Swimming After Midnight

My midnight swim was SO much fun!  It was a beautiful night for a swim.  My friend Katie was able to borrow a tiny blue rowboat from her friend Darla and we were able to go out into the middle of Flathead Lake for about an hour at midnight.  The full moon provided a good deal of light (unfortunately my swim in a few weeks will not have that benefit), but Katie also had a small lantern in the boat, which from the water made the whole boat glow.  I wish I had a photo of this from the water...I should also add that Katie had a "miner's light" on her forhead too.

Once we got out about 15 minutes, I swam in circles around Katie so she wouldn’t have to row and could take some pictures.  While I was swimming (and Katie did not appreciate me telling her this) I was thinking that my view was probably much like a shark’s who would circle a small boat hoping for a tip over!  : )

The water was a little chilly at first, but once I started moving it was perfect.  I had two close encounters with bats flying a little bit too close to my arms, and I ran into a small piece of driftwood (which caused me to scream a little due to the fact that I watch too many horror movies) but other than that I had no problems.  I’d estimate I did roughly 3500 yards in about an hour.  That puts me at 16,000 for the week (remember this was a recovery week).

It was such a nice relaxing swim.  And it was so quiet and no jet skis to worry about.

By the time I got back to my house it was nearly 2 am.  For the first time in months I was able to sleep in until nearly 10!  It was pretty slow moving this morning, but I got to the pool and got another swim in (4,500 yards).

After my swim I went into work for several hours, which was a little easier to do than it was yesterday!  I like knowing that I am going to start the week with a good amount of the files cleared off my desk!

After work I went to Costco to begin stocking up on my “swim snacks.”  It was a fun shopping trip as I had with me a list of high carb foods from my nutritionist.

Now I’ve got to get to bed here pretty shortly…its going to be another busy week, but I’m looking forward to my last long training swim this Saturday and then my TAPER begins next Wednesday!

Goodnight!

Katelyn's Endurance

Falling a little behind on posts again!  Well, yesterday was pretty non-eventful workout wise, I ended up working at the office a little later than I had planned, so I missed lap swim at the pool.  I did an arms/legs VASA workout instead.

Yesterday the Flathead Beacon posted its online version of the article it ran on Wednesday…here is the link:

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/katelyns_endurance/24220/

Endurance is defined as the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina.  I love that the title of the Beacon's article is “Katelyn’s Endurance.”  I think it really puts the spotlight where it should be.  Yes, a swim of 55-miles is a showing of great athletic endurance, but it pales in comparison to the endurance that Katelyn has exhibited in her life.  She’s a pretty incredible kid.

Katelyn and her mom return to Kalispell next week, which must be very exciting for them.  I’m hoping to get together with them for some frozen yogurt once they are back so I can thank Katelyn in person for the bracelet she made for me! 

Today was a busy Saturday.  I started off the day coaching my swim group at the Summit.  Then I had to go into work for about 6 hours (ugghhhh I know….it was gorgeous today, its terrible being stuck in an office-but I still have some comp time I need to earn before the swim).  After work I headed to Flathead Lake for a swim practice with the Black Lab swim club.  I swam for a little over an hour.  Dixie took two trips out to the Island and back with me.  Scoutie, Dixie’s doggy BFF, was only interested in playing fetch and finding sticks and I couldn’t get her to follow me for a swim…maybe next time.  I’d say my swim was about 4,000 yards.

I’m not done for the day though….I’m going to head back down to Flathead Lake this evening, after sundown for a midnight swim (Dixie pup will not be joining me...as she is pretty wiped out).  I’ve got a friend who will boat along side with a light and I hope to get in about an hour swim….so it’s going to be a late night, however I do not have to get up early tomorrow so I can sleep in!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

~Em

Katelyn's Drawing

Great day today!  Most of that is due to the fact that I got a package from a very special someone in New York!  Katelyn sent me a picture she drew for the front of our Boat Crew shirts….it’s pretty cute-and makes you all want to be on the boat crew huh? 

Little KK is also an expert bracelet maker and she sent me this bracelet she made with all my favorite colors!  That Katelyn is a busy girl!  : )

In training news, I am happy to report I got a nice swim in the evening (and I know yesterday I said I was going to get up early in the am and swim…but I wanted more sleep!).  My practice this evening was a short 4000 yard swim mostly consisting of a longer pull set.  On pull sets I use Keifer Stroke Maker Paddles (the red ones), which I love.  Paddles make your shoulders stronger (and make you feel super speedy).

I also got another boat crew spot filled with a swimmer from Oregon who read the Interlake article and will be in Chelan the week of my swim.  Yay!

Well, it’s a short post today….but I’ve still got lots to do before bed!  Goodnight!

~Emily

Cover Girl ; )

Okay friends, exciting things to report this evening.  First a recap of the last few days.

Monday was a well deserved day off.  After my 40,000 yard week last week, everything kind of caught up to me on Monday.  I was exhausted.  I had to take my best friend Erika back to the airport, which left the house MUCH quieter than it had been last week.  Erika has the fullest, most infectious laugh that can’t help but make you smile.  I wish Alaska were closer to Montana!

Tuesday was a little rough.  I came down with a little stomach bug.  I slept in a bit to try and “re-set” and made it to work several hours late.  I was feeling much better by the afternoon, however, I follow a rule my mom instituted when I was a kid… “if you are too sick to go to school (now work) you are too sick to go to swim practice!”  So then, following a sick day, I have another training rule-that experience has taught me, after being sick, once you feel better, wait one full day before resuming your practice schedule.  So that bought me another day off today.  I could afford to do that this week, as it’s a recovery week.  I am feeling much better this evening and will be getting an early morning swim in tomorrow!

I’m still well above my training from last year, here is a yardage comparison chart.  Through Sunday I was up about 60,000 yards from last year’s training plan!

Well, on to the good stuff!  I met yesterday with my nutritionist, Ashley at the Summit.  I had my body comp re-analyzed and both my arms are roughly 3% stronger than last month and my lean muscle mass is up a few percentage points!  Good stuff, training is working nicely!  Ashley and I also planned out my week prior to swim nutrition, my during the swim nutrition and my recovery nutrition plan.  I am stoked!  Most of my plan still consists of “eating like a baby dinosaur” with the twist of the week before and during the swim its essentially all carbs.  I love carbs!

AND…A Lakke for Katelyn made the cover of the Daily Interlake-ABOVE THE FOLD!  Here’s the link for those who missed it:

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_cf28e3d4-c2e6-11e0-a251-001cc4c03286.html

There was also an article in the Flathead Beacon, which was on the front of the Sports page.  The Beacon article is not yet online, and I will post a link when it is, but take note that one of the photographs is of me practicing with Dixie Doodle swimming alongside!  She’s a famous puppy!

Today was also massage day!  And boy was I ready for it after last week!

One last thing before I call it a night.  I am still short 4-6 people for my boat crew.  So if you would like to be a part of this event as another helper on the boat crew (we have two “day shifts” and a “night shift”), please let me know.

Good night!

~Em

Ladybugs

So after Thursday’s swim, I took Friday and Saturday off and today’s swim was just a 7,000 meter swim at Splash Montana that put my total for the week over 40,000 yards!  All my swims this week were outside and only today’s swim was a pool swim!  As you can imagine, I am a bit tired this evening!

The outline of the rest of my training for these last three weeks is as follows: recovery week, slight build (but not much) and then TAPER!!!!!  I’m still hoping to get in an in the dark swim in the next few weeks to get a better handle on the overnight portion of the swim.   My injury prevention exercises (stretch cords and light VASA workouts) will continue up until taper week.

Only 24 days until the swim and now is the time to get all the last minute items in order.  I need to finalize the crew schedule, get our communication issues from boat to land straightened out and other things like that.  I’ve also got an appointment with my nutritionist on Tuesday to go over my nutrition plan for the swim.  The foods that I have been “practicing” with have been good so far, my stomach doesn’t seem to have problems with any foods in particular, I can eat just about anything while swimming.

Another thing I would like to share is that today while swimming a ladybug landed on me.  I am sort of superstitious about a few things in relation to athletics (and I guess life in general) and one of those things is that lady bugs are good luck.  Every time I see a lady bug something really good happens shortly after.  So…not sure what lucky thing this little swimming ladybug had to bring me…but something good is on the way!

Okay, well time to get to bed-goodnight!

~Em

Glacier National Park-great place to swim!

Sorry that I haven’t posted for a few days!  I’ve been having so much fun with Erika visiting!  Tuesday and Wednesday were both outdoor swims in Flathead Lake.  I did about 5000 yards on Tuesday and maybe 2000 yards on Wednesday.  Tuesday the Daily Interlake Photographer was at my practice taking photos and on Wednesday I was interviewed by the Flathead Beacon.  Those papers should be running articles on the swim sometime next week.

I took today off to hang out with Erika and today was seriously one of my best training swims ever!  I got in a 5 hour swim in Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park!  Erika kayaked while I swam.  We set out to do a 3 hour out and back in the lake, however we got 3 hours out, but the way back only took us 2 hours!  My estimates are that I swam around 20,000 yards.  I was able to practice eating some different things from last year (less candy, more real food).  It was beautiful and there was hardly any boat traffic on the lake (and best of all no jet skis allowed).   The water was fairly chilly, but I didn’t mind it too much. 

I seriously feel so lucky to have a backyard playground that includes such beautiful places like Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park.  I love Montana!

Just have to get through one more day of work and then Erika and I are heading to Missoula for the weekend.  Today’s swim earned me two rest days, then I will have a short swim on Sunday and I hit 40,000 yards this week!

Goodnight!

~Emily

Bubblewrap

So….the 6-hour practice planned for yesterday did not happen.  I woke up feeling under the weather, decided that I needed to give myself a break after a really tough and stressful work week and accept that 24,000 yards was my total for the week and I would not be hitting 40,000 yards.

I needed a day where I didn’t have to work and I didn’t have to work out.  I had a nice relaxing day with a Grey’s Anatomy marathon and some cleaning in between.  I did nearly break my big toe (the market toe) by dropping my pancake grill on it…which caused me to cry for about 10 minutes.  I’m not sure that it really hurt that bad, or if I just had an emotional week and it was a necessary cry down (a break down with tears).

My Erika got here last night!  I have missed her SO much and it’s so nice to have her here for a week.  Today she stayed home while I got a little bit of work in and she played with Dixie all morning, which as you can imagine, Dixie Doodle loved!  When I got off work at 2, Erika and I went to Sportsman and Savannah helped us pick out a doggie life vest for Dixie so she can open water swim with me!  Then we went to Flathead Lake and Dixie swam all the way out to the island and back with me (about 1000 yards I would imagine).  She did so good!  I swam about 4,000 yards after that while Dixie and Erika played fetch.

Then we had dinner at the Montana Club and picked up some groceries after.  We also got a Giant Hamburger Cake….that looked like a delicious dessert!

In the parking lot at the store, I stubbed my little toe on my left foot on the shopping cart which resulted in a deep cut.  So now about 4 weeks out from the swim my clumsiness is apparently in full swing and I feel a desire to wrap myself in bubble wrap before leaving the house. 

Anyway…off to eat some cake!

Goodnight!

~Emily