You know who you are...

You probably are not reading this, but I hope you are.  You have probably long since forgotten about me, but I hope I still cross your mind.

You played such an integral role in me developing into the athlete, and person, I am today-I still thank you for that.  I look back on the years you were in my life- the laughs, the tears and the obstacles we overcame- and I cannot help but smile.  The end to that story still does not make sense to me, but some things are not supposed to make sense.  I still look up to you as one of the great influences upon my life.

I vividly recall one of the last occassions that were shared a conversation on the pool deck.  I mostly recall the disappointment I felt in falling short of a goal that I had wanted so badly.  I told you I had been hoping for a "knock yor socks off" kind of swim.  That was not what happened that day...

...which is why I hope you are watching tomorrow...

~Em

Its all coming together!

So….tomorrow I head up to Chelan!  I am getting really tired of “resting” and I am ready to get going!  I am also tired of eating.  Real carbo loading is hard work!  (Ashley-I’m doing my best, but 1000 grams of carbs is a lot!).

Yesterday I got in a really nice 1 mile swim in at Vantage in the Columbia River (its calm there don’t worry).  The main purpose was a loosen up swim and to test my new Garmin forerunner (thanks to a group effort from Snappys, Runner’s Edge and KS).  There are many reviews out there on the forerunner and there are complaints that it doesn’t track swim distance accurately.  My review of it is that it does.  I don’t believe the “pace” function works properly, but the tracking function appears to, at least by my estimates.

We seem to be very covered in terms of GPS devices.  We’ve got the Forerunner, which will be on me.  Then on the boat we will have Daren’s SPOT GPS, which (once it’s turned on Wednesday) will show my progress at the following map:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0vhF4eMA2qDL9XZ8L7XQSGEEBuamVFtuK

(Again there will be no data appearing on this map until Wednesday).  Additionally, we will have Paul’s handheld GPS which will keep us on track based on the pre-plotted “way points.”  So in this regard we are WAY more prepared than last year.

Today mom and I packed all of my food for the swim.  I’ve got about 20 or so different options of things to eat during the swim, so again as opposed to last year, I will probably not be eating anything enough to get sick of any one single thing.

Everything seems to be in order.  Weather appears to be working in my favor!  And…one other exciting piece of news today.  Jaime text messaged me today and told me that Katelyn and family WILL be at the swim!  I don’t know the particulars on why that changed but I imagine it had to do with hurricane Irene and their inability to get to New York this week.  But I am very happy they will be there!  KK’s dad Brian will be filling the last vacant crew position I needed filled as well!  So we are all set.

Tonight’s an important sleep night (even more so than tomorrow night).  I will probably get at least one post in tomorrow but in case I forget to tell you….during my swim my brother Paul will be updating my blog and my facebook sites with as much information as he can.  During the early parts of the swim information may be limited to the SPOT map, as cell coverage on the north part of the lake is nonexistent and although we did rent some satellite phones, they cost 1.98 a minute for calls-they will be used for emergencies only.  As we get further down the lake and cell coverage gets better updates will be more frequent.  But I will address that in a post tomorrow again!

Well I should get to bed here pretty soon!  Good night!

~Emily

A Lakke for Katelyn Video

Stand Back Up

The above is a pic from the other evening when I had frozen yogurt with KK and Jaime.

So, I got to my parents house in Ellensburg safe and sound!  It was an early start today.  I was up at 5:00 am and at the KECI studios by 5:45 for my interview.  I think my interview went well, except they didn’t have the photos I had sent them of Katelyn.  Here is the link:

http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/28986457/index.html

After my interview I went and had breakfast at Paul’s Pancake Parlor!  Yummm Yummm.  Then I contemplated killing time until 11 and getting my swim in at Splash Montana, but I would have had to kill about 4 hours and I decided I would swim once I got to Ellensburg-thinking the college pool would be open at CWU.

So I hit the road and had a great drive.  I had just gotten Colbie Caillat’s new CD-which I love and traffic was fairly light.  I stopped at the mall in Spokane to go to Old Navy and then I had lunch at Red Robin.

Once I got to Ellensburg I discovered that the CWU pool is closed-ughhh.  I was pretty tired from the drive so I took a two hour nap and then had dinner with my parents.  I hope to get a “loosen up” swim in tomorrow.

I am feeling pretty good physically today-except that with all the carb loading and water I am drinking I feel a bit like the marshmallow man…and although I am convinced I look chubby on my interview from this morning…my mom says I look fine.  Anyway….its not about how I look right now…it’s about storing as much extra energy as I can before the swim!

I am feeling pretty nervous today…I know as soon as I step into the Lake all that nervousness will wash away…but the lead up, especially the forcing myself to “rest” is what is particularly nerve racking for me.  I like good music and quotes when I’m feeling nervous.  The Sugar Land song Stand Back Up is a good one…here are the lyrics:

"Stand Back Up"

Go ahead and take your best shot,
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got,
I'm laid out on the floor, but I've been here before,
I may stumble, yeah I might fall,
Only human aren't we all?
I might lose my way, but hear me when I say,

I will stand back up,
You'll know just the moment when I've had enough,
Sometimes I'm afraid, and I don't feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up,

I've been beaten up and bruised,
I've been kicked right off my shoes,
Been down on my knees more times than you'd believe,
When the darkness tries to get me,
There's a light that just won't let me,
It might take my pride, and my tears may fill my eyes,
But I'll stand back up,

I've weathered all these storms,
But I just turn them into wind, so I can fly,
What don't kill you makes you stronger,
When I take my last breath,
That's when I'll just give up,

So, go ahead and take your best shot,
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got,
You might win this round but you can't keep me down,

'Cause I'll stand back up,
And you'll know just the moment when I've had enough,
Sometimes I'm afraid and I don't feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up,

You'll know just the moment when I've had enough,
Sometimes I'm afraid and I don't feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up.

On that note, I’m going to get to sleep now!  Goodnight!

~Emily

I'll grab the Wheel and point it West....

Well my car is packed up and I am about to hit the road!

Tuesday I got a short (30 minute) swim in at Flathead Lake.  KAJ/KPAX was out filming a portion of my practice and they did another story on the swim and Katelyn.

http://www.kaj18.com/news/kalispell-swimmer-helping-young-cancer-patient/

Yesterday was a day off, but I did go in for my last massage before the swim!  It hurt, I was pretty tight, especially my neck.  I am a bit sore from it this morning, but I should be feeling great by tomorrow or Saturday.

Last night I met Katelyn and Jaime for frozen yogurt at Twisted Bliss.  It was so much fun!  Katelyn told me all about her first day of kindergarden, how she just lost a tooth (and has another one that's wiggly) and about her dog.  I was able to give both Katelyn and her mom the shirts we had made for the support crew (with KK's drawing on the front).  Unfortunately Katelyn leaves again for New York on Sunday so her and her mom will not be able to come to the swim, but clearly her treatment is the priority.  We are going to try to have the finish skyped to them in New York, but we will have to get the internet connection figured out!

I guess (and forgive me if I can't explain this well) that the treatment Katelyn is recieving is going really well because she did not develop an immunity to the HAMA, which is why she is ready for more treatment already.

Today is a travel day.  I will head to Missoula for the night.  I have an interview with Montana Today in the morning, which I am a little nervous about becuase I think its aired live!

Once I am back at my parents house I will post some pictures/video-my computer has been being a little difficult.

Anyway, I appreciate all of the support and comments both on here and on facebook!

~Emily

Sunshiney Days!

I am feeling MUCH better today!  Had a relatively low stress day at work, got a lot of sleep yesterday and last night and the knot is finally gone!  The knot being gone really helped matters!

In other super-fantastic news…the 10 day forecast finally reaches the first day of the swim…AND….it’s all sunshine…no rain and warm temps!

My friend Katie has been orchestrating the shirt production for my crew members with Rocky Mountain Images and she went and looked at the proof today and said they look GREAT!  The design guy there said he’s never made a t-shirt with the image drawn in crayon, but he accepted the challenge and apparently was successful!  I cannot wait to see them!

I have just three (maybe 4) workouts to get in during the next 9 days.  Relaxing and taking it easy are not things I am particularly good at, so that aspect of tapering has always been a challenge, but luckily there are still a few logistical puzzles I need to figure out prior to the swim which should require me to sit still for a few hours!  

I think Dixie-pup knows something is up.  Isn’t it funny how animals can sense when something is off?  Dixie will not be accompanying me to Washington, as it would be too much to make someone else deal with while I am swimming and she will have more fun staying in Kalispell with her doggy BFF Scoutie.  Katie will be watching Dixie most of the nearly week and a half I am gone, until she comes over to be on the night crew (with her minor’s headlamp-I’m sure), then Savannah will be watching Dixie and Scoutie together.  The dogs love Savannah.  I am much happier with this arrangement than having to kennel Dixie, which I’ve never done before.

I also spoke with the Chelan Rotary Club (good suggestion Krissy) to hopefully fill the two vacant boat driver spots I have on my crew.  They were very nice and said they would see if they could find a few more volunteers!

Now one last thing to report…and I’m really excited about this.  Katie wrote to Dara Torres and told her about “A Lakke for Katelyn” and told her what a fan of hers I am (she is my favorite swimmer ever!) and asked that she send me some words of encouragement.  Well…she sent me a signed swim cap and a signed photo with the message “To Emily, Always Believe.”  Pretty awesome!  She’s an amazing swimmer.

Well, I've got to get a few things done before bed!  Have a great night!

~Em

Why Knot?

Seriously!  I have had the most painful knot in the side of my neck since Thursday night and my super long swim yesterday didn’t seem to help matters any!

I did not post at all last week due to work consuming pretty much every spare minute.  Other unnecessary drama included my car getting broken into-in my driveway.  I had a trial on Thursday and I didn’t have any days that I worked less than 10 hours last week, in fact two were 11 hour days!  Sheesh…no wonder I was tired!

My swims during the week were few and they were short.  I swam Tuesday (3200 yards) and Friday (3600 yards).  I did get my last long training swim in yesterday-which did get me meeting my weekly yardage goal.

Yesterday’s swim was from Woods Bay to Yellow Bay in Flathead Lake.  The map shows the distances between these two fishing access points to be roughly 11 miles, but given that it took me a little over 6.5 hours with my breaks I think the mileage actually swum had to be closer to 13-I really do.  But regardless, I would estimate yardage being between 21,000 and 24,000-but again its only an estimate-we didn’t have a GPS.  So my weekly total was between 28,000 and 31,000 yards)

A few things that didn’t go well yesterday. 

First, sunscreen.  I put on SPF 50, but it apparently washed off and the reapplication once wet may not be successful.  My face got pretty burnt.  Any sunscreen suggestions?

Second, nutrition error.  For Flathead Lake and for my other long training swims this year, my nutrition intake has been Cytomax at 30 minutes and food on the hour.  Those would be off of the “running total” clocks to ensure I was meeting my hourly caloric needs.  Yesterday my kayaker was keeping a watch of “swim time” stopping the watch while I was on “break” to eat.   At the time I didn’t see this as a big deal, however over the course of nearly 7 hours I had only met nutrition needs for 5 hours.  I was having some bicep cramps which is something that hasn’t happened before and by the time I got home I was just spent.

So with those two “tiny” errors I had a rather painful evening.  Although my shoulders felt great both last night and this morning, the knot in my neck did not!  I went to bed last night at about 6:30 and woke up in tears at 8:30 due to the pain from the knot.  I think what made this worse was that I was suffering from a mild case of heat exhaustion and the sunburn.  So I got up and drank a lot of water, put ice packs around my neck, took some ibuprofen and watched an hour of Grey’s Anatomy.  Feeling much better after that, I went back to sleep and didn’t wake up until 9 this morning (which is sleeping in for me!).

I’m feeling better today morning, but the knot is still tender…looking forward to my massage this week!  I’m glad to have learned these little lessons on a training swim rather than the real thing.  My taper starts today, so resting up is on the agenda for the next 10 days!

I should end with some positives, as despite those two errors, it was a good swim.  I used my brand new Blueseventy wetsuit, which felt great!  It was a beautiful day on the lake and I feel grateful that my friend Blane was willing to give up the better part of his Saturday to kayak alongside me [Erika-he had no problems keeping up and was a little less whiney than you, but he did not take any photos or video; you are better at multitasking- : )].  Boat traffic was not a problem.  Had a nice wind going with me for most of the swim-which created some waves, but “helpful” ones.  With the exception of the bicep cramping (which I think can be credited due to not enough fluids), I didn’t have any other issues during the swim that would make me question my ability to go further.  None of the items that I did consume (Cytomax, graham crackers, poptart, pb sandwich, animal crackers, licorice) caused me any stomach issues-which is a positive.

Last night I got about 13 hours of sleep and after waking up this morning and going to breakfast at IHOP…I took a 2 hour nap.  Taper week off to a good start I’d say!

I’ll be better about posting this week!

~Emily