Archive for May, 2009

Foggy Golden Gate in the background

A week has passed and I am still unable to put my Golden Gate Bridge to San Mateo bridge swim into words. It was my first experience with marathon swimming. I consider marathon swimming any swim over 6 hours or 16 miles. Neither of which I had accomplished prior to this swim. So, there is something very special about it that makes me feel like keeping it to myself. You know like your first time…

The only idea that I would like to share is that I went some place inside me that I knew existed but had never been to.  I have always known that deep down inside I have a place that is strong, self confident and stubborn. A mindset that just won’t take no for an answer. I have fluttered past this place from time to time during a crisis but to be able to tap in for enjoyment, I have never been there. Roper said that I have a “passion” and he is right. There are many times in ones life in which you have an opportunity to have a “good trip” or a “bad trip”. I was presented that opportunity during this swim and I decided, without reservation, to have a good trip.  Once I realized that the bay was not going to cooperate and I would be battling the wind and waves for many hours, I just put the biggest smile on my face and swam on. When I was being tossed around in the “Aqua Rodeo” , I would laugh.  I realized from this happy place, I can be very comfortable being uncomfortable. The power of happiness is unbelievable.

Many thanks to my incredible team. Bob Roper, how do I love thee…let me count the ways! Jim Bock you are a super star. When I think endurance, I see your face. Jim was always ready with a joke, a riddle, a song and yes even a show tune, to get stuck in my head. He made the time pass quickly. We have a very similar sense of humor and our connection is now concrete. Dewey and Tom were unbelievable.  I am still in awe of why they all would dedicate their Saturday to me.  I could not have done it with out them and it was a true team effort.

Thank you to everyone who contacted me this week with their “hoorays” and “hoorahs”  I appreciate all of the accolade.

So for now it is time to get back to work. I swam 2+ hours in Lake Tahoe this morning and I am moving on towards my next goal.

Under the San Mateo Bridge with Bob Roper

From the Desk of Bob Roper

(Written by Jon Meyer)

Karen Rogers completed the world record fastest ever time from the Golden Gate to the San Mateo Bridge at 7h 58m 17sec! (The only other swimmer to make it, Drew Downs, finished in 11h.): 23 miles! She started  out swimming against the ebb, and finished fighting the ebb. Water temp at the South Bay was 63. Winds at the South Bay were 21 knots, making waves 3 1/2 – 4 feet high (“Victory at Sea” – Bob). she averaged over 3 mph in these conditions – a “herculean accomplishment” (Bob: he also told me Karen has a “passion for challenge”: “the tougher it gets, the more she digs in: she loves it” She crashed “out cold” in a sleeping bag on the boat ride home!).
Jim Bock was alongside her in a kayak feeding her the whole time: he “can’t lift his arms” today! (Bob said ‘never again’ only one kayaker for a swim that long!)
The main boat was “changes of Attitude” captained by Dewey chambers, with Tom Posey on as first mate.
(Sue Petro assisted: when Sue had to leave the SE before Karen got back, she turned on the sauna so it would be hot for Karen!)
Bob called Karen “so amazing”!

I am still trying to process my story from my  swim. I have started to write about it but find myself overcome with emotion each time I try to put it into words. Check back soon to see if I can pull it all together.

On the East Shore

I have been constantly thinking about the GG Bridge to the San Mateo Bridge swim this Saturday. I think , 22+ miles, 6+ hours and then I feel a little sick to my stomach. Rob asked me today why I was so nervous about this swim. I think it is because it is the next BIG step in my training. I know that if I can just make it past the 6 hour mark, then I am really moving in the right direction. To qualify for the English Channel you have to do a 6 hour swim prior to your swim date. I will just use this swim as my Lake Tahoe qualifier. I am looking forward to getting back in the bay. I have learned to really love the salt water this year.

I called Roper on Monday but he was battling a bad cold and didn’t want to talk. I guess I will just have to wait until Friday to see who he has recruited to be a part of my crew. I am really excited for this swim. It is a big deal. Roper said only 1 other person has accomplished it. I know I can do it!

In Big Blue

Yesterday was my first swim of the season in Lake Tahoe. I took a dip in January but that doesn’t really count.

I have been obsessed with checking the water temperature of the lake on the UC Davis website ( http://remote.ucdavis.edu/tahoe_location.asp) for the past few weeks. I mean really obsessed. I know the exact times that it updates  and I check it within a few minutes to see how much it had increased/decreased since I last checked. So, yesterday at 6am the temperature was showing in the high 40’s on the north shore. The water on the east shore tends to be a little bit warmer this time of year. That meant that it could be as warm as the mid to upper 50’s during the height of the day. It was time to test the waters.

We drove over to the Hyatt beach in Incline Village to check out the lake. This is the beach that I will be swimming into to end my Tahoe crossing. It felt great to stand there and look across the lake. I waded into the water and felt the pain of the cold in my ankles and knees. Really freakin’ cold! This was not the place to start my swim today. Plan B was to drive a little further down the east shore to Sand Harbor and start from the boat launch. I tested the temperature of the water and it seemed a little warmer. Okay let’s do it.

We unloaded the kayak and I started to get myself ready. I was really nervous. I know the pain of fresh cold water and I wasn’t looking forward to it. It is the kind of pain that goes deep into all of your joints. Cold salt water doesn’t seem to do that to me. I stood there half submerged and I couldn’t quite get myself to push off. I kept thinking, you will be numb soon just get going. I finally pushed off and starting turning over as fast as I could. I couldn’t catch my breath, I couldn’t get a rhythmn, I couldn’t relax. My head felt like it was in a vice and my cap was slowly tightening. Then all of a sudden I realized that I was okay. I looked at the the first point that jutted out in front of me and decided that I would swim to it and turn around. Then I reached the point and rounded the corner and looked at the next one and thought I will go to it. I kept thinking, remember you have to swim back so make sure you have enough energy. Then I was just doing it. I was swimming in Tahoe. I have been waiting many months for this day. Everything I have been working towards all had to do with that very moment. Now my training was going to move into a new phase. I am ready.

I was able to swim for 1 hour 10 minutes and covered just over 2 miles. Not too bad. A little slower pace than I usually swim but great considering  the temperature. I learned on the way back that I still need to hug the shore.  I took a straight line back and found out that just a little off shore the temperature had to be at least 5 degrees colder. I had a moment of panic when I felt a slight tightening of my chest. I popped my head up and said to Dano to keep a good eye on me.  I could feel my core temperature dropping quickly. I just kept turning over and before I knew it I was rounding the corner of the point and I could see the golden sand below me.  Well done!

Of course I am going back today. Same plan except I will swim off to the south instead of the north. Maybe even a little warmer going that way. I will let you know how it goes…

Karen in 1972

Even though the lake isn’t warming up, I am still moving in the right direction. Last weekend I completed the dreaded 4 hour pool swim. I felt a need to do this swim prior to my GG to San Mateo Bridge swim on the 23rd. It was a successful swim, 14,700 yards completed in 4 hours. That equates to 8.44 miles or just over 3 length crossings of  Donner Lake. I did it but never again. That is too many flip turns, too much chlorine and too many concerned looks on people’s faces in the pool. I just didn’t want to lose my momentum before next weekend.

Only one week away before the bridge to bridge. When did my training swims become almost as big as my ultimate swimming goal of the year? It is crazy! I think that it will take between 6 and 7 hours to complete the swim. This is going to be a challenge. I did complete a 6 hour swim last summer, so I do have the experience.  I believe that everything is going to line up perfectly for me and the day will go smooth.

This will be my first weekend that I will be getting into Lake Tahoe for a longer swim. I am going to go over to the east shore to get in some warmer water. Well, warmer than the west shore but still in the low 50’s. Which feels like the mid-40’s in salt water.  The sun will be shinning and the aqua blue color of the east shore will energize me. I will let you know how it went….

The picture  is from 1972. I was 5 years old and my Dad bought me that suit as soon as it came out. It is the 1972 Munich Olympic suit that Mark Spitz won 7 golds in. The funny thing about that suit is I would get a suntan through the white stars and stripes. The best tan line ever. I wish I had that suit now. I would wear it for my Tahoe crossing.

I have been thinking this morning that going from salt water training to fresh water training may be weird. I really enjoy swimming in the bay.  My friend said that going from swimming in the bay to the lake is like “going from eating chips to eating watermelon”. I have always thought that this was the funniest analogy but it is true. It has been several months since I last submerged myself in Tahoe. I am really looking forward to seeing all of the shades of blue of Lake Tahoe. Shades of blue that I didn’t even know existed until I swam through it. In some of the deeper parts of the lake the graduated colors from the darkest black to the lightest blue blend flawlessly with the sky. Where does the water end and the sky start?? I am missing that sensation.

A few more days or weeks until I hit the fresh water. I still have my mind firmly set on GG bridge to San Mateo bridge.  Just 2 weeks away. It is all coming together. I will put in a 4 hour pool swim this weekend. Just trying to keep my arms going in the right direction.

I received a little press coverage about preparing to swim the length of Tahoe. Loved the article… check it out.

http://www.adventuresportsjournal.com/html/Articles/49/swimming.htm

Swim On!

Last Sunday I had a case of the “I don’t want to”… I don’t want to swim, I don’t want to clean the house, I don’t want to do anything. I am glad to report that it has passed. I have had a successful week training and I am ready. The date for my GG Bridge to San Mateo Bridge swim has been postponed to May 23rd.  I am a little bummed but also happy to have the extra time to rest, recover and train. I know that I can complete the swim. It will probably be my biggest swim to date. Perfect for getting ready for my Tahoe crossing. 3 months from yesterday, by the way.

I am ready!