Where I want to swim...

From Marin County under the Golden Gate to the other side.

This would be so cool.

San Fran and number 6...maybe.

The first thing we do when we get to San Francisco each year is walk the trail that leads from the Sutro Baths to Land's End in Lincoln Park. It ends up here. The views along the bluff are amazing and we never tire of it. It's only a three mile round trip, but this year we tagged on another mile or so through the SeaCliff neighborhood, where I can gawk at mansions and manicured gardens and only imagine what it would be like to live in such beauty and splendor.




We then drove down to Fisherman's Wharf to find the meet up point for our swim, early on Saturday morning. Because of conflicting schedules with this year's Sharkfest event, we are unable to swim it, so looked for another way to get into the bay this summer.

A few years ago I met Pedro of Water World Swim on the beach in Aquatic Park just after he finished his 500th swim from Alcatraz. We had just completed our 7th and 5th the day before. My husband and I congratulated him after the media left and he handed me his swim cap, inquired about our crossings and introduced us to his wife. His accomplishment didn't take precendent as we chatted, and I admire him for that.

I knew that he and his organization trained people to swim without fear in Aquatic Park and hosted training swims out in the bay. What I didn't know was that they take up to 20 people monthly out to Alcatraz and provide boat and Coast Guard support (if needed) for swimmers. Many are first timers. Many are not. We signed up.



Not being a race, the feeling of getting together with 12 other crossers was different for us. It was pretty low-key. A few experienced swimmers who get to train in the cold water were going for their first "skin" crossing. A few were trying it for the first time. A few were "old hands" and use this as their morning workout.
We milled around, drank hot beverages (what did Mark Twain say about San Francsico? "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." I believe it now!) chatted with other swimmers (two brothers from Germany!) and tried to think of flat water without strong current.



Here is Pedro explaining flood and ebb tides and what landmarks to shoot for so you won't get pulled all the way to the Bay Bridge!



Yes I was cold-and possibly a little nervous...you can't get cocky about swimming in the bay, no matter how many times you've made it to Aquatic Park.



Going out to the island on a small fishing boat is much faster than a ferry, and all of a sudden we heard the captain say "five minutes-be ready to jump in five minutes!"

As early as we were (it was just after 7 a.m.), fishing boats were already near Alcatraz, lines in, with fishermen staring at us in orange caps like we were from another planet.
First come, first serve I guess, so we had to start in front of them, which put us further away from Alcatraz, which means our swim that day was going to be short. Probably by a half a mile.
Some were relieved. Some couldn't have cared less. My husband and I-well, we were vocal about it and felt a bit cheated.

The swim took us a little over a half an hour. It was warm this year (about 60 someone said!) and I was never cold like I have been in the past. And we did hit some strong current about a quarter mile from the breakwall, so we felt like we had a bit of a challenge anyway.
Hubby ended up way left of it- and I could see where he was so didn't opt to follow him. I chose my line pretty well this time around and was second woman up on the beach. But it wasn't a race, so people were relishing the experience, as well they should. I don't think I will count it as a full swim from Alcatraz however. Because it wasn't the full distance.



It's not everyday we get to swim in San Francisco Bay.
But if we lived there, it just might very well be a morning workout.

Time Trial-in'

I had forgotten what a time trial even looked like, much less remember how much they hurt! As the guy steadied my bike for my 8:15 a.m. "take-off", I told him it had been about 30 years since I had done something like this. And it wasn't up a damn mountain.

"Just relax"- "Ten seconds...three, two, one....BEEP!"

Out of the saddle start and right into a slight incline, that lead to much steeper inclines, and continued for most at least an hour, but for me more than an hour and a half.

It hurt. Badly.

I had taken my "singulaire" and my antihistimine and had a few puffs on my inhaler before starting. I still wasn't getting much air, but it's better than it has been, so who am I to complain? So what if my heart blows up and I pass out? So what if it's already over 90 degrees and I haven't trained much in the heat? This is a great workout? N'est pas?



Plus, I am all "kitted-out" and look like I "belong" to a regular cycling club. Right? (Dork!)

How can 12.5 miles seem so long? And take me over an hour and a half to complete? I averaged 8 min miles. Damn.
That sucks.
I either need one more cog (a 27 maybe?) or new lungs.

Or both.

The mountain has a better road to climb than it did when I was in my 30s. How come it feels so much steeper and harder?



But it is still just as pretty!

Shift up...ride on!

Sometimes you need it all out of the way....

So I made some hairbands this morning for myself and my daughter.




Good when face-washing or when you are in yoga or want the damn sweaty hair off your neck!



The next time I make these I will certainly buy some color coordinated elastic. They would look SO much better!

Now, time for session number 2 of the day.
Wouldn't you agree?
Go for it!

Summer project (one of many)

I need five more cool shirts to cut up. The last few triathlons had really lame-o shirts. One consisted of an old quote from Scott Tinley. Now that took a lot of time, energy and work at the screen-printing place.
Maybe I need to begin to design race shirts. That would be a fun job.

Go train.
Sitting at the computer isn't helping! (JK!)

Lies...all lies.

We have told ourselves these things...YOU have told yourself these things. I know you have...

If I wasn't running the race with _______(fill in blank) I could have finished it faster.

I know I could have raced faster on a "good" day.

If I would have showed up and actually raced the race, I would have made podium- for sure!

If the race had just been a bit longer I would have caught and passed _______(fill in blank).

If I were ____(age) again, I would have placed in that age group.

If I only were older, I would have placed in that age group.

If I would have gotten a better night's sleep, I would have made podium.

If I didn't have to work, I would be SO much fitter, faster, etc.

If I didn't eat so much, I would be leaner and race faster.

If I actually liked running (swimming, cycling) I would actually DO it and thus race well.

If I lifted more weights I could get rid of this flab and finally see that 6 pack that is hiding underneath it all.

If I would have started triathlon back in 1982 at it's inception, I would be the god or goddess of all things triathlon and even know more about it than I do now- and I am an EXPERT!

Now....get away from your computer and get out and TRAIN dammit.

Headed out....

So I won't be blogging for at least ten days...as if I have been anyway.
It's just gotten kind of boring and weird for me.

I don't want to post about by every day life...'cause who cares?

I will NOT post my deepest and most private thoughts and feelings, 'cause that's just too weird for me. It's a generational thing.

I don't EVER want to be the advice-giver, even after 26 years of triathlon and 37 years of running-'cause what has worked for me may or may not work for you. So I'm not gonna even pretend to be any kind of expert with training, nutrition, gear, etc.

I don't EVER want to pretend that my life is so much better or I am happier than anyone else out there that is reading. I am "just" a mom, wife, educator that tries to work in a little fun and fitness on the side, and make a small difference for some (hopefully better).

So I will just stick with posting some thoughts, race results, adventures here and there.

I will be back...with photos of some beautiful places if my old camera cooperates!

Hope you are having a great beginning to a wonderful summer! (It's officially here in Tucson, as I heard the first cicada yesterday! Yeah!)