THANK YOU CYTOSPORT

A big Thank you to Cytosport for sponsoring me and this swim by donation of Cytomax and Muscle Milk (a recovery drink), which arrived yesterday.  Felt like Christmas!  I’ve been drinking Cytomax since college and it’s my favorite electrolyte drink by far.  Last year’s swim I was worried that eating or drinking the same thing for that length of time would make me totally sick of it by the end, but of all the things that I consumed during the 18.5 hour swim last year, Cytomax was the one thing I couldn’t get enough of (it was also the one thing I ran out of).

Yesterday was a day off after a weekend of hard training.  Two days in a row of over 3 hour practices wore me out.  Even with Monday being an off day, I took a nice 2 hour nap in the afternoon (Hannah did too).  Yesterday I was also still recovering from my sunburn on the backs of my legs.

Today I took an extra day off as I was still super fatigued when I woke up and I knew I was in for a long day at work.  This evening I moved the VASA trainer from my second bedroom out to my garage and did an hour workout (10 min. legs, 10 min. arms, 10 min. abs, repeat).  Now that it’s out in the garage, I can do the leg focused workouts better (as there is wall space in my garage to push off of)…maybe next week I will post a video of some of my favorite VASA exercises.

The rest of this week I need to get in a few fairly long swims in since I took two days off at the beginning of the week.   However, I have to drive Hannah back to WA on Thursday, so travel will likely take out another day.  But hopefully a stop at my parents house in Ellensburg will mean that I can get a swim in at my old collegiate pool (which is my all time favorite indoor pool).  On the way back to Montana I plan to drive through Missoula on Sunday and get a 4-5 hour swim in then.

Anyway…time for a movie and some relaxation before going to bed!

Good night!

~Emily

Splash Montana

Sorry it’s been a few days, but I had a blast this weekend and was too busy to blog.  Lets start with Friday…not much to talk about since it was a day off workout wise (resting up for a big weekend).

Saturday, after coaching my Masters group, Hannah and I drove down to Missoula.  My friend Crissi-Lyn joined us at Splash Montana where I got a 6,000 meter (in the wonderful 50 meter outdoor pool), while Hannah floated the Lazy River & took about 50 trips down the water slides and Crissi-Lyn got a suntan.  I LOVE that pool, it is seriously one of the things I miss most about Missoula.  My left shoulder was aching a little towards the end, but I think I was doing a little “outsweep” with that hand entry when breathing to the other side.

After swimming, we went to my favorite Mexican restaurant where I devoured my baby-dinosaur meal and then it was off to the ball game.  We had great seats for the Osprey baseball game.  The Osprey won and it was a really fun night.

This morning Hannah and I woke up early and hiked the “M” which, as always offered a spectacular view of Missoula.  After our hike we went to the delicious Paul’s Pancake Parlor…OH SO GOOD.  I had a bacon and cheese omlet, hasbrowns and whole wheat pancakes.  Then we headed to Splash Montana again where I got in a 3.5 hour practice (and Hannah again took the water slides by storm).  After Splash we went to Red Robin where we ate WAY too many fries (you only live once right), I had the California chicken burger and then for dessert…Mountain High Mud Pie…YUM.

Red Robin was really fun, we went because Hannah had this gift card that she earned for selling 1,000 boxes of campfire candy!!!  And it was so cute because she insisted that I order a “pretty drink” (I think she noticed that I always order water, but she wanted to “treat” me).  Then after we had our Mountain High Mud Pie, she says in a radio announcer’s voice: “How did they do it….the conquered TWO mountains in ONE day.”  Hahahahahahahaha…..she was referencing our earlier hike…so funny.

Then after Red Robin we went to Old Navy and they were having a sale on summer dresses….so I got one for me and two for Hannah…I love sales and dresses.

Then we headed back to Kalispell.  We did discover shortly into our drive home, that although we did each apply SPF 50 sunscreen, we were both pretty sunburned…mine worse than Hannah’s.  So, although we will be going to bed in pain this evening…it was SO WORTH IT.

It was a really fun weekend, I ran into quite a few friendly faces in Missoula (Hannah said “Auntie, you have too many friends.”).  At the pancake parlor ( a local I frequented quite regularly when I lived in Missoula), the owner recognized me and said “aren’t you the girl that swam Flathead Lake,”  when we sat down Hannah looks at me with HUGE eyes and whispers, “wow, Auntie, you are famous.”  I love that kid…she makes me feel like a rockstar every day.  This time that I have gotten to spend with her was something I really needed.

Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well.  I’m off to bed!

(weekly yardage total: 13500 yards and 13000 meters, so approximately 27,700 total yards)….not a bad week at all!

~Emily

Lots of swimming requires lots of sleep

I got SO much sleep last night.  I was asleep by 8pm and decided against swimming early in the morning.  So I got nearly 11 hours of sleep!  So wonderful.

Work today was NOT so wonderful….started with my computer deciding not to want to open any files that I had saved the previous day…so as you can imagine… the morning was one big headache.

I got to leave work again at noon and over the lunch hour I had a telephone interview with the KOMO News Radio Station in Seattle.  They saw the Everett Herald Article and wanted to interview me on their station.  It was pretty cool!  Once I have a link to the interview I will post it on here.

This evening I got a 5,000 yard swim in and then Miss Hannah and I went out to dinner with my friend Katie…and then of course since we were right by frozen yogurt we got that too!

Now it’s off to bed and I definitely think that I earned my Friday!

Good night!

~Em

Ready for bed

E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D!  Seriously!  Up at 4:30 (although Miss Hannah and I went to bed at 10…she seemed to have every question imaginable while “falling asleep” and thus I don’t believe I fell asleep until well after 11).  5.5 hours of sleep = unacceptable.  While Hannah is here I am only working half days, so there was that little ray of sunshine for the day.  Hannah did come and swim with me this morning, I’d say she got in a little over 2,000 yards and I got in about 6,000 yards.  The swim felt good, but the rest of the day I feel like I was late for EVERYTHING.

After the half day of work was done, Hannah and I went home and ate lunch, then she took about a 2 hour nap…I should have done the same (kids are smarter than adults), but I didn’t.  I made some phone calls, sent some emails-as I am still trying to figure out some logistical stuff about the swim, that I know once I figure those things out my stress level will lower a little.  My two biggest concerns (obviously besides the fact that 55-miles is a crazy long way) is fully staffing my crew (I’d say I have confirmed 4/12) and getting lodging figured out for the crew.

But I am way too tired to solve any of those problems tonight-and I can't complain too mush honestly.  Training is going well, no shoulder pain and donations are starting to roll in.  Also its looking like if all goes well I will be asleep by 8pm this evening.

Good night!

~Emily

Attn: Boat People

It was kind of a late night with firework watching and all.  I did have every intention of getting out of bed at 4:30 and swimming this morning (miss Hannah even said she wanted to get up and swim then too), however I didn’t sleep too well and when the alarm went off at 4:30 I knew I would be a crab apple all day if I didn’t get more than three hours of sleep.

So this morning I did a short 15-min. VASA trainer workout and I did my stretch cords this evening.

I told Miss Hannah that tonight we were going to bed MUCH earlier than last night….so that tomorrow morning workout is a possibility! 

Now, one thing that I need to start doing a lot more of is incorporating outdoor swims into more of my weekly workout routine.  As more and more of my favorite swimming locations are being taken over by jetskiers, I am thinking that it is not only more practical, but also more safe to have a boat accompanying me on my outdoor swims (it would also enable me to get some longer swims in).

So….that being said-I need some helpers here.  Anyone in the Flathead Valley with a boat willing to take me out on a lake (preferably Flathead as it will be the most like Lake Chelan’s temperature) and basically make sure I don’t get hit by anything-I am willing to barter with you.  Here’s what I can offer: I will trade you hour for hour- swim lessons-and I’m good.  I obviously have an extensive background in swimming, I also have a background of 5 years teaching swim lessons to children ages toddler to 18 and roughly a 4 year coaching background in swimming and triathlon.

As for what kind of boat...I don't care if it is a row boat, paddle boat, kayak, canoe, etc.  Just anything more visible than a tiny pink cap bobbing in the lake.

Obviously, for training reasons, I won’t be able to fit in many lessons prior to the swim, but will “repay” starting in September.  So if you have a boat and are willing to help me out, I will trade your time for mine-in the form of swim lessons.  I also need to get some night time swims in (these will be particularly important as I will be swimming a good number of hours in the complete dark during my Chelan swim) and nighttime swims I will trade at time and a half (so for every 1 hour you give me, I give you 1.5 hours).  If you are interested in helping me out, please comment on this posting with your email address and I will be in contact with you.

Oh…and if you help me out…you will get a shout out on my blog….which is a pretty big deal because a lot of people are reading it now!  : )

Speaking of shout outs…a big THANK YOU to Julie Muhlstein at the Everett Herald for the awesome article in the Sunday paper in Everett Washington (the story was the 3^rd most popular online story over the weekend).  Here is the link for those who missed it:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110703/NEWS01/707039963

Thanks for reading---and have a good night!

~Em

The Shoulder Report

Happy 4^th of July!  It was a gorgeous day here in the Flathead Valley.  All the people and animals in my house had a serious sleep in day today!  I didn’t wake up until 9:45-that’s the latest I have slept in for months!  I had an athlete to meet with at 11, then Hannah and I swam (got in about 2500 yards).

I should also add that my left shoulder is feeling much better after the resting week.  I do need to be more conscious of doing my stretch cord exercises EVERY day-I had kind of been slacking on those.  Injury prevention is MUCH easier than injury treatment.  I am hopng  my shoulders do well this week and I can get in some tough practices in at Splash Montana (the outdoor pool in Missoula) when Hannah and I are there this weekend!

The rest of the day was fairly laid back.  Hannah, Dixie and I went to Woodland Park so that Hannah could roller blade and Dixie could try and chase ducks!  : )

We had Pizza for dinner and then watched movies until it got dark enough to go outside and watch some fireworks.  Luckily I live in a location where we were able to watch everyone else’s fireworks without having to light any of our own off.

I hope you all had a safe and FUN holiday!

~Emily

Little Eyes

Whew!  What a whirlwind the last week has been!  I apologize for the lack of posts, but here’s a summary:

Took Thursday and Friday off (so four days in a row) to accommodate the tender left shoulder that my massage therapist thought might have a bit of tendonitis.  I really err on the side of rest in those situations, plus, I had family coming in for the weekend and that means deep cleaning!  : )  My mom, sister, niece and nephew arrived Friday night.  I had baked my nephew a birthday cake (he’s 10 years old-I can’t hardly believe it) and we had a little birthday party for him. 

On Saturday we went to the Great Bear Adventure just outside of West Glacier.  You drive your car through the property and “your car is your cage” and you are basically driving in an open bear enclosure.  The bears would walk right up to cars (windows had to stay closed for obvious reasons.  It was pretty cool and we got some great shots of the bears.  My mom really enjoyed it.

Then after nonstop questions of “when can we go swimming” by the kids (can you tell we are related?) we went to Flathead lake with the kids and dogs.  My nephew was the first one in and the last one out, my niece took a little longer because she said it was cold.

I swam around the Somers Islands for about 30 minutes-I’d say around 2,000 yards.   Then I played with the kids and dogs.

My sister Krissy also took some photos for my promotional flier for the swim.  She is a very talented photographer.  I really like this one, except for that piece of hair right in my face. : )  I'll post some more of those shots over the next few days!

The closest thing I have to a “mini-me” is my niece Hannah.  I don’t think anyone in the world looks up to me the way this kid does.  My sister and mom and nephew left for home this morning and Miss Hannah gets to stay with me for TWO WEEKS!  We went swimming this morning and she did nearly all of my 3000 yard workout.  And as is most always the case around kids, I became acutely aware of the little eyes on me the whole time.  About ½ way through the practice Hannah says, “Auntie I don’t think you were streamlining your best off that last wall.”    Or a little later I looked over and she was watching and imitating EXACTLY what I was doing.  If you have little eyes around you they are always watching….

Hannah and I just had dinner and now we are going to watch a movie and eat some frozen yogurt!

Good night!

~Emily