February 28th, 2006

Yards today:500
Yards to date: 176,100
Yards to go: 0

Wow, it ended just as fantastic as it began. We had tremendous support from the beginning right to the end. We swam a victory lap amongst much fanfare. Hoog took an unplanned dip. After our short swim we had many creative presentations, cake, and lemonade. Gayle premiered her latest video. It was most excellent, but I now appreciate why people think swimming is boring. More video, nose fashion showings, and continued celebration is sure to happen. Nell, Alix, and I would be happy to hang on to this moment for a long time. All your support, good wishes, hard work, and awe kept us going.....you've all heard tale of many woes. The external ones these were all addressed with lotion, massage, good food, etc., but for the self doubts within us we relied on each other and all of you. This was truly a community accomplishment. Heartfelt thanks to all of you.


NEXT SWIM: ??????

February 27th, 2006

Yards today:4,600
Yards to date: 175,600
Yards to go: 400

99.77 miles, March never looked so good........

NEXT SWIM: Tuesday 3:30 pm Dixon

February 26th, 2006

Yards today:7,000
Yards to date: 171,000
Yards to go: 5,000

We passed the 4 digit mark today and had a celebratory moment as we got below 10,000 yards to go. The 7,000 yard swims are taking longer and longer.... but we don't care, there aren't any more! Cathy, Ginny, Molly, and Julia stopped in for some laps. Tomorrow we'll do some mop up yards and then some special victory laps on Tuesday.

NEXT SWIM: Monday Langton 11 am

February 25th, 2006

Yards today:7,000
Yards to date: 164,000
Yards to go: 12,000

The Team is in the 'Horse to Barn' phase. We did several nostalgic sets today; the Vic 1000, the DownUps, the Lovelys....
Vic and Gayle swam with us. We had a surprise visit from Gladys who stole the show and did all our breast stroke sets with us. Jeff was playing the Loch Ness monster several lanes over, but clearly he was just eyeing Gladys. Our swim ended with smoothies at the end of the lane. Tomorrow brings the last long swim.

NEXT SWIM: Sunday Dixon 10 am

February 24th, 2006

Yards today:5,000
Yards to date: 157,000
Yards to go: 19,000

My personal goal today was to live to see my rice bowl. The good news is that I made it and the lunch was most delicious. We're starting to taste the finish.


NEXT SWIM: Saturday Dixon 11 am

February 23rd, 2006

Yards today:7,000
Yards to date: 152,000
Yards to go: 24,000

Hoog and Les joined us today for the middle hour of our swim. The pool was nice and empty because there was no hot water. My fingers are still numb from the cold shower, but it's all part of the experience. The next 13.6 miles can't go fast enough.

NEXT SWIM: Friday Langton Noon

February 21st, 2006

Yards today: 7,000
Yards to date: 137,000
Yards to go: 39,000

This morning our coaches (Meghan, Suzanne, Leslie, LaVonda, Hoog, Deb, Tom, and Robin) were wearing bathrobes and slippers, eating donuts, reading the newspaper, and cheering us on. One coach even fell asleep. Sandra joined us in the pool, spiced up our sets, and made muffins. Already today, I have eaten 3 donuts, each time chased down with a muffin. Marlys and Alix: you all have some quirky (in a good way!) friends who are making this swim a lot more fun than I expected.

NEXT SWIM: Wednesday Dixon 6 am

February 20th, 2006

Yards today:6,000
Yards to date: 130,000
Yards to go: 46,000

We swam in Langton today for an hour and then with class. It's always nice not to have to think of the workout, though sometimes it's hard to like Bill's ideas. Gigi and Sara came to cheer us on, it looked like they were having a nice lunch. We all feel like we're going to make it, but there are still 8 days of dedicated swimming. We wouldn't possibly have made it this far, this cheerful, without all our wonderful support.

NEXT SWIM: Tuesday Dixon 6 am

Nell's Heel Injury

These are two pictures of my heel injury. I have a depth perception problem when I get close to the wall and am preparing to turn. Sometimes when I am flipping over, I slam the backs of my heels on the pool deck. I did this today (Sunday) and the pain reminded me to post these pics from my last heel injury that took place earlier in February. I am sure this will happen a few more times before we are finished with the 100 miles this month! whoo-hoo!

February 19th, 2006

Yards today:9,400
Yards to date: 124,000
Yards to go: 52,000

Back in the saddle, we missed our day out of the pool and were welcomed back by lots of supporters. We had Deb, Jo, Gayle, and VIc in the water. Melora, Heidi, and Wendy stopped by to check on us. I think Gayle is making another movie, good thing the Oscars are still a few weeks away.


NEXT SWIM: Monday Langton 11 am

February 16th, 2006

Yards today:6,100
Yards to date: 109,100
Yards to go: 66,900

Alix brought a fun workout today, it was of course, a palindrome. Paula came for the second time to swim with us. One of our few repeat visitors.

NEXT SWIM: Friday February 17th 5:00 am Timberhill

February 15th, 2006

Yards today:8,000
Yards to date: 103,000
Yards to go: 73,000

It was a relaxed double day. We had coach Heidi this morning and swam with class at noon. We're over 58 miles, and counting down the hours until our day off on Saturday. Alix and I have become poster children for Emu Oil. Let me know if anyone needs a hit.


NEXT SWIM: Thursday February 16th 11:30 am Dixon

February 14th, 2006

Yards today:6,000
Yards to date: 95,000
Yards to go: 81,000

We had a well supported swim today with Steve in the water and Karen on deck. There was also a good crowd at the French Bakery. We'll have to do that one again.

NEXT SWIM: Wednesday February 15th 6 am Dixon and Noon-1:30 Langton

February 13th, 2006

Yards today:5,000
Yards to date: 89,000
Yards to go: 87,000


NEXT SWIM: Tuesday February 14th 6 am Dixon

February 12th, 2006

Yards today:7,000
Yards to date: 84,000
Yards to go: 92,000


We had many visitors today; Jo and Paula, Molly, Julia, and Ginny, Cathy........Now we're just dreaming about the French Bakery on Tuesday.


NEXT SWIM: Monday February 13th 11:30 am Langton

Photo evidence

Here it is. This is a well travelled piece of Orbit Wintermint gum.




It appears that there is plenty of room.

The nose knows.

Ok, I'm waiting for my camera battery to charge so I can post photo evidence, but the incident in the pool today was real. Here's the story. Alix had us doing a set of descending 100's. We were doing them on the 1:25. This is a fairly fast pace and I was holding my gum in my lip for that minty freshness. After the turn at the 75, I was taking a gasping breath trying to catch Alix. Suddenly my gum flew out of my mouth, I did not swallow it, I had the sensation that I had sucked it up my nose. After I told my friends, and a lot of concern/hysterics, we decided to swim on. Nell wanted me to get her roomates "something pot" which sounded like some sort of nasal enema, and Alix just couldn't stop laughing. I spent the next hour aggressively exhaling and convincing myself that I couldn't really have gum up my nose. After all if there was indeed gum up my nose, how could I breathe? Or was it in my brain, or lung. Nothing seemed good except to assume I had swallowed it so quickly it just felt like it was in my nose. We finished the swim, Alix and I had coffee. I was a bit uncomfortable, but I could drink coffee and eat bagels so I must be ok. Several hours later, I'm on the couch with my popcorn when suddenly, a little choke.... and viola... out pops the gum! I did have gum up my nose and lived to tell the story. So I guess here's the lesson. If you think you have gum up your nose, you probably do, or gum and the pool don't mix.

February 11th, 2006

Yards today:6,800
Yards to date: 77,000
Yards to go: 99,000

We're finally below 100,000, seems like a small victory. Today's swim was one of the more interesting. Alix will be submitting a report.

NEXT SWIM: Sunday February 12th 10 am Dixon

February 10th, 2006

Yards today:5,000
Yards to date: 70,200
Yards to go: 105,800

Alix "The Hickey" Gitelman was still peppy today, Nell came out of the shadows and I finally got my wind at about 4500 yards. Looking ahead we should pass the half-way mark early next week. On Tuesday the 14th we'll get out of the pool about 8 am and head down to the French Bakery for a feast. You'll all invited to join us. Maybe Alix will tell you about her new name.

NEXT SWIM: Saturday February 11th 10 am Langton

February 9th, 2006

Yards today: 7,000
Yards to date: 65,200
Yards to go: 110,800

Alix was peppy today, I was looking for more oxygen and Nell was a self-defined 'shadow.' I don't know how anyone would do it alone. Thanks to Les who joined us in the water for a quick set of the down-up-downs.

NEXT SWIM: Friday February 10th Noon Langton

February 8th, 2006

Yards today: 7,200

Yards to date: 58,200
Yards to go: 117,800

Alix and I felt a little delirious today, so we decided that we would just be hysterical for the next week. Since Nell is already hysterical, this seems like a good team plan. Hoog swam the entire morning workout with us, and at the end suggested she would come again. Excellent work.


NEXT SWIM: Thursday February 9th 11am Dixon

February 7th, 2006

Yards today: 7,000

Yards to date: 51,000
Yards to go: 125,000

Today we slogged. Many thanks to Lisa G. who cheered us on for the last 1500 and brought a delicious breakfast! Our nutrition plan is going so well, I've gained 5 lbs.

NEXT SWIM: Wednesday February 8th 6am Dixon + 11am Langton..our first double.

February 6th, 2006

Yards today: 5,000

Yards to date: 44,000
Yards to go: 132,000

Today we passed through mile 25. In the past 6 days we have spent 9.3% of life in the pool.

NEXT SWIM: Tuesday February 7th 6am Dixon: 7,000 yds

February 5th, 2006

Yards today: 10,000

Thanks to Jo for tending us through the entire workout, and Deb and Bronwen for joining us in the water.

Yards to date: 39,000
Yards to go: 137,000

NEXT SWIM: Monday February 6th 11:30 am Langton: ~5,000 yds

February 4th, 2006

Yards today: 10,000

Thanks to Vic, Jane, and Gayle for joining us today.

Yards to date: 29,000
Yards to go: 147,000

NEXT SWIM: Sunday February 5th 10 am Dixon: 10,000 yds

February 3, 2006

Yards today: 5000

Yards to date: 19,000
Yards to go: 157,000

NEXT SWIM: Saturday February 4th 10 am Dixon: 10,000 yds

Wow!

Alix, Nell and I were completely surprised and moved by the support we received this morning. The ceremony, displays and gifts were beyond our imagination. We'll take the images of the people, the signs, the flames, the flashbulbs through each yard in the pool this month. Here's to hoping for the party on the 28th we can actually participate in the frolic.

Thanks Pals.