absolutely cracking swim stops along the way.<br />
<br />
A wonderful week loomed in between the next event, with lots of relaxing, light swimming and some hiking and a visit to Pearl Harbo(u)r. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, my arms just felt achey every time I swam. I tried stretching them out and ramped up my hydration ahead of the 5km North Shore swim.<br />
<br />
It should be noted that most of our contingent loved the swim. <br />
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By 1km in I was in serious trouble. My perfect pace buddy was pulling ahead and I couldn't match her pace. I managed to hold her feet until the 2.5km mark (the change over point for the relays) and then I was in the danger zone.<br />
<br />
I couldn't remember how to swim. I could kind of keep my arms turning over but I was delirious. I was breaststroking, backstroking and my underarm glands blew out completely. I cannot tell you what swimming in salt water with chafed glands is like. The best analogy I can come up with is that it's like swimming with tennis balls coating in extra course sandpaper under you arm. I was bleeding freely by the end.<br />
<br />
Eventually, I realised if I took my swim cap off I'd start losing excess heat from my head. Thank goodness for that.<br />
<br />
That realisation allowed me to complete the swim. As did running into Michaela, who was doing the duo. She quickly perceived something was really wrong. I think I might have been slurring my words by this point. She kept me going.<br />
<br />
I alternated breaststroke, backstroke and really wide freestyle to manage the pain under my arms. We caught up to a lovely chatty group. Apparently we were fighting a really hard current. I didn't notice.<br />
<br />
Slowly the finish line came into sight.<br />
<br />
The most painful part of the whole swim. By this point everything in my body had cramped so as to be unusable out of the water. It took me a good few minutes to hobble over the line, held up by Mary and Mike.<br />
<br />
Gosh darnit, I wish there had been first aid to hand. But the organisers had basically packed up. Including handing out the prizes. Despite the fact I was second, and last, in my age group. I have never seen my prize. The Charity Island swim really showed up North Shore Tri Club in terms of organisation. Speaking of which, my final time for 5km was 3 hours 10 minutes. My time for 11km less than a month earlier was 3:52.<br />
<br />
That alone should tell you what a complete disaster of a swim it was.<br />
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I'd happily go back to Hawaii for a holiday. But I'd do some serious warm water acclimatisation before I swim there again.<br />
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<br />Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-87966745822753510322015-08-08T04:21:00.000-07:002016-05-29T15:33:55.692-07:00The Island Charity Swim: Around Old Woman Island. 11km. A medical certificate, $1200 of fundraising for the local special needs schools, a paddler, a support boat and a willingness to fly North for the weekend are all that is required to complete my longest ever swim: <a href="http://www.islandcharityswim.com.au/">The Island Charity Swim.</a><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Funds from my super lovely donors bought a new wheelchair
bus for Currimindi and exercise equipment for Nambour. THANK YOU!!!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Swimming is thought of as a solo sport. Bollocks. Complete and utter bollocks. If it's over 5km in length there is generally a support boat and paddler involved for each swimmer. Given how slowly I swim that is a 4-5 hour undertaking. Of sitting on the water, watching me turn my arms over and barely moving (particularly for that motorised boat). Not to mention the coaches, fellow swimmers, supporters and donors who get you to the start line. Especially in this case, my lovely coach Jai who arranged accomodation and my support vessel from the wonderful Alex Headland Surf Club.</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAogEKQ3u9vKGXxd4WkckMhbUbW0lwthe2RerAjEYSw3NkdEzTHAAi1SUJXRtKDS6-057eBFW8usG9WwiISYOigL5vLR8n0PtTE6IyX2hIZab1dDlIbUQWOduXaKeiEaP6rAwowO6_dNs/s1600/11947444_619827999753_9022679242235874365_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAogEKQ3u9vKGXxd4WkckMhbUbW0lwthe2RerAjEYSw3NkdEzTHAAi1SUJXRtKDS6-057eBFW8usG9WwiISYOigL5vLR8n0PtTE6IyX2hIZab1dDlIbUQWOduXaKeiEaP6rAwowO6_dNs/s200/11947444_619827999753_9022679242235874365_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pia. Best paddler in the business. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdBH9CMVufmLIVWwniLiCY3Ndqi2HeDCL4CFdayiLklHVrh2FECM0tkJncVvAbTyVnB27xApIJGjii3ToA35VjjJFCOgruS4BJeWbVpsll_c-dnu6hLFXSkUvKmPHHLLlO_BC3vgPSnE/s1600/11899993_619827939873_6836459061205021908_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdBH9CMVufmLIVWwniLiCY3Ndqi2HeDCL4CFdayiLklHVrh2FECM0tkJncVvAbTyVnB27xApIJGjii3ToA35VjjJFCOgruS4BJeWbVpsll_c-dnu6hLFXSkUvKmPHHLLlO_BC3vgPSnE/s1600/11899993_619827939873_6836459061205021908_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The IRB guys from Alex Headland. Legends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">It also involves an awful lot of kit. This is just my swim gear. Including hypothermia kit. Even for a warm water swim. The water is always colder so you are always losing heat. </span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOsvFuckN957i8fqt4uUWt_GRbfaK8hLScs0fEBRkqDhFX9u1oMiyE_cbi9X0rJlwkZXuLKOZI5Fr-8JsICotZwFMUrQMvSYm1ZBoAXVk5IomR3UCoHVfu3COo33eHUQfbp-RI6PXGdA/s1600/11924751_619828164423_5409751688542982371_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOsvFuckN957i8fqt4uUWt_GRbfaK8hLScs0fEBRkqDhFX9u1oMiyE_cbi9X0rJlwkZXuLKOZI5Fr-8JsICotZwFMUrQMvSYm1ZBoAXVk5IomR3UCoHVfu3COo33eHUQfbp-RI6PXGdA/s200/11924751_619828164423_5409751688542982371_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfwnIbotnVS3n0Ztdf-UvpK4NJipJJU18gxWEulflxYFYK-QKj9CYicgSDD49osGKRgi519UD3dBvxXyP7gWOkO7wiCW2iBzvbWTGZF6utrVDI-qzAt_SKNeaCdxWAGIvvSsey5LQSf8/s1600/11890037_618492945213_7514503892995193369_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfwnIbotnVS3n0Ztdf-UvpK4NJipJJU18gxWEulflxYFYK-QKj9CYicgSDD49osGKRgi519UD3dBvxXyP7gWOkO7wiCW2iBzvbWTGZF6utrVDI-qzAt_SKNeaCdxWAGIvvSsey5LQSf8/s200/11890037_618492945213_7514503892995193369_o.jpg" width="200" /></a> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">This was the best organised swim I have ever encountered. The start was handicapped so slowpoke old me got to go off second. Which meant I had people to swim with until past halfway. So awesome not instantly dropping off the back of the pack. When I arrived at the end, they sat me down and a doctor checked me out for any adverse signs. Not to mention the medical certificate to participate in the first place. It was also the best catered swim I have ever attended. The FOOD afterwards. Bloody hell, the school community had pulled out all the stops. Three types of soup, hot sandwiches and the best cake stall you've ever seen. But free for swimmers, support crew, family and friends.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"> </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFnZmDJP6mhJMYDsWGvqyZ7WF6H40d3UaO4FJcCB3BHyK1MxyJruaJF72c9YC5nws6ndnjPFNpAOxn_aOh6svu6n1DiOtYfJOLfTWO23-Zl7a6MXVBimhFlk0MZnR1CNhdrYajCAvPUs/s1600/11986449_619828144463_3027187148123730505_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFnZmDJP6mhJMYDsWGvqyZ7WF6H40d3UaO4FJcCB3BHyK1MxyJruaJF72c9YC5nws6ndnjPFNpAOxn_aOh6svu6n1DiOtYfJOLfTWO23-Zl7a6MXVBimhFlk0MZnR1CNhdrYajCAvPUs/s200/11986449_619828144463_3027187148123730505_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rounding Old Woman Island.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpOy0ymmVn28LuirJQKBlh3HGZAyER42NR6-Dkbluq9myhZDkSwrnSwegW1ZjqG4B6I1YgN1Vug_1M_5ZPKBpHjcyZRDaFWrovvXlyeVFouP5P6isV17COecwAy8mBY54exoBWrKGC90/s1600/11887873_618586073583_6261633026606158719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpOy0ymmVn28LuirJQKBlh3HGZAyER42NR6-Dkbluq9myhZDkSwrnSwegW1ZjqG4B6I1YgN1Vug_1M_5ZPKBpHjcyZRDaFWrovvXlyeVFouP5P6isV17COecwAy8mBY54exoBWrKGC90/s200/11887873_618586073583_6261633026606158719_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at Old Woman Island from the Finish Line.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgYcbUyd0QlFTYuIcDOOH_XwcrWDbMqtNXnqR3fpAvhFc99DB89GXiVMamR3WmdJpfKUj4oKjdhbywZS9uG0KZnTYQWO17t3qkK_ZaFd2uciItytMj9raEArGuXparzWEqHIfAn4iuS4/s1600/1510359_619828448853_5160605089841474581_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ76bytzEk3VHZkZxQ6JIP_oqbYZusqxfwPrCkdJ6akq_Tt-T28_vZX2AG6B2eKboxruZtGoAK-THTNcOdmfQAi2Mj1f3ICubcSptDUqRLOS8AGqbXlQ26TzRhT6Xc1Da4IJ5gQCCJx6M/s1600/11113206_619828523703_5017352429795155521_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><br /></span></span>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQRxnC8n1P1MroLfB-2W0L6SMsACHuLvh4z5YxwhZOUXHyrYdOElVoSHHxMuZCNECs0yV846rN37Ovi03KNmjRT0Cho_EBwMLOWJXk5cNVmpW5H2owOLKQ_tiWPGmjz_4hL8nSs8gI88/s1600/11951896_619828069613_3913841182294981253_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQRxnC8n1P1MroLfB-2W0L6SMsACHuLvh4z5YxwhZOUXHyrYdOElVoSHHxMuZCNECs0yV846rN37Ovi03KNmjRT0Cho_EBwMLOWJXk5cNVmpW5H2owOLKQ_tiWPGmjz_4hL8nSs8gI88/s320/11951896_619828069613_3913841182294981253_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start line selfie. This smile never diminished.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dSWPRE1sw8t9qBpkz9zStylNI1Sr4QZ-SgG2EOFeziR-9GS3Kjt9pM1pwij7wsleEueFf7eKao_w7ST-wj0Erj17dQK_1ghIsIl5GbQ4WMp70gax_vgwvZaZlAFW1iDrDae0Pq3F6xY/s1600/11954757_619828259233_2060754153134946874_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dSWPRE1sw8t9qBpkz9zStylNI1Sr4QZ-SgG2EOFeziR-9GS3Kjt9pM1pwij7wsleEueFf7eKao_w7ST-wj0Erj17dQK_1ghIsIl5GbQ4WMp70gax_vgwvZaZlAFW1iDrDae0Pq3F6xY/s640/11954757_619828259233_2060754153134946874_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thumbs Up.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1aRQD6sYzBxCCfh17Ca3EtCuPlNgmWj45oTIdTMnSoQ0A1fpIulww6o3EY2pG1wnUwRvQl7vFFmOr9BztlIuRLaj_GeasZobkGh46hufSF_PBmpLy7R4PS0jVshCG3VuMZdkes7F56w/s1600/11934954_619828269213_3052886408704528394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1aRQD6sYzBxCCfh17Ca3EtCuPlNgmWj45oTIdTMnSoQ0A1fpIulww6o3EY2pG1wnUwRvQl7vFFmOr9BztlIuRLaj_GeasZobkGh46hufSF_PBmpLy7R4PS0jVshCG3VuMZdkes7F56w/s200/11934954_619828269213_3052886408704528394_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmnF7VchIH9c-QqZGaanLAzxn1o3v2GZ2YNizRFsL3oLDV7xC5gOebRQXMkG50b3LSeeLkwPMl6u96sySdgw70smCAaDAf-7HM2eq0ZvLms8zJuYnlt-iXrn-SPeyQ7rUNrn4RhgCQOU/s1600/11988345_619828204343_7647653401537743851_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmnF7VchIH9c-QqZGaanLAzxn1o3v2GZ2YNizRFsL3oLDV7xC5gOebRQXMkG50b3LSeeLkwPMl6u96sySdgw70smCAaDAf-7HM2eq0ZvLms8zJuYnlt-iXrn-SPeyQ7rUNrn4RhgCQOU/s200/11988345_619828204343_7647653401537743851_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1aRQD6sYzBxCCfh17Ca3EtCuPlNgmWj45oTIdTMnSoQ0A1fpIulww6o3EY2pG1wnUwRvQl7vFFmOr9BztlIuRLaj_GeasZobkGh46hufSF_PBmpLy7R4PS0jVshCG3VuMZdkes7F56w/s1600/11934954_619828269213_3052886408704528394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOWWBfP6ijC5OTK1elw7iEMSS7j61SkJ8VhqeGNcAmotcVrhKW_JVYJXWhjP_3GWW4SKtirGYH21YAD44HLT04McHUtKXgK2w28aSlNszRWcGp4KuVuyctXeE7VAJEqNwTJZCTgU16kc/s1600/11988368_619828214323_7951592926648806357_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOWWBfP6ijC5OTK1elw7iEMSS7j61SkJ8VhqeGNcAmotcVrhKW_JVYJXWhjP_3GWW4SKtirGYH21YAD44HLT04McHUtKXgK2w28aSlNszRWcGp4KuVuyctXeE7VAJEqNwTJZCTgU16kc/s320/11988368_619828214323_7951592926648806357_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<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;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgYcbUyd0QlFTYuIcDOOH_XwcrWDbMqtNXnqR3fpAvhFc99DB89GXiVMamR3WmdJpfKUj4oKjdhbywZS9uG0KZnTYQWO17t3qkK_ZaFd2uciItytMj9raEArGuXparzWEqHIfAn4iuS4/s320/1510359_619828448853_5160605089841474581_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So touched that some of the Special Needs students we were fundraising for came out to cheer us home. What little heroes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDR3Sy0Yciqa0YK39_kNFYtBsq-6nOj2wD-BbPvtSsjBA_M8GYjiMcrRwVLR2U4mdgmNINNqRs70AH-ejeNEVHDnwcnyjYD6TY8rM-m4hqk-wCuM17xbjzSERIiwwJ0hsPgUQlqRtmF0/s200/11947533_619828443863_7393758449478269760_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More thumbs up at the finish line. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDR3Sy0Yciqa0YK39_kNFYtBsq-6nOj2wD-BbPvtSsjBA_M8GYjiMcrRwVLR2U4mdgmNINNqRs70AH-ejeNEVHDnwcnyjYD6TY8rM-m4hqk-wCuM17xbjzSERIiwwJ0hsPgUQlqRtmF0/s1600/11947533_619828443863_7393758449478269760_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"></span></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgYcbUyd0QlFTYuIcDOOH_XwcrWDbMqtNXnqR3fpAvhFc99DB89GXiVMamR3WmdJpfKUj4oKjdhbywZS9uG0KZnTYQWO17t3qkK_ZaFd2uciItytMj9raEArGuXparzWEqHIfAn4iuS4/s1600/1510359_619828448853_5160605089841474581_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ76bytzEk3VHZkZxQ6JIP_oqbYZusqxfwPrCkdJ6akq_Tt-T28_vZX2AG6B2eKboxruZtGoAK-THTNcOdmfQAi2Mj1f3ICubcSptDUqRLOS8AGqbXlQ26TzRhT6Xc1Da4IJ5gQCCJx6M/s1600/11113206_619828523703_5017352429795155521_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ76bytzEk3VHZkZxQ6JIP_oqbYZusqxfwPrCkdJ6akq_Tt-T28_vZX2AG6B2eKboxruZtGoAK-THTNcOdmfQAi2Mj1f3ICubcSptDUqRLOS8AGqbXlQ26TzRhT6Xc1Da4IJ5gQCCJx6M/s320/11113206_619828523703_5017352429795155521_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and even more thumbs up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgYcbUyd0QlFTYuIcDOOH_XwcrWDbMqtNXnqR3fpAvhFc99DB89GXiVMamR3WmdJpfKUj4oKjdhbywZS9uG0KZnTYQWO17t3qkK_ZaFd2uciItytMj9raEArGuXparzWEqHIfAn4iuS4/s1600/1510359_619828448853_5160605089841474581_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">The
swim itself, was wonderful. Slow and steady. Got thrown off course a
little by the river mouth, but otherwise it all went to plan. Woot.
Beautifully warm water (the locals were whining at 21 degrees. Us
Sydneysiders were delighted. It involved a stupid number of thumbs up. See photos above. </span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><br /></span></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyp-1LZWQ9AyLIwA2QOfTpGUXxuynNpoX__FQbZl8jTj8CemEWxjRkTX39xnFfxmhPxHV8M4zQydlczpVhnJV1OwXZgOvGz7STdNUHhevG8pYCmnKGsNlrS_iwMxNHR0dmdsyiFZialoE/s1600/11012450_618607395853_190607853127400801_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyp-1LZWQ9AyLIwA2QOfTpGUXxuynNpoX__FQbZl8jTj8CemEWxjRkTX39xnFfxmhPxHV8M4zQydlczpVhnJV1OwXZgOvGz7STdNUHhevG8pYCmnKGsNlrS_iwMxNHR0dmdsyiFZialoE/s320/11012450_618607395853_190607853127400801_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">After
6 months of post difficult concussion sobriety, I rounded down the last
3 days and had my first beer. Winning. And a huge part of the charm of
the sunshine coast were some fellow BSBLSCers who now call the Sunshine
Coast. Thanks for some epic hospitality. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURMuwI7qVHaNebpKNq84AdzNJoEc0lF3eUASxGFp_4Qvw1bSlwPfc0s3hIFma49cxml1wvU_3ZNzPqIX9ekYaZ2qVnOX_4zoA53aSsZNGv6Z8S2nGAsnFdkf1zYq_E5QZhGe2RGAUYPA/s1600/11064887_619829267213_9040592712884350014_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURMuwI7qVHaNebpKNq84AdzNJoEc0lF3eUASxGFp_4Qvw1bSlwPfc0s3hIFma49cxml1wvU_3ZNzPqIX9ekYaZ2qVnOX_4zoA53aSsZNGv6Z8S2nGAsnFdkf1zYq_E5QZhGe2RGAUYPA/s320/11064887_619829267213_9040592712884350014_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weekend crew of awesome / BSBLSC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczCe52lfVaF8yYOI20RWwFtA-2zcvPhPxLTYvd03zRb45oad1MLheTHZi3TU5P0tZ3mHrH8QeWwhm5ygQtlQEm_lVTvJK902xSSNA3EdVu3xOVb96KcP60hWEyZakTsHSm7R3J4JCLnE/s1600/10418524_619829332083_4600098639835902275_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczCe52lfVaF8yYOI20RWwFtA-2zcvPhPxLTYvd03zRb45oad1MLheTHZi3TU5P0tZ3mHrH8QeWwhm5ygQtlQEm_lVTvJK902xSSNA3EdVu3xOVb96KcP60hWEyZakTsHSm7R3J4JCLnE/s320/10418524_619829332083_4600098639835902275_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gosh darn gorgeous!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgUFfQxsx06__44ui6k3q5KFzzLSAohePPG1y1MgBPjol1iV5A3M18xDfDvHhxo35CL9wbo_F-d55hEwQ1GrA3jhUwxJCIuI2KTd_LeHpiuyWQ36Cci6FJUNxbJxApE-PpNHyV9G4Iho/s1600/11140337_619828877993_5813878918715357772_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgUFfQxsx06__44ui6k3q5KFzzLSAohePPG1y1MgBPjol1iV5A3M18xDfDvHhxo35CL9wbo_F-d55hEwQ1GrA3jhUwxJCIuI2KTd_LeHpiuyWQ36Cci6FJUNxbJxApE-PpNHyV9G4Iho/s200/11140337_619828877993_5813878918715357772_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice spot for a recovery swim.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9woACbqiw3oDlLhh2YigSfCq4nmwb-XkN6AMwaDFoi0l14Ql9ONk8N-wg7t4NAm7GEFKdXjYwyiDllVSnjWfi_qU4ZHaJJruoxe7W51Pu7AqtGjAUD9sbPS-xLv2hL5QiK2GXmtestTI/s1600/11702768_619829147453_3097894760581154983_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9woACbqiw3oDlLhh2YigSfCq4nmwb-XkN6AMwaDFoi0l14Ql9ONk8N-wg7t4NAm7GEFKdXjYwyiDllVSnjWfi_qU4ZHaJJruoxe7W51Pu7AqtGjAUD9sbPS-xLv2hL5QiK2GXmtestTI/s320/11702768_619829147453_3097894760581154983_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recovery Swim. Zero pain. Much smiling.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjM7Ygrk86wMeZ5PudleFTmOfygze6keiQlRvj7trAIN_cRlf1_W3_5u-zTZAgfkDeOMH12USztwU6qydexsgP9mUbcO_z5fBm0tZrDoV7M-O6NPGN3BXJ5ffnMZWOyPnh3LKnvpHYI4/s1600/11924756_619828823103_8822323575737096492_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjM7Ygrk86wMeZ5PudleFTmOfygze6keiQlRvj7trAIN_cRlf1_W3_5u-zTZAgfkDeOMH12USztwU6qydexsgP9mUbcO_z5fBm0tZrDoV7M-O6NPGN3BXJ5ffnMZWOyPnh3LKnvpHYI4/s320/11924756_619828823103_8822323575737096492_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many dolphins!</td></tr>
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Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-45303312277269825212015-07-27T03:37:00.000-07:002016-05-29T16:33:23.827-07:00Back to The Rock and Under the Bridge<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtYb-T3A_gmr74DwKLjqqpTB1a-ydrV07mZL_oMIX6R0d-A5sLCxTJJ6XeVYgpZBfuxKLvruFbgX1p91XgfYt7e0FjrmwRMAwgikuvJysemBSV9vSRcLP9S0cnBR7Jg5JGpzyw_5ZkLI/s1600/11855768_618281334283_3509985939360367938_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtYb-T3A_gmr74DwKLjqqpTB1a-ydrV07mZL_oMIX6R0d-A5sLCxTJJ6XeVYgpZBfuxKLvruFbgX1p91XgfYt7e0FjrmwRMAwgikuvJysemBSV9vSRcLP9S0cnBR7Jg5JGpzyw_5ZkLI/s200/11855768_618281334283_3509985939360367938_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergs ready to jump and escape from Alcatraz</td></tr>
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Bondi Icebergs winter swimming club and South End Rowing Club are sister clubs on either side of the Pacific - hence Pacific Partners and each year we take turns visiting each other!<br />
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<b>San Fran Lesson Learned </b><br />
Firstly, there are literally no cold water kudos when San Fran turns on 17 degree water. It was 19 degrees in Aquatic Park. Total bollocks. All that cold water training proved to be for nothing.<br />
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Secondly, the Golden Gate swim is the best swim I have ever done.<br />
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Thirdly, South End Rowing Club (SERC) is hands down, the BEST FREAKING CLUB (on that side of the Pacific - or I will get in serious trouble). The degree to which they welcome these Bondi<b> </b>visitors fills me with warmth. The degree to which they welcome me had a number of people assuming I was a SERCER and not an Iceberg :) Thanks so much to everyone who put in so much effort putting the tour together. It was brilliant. <br />
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<b>The warm up / training regime </b><br />
Landed at SF, straight to lunch at Google with my lovely host and swim buddy, Alice Boxhall. Strewth, the google kitchen is something to behold. Straight from there along the beautiful waterfront, passed the beloved Ferry building and to SERC. In the water within 3 hours of landing. Beauty. Circumnavigation of the Beautiful Aquatic Park. <br />
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Water is devastatingly warm. There will be no bragging rights from this trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5re2dO6VtjBNFeGjFW8Q-YdY9xvGGZ5qmlDyXdJBIuwgGor9Peo3ykmY-WK-I9443zZpxbB5xTRUqjHNmjN6SbNGMCM2hjE6ueDPEFDfufJ6q5HlLhb8g1VfqMfHZymfDAws46fcyKU/s1600/11258325_616982776603_7205903328741753391_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5re2dO6VtjBNFeGjFW8Q-YdY9xvGGZ5qmlDyXdJBIuwgGor9Peo3ykmY-WK-I9443zZpxbB5xTRUqjHNmjN6SbNGMCM2hjE6ueDPEFDfufJ6q5HlLhb8g1VfqMfHZymfDAws46fcyKU/s320/11258325_616982776603_7205903328741753391_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Love is such an inadequate description. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE is getting closer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWddr9Ek4-0h7tgPcL0EdHBprPza7YDBSX-FeXhGavCZKETvOb48woFoJ1GQASX_rWosR-rsCeIbe-ffpmoPFpChBoFBtdop1dVWaNr5kaf3XFiWqxsJAcvnOoI2gImC8It7WLHRkKGyY/s1600/11754856_617073579633_97339784280040281_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWddr9Ek4-0h7tgPcL0EdHBprPza7YDBSX-FeXhGavCZKETvOb48woFoJ1GQASX_rWosR-rsCeIbe-ffpmoPFpChBoFBtdop1dVWaNr5kaf3XFiWqxsJAcvnOoI2gImC8It7WLHRkKGyY/s200/11754856_617073579633_97339784280040281_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDJczPIfEeVHVMIzAabKK6EmxRq-be8NdCQfSnzBIbRarayqePefw4CziX1Q1afUALQeDsAIw8CM0Tr1Vqwhd0DRItHG0L8DSuhq6mDXSLGehaEv7wzHPhkC3pClet4Er9GdFW90piws/s1600/11794365_617200016253_326184494651473002_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDJczPIfEeVHVMIzAabKK6EmxRq-be8NdCQfSnzBIbRarayqePefw4CziX1Q1afUALQeDsAIw8CM0Tr1Vqwhd0DRItHG0L8DSuhq6mDXSLGehaEv7wzHPhkC3pClet4Er9GdFW90piws/s320/11794365_617200016253_326184494651473002_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Dawn the next morning saw me back in the water with Simon, my fav dual Iceberg and SERCer. And not just because he's the only one. David Cannington (Cano), yet another Aussie. Watch out. We're taking over.<br />
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Today's adventure is a Chazz lap. Named for the Birthday Boy himself, about a 2mile loop from Gashouse to Creakers and back, and involving an outside (the breakwater) / inside (the breakwater). The Bay is choppy as. Just as well we like it rough.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkB3J_j1c_gQ8B-E3vf0SRreSKa8zyFzgDWCPljgxpgl_5C95V4o18IaSME_l3QCMggeyhPMZaPynvggawtIB0g1BFqIxA0E5S0yAkpfeJJxhfBgBfDv9afnIymoxFf__5LTSQN9RrmN8/s1600/11218787_10153520940002112_2273777261599006735_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkB3J_j1c_gQ8B-E3vf0SRreSKa8zyFzgDWCPljgxpgl_5C95V4o18IaSME_l3QCMggeyhPMZaPynvggawtIB0g1BFqIxA0E5S0yAkpfeJJxhfBgBfDv9afnIymoxFf__5LTSQN9RrmN8/s320/11218787_10153520940002112_2273777261599006735_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kim, me and the curious seals. Photo credit: Vito</td></tr>
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The second we hit the beach we run into the utterly delightful Kimberley Chambers, one of my favourite kiwis who is doubling down after her earlier masters pool session. Complete and utter nutter. Love her style. We head off for a circuit of the park and are rewarded with super curious seals!! Which set the tone for all future swims, which involved seal sightings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal Hanging just off Alcatraz</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iVQBxwVrVd-NmbyzV-cB2VYVvIOnCkAldQt8qwdoRv22jZla6uHHNUKYTF5vW52au6UAxW-FxVUoMpm6TEoGERwpmaQYtJX40wjRDID8GfzoeOGIxZSVHNl6yOCDHwOTTBrV2ldh0wg/s1600/11822548_618279772413_3397556090749126770_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iVQBxwVrVd-NmbyzV-cB2VYVvIOnCkAldQt8qwdoRv22jZla6uHHNUKYTF5vW52au6UAxW-FxVUoMpm6TEoGERwpmaQYtJX40wjRDID8GfzoeOGIxZSVHNl6yOCDHwOTTBrV2ldh0wg/s320/11822548_618279772413_3397556090749126770_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pod, Bob, Harem, Herd, Rookery of Seals</td></tr>
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The next day, Kim convinces me to triple down. (Yeah, I totally begged her to take me along. Keen to experience first hand what her training regime feels like.) Adding to the nutter factor considerably.<br />
First step is a 4:15 am start. Meet Kim at her apartment and head across the Golden Gate to Redwood High School where will we swim across a perfectly good 50m pool because they don't believe in sharing lanes with more than 2 people. More nuts. Once I have gotten used to swimming in the reverse direction, in yards and across the pool (Nuts!) I really enjoy the super set the wonderful coach has put together. Thanks for having me Marin Masters!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcdTWc0-NpIcVURU6rxYPAD7rFYiZgeGzvLkf-UM8Ni5_thJPIrD6_0kMQ2vvjDnvX5xfeJ_gkuxcAH2Gqt3u1o8_kmxK6lSWm6voewjuldeAhvTM9wKjWTZho43qqSM9yzryafN2aHg/s1600/11722142_617073574643_9055985966582969163_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcdTWc0-NpIcVURU6rxYPAD7rFYiZgeGzvLkf-UM8Ni5_thJPIrD6_0kMQ2vvjDnvX5xfeJ_gkuxcAH2Gqt3u1o8_kmxK6lSWm6voewjuldeAhvTM9wKjWTZho43qqSM9yzryafN2aHg/s200/11722142_617073574643_9055985966582969163_o.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Session 1: Marin Masters. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doubling Down: In the bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOK2nkVZwhg7nxYUAVFigBNwsbzMZQGZhHymQKKaSz4jRG5K02FWX8ioasHEpQ7RqmphdMr026XlOBI1axfPDwoxEeW37oEcvv29MauS1-LkDTqvv-_4iPcDT0HXb1wR5IcZJsQAkft8/s1600/11046509_617089642443_6853385092130566473_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOK2nkVZwhg7nxYUAVFigBNwsbzMZQGZhHymQKKaSz4jRG5K02FWX8ioasHEpQ7RqmphdMr026XlOBI1axfPDwoxEeW37oEcvv29MauS1-LkDTqvv-_4iPcDT0HXb1wR5IcZJsQAkft8/s200/11046509_617089642443_6853385092130566473_o.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triple threat: Sequel moored off Angel Island</td></tr>
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Then back across the bridge for the second training session of the day: the Bay. We cut under the SERC pier and hang with some seals before heading for the Spa (which is ironically one of the colder spots but gets some serious jets of water where the bay meets aquatic park). Then it is serious nap time. Before baking commences for the Night Train swim. I met Kim at work and we head back over the Golden Gate bridge (for someone who had only cycled over it this was still seriously novel) to San Fran yacht club. Which is not actually in San Fran but in rather Belvedere. Kim had invited me onto the Night Train Swimmers support boat Sequel, owned by the wonderful Vito. Vito is a serious, serious athlete and an entrepreneur. He is also a founder of Night Train swimmers. Kim might not have mentioned the training swim with the Night Train Swimmers part. These are some of the best swimmers in the world. Also some of the fittest people in the world. Whilst I died trying to keep up swimming around part of Angel Island, they were pulling on their running shoes to run up the steepest incline they could find. Luckily, there is a "someone is lagging behind, please pause" signal. It was put to very good use.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bergs hit the Bay</td></tr>
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Thursday involved a very well deserved sleep in and a solid scoping of my goal. Walking across the Golden Gate (only took 3 trips to SF) I saw the swirling eddies and epic winds that characterise the Golden Gate Bridge. I saw kitesurfers get air of the crests of the whipped up waves. I saw huge container ships cut our course in twain. And I freaked out. Then heading back to SERC to freak out less. The Icebergs headed out to the opening and then another outside / inside for those who were keen. The chop outside Aquatic Park had a few taking gulps of water. Me amongst them.<br />
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Friday morning saw me hit the SERC beach 15 minutes late. Which meant I did something I swore I wouldn't do only the night before. I did my own Chazz Lap. Fort Mason against the tide and another outside / inside. Followed by coffee served in bowls. The Yanks do not understand coffee as a luxury item. I was to come to appreciate this later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qiMeog2uBmGPrWn_54e6afTA9C8tNKI3A2VJYUBSczK07TWlojsyq9WzROz5cDVp9Il79591IAaU7j-r2Tgwt5kYivERNQPeDWh6uxUwvyCwbyMIM4ZiIzxBEBMWqWC1EDJqTATfRlU/s1600/11741100_617219582043_1375270276616801793_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qiMeog2uBmGPrWn_54e6afTA9C8tNKI3A2VJYUBSczK07TWlojsyq9WzROz5cDVp9Il79591IAaU7j-r2Tgwt5kYivERNQPeDWh6uxUwvyCwbyMIM4ZiIzxBEBMWqWC1EDJqTATfRlU/s320/11741100_617219582043_1375270276616801793_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kim and Simon being interviewed for NBC. Full interview here: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Bay-Area-Swimmers-Tackle-First-Ever-San-Francisco-To-Farallon-Islands-Swims-319111841.html</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the afternoon Simon and Kim were interviewed ahead of their upcoming solo Farallon swim attempts, both world firsts. Simon was training to be the first to swim from the Golden Gate to the Farrallon Islands and Kim was training to become the first woman to swim in either direction. I knew some of their stories but not all and I loved hearing it elicited by a professional interviewer. [Postscript, Kim would make her swim with Simon on board cheering her on. Not two weeks after his own swim was aborted when a shark started circling 4km from the finish line whilst blood oozed from a chafed neck. Bravo sir, bravo!]<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mzwvgcSh1ynv9mB-OzO4SFcn27I2fwowiYfhExEqsAWkXxOx959o50lZwpMUXh41Z3vNimRdsfJeHhvmk8bEeCDZtJrQpgLzd25u0nDtuCUbNKiKXI5UCKyy1OwIrMNmY3VNrkY5StI/s1600/11813400_618279218523_2842827293051446307_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mzwvgcSh1ynv9mB-OzO4SFcn27I2fwowiYfhExEqsAWkXxOx959o50lZwpMUXh41Z3vNimRdsfJeHhvmk8bEeCDZtJrQpgLzd25u0nDtuCUbNKiKXI5UCKyy1OwIrMNmY3VNrkY5StI/s200/11813400_618279218523_2842827293051446307_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chop but no flood (tide)(</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Then the Icebergs assembled for the briefing. In the meantime I popped out to buy a waterproof camera as it turns out I can't live without one. We swam to the opening and were told the tide was turning so most people opted out. Fair enough. Tides in San Fran are a SERIOUS business. They can run up to 6 knots. San Fran Harbour is a tidal estuary, with 4 rivers feeding into the Bay which runs out the oceans with the force of a tempest. I have seen ferries struggle against the tide. Listing as their engines run full force against this raging current.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOn35h-i-GOQkwTD0k8AuXXhCJf5jM1XEl7LyefolRzrQSCrt8aOk8jPXPV7t6tvsBaN2Uli3OdAkxPGGFQAiPmPeCSmOLmxbyggDBzpPnQ-xE36XKJSXkzZ_Lq4vxt6vp9oKobsA9zg/s1600/11822557_618279358243_19337145200326309_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOn35h-i-GOQkwTD0k8AuXXhCJf5jM1XEl7LyefolRzrQSCrt8aOk8jPXPV7t6tvsBaN2Uli3OdAkxPGGFQAiPmPeCSmOLmxbyggDBzpPnQ-xE36XKJSXkzZ_Lq4vxt6vp9oKobsA9zg/s200/11822557_618279358243_19337145200326309_n.jpg" width="200" /></a> <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz-yvi3-qORyXiD3ns9ARZzpNSiyap4XVCQHfQPaNDul_g9Ud6a24jQjPh0zunkFNOG0IibBgnrTBqCf_ncahGI1_hngM5GlzebQ05slE8nallUAwMHUWi60gZUywgXbpwcxV5XaTNuQ/s1600/11707858_618279398163_5421772322116351579_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz-yvi3-qORyXiD3ns9ARZzpNSiyap4XVCQHfQPaNDul_g9Ud6a24jQjPh0zunkFNOG0IibBgnrTBqCf_ncahGI1_hngM5GlzebQ05slE8nallUAwMHUWi60gZUywgXbpwcxV5XaTNuQ/s200/11707858_618279398163_5421772322116351579_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simmo and Robin swimming aft of the Eppleton.</td></tr>
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Turns out the advice was wrong, but John, Robin and I had an absolute cracker of a swim - outside / inside and then back alongside the inside of the Baracutha, between a barnacled boat and the only aquatic national park in the US - the Pier that includes a number of historic boats. Simmo was our fearless guide and despite the fact it was a tight fit at times - it was awesome! <br />
<br />
Then Robin and I headed out for another lap around Aquatic Park via the opening. So much fun swimming with that lovely lady. Happy Hour and pizza followed. Such fun.<br />
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<table 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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmBStkLwOUCVC3UwBQiMp5fNTIiErtEt2Az2DXqrhN1fykt_Tc0mZz6En5WOyEjhno2USi_2IfVzmFi8xSHbJM33vQ4D7fj99nMK5ZpEuYPWNmQKmeR5x8GcMky6GUS2weZ9JDBm5wcg/s1600/11813293_618279433093_8451916010952588599_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmBStkLwOUCVC3UwBQiMp5fNTIiErtEt2Az2DXqrhN1fykt_Tc0mZz6En5WOyEjhno2USi_2IfVzmFi8xSHbJM33vQ4D7fj99nMK5ZpEuYPWNmQKmeR5x8GcMky6GUS2weZ9JDBm5wcg/s200/11813293_618279433093_8451916010952588599_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks Robin for this photo of me laughing in the face of Alactraz.</td></tr>
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<b> </b><br />
<b>Golden Gate</b><br />
Hands down the best swim I have ever done. The record holder gave us all blue bands to mark the occasion. Paid for from his own pocket! I have never felt so privileged to be swimming in such a place. I felt like I shouldn't be there so I savoured every moment. Including an epic amount of backstroke for an ocean swim event. I can't do it justice in words. Luckily Ashley and Bruno have captured it beautifully in video:<br />
<div class="ytp-html5-clipboard">
https://youtu.be/W-CSUueH80I</div>
<div class="ytp-html5-clipboard">
</div>
<div class="ytp-html5-clipboard">
And I have a fair few photos.</div>
<div class="ytp-html5-clipboard">
</div>
<div class="ytp-html5-clipboard">
The evolution of a smile - </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ekUxZzKYq1WjF064zCQ4vNWk1QqYQskzjOyGlNi4y9kO554NWjtlrHXEi_MTqO8wTqfDWuqB5hHlUk-LBcy7x8WVbyr8RQdW3S9R7e7bZgwdV0w6BRn2CNbU5I5jx6HAQS9fLEKpyTQ/s1600/11873722_618279872213_2485286650298606121_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ekUxZzKYq1WjF064zCQ4vNWk1QqYQskzjOyGlNi4y9kO554NWjtlrHXEi_MTqO8wTqfDWuqB5hHlUk-LBcy7x8WVbyr8RQdW3S9R7e7bZgwdV0w6BRn2CNbU5I5jx6HAQS9fLEKpyTQ/s200/11873722_618279872213_2485286650298606121_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1IWkusUkwBOVlzm5UrB31Nb1b5BmLurlECW6DxQexh_p_Ys_osCBmDeFLttkEEXionDsVpg8FwDr2yYSyWsJUJeqPy6ZJIsgvEWJbEfAuZeDIZAdB0m0UKEy-yPrIH8d-VbdS9kwv4Y/s1600/11243463_618280351253_934823612792844819_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1IWkusUkwBOVlzm5UrB31Nb1b5BmLurlECW6DxQexh_p_Ys_osCBmDeFLttkEEXionDsVpg8FwDr2yYSyWsJUJeqPy6ZJIsgvEWJbEfAuZeDIZAdB0m0UKEy-yPrIH8d-VbdS9kwv4Y/s200/11243463_618280351253_934823612792844819_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table 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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRmCMvNh6ZqclIxcVXps7W-TTOy7hiaZNZSssnnxeSncAAIPi8wr5ImIY5BmBtI5O87mGLEMrdSLF7c2NxwUQbnMNIBqOjhw67l2kb1k10hVZXajnnQX-Wfg9yGOBTep9kcCtC4tB6Ro/s1600/11752172_10153506303429776_1964449405833610472_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRmCMvNh6ZqclIxcVXps7W-TTOy7hiaZNZSssnnxeSncAAIPi8wr5ImIY5BmBtI5O87mGLEMrdSLF7c2NxwUQbnMNIBqOjhw67l2kb1k10hVZXajnnQX-Wfg9yGOBTep9kcCtC4tB6Ro/s200/11752172_10153506303429776_1964449405833610472_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After. Photo credit: Fran Hegleer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FjRW8OCajTL5MxpJYgMZQe3EXA6btfaCavxl7EV0k0tFMbMXhw_6m1mg3VF3R1gxA8Skmp-UjvonwuM4qdaXhMEeXYisIHETK7J2mRlhGOqY3WgZCssnBuBkdpqRg-XvmTktVHPGQpc/s1600/11825549_618279632693_4418869407380617380_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FjRW8OCajTL5MxpJYgMZQe3EXA6btfaCavxl7EV0k0tFMbMXhw_6m1mg3VF3R1gxA8Skmp-UjvonwuM4qdaXhMEeXYisIHETK7J2mRlhGOqY3WgZCssnBuBkdpqRg-XvmTktVHPGQpc/s200/11825549_618279632693_4418869407380617380_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXqDiLFoFzesF1aIDskENOruv4LpDGkndlKE9e5QCjd_zt8inOHIzBTG4wbq_09rnfpvRjciMH6zo_lGRWstkvtEsF3zvjywY66DAIVfu7LnBF2mgT6u4E8rfchM7B2VdSqX8Xryu__k/s1600/11817053_618280321313_455328695538355465_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXqDiLFoFzesF1aIDskENOruv4LpDGkndlKE9e5QCjd_zt8inOHIzBTG4wbq_09rnfpvRjciMH6zo_lGRWstkvtEsF3zvjywY66DAIVfu7LnBF2mgT6u4E8rfchM7B2VdSqX8Xryu__k/s200/11817053_618280321313_455328695538355465_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6e1HcrxWummJ4nlHGrLJ9YdqpLgvl3yVzAp2CQU_EZyPANhTqY3_ffZUBuWn3Q7qVwoP3UcpBYZDosuyFthOQJPPNXcBHdrGkpZClAix0qBGgrLzAj3qiCXH2QE9PHgHJ1qS6nSvMwY/s1600/11824925_618279847263_2825157554093689047_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6e1HcrxWummJ4nlHGrLJ9YdqpLgvl3yVzAp2CQU_EZyPANhTqY3_ffZUBuWn3Q7qVwoP3UcpBYZDosuyFthOQJPPNXcBHdrGkpZClAix0qBGgrLzAj3qiCXH2QE9PHgHJ1qS6nSvMwY/s200/11824925_618279847263_2825157554093689047_n.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx6s575Hi_KJwGj9EZX35UwVJM1bqpTcSEJ2DWzohY6CqQ_HyRmnZ_iQazrnQ8NjPB3Mv_oEZopV7MBPzeWfMLp_Vau574Y6JM6QFtoIZOUtGBDtgcpU7OtDIA5pcXV8hR1a4fZREk74/s1600/11863317_618279937083_9019631354911283693_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP2Rm-UgyjEFLH7huLV7A3xsQm2C6AUK6kq8t47C5hMMAZxBxUR100mM_-oakSTJT3R_8rTzjq3Dtq8b-Y9htH13jVp96WxZpSIohhFBdPOkkehLK11CYe8yaDP9_-FRCmsDytae-4Xg/s1600/11863269_618279942073_3750424355810924690_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP2Rm-UgyjEFLH7huLV7A3xsQm2C6AUK6kq8t47C5hMMAZxBxUR100mM_-oakSTJT3R_8rTzjq3Dtq8b-Y9htH13jVp96WxZpSIohhFBdPOkkehLK11CYe8yaDP9_-FRCmsDytae-4Xg/s200/11863269_618279942073_3750424355810924690_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FknpIBCI94GUfpxI738eboc-h9hjoo-jzGWHCA19Xi9s7b4VJJxONdy9WLzForf-KX4YKnIoEMpWUhnLmpmbV6hMyfqUocx-bLZHo5-iM5gzJsqirQo8MJU7vwI-AOszQf01FmQaRe0/s1600/11873722_618280011933_6394414638207332812_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FknpIBCI94GUfpxI738eboc-h9hjoo-jzGWHCA19Xi9s7b4VJJxONdy9WLzForf-KX4YKnIoEMpWUhnLmpmbV6hMyfqUocx-bLZHo5-iM5gzJsqirQo8MJU7vwI-AOszQf01FmQaRe0/s200/11873722_618280011933_6394414638207332812_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCila0rjcvFxjmuRZB89rGKATtt2ZBY8yeaTJ_CbRL9G9eednJUT3jKXXUtDXaPmKrvdIae_UaUeGXNL1-Uf44y1WGu1ExkumuU7WvUDInp_a00RCTw5X0m92EIcfC_qk10Mdzw1fKKgU/s1600/11816289_10153528280607437_8789427933483587335_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCila0rjcvFxjmuRZB89rGKATtt2ZBY8yeaTJ_CbRL9G9eednJUT3jKXXUtDXaPmKrvdIae_UaUeGXNL1-Uf44y1WGu1ExkumuU7WvUDInp_a00RCTw5X0m92EIcfC_qk10Mdzw1fKKgU/s200/11816289_10153528280607437_8789427933483587335_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP2Rm-UgyjEFLH7huLV7A3xsQm2C6AUK6kq8t47C5hMMAZxBxUR100mM_-oakSTJT3R_8rTzjq3Dtq8b-Y9htH13jVp96WxZpSIohhFBdPOkkehLK11CYe8yaDP9_-FRCmsDytae-4Xg/s1600/11863269_618279942073_3750424355810924690_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<b>Alcatraz</b><br />
Having done this swim once already I wasn't completely terrified. I knew what to sight, I knew what to expect when jumping off the boat (literally the worst part of swimming in SF. Especially last time when it was a boatload colder).<br />
<br />
But I doubt it would matter how many times you swam from Alcatraz, it would never ever get old. There is something about literally escaping from Alcatraz. It's immortalised through tales of escapes, Hollywood and there is something about being tougher than a character played by Sean Connery. (In The Rock he wusses out of swimming from the Rock a second time. In turn saving the Bay area from chemical warfare but whatever. I'm more hard core than James Bond. Right?) Also, except for the slackest of slack tides involve paying a lot of attention. The water safety crew were on top of their game directed any errant swimmers back on course. Thanks so much for all your help!<br />
<br />
Then, SERC took me out to the Ball Game. And I do not care what anyone says, Baseball is nothing like Cricket. But gosh darn it do I want to watch a game from the water and catch a fly ball.<br />
<br />
Out to my fave Taqueria with the lovely Alice and Ben. Hosts with the most.<br />
A perfect SF day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTTu1WKDWPJ0u0YOZYSJuP5cYVVipRAaGwDSg68cS-HXoC0A234yeUaHxLkqHPzRqv_6AtqX2AtGhjgGcPb99NuhG2GZDNeLZ5JsQsAaqYn6IdXUEBGLUlbJ9hflE34HYATgmkNghmVA/s1600/11202064_618281314323_8392070331892516346_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTTu1WKDWPJ0u0YOZYSJuP5cYVVipRAaGwDSg68cS-HXoC0A234yeUaHxLkqHPzRqv_6AtqX2AtGhjgGcPb99NuhG2GZDNeLZ5JsQsAaqYn6IdXUEBGLUlbJ9hflE34HYATgmkNghmVA/s200/11202064_618281314323_8392070331892516346_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim Day, slightly more forbidding</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_r9hNfnplhSwQG9SddNWjrG1p_9KJZCWiocNoyE88RViewd-7F2kQ3zZgg0_XW7uQV0nkHONr-nESizvo_DOqxIKE-W3mwojey7W8TW7EptgaEDCRTtFUGfeFJTe21zRoIX2l-9LI6g/s1600/11873358_618279188583_592866711769436730_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_r9hNfnplhSwQG9SddNWjrG1p_9KJZCWiocNoyE88RViewd-7F2kQ3zZgg0_XW7uQV0nkHONr-nESizvo_DOqxIKE-W3mwojey7W8TW7EptgaEDCRTtFUGfeFJTe21zRoIX2l-9LI6g/s320/11873358_618279188583_592866711769436730_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alcatraz on a sunny day<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W1kT5DxYHa_IphBGT88xUYaDLNjrnK4EJxmUNInzDYgsvFhGaMfAKN0NDAJyNHCJ0qc1zMaybQLzhWesALNKo2CwT_zRlVcK9DiBofHmlFVoGT3BR-68blyIvwCwugs-PNjDgL4SfBw/s320/11866474_618280635683_6565424189604243827_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now you see it ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV9me9kB-aoO9vyATBhjOvoumhEbfsZNoXfY_Rx9Ujn2HtkLSjM6zoQHLo9a7gMvHIm2whtlKaWIqJaOGF5i2F0nG_UcRCRrKSqxUq-DysPNOqq-Q1WLL8LCpSMW0gJFD6IoTdhUw8T0/s1600/11816853_618280830293_4025240152720390873_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV9me9kB-aoO9vyATBhjOvoumhEbfsZNoXfY_Rx9Ujn2HtkLSjM6zoQHLo9a7gMvHIm2whtlKaWIqJaOGF5i2F0nG_UcRCRrKSqxUq-DysPNOqq-Q1WLL8LCpSMW0gJFD6IoTdhUw8T0/s200/11816853_618280830293_4025240152720390873_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now you don't. Container ship has right of way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<b> One last swim</b><br />
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And so, dawn the next morning saw me back at SERC for one last swim. Through the pylons under the MUNI pier to fight against the flood. Down to Fort Mason. At which point my arms figuratively fell off and we went for breakfast. Have I mentioned how freaking awesome the Huveros Ranchos are at the Blue Mermaid across from SERC? Worth flying to SF for those alone. One final lunch at Google with Alice and then onto the long trip home.<br />
<br />
With an ace up my sleeve: entry into my longest swim yet. The Island Charity swim from Mudjumba to Mooloolaba. So within 12 hours of landing I was back into training. Transpacific flight counted as my rest day :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietulna_Lan3AWTUjzIaB0H6PeBMh3GVkWWef8D4cxAh5MjpZtZo52z_WZs2ae-vbVdN1PE5xa2bbVdgYsXZ_eUX-PSliLU6y43ZZHXNFut3jTF9GF-1dA5Wtsj6E3vqQW5x_zTSq7Nb4/s1600/11703107_617455479303_833056247325864740_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietulna_Lan3AWTUjzIaB0H6PeBMh3GVkWWef8D4cxAh5MjpZtZo52z_WZs2ae-vbVdN1PE5xa2bbVdgYsXZ_eUX-PSliLU6y43ZZHXNFut3jTF9GF-1dA5Wtsj6E3vqQW5x_zTSq7Nb4/s320/11703107_617455479303_833056247325864740_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at it just the same day as landing back from the USA.</td></tr>
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<br />Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-63032736926248694412015-04-25T04:45:00.003-07:002015-04-29T03:38:46.884-07:00A return to form<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Those who know me or this blog will know I am a relentlessly positive person. This is a deliberate choice on my part. Twice I've stood at the fork between bitter cynicism and upbeat optimism and deliberately chose optimism because no-one is born cynical. (I'll also always chose the path less traveled, for it makes all the difference). This may make me a Pollyanna. But it's better than being an Eyeore / Blackboard from Mr Squiggle. It takes quite a bit of faith to tackle to a paralysing fear head on and even more optimism to turn your greatest fear into your greatest joy.<br />
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That optimism has been sorely tested in recent weeks.<br />
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For the third time, as I started to consolidate my base and build towards a goal swim I was felled by fate. With Bondi to Watson's and Rottnest it was flu. This time it was being a complete gumby with boards. Ironically, I did also cop a hit to the head from someone else's rescue board during training in the lead up to Bondi to Watson's last year, but after a quick clearance from the hospital I was in the pool days later. So my expectations around time frames were similar. With each passing day it appeared I would have to let go of certain goals. I've grieved a bit for some of those goals. <br />
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I have started this post so many times, and abandoned the attempt, as the bitter grief in having a goal and a dream holiday taken from me by such a seemingly innocuous event meant I couldn't write in a style I recognised as my own. I wanted to whinge, not look for silver linings. There are so many posts on FB that I have deleted or locked down to myself because they were not fit for public consumption, being so out of step with my ordinary outlook. I have to thank my amazing paddler, Pia for being so philosophical about her dream holiday being cancelled as a result and for being such a positive influence in my life. <br />
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But after almost 10 weeks of almost unrecognisable levels of lethargy I am returning to my regularly scheduled bundle of enthusiastic, optimistic energy. And perhaps most importantly, I'm hopefully using the credit with Qantas from my Broome flights to book flights to San Francisco to hang out with some of my favourite swimmers on the planet, to fly to Hawaii with my beloved 4Seasons and (please don't let this be an act of hubris) Perth for Rottnest. Let us not dwell upon the fact that for 2 people to fly from Sydney to Broome covers almost all of these costs for a solo flyer and tarry forth, dear reader.<br />
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<b>What happened?</b><br />
Rescue Boards and I have never gotten on. At my first crack at the Bronze exam I passed all components despite a shocking head cold, except for the boards. They are big, heavy, hard to handle, leave me battered and bruised and are responsible for (at last count) 17 draft resignation letters. But they are an essential skill as a surf lifesaver so I've kept turning up to training, taking boards out to do additional training and even doing my first ever board race in recent weeks (on a board ironically named Katie).<br />
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It was a completely flat day, except for the occasional shore dump so we were using it to practice skimming: run out holding your board, hop over the wave, jump on and use your momentum to skim over the remaining waves. I badly mistimed it and plowed into a second shore dump with zero momentum, my board was turned to the point where it was parallel with the wave and together we rolled into the sand. My head hit the sand as the water was about a foot deep and I don't remember what happened next. I'm told I let go of the board, it got taken back out to sea by a wave, brought in, smashed my head (again) and went back out which is when I surfaced and remember again. My first thought was for my board and not taking anyone else out. My second thought was Ow! My head!<br />
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Apart from the pain, all seemed okay. Until I started uncontrollably dry retching but once that subsided the Lifeguards cleared me, I managed a shower and breakfast and one of those unbelievably kind fellow lifesavers drove me to work. Where my vision blurred to the point where I couldn't see. At which point it was off to hospital for a cervical collar and a CT scan, which was mercifully clear.<br />
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Most concussions and post concussive syndrome clears within days, which is why footballers are often back on the field the following week. So called difficult concussions take months not weeks. In keeping with my own character my concussion is difficult and the symptoms, although so significantly lessened to bear no resemblance to their original onset, continue to date.<br />
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This has meant 4 weeks and 2 days out of the water completely, 9 weeks and 1 day off squad and at least 10 weeks out of the open water. <br />
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This is a death sentence for a water baby. My gills dried out. But surprisingly, it's been okay. For the first month at least I was completely incapable of almost anything. Getting out of bed was a really big deal. Walking around the block even bigger. So swimming was right off the cards. But as I've improved I've returned to the pool and I happen to live walking distance from the most beautiful ocean pools in the known universe. <br />
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It could have been so much worse. And it is for so many others. <br />
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The whole experience has given me so much empathy for those who suffer from conditions which I've just received the tinniest and most temporary of insights into: memory loss, chronic pain, consistent headaches, anything less than perfect vision, the devastation of being completely disoriented in familiar surrounds and having to rely upon others. <br />
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My friends and family, have, as always, been stellar stalwarts throughout this process. Thank you.<br />
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<b>What's next?</b><br />
Yesterday I returned to Friday 50's with Vladswim as interval sessions are the fastest way to build fitness and endurance. Second best birthday present ever. Despite all the injuries caused by the combination of someone who is challenged in the co-ordination stakes and an intensely physical calling, my membership of Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club is still the best present I've given myself.<br />
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The ever fun / frustrating rebuilding phase. Swimming is so much about form that it means I can still hop back in the pool and lap people much to their frustration. But to my frustration, I'm being routinely lapped by the leader of the lane whom I had managed to haul myself up onto a pace with before being injured. So I can see where I am, where I want to be and the path to get there. But it is not the world's most inviting route.<br />
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In the meantime, it's just about sucking it up (Princess) and doing the hard yards of smart training, whilst listening to my body as it continues to recover from a traumatic brain injury.<br />
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On Monday I'll hopefully be cleared to resume cycling / driving and open water swimming.<br />
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In July I'm heading to San Francisco with the Icebergs contingent as planned. Although not to swim Lake Tahoe which was a possible plan depending on the outcome of Lake Argyle but just to hang with two of my favourite swimmers: Simon Dominguez and Kimberely Chambers who are about to undertake, along with a team of Yanks, a roundtrip relay to the Farallons. Meeting these guys was the highlight of last year's Alcatraz excursion - they were training for the English Channel and Tsugaru Channel respectively, whilst I was training to swim the 3km from Alcatraz back to Aquatic Park. Their generosity of spirit in helping me with that goal was exceptional. The inspiration they have provided since is unquantifiable. Perhaps, more importantly, the way we all took to each other like ducks to water was the most significant affirmation that those path choices mentioned at the start of the blog were the right ones. My other favourite San Fran swimmer, Alice Boxhall, got me through my first two Can Too programs. Not to mention the 4Seasons outpost in San Francisco: Nina and Chen.<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/97724273">Safety Third in San Fran</a><br />
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It's only within the last few days that I've felt sufficiently like myself again to be able to commit to that plan.<br />
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Then in September 4Seasons are headed to Hawaii for a couple of swims: the Waikiki Roughwater and the 5km North Shore Swim the following week. I have to admit I've never wanted to visit Hawaii, until they told me I could swim there! And in fact a Molokai Channel duo swim appeals to me far more than the English Channel. I might also have to work on that hardest of all possible tasks: relaxing and doing nothing.<br />
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And in February 2016, all going to plan, I'll head west, for life is peaceful there. Also because the utterly gorgeous Courtney lives there. In January 2014 I did my first 5km swim at Scarborough with Courtney's support (the next day I did my second also with Courtney's support to drive the 400km south to Albany). It was on the start line of that swim chatting to a fellow swimmer I first started to consider longer swims, including Rotto. And I'll finally knock that 20km swim off my bucket list.<br />
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And perhaps my most significant goal, in May 2016 I'll swim through the heads of Sydney Harbour and successfully swim from Bondi to Watson's Bay. Solo. <br />
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With the exception of Coogee to Bondi, no swim has proven so relentless elusive. One day that goal will be mine. And all the sweeter for all the things that have gotten in the way in the meantime. She shall overcome. Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-11100537578503199702015-01-08T17:01:00.000-08:002015-01-11T20:06:48.996-08:00When swimming sucksThere are times, not many, but some, when swimming really, truly sucks.<br />
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This has been a truly sucky swimming week.<br />
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And the trick to getting through it is to keep the arms turning but not burning.<br />
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I've been really pushing the training. One Monday I visited four pools to train a total of 7km. By the Wednesday I had completely blown up. A quick trip to the physio and I posted a new PB for 10km the following day. The next day I was fine. The day after that ... whoo boy! My recovery from that swim had been comparatively lacklustre to say the least. 2 weeks later I was still feeling it.<br />
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I continued over-training for where I'm at, over Christmas and New Years (note to self, don't try keeping up with the fast Vladswimmers on 5 hours sleep). <br />
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All of a sudden I found myself not enjoying swimming on one of the more superlative days in Bondi. We swam to Mermaid's Rock (Ben Buckler headland) and then in along the rocks, one of my fav things to do. Wasn't enjoying it. The sun was shining, the water was sparkling and everyone was having a ball except me.<br />
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And it just kept getting worse. Didn't enjoy the Gerroa swim, had been holding 1:52 pace for 100m (slow for some, lightning quick for me who used to require fins to hold 1:50) and all of sudden I couldn't hold 2 minutes.<br />
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Basically, my body had had enough. This week quickly became an enforced rest week. Trips to physio, ensuring sleep and recovery, ensuring hydration (upping electrolytes) and nutrition, and keeping the arms turning over. I went home to my wonderful mama for a massage that didn't involve pain. <br />
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It's worth noting, for the female athletes out there, that your period can be a nightmare to train through. There may be an automatic drop in peak performance.<br />
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Coach Zoe gave me the brilliant advice that this week sleeping, eating, drinking and stretching were my training sessions.<br />
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And slowly, it's working. This morning I sluiced through the water as the sun burnished the water a brilliant hue. I glided with gold. And although my arms ached, the muscles didn't scream with every stroke.<br />
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Slowly but surely, swimming stops sucking.<br />
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And I start to train smarter, not harder.<br />
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<br />Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-71401073971344103272014-12-03T15:31:00.001-08:002015-01-06T00:48:11.869-08:00Fear is a funny thing - Dawny Cockatoo Island ChallengeOn Sunday I completed the Dawny Swim - from Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain, around Cockatoo Island and back (2.4km) for the second time. The swim takes place not 300m as the crow flies from Greenwich Baths where I had swimming lessons, spent most of my summer holidays as a kid and first learned to swim laps (with a boogie board attached to my ankle in case I got tired and needed a rest).<br />
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It also takes place not 1km as the crow flies from Farm Cove where I had my first open water panic attack during the swim leg of a sprint triathlon.<br />
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Having grown up swimming and swimming in the harbour, I still have no idea where that fear came from. I remember the first time I was unable to put my face in the water, but attributed it to being too cold (about 16 degrees, Balmoral, Sydney). I remember not being able to put my face in the water without freaking out but attributed it to being too opaque (Nice, France). I will never understand that fear or what caused it.<br />
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I only know that I had to tackle it head on, and in doing so, found my greatest sporting passion which I hope to keep doing til the day I die.<br />
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Sunday I jumped in and swam to the front of the start line, ready to give it a red hot go from the get go. To be able to do this so early in the season was pretty amazing. Previously, the fear edge back over winter only to be beaten into submission over the course of the season. I'm a slower swimmer so I was elbowed, kicked, swum over and I didn't care. I didn't freak out. I just kept swimming.<br />
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It later turned out I'd been kicked in the goggles so hard I'd been given a black eye. Hot.<br />
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I got almost instantly into a nice rhythm and cruised along, swimming my own race but loudly cheering anyone I recognised as we swam past each other. It's my favourite part of any swim.<br />
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Swam under the ferry wharf to avoid waiting for ferries. This is not your usual swim.<br />
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Was swimming past the huge deep water dry dock used to paint war ships when I realised what was bugging me. I wasn't used to swimming without fear. It had been my constant companion for so long, whether butterflies in the stomach, or full blown hysteria, I wasn't used to swimming without nerves. I wasn't used to enjoying a swim from go to whoa. I wasn't used to going with the flow and being totally fine with the rough and tumble of open watering swimming. I keenly felt its absence. And focused on my stroke instead.<br />
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<br />Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-19562788365016070372014-11-03T18:23:00.001-08:002015-05-05T23:14:44.139-07:00PlanningToday this little swog hit 4,000 page views. I think 1,000 are mine and another 1,000 are people looking for a photo of orange stars but nontheless, I'm pretty amazed that this chronicle of my swimming adventures has proven so popular.<br />
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No posts for a long time as IRB, illness, injury and more illness have kept me from swimming. Finally getting back into it, building up to squad sessions and having an absolute ball just splashing about. Not counting laps or kms. Not recording anything. Just experiencing the joyousness in being in the water with good friends.<br />
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I am, however, excited to annouce I got a spot in the 2015 Lake Argyle Swim challenge. A 20km monster swim in remote WA across the lake created to acommodate the diamond mine. So super excited. So general plan is swim 20km race on 2 May, hopefully finish my unfinished business with Bondi to Watson's on 17 May, before heading back to California in July for more adventures with the bloody brilliant South End Rowing Club.<br />
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I might be the one swimming, but I'm not the one doing the hard work. That'll be my support crew and I'm so incredibly blessed with the utterly gorgeous people in my life who enable my adventures.<br />
Thank you.<br />
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2015: Bring. It. On.<br /><br />
<em>Post script: The 2015 Lake Argyle Swim Challenge and Bondi to Watson's fell foul of a concussion. Next time gadget.</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBC-Nj_eBUTA5WOf1rYJYifRizdXpIeJEhBQt21X_JuPeXpa21XUXp_pkrT8YeAY7Zork2GjYGl0PCaMbDuYUQn1Jl5jasjR0Lj72xtH_KS2doiYKf2p5yDxR2YALmgYSO_hatN1_8_0/s1600/PB032971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBC-Nj_eBUTA5WOf1rYJYifRizdXpIeJEhBQt21X_JuPeXpa21XUXp_pkrT8YeAY7Zork2GjYGl0PCaMbDuYUQn1Jl5jasjR0Lj72xtH_KS2doiYKf2p5yDxR2YALmgYSO_hatN1_8_0/s1600/PB032971.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-25702618773392349342014-08-10T19:04:00.000-07:002015-05-05T23:17:54.333-07:00Bending to the break<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s no secret that ocean swimming is my greatest love,
born from my greatest fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But it’s only through consistent practice that I’ve
learned to love it. So it was with some trepidation, after 5 weeks off surf
sessions learning how to be an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) crewperson, that I
approached Saturday’s surf session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I spent part of the morning working on engines with the
IRB crew ensuring my mind was in the gutter. Owing to the 6-10 foot sets coming
through, Zoe and Kingy wisely choose a gutter session to match where my head was at. When the surf is that big, the water is
moving so fast it creates a littoral current that runs parallel to the beach –
creating a natural gutter between sand banks. The body surfing gurus,
Hossy and Stirky headed out the back. There are those who excel in big waves,
and then there are those, like me, for whom they can be an ordeal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">About three quarters through the session I tightened my
goggles and decided to join them. This wasn’t done lightly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Exactly a year ago I completely shattered my surf mojo
upon the sand owing to a shore dump spearing. This is what happens when you
show up late to a session and miss the warm up. Don't disrespect the coaches by doing this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are four of us heading out, and at one point I lose
my nerve and head for home, catching a big broken wave and thinking “this is
going to hurt”. It doesn’t and buoyed by that thought I strike out for the
back, beyond the break, again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That moment where you get out the back, you reach
comparative safety, when you collect your thoughts and your breath is a truly
golden moment. That moment when you realise you’re not out the back and a
seemingly monster set is about to break on your head makes you wish you’d worn
your brown swimmers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is no choice but to dive, dive deep, and hope like
hell you can grab the sand and hold on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you get it right, the wave surges over you,
sounding like a 747 taking off above your head and obscuring the light. Then
the spray off the crest speckles the sunlight cascading through the water and there is nothing more beautiful. You come up in the clear water between the
waves, take a breath, ready and prepared to dive under the next one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you get it wrong, there is nothing more scary. I got
under the first two fine, but the waves inevitably build through the set and
the last one caught me in the backwash as I dived under. Funnily enough, the
thought “this is going to hurt” relaxes me. I give into the wave as it washing
machines me every which way, knowing eventually, it will throw me up long
enough to grab another gasp of air. Eventually, it will spit me out. So long as
I bend to its will. And, for the first time, in a long time, I keep my eyes open
through this process rather than screwing them shut. The foam is truly
mesmerising. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The wave washes on, leaving me behind, the water clears
and I survey the situation. Do I head for shore or back beyond the break? I’m
still a long way out so I head well clear of the breakers and wait. I regroup
with my buddies. I catch my breath and calm down. And let myself bend to the
will of the unbroken waves. Bobbing about like a cork. Until I find a lull in which to return to shore, I'm not <u>yet</u> brave enough to body surf big waves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The funniest part is, once we returned to shore, one of my
fellow not so surf confident friends, who’d been right inside the break zone
remarked that he only felt comfortable admitting how scary it had been once “the
surf lifesaver” swam up and remarked “oh my god”! As though, in obtaining my
bronze, I had somehow managed to vanquish all my fears at once. No such luck. </span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I’ll definitely have a go these days. And that means I’ve come a long way,
baby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXAI2ck3-a19-bMHTmTr9aD8uq7WnpQUD_nsI2b7SUBfLu6Glb4IkE7Ixo-VJ7bpgyPekSrurJrN2X5i5WrC-Lr50AZ_pMl1iHcvOtTYE3D3r9QnLYOkallDRgSac9gSuN55VIYbcuqc/s1600/Colin+nailing+the+surf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXAI2ck3-a19-bMHTmTr9aD8uq7WnpQUD_nsI2b7SUBfLu6Glb4IkE7Ixo-VJ7bpgyPekSrurJrN2X5i5WrC-Lr50AZ_pMl1iHcvOtTYE3D3r9QnLYOkallDRgSac9gSuN55VIYbcuqc/s1600/Colin+nailing+the+surf.jpg" height="183" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Colin, one of my first surf coaches, nailing a wave with Bondi Fit. Photo (c) Bondi Fit. Bondi Fit's head and founding coaches, Spot Anderson, is one of the best body surfers you will see. Longy, another of my first Can Too coaches is also completely at home in conditions such as these.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-sjRCzhYcTd7oIVKZipLyG9I-sUPADRzZLl3GkwgNYzmV_e0AZZkVH-AjG3TjhRndVYGtnfvQ3MtEp5qJxBRLS8deBDbYE87REYokQpPs_YS9yU7-gN_eK99Bs0iI32s0kub0O-TGWE/s1600/Mermaid+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-sjRCzhYcTd7oIVKZipLyG9I-sUPADRzZLl3GkwgNYzmV_e0AZZkVH-AjG3TjhRndVYGtnfvQ3MtEp5qJxBRLS8deBDbYE87REYokQpPs_YS9yU7-gN_eK99Bs0iI32s0kub0O-TGWE/s1600/Mermaid+rock.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Watching the wave that built at Mermaid's rock (headland) and broke at the Boat Ramp. Photo taken by the lovely Bel with Kingy's camera. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hn5d5vH3I8oLB2VVATHHMm_P40XMpSeKPv8kUDwi5Jm0Mn4-2oUa8WLoQGNUSeu5XqGlgIwK-z8BlCY0PsjArqvdbxpXbFKNzBal95c97NQYMy93YcKhj7gvVmmKzM00_lBid9d1hIw/s1600/10151247_585201741053_2607479879041784209_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hn5d5vH3I8oLB2VVATHHMm_P40XMpSeKPv8kUDwi5Jm0Mn4-2oUa8WLoQGNUSeu5XqGlgIwK-z8BlCY0PsjArqvdbxpXbFKNzBal95c97NQYMy93YcKhj7gvVmmKzM00_lBid9d1hIw/s1600/10151247_585201741053_2607479879041784209_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hossy showing off his skillz whilst Stirky (orange cap) watches on and two randoms watch them</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizim8mGx-o0ECCitpReLtmm6CAz0A-GOQ-HGfhoaw4L3Wp0BKt20R4NOCwsK1YTmn9M2L2RZGkshGjnLlA0c5v6UN9ky64wA8cMC8V9jP6QLuj2XIHK4rq177t8mordjtF-nj2qmxaZ_0/s1600/10526145_585201481573_3672970168175650949_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizim8mGx-o0ECCitpReLtmm6CAz0A-GOQ-HGfhoaw4L3Wp0BKt20R4NOCwsK1YTmn9M2L2RZGkshGjnLlA0c5v6UN9ky64wA8cMC8V9jP6QLuj2XIHK4rq177t8mordjtF-nj2qmxaZ_0/s1600/10526145_585201481573_3672970168175650949_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bobbing around out the back.</span></div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-62518384815133188142014-08-07T04:22:00.001-07:002015-01-11T20:21:29.924-08:00Heroes<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to admit, as I write this I am a little overwhelmed
by my heroes right now. Also a little feeling a little <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=swimfan">swim fan</a>nish! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>Stuart Johnson is currently attempting a triple
crossing of the English Channel, a feat achieved only 3 times throughout human
history. On the day that the currents thwarted my attempt to swim to Watson’s
Bay, he swam from Coogee to Bondi to Watson’s and then back again. Sending him
amazement and best wishes. [<em>Postscript - Stuart Johnson didn't quite make the triple crossing. He did make one of the most powerful acceptance (in the true sense of the word) statements ever and inspire the bejesus out of me and a fair few others:<br /> After a 30 hour swim, Stuart Johnson said "I was tired and close to hypothermic, yes the water was warm but if you spend that time in the water it can happen, and despite my considerable pre-channel girth. Because I had slowed down I was going to miss the cap and go south <span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span></em><span class="text_exposed_show"><em>for 6 hours. The prediction from Reg [pilot] was 14hrs. I was buggered but figured I could rough it out for 6 (and that would be optimistic at best). No way would I last 14, I (and no one else made the tough decision to abort). The good thing is there is not what if for me now, the weather was good, the 2nd turn easy, in fact at that point I felt the 3 way was in the bag. I trained harder than before, and harder than I could (or would again), I had a good feed plan (thanks Tara) and covered everything that had gone wrong before. There are no parameters to tweak. A 2 way I can do, the 3 way is a bridge too far, reserved for a select few." 10.31 am 8 August 2014</em>]</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_RCDylD8RYXZhQy7oX7TFDIVya639QrLAq57UeENaybPO8_Tp59zkdmhckBJjsa1ezJtotFZM5gk6Dv6ZrakQVLMlBKKUbM_LkOXH3fEz0YVx05e-EAaLxt6GJ-ww9ct_f04RA6D264/s1600/Stuart+Johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_RCDylD8RYXZhQy7oX7TFDIVya639QrLAq57UeENaybPO8_Tp59zkdmhckBJjsa1ezJtotFZM5gk6Dv6ZrakQVLMlBKKUbM_LkOXH3fEz0YVx05e-EAaLxt6GJ-ww9ct_f04RA6D264/s1600/Stuart+Johnson.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><a href="http://colleenmallon.blogspot.com.au/">Colleen Mallon</a> is following in her brother’s
wake across the North Channel (generally acknowledged as the hardest of the
Oceans Seven) battling freezing waters and massive jellyfish with my uni buddy
Alex alongside. Sending you both best wishes and anti Jellyfish forcefields. <em>[Postscript - she nailed it, almost set a new record time</em>]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx3MUIZ_w87SIVcgNHL1nE2zcxuUnWZV3Ofw1P8NNj_c6zy77CAIO-gIKiu6hJuwGiPXXxa30ljN79pkMM68E4s3JoXdPwzfzBIQm-aKJB-uV-IKKMi-WW7n7cVapAuhr6-n7UbRgWWw/s1600/Colleen+Mallon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx3MUIZ_w87SIVcgNHL1nE2zcxuUnWZV3Ofw1P8NNj_c6zy77CAIO-gIKiu6hJuwGiPXXxa30ljN79pkMM68E4s3JoXdPwzfzBIQm-aKJB-uV-IKKMi-WW7n7cVapAuhr6-n7UbRgWWw/s1600/Colleen+Mallon.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a> Photographic postscript: nailed it!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>The 5<sup>th</sup> person ever in the history of
humanity, Adam Walker, completed the <a href="http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fopenwaterpedia.com%2Findex.php%3Ftitle%3DOceans_Seven&ei=r2DjU4XkHdTc8AWnq4HoCw&usg=AFQjCNEG5nZ-0M3W_xKxZRxEoDOK9v9l5w&sig2=JvrMtmDLL2lw37KlIfjlPg&bvm=bv.72676100,d.dGc">Oceans Seven</a> challenge:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 75.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>Cook Strait (26km 14-19 degrees, crazy currents)
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 75.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>Tsugaru (19km, 16-19 degrees, crazy currents)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 75.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>Molokai Channel (41.8km, warm, stingy thingys) </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 75.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>Gibraltar Straits (20km, warm, crazy currents,
boats and chop)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 75.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>English Channel (34km, 15-18 degrees) (big
ships, currents)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 75.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>Catalina Channel (33.7km, 17-19 degrees)
(currents, sharks)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 75.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>the hardest: North Channel (34.5km, 10-14
degrees, jellyfish)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -24px;">Wyatt Song is swimming in 8 degree water at the International Winter Swimming Festival in Argentina. After his experiences in Russia and Finland earlier in the year this is comparatively bathlike. [<em>Postscript = Wyatt went on to become Australia's first Ice Miler</em>]</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then there are the exceptional recent achievements:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Fellow BSBLSC lifesavers </span><a href="http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fswim.gofundraise.com.au%2Fpage%2Fdoriswims&ei=31_jU82HLs2C8gWOgoGwCA&usg=AFQjCNHJzcvGJBzPI9n1r0ZxtGj3pwP3sQ&sig2=7Jeqg7JgJovwOBxxDYrkGg&bvm=bv.72676100,d.dGc&cad=rja" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Dori Miller</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152429105042779.1073741855.157942197778&type=1">LochieHinds</a>, recently, respectively, became the 40</span><sup style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">th</sup><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"> person ever to complete a double
crossing of the English Channel and the youngest person ever to complete the Triple Crown of swimming (English Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon (45km
circumnavigation) and Catalina Channel). Dori did it after the
fastest solo of 2008 and 2 previous double attempts. The double took <a href="http://cspf.co.uk/cs-and-pf-swims">26 hours and 21 minute</a>s making her the 117</span><sup style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">th</sup><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"> person to join the </span><a href="http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fopenwaterpedia.com%2Findex.php%3Ftitle%3D24-hour_club&ei=OWDjU_b-O5Df8AXTqoLQBw&usg=AFQjCNHBdmIqByhAJFg4hTtjWrRq6eh6yA&sig2=nct0xZxYH03YkgAzbYfkhA&bvm=bv.72676100,d.dGc" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">24 Hour Club</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">. Lochie takes that
crown from Alison Streeter, the undisputed Queen of the English Channel with 43
crossings including a triple and seven crossings in one year. Dori had her
amazing partner and coach, Nick, alongside the whole way. Lochie had his
amazing folks who support everything he swims!</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldm_5r_4oMj4OjpB8O7cf-7OW-XcSxEnjO6_4fbCyZ1LF4PqjJsRA0Ulofojndt3N8q1oFAhMJOGhND3F5uKH4AywFQIRzo0sYn5Sl5Q9d6h_Z4UluzENr7OFKicgc-oj-p7xZnI57vE/s1600/Dori+Miller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldm_5r_4oMj4OjpB8O7cf-7OW-XcSxEnjO6_4fbCyZ1LF4PqjJsRA0Ulofojndt3N8q1oFAhMJOGhND3F5uKH4AywFQIRzo0sYn5Sl5Q9d6h_Z4UluzENr7OFKicgc-oj-p7xZnI57vE/s1600/Dori+Miller.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a> Dori's course across the Channel and Back</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">The bloke who set up the Icebergs / South End
Rowing Club (SERC) connection, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/simonswims/?ref=br_rs" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Simon Dominguez</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"> who battled the storm of the
century to cross the English Channel and set new standards in sartorial style
with his robe. He had his mum, dad, sister, daughter and best mate alongside.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPdYy5NVn8G5ocIhG69cbptS9Tp4FvSQPtOU5irEHEVTdCu1BMaktPwZVQcDrcPASu4x25aQcDJH7up4y9zKnFYqKNkIO_CRhDqzYV57gEqnfPmZM9IE_Se3E2F9o2wOI6rakxnBcocI/s1600/Dominguez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPdYy5NVn8G5ocIhG69cbptS9Tp4FvSQPtOU5irEHEVTdCu1BMaktPwZVQcDrcPASu4x25aQcDJH7up4y9zKnFYqKNkIO_CRhDqzYV57gEqnfPmZM9IE_Se3E2F9o2wOI6rakxnBcocI/s1600/Dominguez.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><a href="http://kimswims.com/blog/" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Kimberley Chambers</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">, who looks set to become the
6</span><sup style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">th</sup><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"> person to complete the Oceans Seven, completing just the most
amazing culturally sensitive (she speaks Japanese, of course!) crossing of Tsugaru to complete her 6</span><sup style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">th</sup><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">
of the 7 swims. She had her mum and colleagues from Adobe alongside. [<em>Postscript - Kim completed the Oceans Seven but at huge cost</em>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYAQdoNZYGpkfsFfsuIWgMyAxhMvwNsVXROZInEps2EbE3mlvap2pON4B67ZXmY_uaHUxWg2tMeKUgCl4WKwoikrukaq1p5rePI8nxh47m8EznETsD8Tzr3SG0Pr2wLIGo_uP-8HbTWY/s1600/10384857_582921805063_343908609445101707_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYAQdoNZYGpkfsFfsuIWgMyAxhMvwNsVXROZInEps2EbE3mlvap2pON4B67ZXmY_uaHUxWg2tMeKUgCl4WKwoikrukaq1p5rePI8nxh47m8EznETsD8Tzr3SG0Pr2wLIGo_uP-8HbTWY/s1600/10384857_582921805063_343908609445101707_n.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">All of the amazing Vladswimmers who have just
nailed their English Channel swims.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">The amazing <a href="http://epicbillbradley.com/">EpicBillBradley</a> who had to call it a
day. The hardest call but always the right one.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is just incredible about each of these swims is the way technology allows all of us playing along from home to track their swims. There is a community of supporters, all over the world, hunched in front of screen, willing those tracking dots (and the swimmer attached) forward. You can yell encouragement in real time. And for that swim, everyone of us is a part of something bigger than ourselves. That inspirational community is cemented by the people willing to spend hours and hours on a boat, alongside those swimmers. Your selflessness is incredible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there the forthcoming achievements:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fellow Bondi lifesaver, all around legend and
one of the most generous people I know, <a href="https://www.google.com.au/search?q=cyril+baldock+melanoma&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=eV_jU67CAczC8gfxyYCIDg">Cyril Baldock </a>takes on the English channel to
honour his mentor, the late, great Des Renford and become the <a href="http://bit.ly/1puaR1H">oldest</a> Channel swimmer. [<em>Post script - Cyril did it, and held the record for a little over a week. He's vowed to return making him a truly epic hero</em>]</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Justin Hanby to prove that the third time is the
charm when <a href="https://www.facebook.com/channelblackdog?fref=ts">Black Dog swims the Channel</a> [<em>Postscript - Justin Hanby nailed it</em>]</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>All the other remaining Vladswimmers [<em>Postscript - All the <a href="http://www.vladswim.com.au/news/list-results-our-swim-season-overseas-2014">Vladswimmers</a> succeeded]</em></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.chloemccardel.com/"> </a></span></span><a href="http://www.chloemccardel.com/">Chloe McCardel </a>using all of her successes and
not so successes to mentor a relay team across the English Channel. Chloe beat Des Renford's record of laps of Bondi the day I signed up to be a Bondi lifesaver. His son swam alongside for part of that epic effort. Her achievement inspired one of my greatest challenges. [<em>Post script - Chloe went onto set the World Record for Longest continuous unaided ocean swim. An absolute bloody legend!</em>]</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there are the people who have inspired me from go
to whoa. Tamera Lang, my Can Too team captain who nailed Rottnest solo and then
as a duo with an 8 month old baby. Pete Dunne who tells me I can do anything,
when he literally can (so long as the water isn’t too cold). Mel Houghton,
Micky Ash, Joe Watkins and Colin Hannah who all soloed Bondi to Watson’s and
inspired me to try. Mel Speet and Luke Parr who helped me through a lot of
nerve wracked start lines and introduced me to North Sydney Masters. Alice
Boxhall who helped me through Can Too and the Bronze Medallion.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tori Gorman, whose blog is essentially my bible and who encourages everyone. Fyso and Liam who make training a joy. Jacki who made Alcatraz a reality. Too
many swim friends to mention (sorry guys).</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some incredible Can Too coaches: Colin Marshall, Peter Long,
Big Wave Dave, Susan King, Zoe Little, Goldie, Trish Daly and Victor Lee. The
amazing 4Seasons who make ocean swimming accessible to all: Kingy, Zoe, Tamera
and Dave. Hiro and John Wynberg at North Sydney and all the Vladswim coaches whom I’m looking
forward to getting to know. Including Vlad himself who has worked miracles on
my stroke in the past. They inspire with everything they do!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But finally, there are some unsung heroes. They may never
swim those kinds of distances, but I have watched their journey through the waves
and I will never be prouder of anything I do myself than of what these heroes
faced and won. Silpa, Kay, Allison, Anne – I know something of the fears you
faced. You faced down those fears and I am so, so very proud of you. It will
forever be my greatest honour to have swum alongside you in good times and bad.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because once upon a time, in 2009, I could not breathe when
I swam in open water. I had constant panic attacks. My greatest hero ever, a
Bondi lifesaver whose name I do not know noticed and swam alongside me until I
could breathe. As I don’t know her name, I can never repay the favour, and so I
pay it unto others. Karma rocks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks heroes. Love your work. Just keep swimming</span>!</div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-24298070372942122052014-07-23T04:57:00.001-07:002014-07-23T05:03:50.517-07:00Why I hate wearing a wetsuitThe way the water moves, the way I move through the water, the way the water sluices over my body, the way I bend to the water's will and the way it parts for me when I get the glide right:<br />
<br />
These to me are sacred. Some people go to church on Sunday. I go swimming.<br />
<br />
The wetsuit interferes with this.<br />
<br />
They are also expensive, sometimes take chunks out of your neck and are a pain to get into and out of.<br />
<br />
I own four wonderful wetsuits: my childhood spring suit, a surf wetsuit, a swimming speedo wetsuit (with ribbing that makes it look like the batsuit) and a onesie spring suit number (aka Bond Girl wannabe).<br />
<br />
They're fabulous inventions and incredibly useful for board training, water safety, IRB training or training in cold water. They're also great when you aren't acclimatised. I'd rather acclimatise.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA35BuZJD9026kyKvf16c91Dc1vsdylYZI_12LzPHbnXGYUOF-Ufa7HLDxg3Xex91Vy7-9DwRRw4TLuBF6b9q3ucMkNfynJMetA-TvS9hplY6nm836_E_L8nUDtQsE1zjEmi2uN1ZKB0w/s1600/65540_551886470123_758585558_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA35BuZJD9026kyKvf16c91Dc1vsdylYZI_12LzPHbnXGYUOF-Ufa7HLDxg3Xex91Vy7-9DwRRw4TLuBF6b9q3ucMkNfynJMetA-TvS9hplY6nm836_E_L8nUDtQsE1zjEmi2uN1ZKB0w/s1600/65540_551886470123_758585558_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Water safety wetties (surf wetsuit)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2_G6UJP2kE_JGvxFkB9GSa3qBETBwhGSUVLUchTp1YYDL8I3Bh_r_CEW-JPuR9wSNnn4j9zAVEbS5Y5tlU3xqnnEPBpVg2twPWvkE2uxviLh5V_xcHdM6uRvYBaVuWsj4oqYTKhIQzM/s1600/998071_10151769011983826_252188542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2_G6UJP2kE_JGvxFkB9GSa3qBETBwhGSUVLUchTp1YYDL8I3Bh_r_CEW-JPuR9wSNnn4j9zAVEbS5Y5tlU3xqnnEPBpVg2twPWvkE2uxviLh5V_xcHdM6uRvYBaVuWsj4oqYTKhIQzM/s1600/998071_10151769011983826_252188542_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Going it without a wettie</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kUjqh33ax1nzTMPlAOR5aDgxA_0jyxlkOLixLTQawHzhoLfj4gNcTROk-KpxPx3ItMSou1UQUMPh2TkcY6iMcCogbkIIawf-VVzBHs0HP0hrUS7zY2FL36ZXDDAtTnyAddTEYgYJ8Hg/s1600/1908291_576797348523_8662827012121574114_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kUjqh33ax1nzTMPlAOR5aDgxA_0jyxlkOLixLTQawHzhoLfj4gNcTROk-KpxPx3ItMSou1UQUMPh2TkcY6iMcCogbkIIawf-VVzBHs0HP0hrUS7zY2FL36ZXDDAtTnyAddTEYgYJ8Hg/s1600/1908291_576797348523_8662827012121574114_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wettie in Tassie. Vital. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWAXiYUyLvXludsLjZ1h5cdtm_ijXZ3xwYgIgXHead6m6LIfyGbpTiMohz_bbeqEodFPvppuWE2V5wRSd__cwEEEJLfjTW0OsRon4kier6_y7yT4BUJz2Z2C2g2REpYLxMcc-tZ7EepM/s1600/10419524_10204475852964759_7517053344281442439_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWAXiYUyLvXludsLjZ1h5cdtm_ijXZ3xwYgIgXHead6m6LIfyGbpTiMohz_bbeqEodFPvppuWE2V5wRSd__cwEEEJLfjTW0OsRon4kier6_y7yT4BUJz2Z2C2g2REpYLxMcc-tZ7EepM/s1600/10419524_10204475852964759_7517053344281442439_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Onesie spring suit. Perfect for board paddling.</div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-31481704501782415212014-07-07T22:21:00.000-07:002014-07-07T22:21:46.933-07:00Sure sign you're around the bendAt the end of my 4th session swimming around Aquatic Park, San Francisco I realised my fingers were splayed and I couldn't bring them back together.<br />
<br />
"That happens" remarked my swimming companions.<br />
<br />
I'd been in the water for an hour and didn't think too much of it.<br />
<br />
Then, whilst reading <a href="http://loneswimmer.com/">Lone Swimmer's</a> blog I discovered:<br />
<br />
<h2>
<a href="http://loneswimmer.com/2012/02/13/where-did-my-claw-go/">THE CLAW</a></h2>
Turns out, it's a pretty good sign you're starting to push it in the cold water. It's also a pretty good sign you're well on your way to becoming a cold water swimmer.<br />
<br />
My thought process ran: <br />
I've had da claw. I'm like totes a fully serious cold water swimmer. Hells Yes! <br />
<br />
Definitely dolally. Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-75759573068754866092014-06-09T00:20:00.000-07:002014-11-03T18:26:59.653-08:00Escape from Alcatraz<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alcatraz. The island prison that kept escape attempts at
bay using the threat of the endlessly eddying currents and bone chilling waters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtZmmBDncrmGnPgYC_b2eGN8Lf8xhKbm9H1ijadmwBcLpd7dohzFilxrWxvPKFkGQb8P3twJiHP9B9NNV42XH_FdASnCwkCR0yNUDyGpoL9olUHER4KLvvyIM0waCtYhyphenhyphenNF-S-7M8iGw/s1600/10356412_10152485017467112_8964929607550320727_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alcatraz has a fascinating history as a civil war fort,
military installation, military prison, federal penitentiary, site of an American Indian occupation and national park.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It has captured the imagination via Hollywood films and
was no doubt part of the inspiration for Azkaban.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's also a very popular but challenging swim. I heard
about it, had friends who moved to San Fran whom I wanted to visit and wanted to sign up. Then my partner in
crime, Jacki signed up and I had to jump on board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The same factors that kept prisoners with nothing to lose
out of the water make for an interesting swim. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">San Francisco Bay is actually a tidal estuary. So the
water is pretty opaque, constantly moving and cold!! Even in summer it was
54-60F or 12-15.5C depending on the tide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bondi hasn't gotten that cold in years. The coldest ever
Coogee swim was 15.5. Balmoral gets down to 14 and I make a point of trying to
swim there over winter. We did a delightful session in Lane Cove national park
(16 degrees) and Manly Dam was down to 15.5 just before I flew out so I did 2
sessions there. And then swam in LA where it was 20-21 degrees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i66waf9HLaBUeN7G9ldAwbtiWYNdznLo56UKL4xoQMW7sWI2lRTZ7wSVHCn54EaxDfsRuJAKyypxiQhx87dXxBVPAGVdSrjLDG7Bi5bKASvSL8CYJZy_VIuf0yuoMiU8e_A9P-_i7Do/s1600/1907330_10152090413401987_8086106760118477140_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i66waf9HLaBUeN7G9ldAwbtiWYNdznLo56UKL4xoQMW7sWI2lRTZ7wSVHCn54EaxDfsRuJAKyypxiQhx87dXxBVPAGVdSrjLDG7Bi5bKASvSL8CYJZy_VIuf0yuoMiU8e_A9P-_i7Do/s1600/1907330_10152090413401987_8086106760118477140_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUworiyCartuhIMLdMc11C89v-OThzuvcVMlr37xhWC7PoyaLFndhDtopiGCg2WuCMmyXgYxsO1wJo1CEB67IGVxAftLhPPGimlBYGl9mPbogkIG6z1nMNK1VS0e5Roa7rsIyccY-pjBk/s1600/10253982_10152011441656673_4954826184041168273_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUworiyCartuhIMLdMc11C89v-OThzuvcVMlr37xhWC7PoyaLFndhDtopiGCg2WuCMmyXgYxsO1wJo1CEB67IGVxAftLhPPGimlBYGl9mPbogkIG6z1nMNK1VS0e5Roa7rsIyccY-pjBk/s1600/10253982_10152011441656673_4954826184041168273_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwMP2hiAG-C7yPDBIA06DrKn2cP559S-P5h4oL9cILEu5MciNN2TFoBcZBhF72qO7a8wD7g-8j1KirRyDAYh4Sav7cc8u_QOXVNMzJu2wiMGFWNOkyPd3BjTpdhDqrRTYgtzDTBH8g1s/s1600/10388105_10152090413116987_3180279506422007661_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwMP2hiAG-C7yPDBIA06DrKn2cP559S-P5h4oL9cILEu5MciNN2TFoBcZBhF72qO7a8wD7g-8j1KirRyDAYh4Sav7cc8u_QOXVNMzJu2wiMGFWNOkyPd3BjTpdhDqrRTYgtzDTBH8g1s/s1600/10388105_10152090413116987_3180279506422007661_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUworiyCartuhIMLdMc11C89v-OThzuvcVMlr37xhWC7PoyaLFndhDtopiGCg2WuCMmyXgYxsO1wJo1CEB67IGVxAftLhPPGimlBYGl9mPbogkIG6z1nMNK1VS0e5Roa7rsIyccY-pjBk/s1600/10253982_10152011441656673_4954826184041168273_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-mNCKfEeTH2vddRmZJQ_q3nPQgU_yrulO8zwA-xFXtS-u8vKsJmQh9GxA-vQXTwQPx2Fi-qSou8Z4vAxDCIYS2hAisZwgghDriqUFhYx50nUxdrv8dcUQg9r-B-fLMq3WTXBBd-JsRM/s1600/10310682_10152011442306673_5985466416867855519_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-mNCKfEeTH2vddRmZJQ_q3nPQgU_yrulO8zwA-xFXtS-u8vKsJmQh9GxA-vQXTwQPx2Fi-qSou8Z4vAxDCIYS2hAisZwgghDriqUFhYx50nUxdrv8dcUQg9r-B-fLMq3WTXBBd-JsRM/s1600/10310682_10152011442306673_5985466416867855519_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I knew Icebergs had a relationship with South End Rowing
Club (SERC), one of two famous historic swim clubs in SF's Aquatic Park and
made a beeline for there when I arrived. They could not have been nicer. I
interrupted a gentleman on his way to his swim. If you get between me and a
swim woe betide you! But he was just so helpful and friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I acclimatised as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 1 - 25 mins solo swimming along the shore at Aquatic
Park<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 2 - 40 mins solo swimming around the cove at Aquatic
Park<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 3 - 45 mins Sunriser swimming outside the cove to Fort
Mason <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Day 4 - 56 minutes friendly faff session outside the cove and
a 20 minute arvo session with the 4Seasons SF crew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Race Day - over an hour in the water, race time of 58
minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Recovery session – through the concrete pylons of the
piers (to counter the worst of the flood tide) to the marina where a friendly
seal joined us and then back with the current. Squee!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtZmmBDncrmGnPgYC_b2eGN8Lf8xhKbm9H1ijadmwBcLpd7dohzFilxrWxvPKFkGQb8P3twJiHP9B9NNV42XH_FdASnCwkCR0yNUDyGpoL9olUHER4KLvvyIM0waCtYhyphenhyphenNF-S-7M8iGw/s1600/10356412_10152485017467112_8964929607550320727_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtZmmBDncrmGnPgYC_b2eGN8Lf8xhKbm9H1ijadmwBcLpd7dohzFilxrWxvPKFkGQb8P3twJiHP9B9NNV42XH_FdASnCwkCR0yNUDyGpoL9olUHER4KLvvyIM0waCtYhyphenhyphenNF-S-7M8iGw/s1600/10356412_10152485017467112_8964929607550320727_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Two fav SF training buds: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kim (Oceans Seven
<strike>aspirant</strike> swimmer) and Simon (English channel <strike>aspirant</strike> crosser and setter upperer of
Icebergs/SERC relationship) trying our luck getting through a gap in the
pier and eventually putting safety third (see <a href="http://vimeo.com/97724273">http://vimeo.com/97724273)</a>. Effing bloody legends. Thank goodness this was a rest day focussed on faffing or chatting or there's no way I could have kept up. I say aspirants in order not to tempt fate but I have no doubt about either of them achieving their goals. They impressed the hell out of me. And that ain't easy!</span> [<em>Postscript - both of them nailed it, though not without significant challenges</em>]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are no words to describe just how gorgeous and
giving SERC were. They were the key to my success. Acclimatisation was a joy,
not a chore thanks to the friendly folks, hot showers and sauna! I still can’t believe
how much I enjoyed swimming in water colder than I had ever experienced (except
maybe in Cornwall, in which I lasted exactly 1.5 minutes). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Race Day dawned very grey. Simon of Icebergs / SERC fame
assured us the sun would break through. Never doubted him for a second. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The worst part, hands down, of this race is jumping off
the ferry. This is where people tend to panic. And not without reason. You’re
jumping from a reasonable height into bloody cold water. It’s best to try and
minimise your descent into the water and jump off like scuba divers – arms and
legs akimbo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hard part over, Jacki and I headed to the start line which
was about 500m away. I couldn’t believe I was swimming just metres from the
wharf I had stood on two days earlier to start my Alcatraz tour. The same wharf
where inmates landed to start their sentence. The same wharf where American
Indians landed to claim Alcatraz and highlight the indignity of their
situation. Just an incredible honour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As I was revelling in my location, the ferries sounded
their horn signalling the start of the race. But I hadn’t reached the start
line yet! I thought I must have been mistaken and then realised the race had
started without me. Time to get my skates on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The water was about the 12.5 – 13.5 degree mark I’d been
training in so it was surprisingly easy to get into a rhythm. That sun came out
(thanks Simon) so breathing right (towards the Golden Gate) got surprisingly
glary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This swim was just an amazing, incredible opportunity that
I absolutely savoured. To my left was the Bay Bridge. To my right was the
Golden Gate. Ahead of me were the sights of San Francisco (transamerica tower,
telegraph hill, aquatic park, fisherman’s wharf) and behind me was Alcatraz (I
admit- I did backstroke at one point to take it all in).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It felt slightly surreal after so long in the planning. On
11 December 2012 I pull the call out for interest amongst 4SEASons, including to
visit Alice and Nina who had both moved to SF. This swim was a long time in the
making and I was determined to make the most of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We left on the end of the flood tide, swam across the
slack and hit the start of the ebb (when it warmed up to 15 degrees. Balmy bathwater!
– It quickly returned to your regularly forecast coldness). Thanks to Gary
Emich’s great guide to escaping from Alcatraz (available from the Alcatraz gift
shop) I knew exactly what to sight for which tide and lined myself up with the
(surprisingly narrow) entrance to Aquatic Park with ease. I got caught in a
cross current for a little bit (nothing on B2W) and slowed down. But I was
super pleased with my performance overall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sprinted across the line. Got told to stop sprinting.
First and last time I’ll ever be called a sprinter. But one does not simply
stroll across the finish line. It’s unseemly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgCcxBajBHTLKeEqfk2hq_gp1CIHYQYgAd6EHrtqAoZzQLFs1ekECsWzUghcsmYMcdB8EEEMPO_GvyaKThf1Huk4azXgsQafv8UcCbP2wO3J5J5J0zBy-5igVPszjp9v8DhvDHmLk85k/s1600/IMG_20140607_092620242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgCcxBajBHTLKeEqfk2hq_gp1CIHYQYgAd6EHrtqAoZzQLFs1ekECsWzUghcsmYMcdB8EEEMPO_GvyaKThf1Huk4azXgsQafv8UcCbP2wO3J5J5J0zBy-5igVPszjp9v8DhvDHmLk85k/s1600/IMG_20140607_092620242.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alice was there with camera at the ready, warmed towel and
the best damn hot chocolate ever. Managed to warm up enough to cheer Jacki over
the line before heading for a well-earned sauna and hot shower. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb22V_Zkq1oTExvYJZqG8tHPa0dfCRKYD-wpPu-b5DFBTBe_ka0ZqrfDYv7uEvCUIyQRvob75a3qI1_7D5FlPBGuczKBlvH8DvoObMI37qkjxYl37ShgisX3RJizWSHfZbkIIWPnRd7hg/s1600/10410100_579368256403_3228331175661842464_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb22V_Zkq1oTExvYJZqG8tHPa0dfCRKYD-wpPu-b5DFBTBe_ka0ZqrfDYv7uEvCUIyQRvob75a3qI1_7D5FlPBGuczKBlvH8DvoObMI37qkjxYl37ShgisX3RJizWSHfZbkIIWPnRd7hg/s1600/10410100_579368256403_3228331175661842464_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Two Bondi lifesavers aren't so fazed about there being no lifeguards. Thanks Alice! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now to swim around Alcatraz!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-16936319612814364672014-05-19T00:15:00.000-07:002014-06-18T12:09:21.535-07:00B2W: KP’s how to guide<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boat</span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I struggled through the Bronze Medallion. I continue to
struggle with surf rescue boards. And I have wound up in hospital because of
them (through no fault of my own).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">All of that was worthwhile to be supported by Bondi IRB
(Inflatable Rescue Boat) during my Bondi to Watson’s race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">JP (my driver) arranged my boat at his own birthday party
in January. That may seem ridiculous for a race in May but without a boat, your
race is sunk before it’s even started. Without a boat there is no point in
training.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bondi IRB do a bloody incredible job during the season.
They’re the ones we call upon when conditions are too rough for any other
rescue craft. Two eyewitness examples:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was in the tower and had to call it in when
a bunch of North Bondi Nippers got caught in the break of a 6-10 foot set that
broke in what had previous been beyond the break. North Bondi couldn’t get out.
Bondi did.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I
was having lunch at Icebergs when one of the strongest littoral (horizontal)
currents I’ve ever seen (I’d been on patrol in the morning) dragged someone
from the flags halfway down the beach in the blink of an eye. In huge surf the
IRB had him safely in the boat within moments of him leaving the safety of the
flags.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">With Bondi IRB at my side (JP driving and Liz crewing) I
started training and lining up the rest of my support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paddler<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pick the person with the best outlook on life you know. I
was having a conversation about a recent birthday girl and mentioned how much I
admired her outlook. She was the natural choice to be my paddler. She shares
the same spirit of adventure and joy in the beauty of the ocean that motivates
me. Thankfully Pia said yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coaches and training buddies<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Since I started with Can Too in 2009 to overcome my open
water panic attacks I’ve had the benefit of Kingy and Zoe’s guidance. In 2012
they started the bloody brilliant 4SEASons swim squad. They’ve created a
program that accommodates nervous nellies through to those who’ve essentially
become aquatic. They’ve been stalwart supporters and a fantastic resource in
planning and executing my training regime ahead of B2W. Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I train with 4SEASons and I train outside of 4SEASons with
a few great training buddies, also aiming for solo B2W attempts: Adrian, Liam
and Pete. If you train solo for something like this you will lose motivation
and possibly go a little spacco. Especially if you’re as social as me. Having
fellow swimmers to chat to, bounce ideas off and generally make swimming social
makes the world of difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nutrition<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I wasn’t taking any chances this time. I went and saw a
nutritionist (Sarah Dacres-Manning, who is an ocean swimmer herself) and got a
tonne of helpful hints and a really scientific nutrition plan for the race.
Everything for race day was tried and tested and worked really well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Training<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My aim was 10km recovery weeks, followed by 15km, 18km and
20km. Repeat ad nauseam. I combined pool sessions with longer ocean swims. I
did whatever ocean swims were on offer. I did laps before and after training
sessions. If I was feeling unmotivated I would swim in my favourite places: Bronte,
Bondi and Icebergs. Or I’d arrange to meet a training buddy. I worked on my
stroke with Tamera (another supporter from go to whoa and 4Seasons coach) and
through drills. I did intervals, pyramids and every other kind of set
imaginable. I tried not to just do laps in the pool, leaving long consistent
swims to the ocean. The most useful training sessions were swimming around Ben Buckler
to view the course with my paddler and swimming against a 4m tide in Bundeena.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have still never regretted a swim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I tried to do cross training, strength and core work but I
have to admit I wasn’t very good at keeping this up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Injury prevention<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My shoulder was pretty stuffed for most of 2012-2013. I
see Mike Allen at Physio on Bronte to keep it in shape. He’s married to my swim
coach so I’d also check in with her at the same time (multitasking for the win!). My shoulder held up
remarkably well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recovery<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was back in the water the next day. Loving it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The system works. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-51450807528302920582014-05-18T00:17:00.000-07:002014-06-18T12:04:59.945-07:00Bondi to Watsons: or swimming treadmill<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I think what I love most about marathon swimming (anything
above 10km counts so I’m claiming marathon swimmer status) is the sense of
adventure. Each time you are exploring, pushing boundaries and discovering
something new.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There was a moment in the 9km Cole Classic (about the 7km
mark) when everything clicked, everything felt good and I thought “this is what
I’m meant to be doing”. I’m not fast, I’m not a born swimmer, I was once
overweight and totally sports averse. So that was a pretty profound
realisation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I just effing love it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0jBrdEGxYbVquBa5Q6vcFtqoSJZTNJe2BVHoPsS6lSh27HqCPfcNJO73PoBkXoByjKzVUF-Af0sanrYLfHcrSRwCJv-2aKLpop-vxEWHDjTX4nTApK2O3v1qrshFzLvSNao1vE3uGRk/s1600/10334256_10154142480645532_4619814909706197868_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0jBrdEGxYbVquBa5Q6vcFtqoSJZTNJe2BVHoPsS6lSh27HqCPfcNJO73PoBkXoByjKzVUF-Af0sanrYLfHcrSRwCJv-2aKLpop-vxEWHDjTX4nTApK2O3v1qrshFzLvSNao1vE3uGRk/s1600/10334256_10154142480645532_4619814909706197868_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This was to be one hell of an adventure. Swimming past the
safety of Bondi bay, around Ben Buckler, along a very long sheer cliff to the
heads of Sydney Harbour, through the heads to the protected harbour beach of
Watson’s Bay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More importantly, this was going to be a shared adventure.
I knew 8 of the solos on the start line and 1 x duo and 2 x teams. I knew all
of the IRB guys supporting the swimmers and 3 of the paddlers. Party swim!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> But I couldn't do it without my incredible support crew. People who are willing to give up their own time and effort to help you achieve their dreams. They are just incredible.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To Pia, my paddler, JP my driver and Liz my crew - thank you!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Race day dawned with perfect conditions. Flat, still and
not a breath of wind. I was quietly confident. I got down to the club early to
help with IRB set up. I had a precise timetable of where to be when, when to
eat, when to drink and when to sunscreen up. This helped get the nerves under
control. Even when my cap split on the start line and I was about to have to
swim in my 4Seasons cap I had underneath. (Lesson learned from Joe’s experience
– always double cap).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We’re off. We head to NZ to meet up with the boats, which
thanks to the 4seasons flag is a breeze. I recorded this as 1.5km off the centre
of the beach and that was the last time my watch worked accurately. We then
swam for an hour to get back to Ben Buckler. We started rounding the cliffs at
the 1.5 hour mark. The previous day we had swum to the same point in half an
hour. Demoralising to say the least. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Belying the outwardly perfect conditions the current was
running against us at about 2-3km / hour. I swim 3.3km / hour at time trial (pool
swim of 1km) pace. At times I went backwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The IRB crews direct us further out from the cliffs to try
and avoid the currents. We’re making creeping progress and I’ve pulled ahead of
Adrian and Liam, surprising the hell out of myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It would be fair to say that if I never see that bloody
North Bondi smoke stack again I will be happy.* There’s an antenna to the north
of it which I made, took a feed, ended up back at the stack and had just pulled
past when the lifeguards came by to say the 4 hour time limit was up and I had
to jump in my boat to be taken past Hornby lighthouse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I jumped in the boat, sipped some tea, ate some of the
cake I’d baked for my team (greatest endorsement ever of my baking was the
speed with which the other IRBs returned when word passed around about the cake
being shared), sang some Whitney Houston with Liz and warmed up. A quick IRB
trip later, with Pia being towed behind on her board and having a whale of a
time we passed Hornby lighthouse inside the harbour and I dove back in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Such a relief to be making progress again. I put the
hammer down and headed for home. One by one I swam by my fellow 4Seasons duo
and team swimmers. Such an encouraging sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The finish line was one of the more incredible experiences
of my life. I swear my supporters from 4Seasons, Bondi surf club, Can Too etc.
had literally taken over Watson’s Bay. I was completely overwhelmed by a
thoroughly gorgeous mob of hugs. Many of whom hung around to relive and recount
the experience. I am still overwhelmed at the support I received. Special
thanks to Harriet who provided life support – hot chocolate and a towel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyOJ6sEFjeSSorSPPaLAMbI0nSSS13wCOwpWRLXOX-XxOdjnq7iuY9SYkOmqOWjQne-Rm7vF-DMu1r0OsfNDoxVZxjvX8fDNqd0Kx71FB_K0dLyZA6_55O-8U1tRTV22oluTOdkc4VFY/s1600/10346006_10154198197625574_3112376992285248066_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyOJ6sEFjeSSorSPPaLAMbI0nSSS13wCOwpWRLXOX-XxOdjnq7iuY9SYkOmqOWjQne-Rm7vF-DMu1r0OsfNDoxVZxjvX8fDNqd0Kx71FB_K0dLyZA6_55O-8U1tRTV22oluTOdkc4VFY/s1600/10346006_10154198197625574_3112376992285248066_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XErtnTmFBlPps5M1DvaafrQL-Bht2xWnVcOKHRUI3E-ThGCX3DUOBio-UT71Uwzhmk4OcrgsP29Ia3stCK1J-yTpNssAkgzJYkdRreM_h5v0a9xv4oJkb77rYLyYGXz7H8hqmZ88Vgw/s1600/1554357_10154198198915574_3200758405333099446_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XErtnTmFBlPps5M1DvaafrQL-Bht2xWnVcOKHRUI3E-ThGCX3DUOBio-UT71Uwzhmk4OcrgsP29Ia3stCK1J-yTpNssAkgzJYkdRreM_h5v0a9xv4oJkb77rYLyYGXz7H8hqmZ88Vgw/s1600/1554357_10154198198915574_3200758405333099446_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVfQG-zC8NeYkBntmkfv7HI_uM1fxj_WyNykKeoeUCiap5gJdWtr7SFEyaIVn0YCVlNyj1eC9vLEd9Cigmg1YejiKPyb1cFt7eQHueLztLvSM78cC_KNiW7rA8R5sR85WQi-WAZgBpgU/s1600/1609973_10154198199135574_5580714862105931571_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVfQG-zC8NeYkBntmkfv7HI_uM1fxj_WyNykKeoeUCiap5gJdWtr7SFEyaIVn0YCVlNyj1eC9vLEd9Cigmg1YejiKPyb1cFt7eQHueLztLvSM78cC_KNiW7rA8R5sR85WQi-WAZgBpgU/s1600/1609973_10154198199135574_5580714862105931571_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XErtnTmFBlPps5M1DvaafrQL-Bht2xWnVcOKHRUI3E-ThGCX3DUOBio-UT71Uwzhmk4OcrgsP29Ia3stCK1J-yTpNssAkgzJYkdRreM_h5v0a9xv4oJkb77rYLyYGXz7H8hqmZ88Vgw/s1600/1554357_10154198198915574_3200758405333099446_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVfQG-zC8NeYkBntmkfv7HI_uM1fxj_WyNykKeoeUCiap5gJdWtr7SFEyaIVn0YCVlNyj1eC9vLEd9Cigmg1YejiKPyb1cFt7eQHueLztLvSM78cC_KNiW7rA8R5sR85WQi-WAZgBpgU/s1600/1609973_10154198199135574_5580714862105931571_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWni5YWFx0AKOWXRETFBbEQ4sgXRJmsVYuazH5MzEXZUxEr_Y887kvONay9sk4BKl4-mFYRRHm2995QIhE0IpSdHSUwJJCxShnxCzLvJjd-Fbkwcj9KKCCY6C5bzoPNGhUUWCSON0K0wY/s1600/10305182_10154198197535574_6575878347046738409_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWni5YWFx0AKOWXRETFBbEQ4sgXRJmsVYuazH5MzEXZUxEr_Y887kvONay9sk4BKl4-mFYRRHm2995QIhE0IpSdHSUwJJCxShnxCzLvJjd-Fbkwcj9KKCCY6C5bzoPNGhUUWCSON0K0wY/s1600/10305182_10154198197535574_6575878347046738409_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVfQG-zC8NeYkBntmkfv7HI_uM1fxj_WyNykKeoeUCiap5gJdWtr7SFEyaIVn0YCVlNyj1eC9vLEd9Cigmg1YejiKPyb1cFt7eQHueLztLvSM78cC_KNiW7rA8R5sR85WQi-WAZgBpgU/s1600/1609973_10154198199135574_5580714862105931571_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">4:40 minutes of swimming alongside some of the nicest
people and the most stunning scenery. Can we do that again please?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Next year, Gadget, next year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">*Interestingly, I would hear the exact same sentiment in
San Francisco three weeks later from Simon Dominguez who had the same experience.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-44624349262631849592014-04-07T00:12:00.000-07:002014-06-18T12:09:50.792-07:00Tassie - A Devil of a Swim<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSlSB7BVwGstemsRYUTV-z5uHHKNFEFa3qRwdIvy-MuIxXY6jxHnPW1rbTix9sDOKJ7U4sPGwv45hTk4K1be1Hj0gMTpV6fx2ZLLZ0WkcibrIOUeSse8j9-z-7CdnjvLRSd-MkFkn5_E/s1600/IMG_2910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSlSB7BVwGstemsRYUTV-z5uHHKNFEFa3qRwdIvy-MuIxXY6jxHnPW1rbTix9sDOKJ7U4sPGwv45hTk4K1be1Hj0gMTpV6fx2ZLLZ0WkcibrIOUeSse8j9-z-7CdnjvLRSd-MkFkn5_E/s1600/IMG_2910.JPG" height="79" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shane Gould (Aussie swimming legend who once held the
world record for every freestyle distance from 50m to 1500m) has set up “The
Devil of a Swim” in her hometown of Bicheno on the east coast of Tassie. This
year the format had changed slightly so you could do both the 5km and the 2km
swims. Training bud Liam and I headed down to take on the frosty Tassie waters
and rack up some kms whilst we were at it. Also Tassie was the only state in
Australia I hadn’t done an ocean swim in. Gotta keep ticking items off the
Bucket List.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tassie is completely stunning and we both had a great
weekend, both swimming and sightseeing. Highlights including Salamanca markets,
Freycinet national park, swimming in Wineglass Bay and the Devil of a Swim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3s0b76l2KcmvlB73BsAxFPKVusFAxvnMwTZUKARGA_NUnLS7kWjhvXlWwFDDYPGgN3yaZiQ8nx5tUsZbY7jJwJ8udeW5nXFYHrLl01dBPTZGnUhb5Zdj_SUaVSdrbqij7yOU3foZUtxM/s1600/IMG_2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3s0b76l2KcmvlB73BsAxFPKVusFAxvnMwTZUKARGA_NUnLS7kWjhvXlWwFDDYPGgN3yaZiQ8nx5tUsZbY7jJwJ8udeW5nXFYHrLl01dBPTZGnUhb5Zdj_SUaVSdrbqij7yOU3foZUtxM/s1600/IMG_2902.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Salamanca Markets </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The water in Tassie is of a completely different character
and hue. It’s as clear and blue as tropical water whilst being quite the cold.
We were coming off 21 -22 degrees and were prepared for 19. It turned out to be
17. We hiked down into Wineglass Bay (past a snake – Liam was not impressed)
and swam in one of the more stunning locations on earth. We had the whole bay
to ourselves. Just amazing. The shore dump was not to be underestimated though
and it completely took me out when I was too busy taking photos to pay
attention. After swimming 1km we both decided that we’d have to don wetsuits
for the 5km swim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oQEANFR01mqY1Vp4m3O8TFOjF06LtPnQq7rD7Hv3XJdgCG8NLIfn4VnVpsvYGAKdOqXDDCoQ0pPLfggIosIt0-24AymMR17Az6LVxE3iMToqq7Tbz4JwwT6cvJ8TEW1gEXSkIGRh8As/s1600/P4050029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oQEANFR01mqY1Vp4m3O8TFOjF06LtPnQq7rD7Hv3XJdgCG8NLIfn4VnVpsvYGAKdOqXDDCoQ0pPLfggIosIt0-24AymMR17Az6LVxE3iMToqq7Tbz4JwwT6cvJ8TEW1gEXSkIGRh8As/s1600/P4050029.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97rh442ASXRWYqbtyvBZIKuFllYTFMG1rjXzqMlL1fkpr3SptqvRJMzJkCg4AY-3vMggRBxE0ep0KX5Vbjzy1h3uyJ8Yj89r_zldBEI7NoIgx-h6hPW9t2I-68zTm3HzFnPpyhaJjPeE/s1600/P4050058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97rh442ASXRWYqbtyvBZIKuFllYTFMG1rjXzqMlL1fkpr3SptqvRJMzJkCg4AY-3vMggRBxE0ep0KX5Vbjzy1h3uyJ8Yj89r_zldBEI7NoIgx-h6hPW9t2I-68zTm3HzFnPpyhaJjPeE/s1600/P4050058.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wineglass Bay – complete with shoredump<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We hiked back out and headed to Bicheno. Where of course,
we found ourselves seated next to friends of Shane Gould. We would then run
into one of them the next day in Hobart. The scale of Tassie is simply
delightful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some of the pre-race registration had been a little bumpy
but the on the day organisation was absolutely perfect. The whole town gets
behind this swim and Bicheno SLSC were just wonderful. They run nipper
operations and are the base for the ocean swimming community in Bicheno that
Shane has pretty much created from scratch. They swim year round. Without hot
showers. Legends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The devil of a swim highlights
the plight of the endangered marsupial Tasmanian Devil and remembering the
aboriginal heroine Waubadebar.To quote Shane: The name “Waubs” is an
abbreviation of “Waubadebar” a female aborigine with an heroic and tragic life.
She was probably from a band of the Oyster Bay (Paredarerme) tribe living
nearby.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A strong swimmer, she saved two white men from
drowning by swimming them to shore one by one, when their boat was smashed
against the rocks during a storm. It was rare for any honour such as a place
name to be bestowed on an aborigine.Her grave is located at the back of the
Lions Park, near the Silver Sands Hotel. The headstone reads “Here lies -
Waubadebar a female aborigine of Van Diemen’s land, died June 1832, aged 40
years.” She died in a boat off the coast whilst travelling towards the Furneaux
Group of islands and her body was brought ashore and buried. John Allen, an
early settler, in his notebook, dated 24th June 1840, mentions “Waubs Harbour”.
Sufficient was thought of her memory for the local settlers in 1855 to
contribute funds to erect a headstone.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Devil of a Swim is in honour and memory of
Waubedebar, as I presume her rescue effort was 'a devil of a swim'.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuVZlOmSFeDZ-fsoOr-leroGU31zcG2MbShAj0OyCeK3B5X0yllohvO8q7YkPLrow2DszE3g1Hi7mSHDLLRwCd42J6l9qN_EkIKJ-HwjdA-n3zDhJfPFJLPWGr7PLQ2N4lgndsaOPlbg/s1600/P4050284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuVZlOmSFeDZ-fsoOr-leroGU31zcG2MbShAj0OyCeK3B5X0yllohvO8q7YkPLrow2DszE3g1Hi7mSHDLLRwCd42J6l9qN_EkIKJ-HwjdA-n3zDhJfPFJLPWGr7PLQ2N4lgndsaOPlbg/s1600/P4050284.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paddler</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDfNbtfImw0Cy4lT62T3ym3UvWr8WlQUTjFocyzCkc6oobDgguC2VBuows4br4JR1Cd81NLh7LIdzEYfCyF2EZI7Dcu81rxdSrBS5ukastt2Ivc1ZfNMHlVk0jPNuyRalFm8-oEDdQ7s/s1600/P4050297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDfNbtfImw0Cy4lT62T3ym3UvWr8WlQUTjFocyzCkc6oobDgguC2VBuows4br4JR1Cd81NLh7LIdzEYfCyF2EZI7Dcu81rxdSrBS5ukastt2Ivc1ZfNMHlVk0jPNuyRalFm8-oEDdQ7s/s1600/P4050297.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzNvLO6W2Ir-1XNEPc94Y48ODxhxtbGw1aB1OWyrNE-WwXdudf0qfnixlj5KU_uTpLWiQEFThrhLz6hs-gCHh16RXuNx4soiECyo6mFYspUOew2M8jgl8DrDV4s_jOvnwPtCjRLfmq70/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzNvLO6W2Ir-1XNEPc94Y48ODxhxtbGw1aB1OWyrNE-WwXdudf0qfnixlj5KU_uTpLWiQEFThrhLz6hs-gCHh16RXuNx4soiECyo6mFYspUOew2M8jgl8DrDV4s_jOvnwPtCjRLfmq70/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bicheno (L) and Penguins (R)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJza2w6Lk8u9GdhlsOu1ye6_2ENEs2WOC-xBUEmjwE0TlKRHPu_womwx3tvKj2lyyV1psDs2VP-NVWFwfLQkldVe2MH9UQhUWYMLKwbqMgM-iGF2f-tUmgGIlPA3_4CwNwvYrZVyENaw/s1600/P4050301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJza2w6Lk8u9GdhlsOu1ye6_2ENEs2WOC-xBUEmjwE0TlKRHPu_womwx3tvKj2lyyV1psDs2VP-NVWFwfLQkldVe2MH9UQhUWYMLKwbqMgM-iGF2f-tUmgGIlPA3_4CwNwvYrZVyENaw/s1600/P4050301.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a> S<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">andbar Checkpoint</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It’s out from Waubs beach, around Diamond Island, onto the
sand bar where you have your name marked off and then 2km back to the beach. It’s
completely, totally, utterly stunning. I lack the vocabulary to do it justice.
Thank goodness for photos. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I’m always in it to complete not to compete. So I was
having a whale of time, taking photos, absorbing the scenery, admiring the penguins,
coming last and yet still setting a 5km PB. Must have been the despised wettie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ro8WIJyDPJCIIR5AynoK5C-gXuk1Op6010l2zEKEUtndiU0OYROy7sHdLGd8QygCqSClbnfT7AAfoxNnvWQoAMfnPvHrmfK5N2C6Mxu-Cen_wlADRtHH_47vIeF49UmQcmO8bKPPcts/s1600/P4060321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ro8WIJyDPJCIIR5AynoK5C-gXuk1Op6010l2zEKEUtndiU0OYROy7sHdLGd8QygCqSClbnfT7AAfoxNnvWQoAMfnPvHrmfK5N2C6Mxu-Cen_wlADRtHH_47vIeF49UmQcmO8bKPPcts/s1600/P4060321.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which I happily stripped out of for the 2km swim. Liam and
I were the only ones who swam without a wetsuit in either the 1 or 2km.
Everyone thought we were nuts. Given we both came down sick the following week
they may have had a point. But the water temperature was totally bearable and
the clarity made it thoroughly enjoyable. I really enjoyed the two lap course
and was feeling very comfortable with this stretch of coast and it’s incredibly
flat water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Non wettie 'nutters'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The awards ceremony was a very friendly affair. The winner
of the 5km did it in just over an hour despite a solid night on the turps the
previous evening. Thank goodness for the rest of us he was at a disadvantage.
The female winner had just swum 15km to raise funds for coastcare. Amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkmwwgBjQ_oJjlgNkRX1lmqhAZrxmt2Ui_xoZcoq18VoT_1Yv0oOu6LM8YyahrTO4sJS-SJv4aN93FVyTtrLoLlRdCtVcwadn8tz-5Npgk1MD-EvxIWLwhd5xSaZl8ZiKDSOA7Yd2QBM/s1600/IMG_2935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkmwwgBjQ_oJjlgNkRX1lmqhAZrxmt2Ui_xoZcoq18VoT_1Yv0oOu6LM8YyahrTO4sJS-SJv4aN93FVyTtrLoLlRdCtVcwadn8tz-5Npgk1MD-EvxIWLwhd5xSaZl8ZiKDSOA7Yd2QBM/s1600/IMG_2935.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gexRIRKtrnl4RLjElEXRzdsAjl64RedS8uCmPexSEwFk7aIzFy9Ziy0A5wU600FTATaVzi_IYFxcDEpia9g7PhMZ21adviuaNsfjx59_RX0X77te6VDEDlXnnWO8crkVbUQcQRLNRO4/s1600/IMG_2938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gexRIRKtrnl4RLjElEXRzdsAjl64RedS8uCmPexSEwFk7aIzFy9Ziy0A5wU600FTATaVzi_IYFxcDEpia9g7PhMZ21adviuaNsfjx59_RX0X77te6VDEDlXnnWO8crkVbUQcQRLNRO4/s1600/IMG_2938.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Headed back to Hobart for adventures at MONA (Museum of
Old and New Art) and atop the blustery and cold Mt Wellington. Will definitely
be back for more Tassie swimming adventures!</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-132583967548500492014-03-13T22:47:00.000-07:002014-07-03T20:57:02.953-07:00SWOG mark 2<div class="MsoBodyText">
I started this SWOG (swimming blog) to chart my conquering
of my greatest fear (open water swimming). I still get bloody terrified on
occasion but it no longer paralyses me, or brings on panic attacks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m starting it again because I’m starting to do some long
distance swims and one of the most useful things I come across in preparing for
these races are other swimmers’ accounts and thought others might find mine
similarly useful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So a little about me:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Started swimming at 18 months. I have a
certificate for swimming 1.2m under water. It was kind of a big deal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Sometime around 2007 I started struggling to put
my face in the water when swimming in open water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">2008 I had my first full blown panic attack
swimming the swim leg of a sprint triathlon in Sydney Harbour. I couldn’t
breathe. I swam the whole 400m without putting my face in the water. I used to
have swimming lessons at Greenwich baths, not 2km as the crow flies. Fear is
completely, totally and utterly irrational and illogical. And must be tackled
head on.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">So I joined the amazing Can Too. I tackled those
fears again and again and again. I learned to love ocean swimming. I became
addicted.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">With Can Too I completed the 2010 2.7km Palm to
Whale swim and set my sights on a 5km ocean swim and becoming a Bondi Surf
Lifesaver. Eventually I got there.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">I’m really, really slow but very steady.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">I’ve done 5 Can Too swim programs,1 run program
raised $10,000 and most importantly, returned the favour and helped others get
through the break and learn to breathe out underwater.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">I tried swimming from Bondi Beach
to Watson’s Bay (about 11km on a good day) through the heads of Sydney Harbour and was thwarted by the currents.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Bring on Rottnest</span></li>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></li>
</ul>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-20293912423352533392014-03-09T21:17:00.000-07:002014-03-25T16:42:26.937-07:00Narranderra 10km swim. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP0T1QZgL6qmzDvjXkJFMFCouPJAt2FEeBbSM65wi9YcyUwUARSaOTHx1ID-7JO-W1LkCMy3FhJzvsmkr1hpRhTporE-VAkeQYi2W7KgsKFZs5U_CG325siciukEVChAGNiah1eaGYqg/s1600/IMG_2717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP0T1QZgL6qmzDvjXkJFMFCouPJAt2FEeBbSM65wi9YcyUwUARSaOTHx1ID-7JO-W1LkCMy3FhJzvsmkr1hpRhTporE-VAkeQYi2W7KgsKFZs5U_CG325siciukEVChAGNiah1eaGYqg/s1600/IMG_2717.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>On the road to Gundagai</b></div>
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The big one. 10km. 5 x 2km laps up and back of Lake Talbot
– a flooded creek outside of Narrandera. Bondi to Watson’s is nominally list as
a 10km – but I don’t know anyone who has recorded that distance. (I understand
there are insurance implications for owning the actual distance) Nonetheless great to get an official 10km swim
under my belt.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
There are exactly 4 x 10km swims in the entirety of NSW across the entire open water swimming
season (October – May). Only of one which gets a featured spot on
oceanswims.com (Bondi to Watson’s). One is an obscure Penrith swim in November
that clashes with a featured 5km (Umina), one is the Vladswim organised laps of Balmoral at Christmas (both of which clash with Can Too) and the other is Narrandera. A tiny
town an hour to the west of Wagga Wagga. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNA8cU49S8blNg3M-gvgdzqWz3rs8iLshG2UjuihNCeMfKoyOFRsJs8M1L5a73912ThRxt_fFKCz6WQWkqsQ4JjmsFd9CpzNJnxNAlgqV-E2qkU49EmwxaPX-DEbvSxcumyYdiJZLZMsM/s1600/Narrandera+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNA8cU49S8blNg3M-gvgdzqWz3rs8iLshG2UjuihNCeMfKoyOFRsJs8M1L5a73912ThRxt_fFKCz6WQWkqsQ4JjmsFd9CpzNJnxNAlgqV-E2qkU49EmwxaPX-DEbvSxcumyYdiJZLZMsM/s1600/Narrandera+Map.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Having said that, demand for these swims isn’t exactly
huge either. Despite there being no boat or paddler requirement (the swim
provided paddlers for you) there were exactly 5 swimmers doing the swim. 4 from
Sydney and 1 from Dubbo. The race organisers knew our names, ages, and
everything was exceptionally well organised.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We were paired with paddlers, who set up our feeds
(feeds!! luxury!), herded down the astroturf lined steps into Lake Talbot to
start bang on 9am.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Wollongong Swim</b></div>
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First lap, everything feels tight and I realise I’m in
trouble having gone out too hard at the 1km
Wollongong swim last night.<br />
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I become obsessed with trying to get my stroke
perfect which for me means:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListBullet">
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<ul>
<li>breathing
every 3 strokes</li>
<li>breathing
into the “bow wave” meaning neither my goggles nor my mouth emerge more than
halfway from the water</li>
<li>head
positioning whilst in the water (look down),</li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';"></span>rotation,
rotation, rotation</li>
<li>a
full extension with proper hand entry in the 4 o’clock position (my right hand
does some kind of flamboyant wiggly thing upon entry)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';"></span>proper
catch – as though your arm was going over a barrel</li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';"></span>fluttering
kick (I have a fairly kick driven stroke, ordinarily long distance swimmers aim
for a 2 beat kick but I think I’m a little faster – not necessarily a good
thing)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';"></span>engage
core (crucial in flat, fresh water) to ensure buoyancy (your arse should be in
the air, wiggling around like it just don’t care) and reduce the drag of your
legs.</li>
</ul>
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Needless to say, on occasion, this all went to crap. But this
is what keeps me occupied for most of the long swims. Chloe McCardel, legend
long distance swimmer whom I met at a university debating tournament in 2004 when
I printed her swim schedule for her, was once asked what she thinks about when
swimming. Music? World Peace? She replied she’s too busy thinking about her
stroke. What her head, arms, body and legs are doing. That endlessly repeating
check list is absolutely the best way to pass the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite everything being tight from the get go, it never
descends into pain and on occasion it actually feels good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The water is more transparent than Cohuna last week but I
still can’t see my Garmin in the water so I’m reliant on my distance alarm to
tell me when to feed. I feed every 1.5km. Ordinarily you’d grab your bottle,
roll onto your back, take a few sips and swim on. The lake is so short you can
stand for feeds. It takes me about 4 goes to work this out. Not exactly Channel
rules.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I change paddlers 3 times over the course of the 3:52 it
takes me to swim 10km. Each time they are just so encouraging and lovely. They’ve
never met me and volunteer to support the town’s Riverina Rush sports festival.
Amazing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Round and round we go. Luckily the lake is surrounding by
beautiful bushland which gives you lots to look at. Sighting is incredibly easy
in the flat water and with the rainbow umbrellas of the pool complex behind the
buoys at the far end staying on track is pretty easy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the third lap I am lapped by the leader, who turns out to
be the only other female in the field. What a great way to celebrate International
Womens Day! She later tells me I looked more relaxed than any other swimmer she’s
ever seen. Out for the equivalent of a Sunday stroll / swim.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a good thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By 7km I’m yet again, feeling fine and stronger than
throughout the race so I start putting the hammer down. The entire 8km up to
the turning buoy I inch towards the next swimmer ahead of me. He swims
incredibly wide (my coaches were all in my head emphasising the importance of
sighting and being thoroughly vindicated) whilst I swim straight as an arrow.
He stops to feed at 9km (having only fed twice in the race). The best advice I
have received is feed early, feed often. Those feeds you don’t feel you need in
the early stages really pay dividends towards the end. So I skip my feed. He
again swims wide and I catch him, with a 20m buffer as he needs to straighten
up. And I fly home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I struggle to stand up on the steps though. 10km is a bloody
hard slog! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Presentation ceremony. I get to stand on a dias! Who saw that
coming? And then there was a lot of watersliding at the super cool waterslides
of the Lake Talbot Pool Complex. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b> Bonnet Breakfast of Champions!</b></div>
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We backed it up with the Broulee swims the next day. Awesome swims and awesome road trip!<br />
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Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-69150522074929738552014-03-03T16:48:00.000-08:002014-03-13T16:48:46.958-07:00Melbourne Madness!<br />
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First time out for this new, privately run swim at St
Kilda. 5km followed by a 1.2km. Luckily for me it was disorganised chaos as my
flight ran late. Floyd is a swimmer and promoter and suffers a rare blood
condition so organised a swim to raise funds for Royal Children’s Hospital.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That is not nearly as easy as I might have made it sound and the whole thing ran horrendously late but everyone's attitude was to be admired.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The 5km was 4 x 1.25km laps around St Kilda Bay which was
a gorgeous 20 degrees but wetsuits were the order of the day – and I followed
the trend. It ended up being about 5.6km as one of the turning buoys was so
close to shore it had to be moved as we were all stroking the sand as we swam
by. Some amazing views, the far industrial shore of Port Phillip Bay. Luna
Park. St Kilda “surf” club, the beautiful pier and the long beach. Love a good
view.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was very, very ready to finish and finish last. Hopped out and the race organiser offers 400m
entry. So off I go again. Had a rubbish start. But a great hit out between the
5km and 1200m. And wonderful swimming without the wuss suit!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RtUcKUXPMpS7GxOGfaOKtyV1lQZrw6DHHuTGQ-YIxKV8M8F3c282KyG07BW8_XqhQbB8X3wlg3IDKdz0-9EwVguT6zIii-KS1RXRdgdzZhwr2tJbL3xmzCguOjj9KtDOGhB_cU1Gges/s1600/1558430_423963261071635_923462510_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RtUcKUXPMpS7GxOGfaOKtyV1lQZrw6DHHuTGQ-YIxKV8M8F3c282KyG07BW8_XqhQbB8X3wlg3IDKdz0-9EwVguT6zIii-KS1RXRdgdzZhwr2tJbL3xmzCguOjj9KtDOGhB_cU1Gges/s1600/1558430_423963261071635_923462510_n.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Very high knees required for the very long sand bank</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Yet another lap for the 1200m. Had a cracking race. Thoroughly
startled by the fly board (you know the water propelled pack James Bond uses in
Thunderball – yeah that) which makes the weirdest sound through the water. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQnXoRsly3xlhyphenhyphenEKckOLEhKNFRC6zzivGt9N2iLM3S4k03YUJZ7vy4GZ8y6_GzG6Wbdm-uyJEP18oYZAHNwW-C26UMrVGlXJ7Cyf5Lb5oWuI7Dqzvqst1IUBAe6X5InFxmZsjM1y_Ez4/s1600/1912044_423955774405717_1051477008_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQnXoRsly3xlhyphenhyphenEKckOLEhKNFRC6zzivGt9N2iLM3S4k03YUJZ7vy4GZ8y6_GzG6Wbdm-uyJEP18oYZAHNwW-C26UMrVGlXJ7Cyf5Lb5oWuI7Dqzvqst1IUBAe6X5InFxmZsjM1y_Ez4/s1600/1912044_423955774405717_1051477008_n.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The photographer took a photo of a twist in my strap rather than tell me ... </b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Finally finished an hour and half after anticipated and
head to Echuca for the evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
up early for the Cohuna (another hour’s drive) Bridge to
Bridge.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxjZ0sFvfX8X1vXW80y7sT5LytYORsWJGT8_sI6NyMtCJlyxJf7Wf9tExyhsV7WxiINE96S-7mB8KFkGN5kfpVOQ72AEftaI_XRte0LO2dKTIUX-UF5OfaMgh11juc4FBNo-bv7kfeqQ/s1600/IMG_2698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxjZ0sFvfX8X1vXW80y7sT5LytYORsWJGT8_sI6NyMtCJlyxJf7Wf9tExyhsV7WxiINE96S-7mB8KFkGN5kfpVOQ72AEftaI_XRte0LO2dKTIUX-UF5OfaMgh11juc4FBNo-bv7kfeqQ/s1600/IMG_2698.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
This swim has been running for 21 years down Gunbower
Creek (an offshoot of the Murray River). It starts at one bridge and finishes
at the main bridge in town 8km later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
The current is an unbelievably huge advantage in this
swim. I was incredibly stoked to finish the Cole Classic 9km in 2:51. So you
can imagine how incredibly excited I was to finish this swim in 2:22. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Swimming down a river is a delightful, peaceful experience
with ever changing scenery and unusual challenges for an ocean swimmer. Fresh
water so no buoyancy. Every single swimmer bar 2 wore a wet suit to cope with
this. So, yet again, I did too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZt4_9kft5uJ7IFCBgipYMJbwt5DnCtIKkVkvjvTJNW-l5BA_e6j-JV3r1balN4706pDlnLhOAhaeqEHoK026tfOapYGzHPkw6cZlb40g3BLQChwK_CNxhck7RleezchS35r4BY3AUG4E/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZt4_9kft5uJ7IFCBgipYMJbwt5DnCtIKkVkvjvTJNW-l5BA_e6j-JV3r1balN4706pDlnLhOAhaeqEHoK026tfOapYGzHPkw6cZlb40g3BLQChwK_CNxhck7RleezchS35r4BY3AUG4E/s1600/IMG_2701.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of the things I love about swimming is how
little kit is required. Goggles, cap, cossie. Sorted. Not so as you progress
but I digress.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Sighting an endlessly shifting water course is totally
different to sighting a headland or a buoy. Luckily, for the entire swim I had
a lovely swimmer, Lauren, within sight and her dad paddled just behind her
making a relatively easy mark. Swimming over submerged logs made for a fun
obstacle course.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
But the hardest thing was the opacity of the water. I wear
my beloved Garmin 910XT in almost every swim. It was my birthday present to
myself last year when I did the Can Too run program. It’s a cracker of a GPS
watch, and the most accurate swim watch going (according to the experts at
4Seasons). It does loose satellite reception disturbingly often but when the
water is so murky you can’t see your hand in front of your face it doesn’t
really matter. I really had no idea how much you sight using underwater markers.
Very discombobulating.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
As I said, swam the whole way with Lauren in sight,
finally caught her at the 1km mark and we spurred each other to sprint to the finish (which was a boat floating next to the bridge).</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSexBU7EZTITeQEjQ7QpkuwXW1gmHYJgZ_-npvQsTBvC2hDD_WEml9ffffB_E6ufeND8-0KLtIaUwgxqE-YLtpga3YYMnpw01UV6oIx-1uBE10BX-Gp3IJeEQJHTy2-ynbjB9dGnt_mIk/s1600/429618_10150706178141013_1418924697_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSexBU7EZTITeQEjQ7QpkuwXW1gmHYJgZ_-npvQsTBvC2hDD_WEml9ffffB_E6ufeND8-0KLtIaUwgxqE-YLtpga3YYMnpw01UV6oIx-1uBE10BX-Gp3IJeEQJHTy2-ynbjB9dGnt_mIk/s1600/429618_10150706178141013_1418924697_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
So lovely to have company.
And not only that, we weren’t last! Second and third females overall.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Such a wonderful way to see a whole new part of the
country. Super friendly country hospitality – everyone was delighted we’d come
from Sydney. Not to mention the Devonshire tea!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzljHA8t1EbVz5YSN7-YR4-Ylg2fp-_ka9ji0hUvCY4sTEaeculKKVVbcFZQcghHUKD1h7l5u7N7AmKIycj-62RFy1ZmgybDQmRbfdSsE9NBWfOveQtUlI_DAiMqheA1M4tLSWVxh4OE/s1600/IMG_2699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzljHA8t1EbVz5YSN7-YR4-Ylg2fp-_ka9ji0hUvCY4sTEaeculKKVVbcFZQcghHUKD1h7l5u7N7AmKIycj-62RFy1ZmgybDQmRbfdSsE9NBWfOveQtUlI_DAiMqheA1M4tLSWVxh4OE/s1600/IMG_2699.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
We returned to Melbourne via wineries. One of which was literally out of wine, but very pretty </div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
nontheless. </div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-89282944402975696242014-02-10T22:58:00.000-08:002014-03-12T21:36:25.600-07:009km Cole Classic <div class="MsoBodyText">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIAkkAgafiEu5-CckxrQBTsUU8gCJZJVJiMNdW7NFZkiAaFoMJx7PCK0pOX_wxf7kTCja3wqUgtIwdpvyr_2RSEhAFxu-g1aFxUS_zXg9IfQ0H2agVTrRRuJu-mCkwKb3d1M2IUWhXhQ/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIAkkAgafiEu5-CckxrQBTsUU8gCJZJVJiMNdW7NFZkiAaFoMJx7PCK0pOX_wxf7kTCja3wqUgtIwdpvyr_2RSEhAFxu-g1aFxUS_zXg9IfQ0H2agVTrRRuJu-mCkwKb3d1M2IUWhXhQ/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" height="320" width="177" /></a></div>
<br />
So, as soon I got back to Sydney I started thinking about
the 9km Cole Classic swim from Dee Why to Manly. This seemed out of reach for
two reasons: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(1) <!--[endif]-->It
requires you to have a support vessel (motorised boat of more than 3.8m); and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(2) <!--[endif]-->The
entry form makes it appear as though you have to have done a 10km open water
swim or a timed 10km pool swim;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
neither of which seemed obtainable.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Whilst I had trained adequately for the double 5km swim I hadn’t
trained adequately for the 9km. So I put the idea to one side. Until fates came
a knockin’. Do not try this at home!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
The 9km had been called off twice last year. They were
keen for swimmers. So the organisers called Nick who had entered last year and
let him know that swimmers of the same pace were now allowed to share a boat.
Enter Fyso.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
It turned out our previous 5km swims were enough to get us
entered and SJ and husband Matt came to our rescue with the boat. I was keen to
have a crack at the solo, but we had the option to convert to the duo if our
respective injuries came to the fore.<o:p></o:p><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke7lsz96TDvShLgS9MhwXTQFQ2zxxBVRxWoC_ZNU0HnPMViHkMu74h16tQbOS7KK4L-LF5mxNbTJH-kKz5H0PIqZu5R3yCSbb61GMJbrX5bBDy5-SOLVH06GpIpGaJNQSprleW25UUCY/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke7lsz96TDvShLgS9MhwXTQFQ2zxxBVRxWoC_ZNU0HnPMViHkMu74h16tQbOS7KK4L-LF5mxNbTJH-kKz5H0PIqZu5R3yCSbb61GMJbrX5bBDy5-SOLVH06GpIpGaJNQSprleW25UUCY/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Race day dawned utterly perfectly. Full of nervous
excitement Fyso and I headed to Dee Why and meet fellow 4season swimmers Pete
and Nick. Seriously great company on the start line.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Race start for 9km is a very slow affair. Normally
everyone attacks the water as hard as possible. But for 9km everyone is conserving
energy so only the young guns aiming for a place go hard. We head to the first
buoy to meet our boat. No boat. We wait 10 minutes and then head to the second
buoy off Long Reef. No boat. We hang with the jet ski and prepare to be told we
have to swim in as it’s a strict race rule you have to have a boat. Somehow, miraculously,
another boat comes to our rescue and agrees to crew us. At this point we’re 15
minutes behind the peloton and were already the slowest swimmers so the course
sweeper can both crew us and pick up the buoys as we pass. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
We are unbelievably stoked at our incredible luck but
about another 1km in we realise this means no duo option and swimming 9km without
any of our carefully planned hydration / nutrition. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Recalling Coach Kingy’s stern “HTFU” whenever I stood at
the side of icebergs in the pre-dawn winter gloom I dug in for the long haul.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
And what a haul it was. The water was glorious, the view
stupendous, the real estate verging on the obscene as it verged onto the cliffs
of the northern beaches. We cleared the Curl Curl buoy (half way) at about 1.5
hours and were between Curl Curl and Freshie when I realised we were flying not
just swimming. The currents and tides were all in our favour. Our best case
scenario was finishing at 11:09. (21 mins / km). The best case scenario was
fast becoming a worst case scenario.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Come into the Freshwater buoy Fyso takes a longer line and
all of a sudden we’re no longer going stroke for stroke. I make sure he’s in
sight, enjoy the view with a bit of backstroke until we hit Queenscliff. I
expected to hit the wall at 7km. Instead, I felt the best I had all swim. So I
decided to buckle down and go for it. My stand in coach for Can Too that week,
Victor Lee, had finally managed to teach me how to breathe properly, breathing
into the pocket of air created by your bow wave during the week so I focussed
on this and my stroke and put the hammer down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
At the last buoy we said goodbye to our fantastic boat,
and the swimmer ahead of me decided to have his final feed. Sucker. <o:p></o:p><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVD8c6K_mC50RrOvd09wvHl9yGmMWkiz8gLCzuk4rvREEuhDhwMBUy4Rq9ubAxp4txovQdsMUrYFp5Y2NLUOCZC6R95PP9kLBwAasHPCxgy15Jrt7Vwwd6jTZ1kEJ8poAoNotIwYAP38/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVD8c6K_mC50RrOvd09wvHl9yGmMWkiz8gLCzuk4rvREEuhDhwMBUy4Rq9ubAxp4txovQdsMUrYFp5Y2NLUOCZC6R95PP9kLBwAasHPCxgy15Jrt7Vwwd6jTZ1kEJ8poAoNotIwYAP38/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
I crossed the line 3<sup>rd</sup> last in 2:51. 18 minutes
ahead of my [very] stretch goal and an hour and nine minutes ahead of my “don’t
get disqualified” goal. Fyso crosses 2 minutes later. We are both on cloud 9
(km swim).<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Thanks to all of the amazing support. Including Cap’n Matt
whose noble vessel failed to launch and the incredible boat who came to our
rescue. And especially Fyso. <o:p></o:p><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwO8nN_kOshYF_vZjEb_y_KOM9Ew7CGXKfEvcZgiX1oU_F2At9218RDK0v2x7qFLv7NKnAF_eE2jhiuci1U3i_1S89XRYFYsgONVHMSv4khC33oat83oHVtEixW6Dp-r_Yc7ur3SlbL8/s1600/IMG_2532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwO8nN_kOshYF_vZjEb_y_KOM9Ew7CGXKfEvcZgiX1oU_F2At9218RDK0v2x7qFLv7NKnAF_eE2jhiuci1U3i_1S89XRYFYsgONVHMSv4khC33oat83oHVtEixW6Dp-r_Yc7ur3SlbL8/s1600/IMG_2532.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-15895481548483363622014-02-09T21:53:00.000-08:002014-03-12T21:01:52.829-07:00Palm to Whale and the Penrith Swims<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
So it turns out there are well run 5km swim in Sydney.
They’re just not well advertised. And held in Penrith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
The first of these was the Bridge to Bridge on January 27
– the day after Palm to Whale. I’ve written extensively about Palm to Whale
before so I’ll quote facebook statii and talk about the Little Big Swim. Last
year was the worst head space I’ve ever had going into any swim. I was
knackered from getting endlessly slammed in the break zone with my mentee
Silpa. See photos:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/7188_554373710673_1443715635_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/7188_554373710673_1443715635_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfzgAD1M4_-V29KmxEx73QourqcfJ1uaEslLi8xeN3_nFtaHfW7jIQiWeKLvOU3NXVigM8p2IMDhZ_yOvRWOzH46yFgN2h4YG3mUZyM77Nf9Rg47e06gUv-D0lgmI_pHmxib5PakodBs/s1600/wave2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfzgAD1M4_-V29KmxEx73QourqcfJ1uaEslLi8xeN3_nFtaHfW7jIQiWeKLvOU3NXVigM8p2IMDhZ_yOvRWOzH46yFgN2h4YG3mUZyM77Nf9Rg47e06gUv-D0lgmI_pHmxib5PakodBs/s1600/wave2.gif" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Afterwards:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
“Well today was a case of mind over matter. And matter
nearly won. It was a case of go hard or go home. And I just wanted to go home.
But wearing the Can Too cossie meant having another crack. And 9 minutes, 3
tries and 4 start waves later I finally made it out. Turns out I Can Too. I am
so proud of everyone who turned up - in weather like this you deserve a medal.
I don't care how far you swum - you're all heroes for not going back to sleep!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
So Silpa and I faced the Little Big Swim with some
trepidation this year. She was a trooper, facing 6 foot surf I struggled
through in a wet suit. And she rightly pulled the pin when she stood of the
precipice of getting out and got swept backwards by a big ‘un.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
At which point I faced one of the hardest decisions I’ve
ever made. I was through the break, along with Margie and Kay and decided to
keep swimming with them. Thank goodness for the Can Too coaches who stepped in
to make sure Silpa was okay.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Margie was off like a shot so Kay and I swam on,
collecting friends and followers. Kay has phenomenal surf instincts and so she,
Gail and I navigated the return break like pros whilst those ahead of us got
completely, totally and utterly slammed by enormous sets. Such horrendous luck.
Once we hit the sand bar the surf threatened to slam us again, but thanks to
one of the Can Too coaches we navigated it with ease. Then we were running up
the beach – smiles wider than the surf zone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
My turn – Palm to Whale. Had another hard time getting
out. But didn’t panic, took it easy, and despite badly misjudging the required
depth, got out in reasonable time and was rewarded with making oceanswims.com.
Basically – ocean swimming celebrity. Woot.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjm6SUSNAJFHE8_LHVRlORwwTw95z48xsKHqx5YFIJwssH5i5H18g_nrmBgsrElB8NI2nv3_9vWvNRugrZlDBgCgANKSXwrulFskIvwCWjW3-qgh0o1bUdpnCpVJrw_mnRPxUuJdtjbg/s1600/Me!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjm6SUSNAJFHE8_LHVRlORwwTw95z48xsKHqx5YFIJwssH5i5H18g_nrmBgsrElB8NI2nv3_9vWvNRugrZlDBgCgANKSXwrulFskIvwCWjW3-qgh0o1bUdpnCpVJrw_mnRPxUuJdtjbg/s1600/Me!.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
Started reeling in those ahead of me. Caught Sophia going
round the first buoy. Super smiley buoy. Caught Kellie as she was involved in a
three swimmer pile up because some doofus didn’t look where he was going.
Cheered Mel around the final buoy. And then I was home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
And for the first time I’d enjoyed Palm to Whale. So it
was all about the finish.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Including a few double dips at finishing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Onto the Penrith swims.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
These are held at the International Regatta Centre. The
water is a bit manky and it’s fresh so no buoyancy assistance whatsoever. There
is quite a bit of weed, which I imagine is much like being attacked by a
Grindylow out of Harry Potter. Thus justifying post-race Hermione style hair. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Bit tricky backing up after the Big Swim so I went out
really easy from the deep water start. 3km loop followed by 2km loop. Was
feeling really good coming into the 4<sup>th</sup> km and ramping up when, 60m
short of the turning buoy water safety came up and told me that half an hour
had expired since the winner crossed and my time was now up. WHAT THE? That
makes the time limit 1:33. Jeepers!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
They let me swim home, and given I was then 100m short
they not only recorded me as having finished, but I also won my age category in
both the 3km and 5km swims. (Technically I guess I also lost my age category
but whatever).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Crazy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
The second Penrith swim was the Western Sydney Open Water
swim on 8 February and it was brilliant. $10 for 5km. $2 per km. Unheard of.
This time they provided caps and bussed us to the start of the rowing straight
and then we swam around the island. Nice scenery and the rowing lanes can be
sighted under water making staying straight a breeze.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
I whinged about the water quality last time, but actually
it’s fine. And compared to the dirt solutions I’ve subsequently swum in –
crystal clear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
A seriously enjoyable swim. And the race numbers were top
notch. As was the bacon and egg roll afterwards!<o:p></o:p></div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-39695893782695512962014-01-14T22:48:00.000-08:002014-03-12T21:27:23.079-07:005km. Finally. <div class="MsoBodyText">
After finishing my first Palm to Whale Big Swim in 2010 I
set my sights on a 5km swim. I thought there was only one in NSW that didn’t
clash with Can Too commitments: Coogee to Bondi. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
A bit of a bitch about Coogee to Bondi<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
In 2010 I suffered a debilitating bout of sea sickness in
the Malabar swim, didn’t train enough and so deferred to 2011. When the race
was a complete schmozzle and reset to a swim inside Coogee. After an hour and a
half standing in the freezing rain whilst they reset with no announcements I
gave up and headed for home.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Coogee Closed For Business 2011</b></div>
<br />
In 2012 I came down with an awful flu / cold thing
that bound me to bed for a fortnight, coinciding with my bronze part B assessment
to become a surf lifesaver resulting in a failed boards component and meant I
couldn’t swim.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Moving the final buoy mid race is a no-no</b></div>
2013 they didn’t run the race because they were setting up a SUP
board business. God knows what will happen in 2014.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
It should be noted that most of the ocean swims are run by
surf clubs and they do it very well. Some are run as private profit making
exercises (like the Cole Classic) and are quite expensive but are still very
well run. It is incredibly hard to run a journey swim from one beach to
another, when that swim crosses the territory of two councils and 5 surf clubs.
However, Mermaid Jo, who coaches at icebergs has never impressed as a race
organiser. Despite a $75 race fee there was an abject failure to communicate in
2011 and the final buoy was moved without warning after the winners had passed
it in 2012 - both poor efforts. So it’s unsurprising that a great, epic,
journey swim has yet again fallen into disrepair.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
It would be great to see the surf clubs take this on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
So following on from the previous abject failures to swim
5km I did what the Pet Shop Boys have been telling us to do for years: Go West!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Western Australian Adventures<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
My gorgeous gal pal, the ever lovely Courtney calls Perth
home. We met in The Hague and have hung out (both east side and west side) a few
times since returning to Oz in 2008. Great incentive to head west to tackle my
first 5km.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
The Davey Real Estate Sunset Coast Swim 2014 is run by
Scarboro SLSC on Scarborough beach (confused yet?). It’s a 2km loop followed by
a 3km loop. They also run a 2km and a 1km swim.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
There is also a 1:40 time limit. Always a great idea to
read the fine print. Coogee to Bondi has a 2 hour time limit to clear McKenzie’s
point so it’s about 2:20 in total. These Western Australians are <u>fast</u>. I
am not. This is a problem. The winner did this swim in 50:26. That’s 10 minutes
per kilometre. I am stoked to hold 20 minutes per kilometre.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Heading to the race briefing I run into my great Can Too swim
mate, Alice Boxhall, who lives in San Francisco but happened to be in Perth for
a conference and encouraged her friend to try the 1km. Such a boost. Beautiful,
random moment.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Random Run Ins - Awesome</b></div>
</div>
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Scarborough is an unbelievably beautiful and long beach. Always
lovely to have something nice to look at.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Deep water start, we tread water between two buoys and we’re
off.<br />
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I’m dead last from go to whoa. I’m in it to complete not to compete.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
The 2km lap is easily done, sighting is a little tricky in
this super flat water but it’s so clear and blue I can hardly complain. Onto
the 3km lap. With 15 minutes and 1km to go the water safety starts harassing
me. They tell me I have 10 minutes to go. I’m timing myself and know I have 15.
I give back as good as I get and I’m told “let’s just get you to the finish
line”. I’ll show them. The kick kicks in and I cross the line in 1:39:54. 6
seconds until being disqualified. Waste not, want not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
An otherwise great swim marred by a very different
attitude to ocean swimming than what I’m used to - encouraging participation.
However, absolutely stoked to finish and <b><u>finally </u></b>complete a long standing goal.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SJ02RhfrEgHy8O-WklWruiyZjcYTtym7BzDZEik5fV8jd2NleuQ-3fWtRpCbZmRMk53BhB34BNYEc059j5fpn0RuLm4POVI0OCBFVJM4Bgs-FBAjeeEHxghVqT8X4JXerveMc8ilSsU/s1600/IMG_2311%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SJ02RhfrEgHy8O-WklWruiyZjcYTtym7BzDZEik5fV8jd2NleuQ-3fWtRpCbZmRMk53BhB34BNYEc059j5fpn0RuLm4POVI0OCBFVJM4Bgs-FBAjeeEHxghVqT8X4JXerveMc8ilSsU/s1600/IMG_2311%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Did I say stoked? I meant STOKED!!!</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Catch up with Courtney in yet another great café (Perth
hipster culture is absolutely brilliant). Somehow we manage to work out a plan
that involves a crazy roadtrip, including catch ups / meetings / love matches
with the gorgeous Kristy – Courtney getting back into town in time for a
meeting and my seeing even more of the gorgeous Western Australia – including idyllic
rural backwaters.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpmWEVQeD04JimSDpR4bROXQeTgNd4XmUMPRR5CCQnsTHpqATQg1zoM4E-bCKDbioj5fsMiK_kg3xczZFGCP7dBM9qNuu3kb8c9OfGd0iq99jv3kSBp74RM7dDG6IR90NEdP9O5GhhTE/s1600/IMG_2166%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpmWEVQeD04JimSDpR4bROXQeTgNd4XmUMPRR5CCQnsTHpqATQg1zoM4E-bCKDbioj5fsMiK_kg3xczZFGCP7dBM9qNuu3kb8c9OfGd0iq99jv3kSBp74RM7dDG6IR90NEdP9O5GhhTE/s1600/IMG_2166%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywxnHygpufvNfTEdxxXLvYDwa5b48oP9to4dv3Z05_4aZEKSF7WHvDU8kJ1Uqr_AN4pXdljuCR1alPoBkpEVmjepqjwSvxOlnFDIeO9ispiYk-4O6tYXqXgjWLzJd53zBl2KEnE7OG0M/s1600/IMG_2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywxnHygpufvNfTEdxxXLvYDwa5b48oP9to4dv3Z05_4aZEKSF7WHvDU8kJ1Uqr_AN4pXdljuCR1alPoBkpEVmjepqjwSvxOlnFDIeO9ispiYk-4O6tYXqXgjWLzJd53zBl2KEnE7OG0M/s1600/IMG_2163.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
So we hit the road. Which is partly melting in 40 degree
heat. Thank goodness some like it hot, including me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOlyEyvdKSsa1e23PRnUeIgRHepRgOh5DUxZwzydSjaYqikO8D7qZ3YR14s-EKu9i-0sOwCJKtFiKKdZVQaPR8z7MIOFEAtIn90ra4WqpYQIp2ir8mzq9qMscPXbAt7DLDs1i8PcChVs/s1600/IMG_2169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOlyEyvdKSsa1e23PRnUeIgRHepRgOh5DUxZwzydSjaYqikO8D7qZ3YR14s-EKu9i-0sOwCJKtFiKKdZVQaPR8z7MIOFEAtIn90ra4WqpYQIp2ir8mzq9qMscPXbAt7DLDs1i8PcChVs/s1600/IMG_2169.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKT9n_fMcwaYFVe7Pxc9gx_uIgn20u9xEmDv3iNYX7HLfCJuNQEiRtcKpmwSopZKapLsSdt4VFGnl5UF6uX9Ziy3tW-n7wo-mvuK_1stByWLeQOHCa81QYddbf7MmB5KWs8eylw1MvQo/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKT9n_fMcwaYFVe7Pxc9gx_uIgn20u9xEmDv3iNYX7HLfCJuNQEiRtcKpmwSopZKapLsSdt4VFGnl5UF6uX9Ziy3tW-n7wo-mvuK_1stByWLeQOHCa81QYddbf7MmB5KWs8eylw1MvQo/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
And all three of us love a
good devonshire tea. Even in the road melting heat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
5 hours and 420km later we hit Albany. Which it turns out
is a hive of cool hipster bars, great restaurants and an unbelievable
waterfront arts centre. We all have hot chocolate at the seriously cool bar
because we’re super cool and all. It’s also housed within our hostel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8A5zkONKl61QkjetHk5znJdF8u5coOX2jpQzD_8Lr05PMLF19bHoLBfXgqssqsNAml1yp3z9hrxGiEEbJBR7GGjD7xYZJlYesL6lTbAcLqMsSQ2KU9P3zwQyyKr2IX7mwiZaMBvHrzI/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8A5zkONKl61QkjetHk5znJdF8u5coOX2jpQzD_8Lr05PMLF19bHoLBfXgqssqsNAml1yp3z9hrxGiEEbJBR7GGjD7xYZJlYesL6lTbAcLqMsSQ2KU9P3zwQyyKr2IX7mwiZaMBvHrzI/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Next morning I realise I may have outgrown hostel accommodation
as an epic 3am spooning sesh in the bed below impairs my pre race sleep plan.
Kind of hilarious though. We head to Middleton beach on Albany Harbour about10
mins out of town. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
This is my kind of swim. Casual, relaxed, and with a 2
hour cut off.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmaBRIkfF7waNCgT8Bg2bxCk_W18VjEfaRycQuszbcY-XJ7llDZCFNjYoqj-dLIsxsm3AYwzP33UsFVeIrKcqvo0NFZdwJszeEgNvg9bwbMTdJv-iUenBj8EHnrDDdU3JrCNl6P2BySc/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmaBRIkfF7waNCgT8Bg2bxCk_W18VjEfaRycQuszbcY-XJ7llDZCFNjYoqj-dLIsxsm3AYwzP33UsFVeIrKcqvo0NFZdwJszeEgNvg9bwbMTdJv-iUenBj8EHnrDDdU3JrCNl6P2BySc/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Lucky Number 125</b></div>
It’s a 1.25km loop, so they run a 1.25m, a 2.5km and a 5km
swim all starting at the same time. With our red, yellow and green swim caps we
look like a traffic light convention at the deep water start.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Again, this is all about pacing. Feeling surprisingly
fresh after yesterday I don’t go quite as slow at the start. (I probably did my
first km at warm up pace yesterday). By the end I’ve been lapped by just about
everyone doing the 5km swim and have my own personal board paddler who tells me
“I’m awesome” and when I give her a massive hug at the end tells me she’s awed
(especially by the consistency of my pace). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Better than a win any day! Finishing dead last is so much
better than not finishing.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRSvl37EibBZKLrhMFNJkTnMY-cCuDzFfOMLex9U3T8zgdbAlgegEQLb2IrKuubiABy-K4F4ST_877qdzTTQ_RcPQfwV8sGwZcNEdE2tvLRK0TccxJN28ZJ5kBO5_l7Shp1jcpvmI8KQ/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRSvl37EibBZKLrhMFNJkTnMY-cCuDzFfOMLex9U3T8zgdbAlgegEQLb2IrKuubiABy-K4F4ST_877qdzTTQ_RcPQfwV8sGwZcNEdE2tvLRK0TccxJN28ZJ5kBO5_l7Shp1jcpvmI8KQ/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Simply the most stunning location. Photos below are from
the gorgeous coastal walk back into town. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9VFF8ex6JXJCc-sTQtM5vOM7g-7boLnnlW9qCJyK405rcpUTdxdp7gRFWjY0OEn6Fyslips0V_8G0K04dOMiGO4pGZY79lo6k4O2c_1Tu_S7AyqvTuzZkqqX-oQoXAGtZmQ3cke7YIE/s1600/IMG_2194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9VFF8ex6JXJCc-sTQtM5vOM7g-7boLnnlW9qCJyK405rcpUTdxdp7gRFWjY0OEn6Fyslips0V_8G0K04dOMiGO4pGZY79lo6k4O2c_1Tu_S7AyqvTuzZkqqX-oQoXAGtZmQ3cke7YIE/s1600/IMG_2194.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRDD8yIPFr6jWpZav34TmJXaJuhqpzfc8n2wcwcIbKtnhteKbFfm4stH5qg1EqR95qAfGZc78P5CLgzc-b-MoedqDB2YRUC3nv6_UICb0M6aRIBDaZjHEhE31ki3QToN4sz1WQ6eD3Hg/s1600/IMG_2221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRDD8yIPFr6jWpZav34TmJXaJuhqpzfc8n2wcwcIbKtnhteKbFfm4stH5qg1EqR95qAfGZc78P5CLgzc-b-MoedqDB2YRUC3nv6_UICb0M6aRIBDaZjHEhE31ki3QToN4sz1WQ6eD3Hg/s1600/IMG_2221.JPG" height="69" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHdC6t3aNVFTaP9I0zW5dZA5Nvdqw66CuUr4J282BLtmhf-f4mCgZEgtV8hw8vdW3yhvLQe2CT2m0oTfPClUjrhXESYfwSB4ZiSo0wKMB3SoAh2YOW43GEjkaffHvYDyOdS4KbEW3iRU/s1600/IMG_2261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHdC6t3aNVFTaP9I0zW5dZA5Nvdqw66CuUr4J282BLtmhf-f4mCgZEgtV8hw8vdW3yhvLQe2CT2m0oTfPClUjrhXESYfwSB4ZiSo0wKMB3SoAh2YOW43GEjkaffHvYDyOdS4KbEW3iRU/s1600/IMG_2261.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyd3m6VimWEODKpECpirkyl_8nSvlOv6siy7objUP7u2BJ5M0LgDE0iETsEFmX2hr0HNKmlLZbX87gaswZuJPFgCF3PvNF9ski030KdXM0FRFoP3pV2XF4PN39AE5eps0T8dIAWy9D3E/s1600/IMG_2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyd3m6VimWEODKpECpirkyl_8nSvlOv6siy7objUP7u2BJ5M0LgDE0iETsEFmX2hr0HNKmlLZbX87gaswZuJPFgCF3PvNF9ski030KdXM0FRFoP3pV2XF4PN39AE5eps0T8dIAWy9D3E/s1600/IMG_2276.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNKsYgQNQzwmDav0StEHrvGVGZtN8k_SQtGzm0QmebkyF3ZUo5VYagkFGaQTaM2WHB_R0PVsysuOoTBO5u_xYAJWqUDDi5fVn84BqKNWc5A09bpZQIoFiXO5DN1YUo66qUzfZkvchCeo/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNKsYgQNQzwmDav0StEHrvGVGZtN8k_SQtGzm0QmebkyF3ZUo5VYagkFGaQTaM2WHB_R0PVsysuOoTBO5u_xYAJWqUDDi5fVn84BqKNWc5A09bpZQIoFiXO5DN1YUo66qUzfZkvchCeo/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG" height="91" width="320" /></a><br />
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Love WA and its inhabitants.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A note on training:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText">
5km is not to be attempted lightly, especially with crazy
fast time limits. I did a mix of pool and ocean swim training for this.
Including a couple of 4km swims on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve getting up
to 20km a week in total. I find a mix of pool technique and interval sessions
combined with long ocean swims works for me. <o:p></o:p></div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-67870813365689751012013-05-19T21:29:00.000-07:002014-03-12T21:37:22.314-07:00Katie Can Too Run. Sort of. At least until being banned. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Today was race day.</span><br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">My predicted pace was between 7:30-7:45/ km.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">I ran 14km in 1:42:12. That's 7:18 / km.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">My previous best effort was 1:59:43 or 8:33 /km.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">And the last time I ran 14km was 3 weeks ago.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">That's the power of orange. (Described in detail below).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">In an atmosphere of unconditional and unlimited support how could one not improve beyond your wildest dreams?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">My inspiring sister Annabel ran the ultra half marathon (23km on the Saturday) in 1:50:17. Her predicted time was 1:55. She finished together with her pace buddy Laura, and the two of them collectively achieved what they might have individually struggled to replicate.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">There was one point where I had to walk because I was in so much pain (bloody knees). I only walked 10m because I was terrified I couldn't start <span class="il">running</span> again. And in that 10 m I thought of every one of you. Talk about a jump start. I flew out of the walk.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Thank you. I am so grateful, for all the support (financial and otherwise). This is a cause I passionately believe in: curing cancer through the funding of young (7 years post doctorate) researchers with burning passion and fresh ideas. So thank you for believing in me.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Thank you to those who ran with me, cheered me and called me crazy. 'Cause it really was.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Especial thanks to the professionals who kept me on the road, Paula Luke, Tanya Bowden and Karen Rook. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">With thanks,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="il" style="background-color: white;">Katie</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: orange;">Fast Facts and Figures</span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Funds raised this program: <u>$2060</u> (Thank YOU!!)</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Total Funds raised by me: <u>$8806 f</u>or <a href="http://www.cure.org.au/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Cure Cancer Australia</a> since November 2009</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.cantoo.org.au/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Can</span> <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Too</span></a> has raised <u>$11,000,000</u> since 2005 and funded <a href="http://www.cure.org.au/research/current-and-previous-researchers-funded/researchers-2013/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><u>22 researcher</u>s</a> in 2013</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have <span class="il">run</span> over 150<u>km </u>in training. This is equivalent of Wollongong to Gosford.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white;">I’ve used 256<u> metres </u>of strapping tape since the program began.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: orange;">Dirty secrets:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white;">I still don't enjoy <span class="il">running</span>. I spent almost the entire race pushing through knee pain. Towards the end I couldn't get my pace up and finally relied on my hatred of <span class="il">running</span>. It worked.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white;">I do, however, enjoy <span class="il">running</span> up hills. There's no impact on my knees. There was one final hill before the finish and I was so relieved to see it. Weird, I know.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="background-color: white;">I had my GPS watch set to swim mode at the start. Wishful thinking perhaps? I was "swimming" 29 second 50m laps. It's my fastest ever swim. But a very confusing <span class="il">run</span> pace.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">The power of orange</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Our cheer squad lined the start and finish, including my lovely sister. One of our team couldn't <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">run</span> but had a loudhailer at the top of the first decline / final incline. It was a loop course so everyone who ran past wearing orange (even if not a <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Can</span> Tooer) on the way back down got a hero's ovation. Each geographical <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Can</span> <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Too</span> pod (we were 14km North) has a team captain and mentor. Our mentor encouraged me to <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">run</span> our own race and got an injured team member across the line. Our team captain's husband stationed himself at the 2km point and cheered us all. Our team captain and coach got the fast runners over the line then came back to ferry us slower souls across the line. Again and again. They ran about 20km that day. Annie, who founded <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Can</span> <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Too</span>, paced her inspiring and injured husband (fellow fish out of water, Simon) over the line and then ran back to help everyone up that final hill. Then she did the next thing for the half / ultra marathon the next day. She probably ran 60km over the course of the weekend. And everywhere you looked there were examples of a community of (Orange) people encouraging each other to achieve beyond their imagination. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">Race Report</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">I decided to <span class="il">run</span> my own race, with an eye on my pace but without being a slave to the pace. It was a genuinely beautiful <span class="il">run</span> to the paradise picnic spot through beautiful countryside complete with cantering horses. Despite 12 weeks of strength work, weekly physio and clinical pilates sessions the right knee protested every step. I broke my promise not to <span class="il">run</span> through the pain. But if you stuck a camera in my face I forget the pain. The middle 6km of the race was a gentle hill. I loved the incline up to the turn around and hated the decline - but it did help me to negatively split. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The winner (a Kenyan who looked like he wasn't trying despite <span class="il">running</span> faster than my sprint pace) passed me at the 3km mark. I made a point of cheering everyone. I was determined to enjoy the race as much as possible and encouraging others is my favourite part of <span class="il">Can</span> <span class="il">Too</span>. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">At the final kilometre the beautiful, generous, inspiring and supportive Abbie (Team Captain) and Simone (coach) ran back to collect me. Somehow I picked up the pace beyond what I thought possible, only to slow right at the end so I could High 5 absolutely everyone. I waved, jumped, smiled, thumbs upped and thoroughly enjoyed the end. It had been a long time in the making.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">After icing my knees I felt like I could have kept <span class="il">running</span>. There's still a lot of work to do there. I then jumped into Apollo Bay (17 degrees) for a recovery walk in the water and swim. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Everyone thought I was mad, but after a second swim the following day I was pain free. Best recovery ever.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: orange;">What's next?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I've signed up to do the half marathon in September. However, 20 years after chipping my patella stuffing up my knees, I'm finally getting a surgeon's opinion. I'm also having my <span class="il">running</span> style assessed to try and remove any technique based problems.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">So the half will have to wait and see the outcome of all these efforts. [P<i>ost script - my knees track so badly I will inevitably required a full bilateral reconstruction. If I run it'll be necessary in 5 years, if not I have 20 years. I have been banned from running</i>.]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In the meantime, my group and I are going to keep doing short <span class="il">runs</span> together. They are just such an incredible bunch of people with whom I really want to stay in touch. Plus I get to ramp up my swimming efforts again (YAY!!!) ahead of a planned very long distance swim. </span></div>
</div>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-27115497900704980762012-11-21T17:13:00.002-08:002012-11-21T17:13:28.215-08:00Can Too Mentor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvD7j2PcnZSsuwf624DKFrilDAySSBEL2x-1grUxZXJanqi5VL33LALX525L7a1k_vCP0Tp7bYsUVS5rlLOCXLCRGlQOJ8oiJ7GgSJmZRXno2Zcph2q24PfdvmYbGWpituCUqsFBj0Yw/s1600/dory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvD7j2PcnZSsuwf624DKFrilDAySSBEL2x-1grUxZXJanqi5VL33LALX525L7a1k_vCP0Tp7bYsUVS5rlLOCXLCRGlQOJ8oiJ7GgSJmZRXno2Zcph2q24PfdvmYbGWpituCUqsFBj0Yw/s1600/dory.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #e69138;">I'm super excited to be a Can Too mentor for the Thursday East 7pm C&P Pod. I'm the mentor for the "Dory" group, who just keep swimming!</span>
Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189579461933799805.post-68549214621875908872011-01-30T03:58:00.000-08:002011-01-30T04:16:51.597-08:00From Palm Beach to Whale Beach, the big swim redux<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPx4gYYeFKCmsMOjxZWSDdFtsusoC15aklmQJdYXaDjSKmRXe0iPyiRKcwa9HHPhKwoF7ay6j2QWao8Gsbfj_UfyZngEDv1_0eEuktrC5DGTYni70GXrfoB-jWw_kM_8xVN9ZMRn5mya0/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPx4gYYeFKCmsMOjxZWSDdFtsusoC15aklmQJdYXaDjSKmRXe0iPyiRKcwa9HHPhKwoF7ay6j2QWao8Gsbfj_UfyZngEDv1_0eEuktrC5DGTYni70GXrfoB-jWw_kM_8xVN9ZMRn5mya0/s400/IMG_1123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567948302196184530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeJpn9pBni-LP1JkaISZeNMGFqw8zzF2gnwFFPn8SQKDNblRKIA1oF5MqUhhO1sBJJbUGR9L2RBL2VWTC_IlLwA8TYVPWqosfwU1WuNjSTAAj9EkTcosO1HpnmekaHNlCH-5BZiu4R5g/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeJpn9pBni-LP1JkaISZeNMGFqw8zzF2gnwFFPn8SQKDNblRKIA1oF5MqUhhO1sBJJbUGR9L2RBL2VWTC_IlLwA8TYVPWqosfwU1WuNjSTAAj9EkTcosO1HpnmekaHNlCH-5BZiu4R5g/s400/IMG_1121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567948296514356802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceU4OsX_qnozqyeJz9QkD28gmDPih-8QVYZ66MYdLXelb1zEW6Cl5UXRYjM-80eEC0sJQk4mpG-OQI5z5XjXmOCHkuyf1WPLsHjTPDtmkJy67VmbHttcqLPFCatZTNMsIHGto0pGnY2Q/s1600/IMG_1120.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceU4OsX_qnozqyeJz9QkD28gmDPih-8QVYZ66MYdLXelb1zEW6Cl5UXRYjM-80eEC0sJQk4mpG-OQI5z5XjXmOCHkuyf1WPLsHjTPDtmkJy67VmbHttcqLPFCatZTNMsIHGto0pGnY2Q/s400/IMG_1120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567948289921358626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-OvMtG_mAncM_xuahRxp4hvVFT1GdI53g_8fdhWlPW84JihDqtXwiJuW7fdhE5MT5PcjTNtlQtkXVBQapjCSCBuQo-5WjCiqmdfqFSJRR5skTScLsGHkq3Ddn7_0ZI9LDnpU-HjbMe8/s1600/IMG_1116.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-OvMtG_mAncM_xuahRxp4hvVFT1GdI53g_8fdhWlPW84JihDqtXwiJuW7fdhE5MT5PcjTNtlQtkXVBQapjCSCBuQo-5WjCiqmdfqFSJRR5skTScLsGHkq3Ddn7_0ZI9LDnpU-HjbMe8/s400/IMG_1116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567948287314811522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFTkqLAA-DmZh1QgvD7A2W7f28HdmAhr7B1SO_7In4JdZyWXwsuwiiP8A_4P3_AAlv0_9wObkIN37wvohC5sZcIETE8QjUVqXS8kTFm5ouMTI8oiJzMXbNI2gxLslOvmAHvciJ4EKix8/s1600/IMG_1115.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFTkqLAA-DmZh1QgvD7A2W7f28HdmAhr7B1SO_7In4JdZyWXwsuwiiP8A_4P3_AAlv0_9wObkIN37wvohC5sZcIETE8QjUVqXS8kTFm5ouMTI8oiJzMXbNI2gxLslOvmAHvciJ4EKix8/s400/IMG_1115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567948281365751458" border="0" /></a>The Big Swim. 2.7km around the headland between Palm and Whale Beach.<br /><br />This is the headland that doesn't end, my friends. Or at least it feels like it.<br /><br />Last year my googles leaked, I got seasick, sun burnt, stung and struggled to get up the beach at the other end.<br /><br />This year my brand new googles (cheers to Swim shop for their voucher!) were brilliant, travel calm and antihistamines kept both seasickenss and stingers at bay and my brilliant Can Too rashie provided sun and sting protection.<br /><br />Start was glorious thanks to all the extra tips I picked up joining the beginners a couple of weeks ago at training. I had been porpoising all wrong which was why I was having such trouble getting out through the break leading to panic attacks.<br /><br />Took a nice wide course, avoiding all the chop next to the headland and only joining up with the main body of swimmers as they rounded the headland. Was utterly convinced I had misremembered the headland as I didn't feel tired by the end of it and thought I had much further to go. Finally found those teeny tiny intermediate buoys I'd searched for last year and then the final buoy much too soon. I was having fun!<br /><br />I did a warm up at both Palm and Whale beaches which meant I picked the gutter going out of Palm and knew what the waves were doing at Whale. Caught three broken ones into the beach and sprinted for home with two cheer squads on either side of the finish line cheering my name: The Can Tooers, especially <a href="http://alicecantoo.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/palm-to-whale-redux/">Alice</a>, Toby and Allison on the left and then Tom, Em, Elizabeth and the Garsias including Anna on my right.<br /><br />Best 15 minutes of fame ever!<br /><br />Now onto that Coogee to Bondi monster!Katie Can Toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03293534537848137443noreply@blogger.com0