Archive for the ‘Marathon swim’ Category

A dream came true for me this week. I swam the length of Lake Tahoe from Camp Richardson to Hyatt Beach, 21.55 miles in 10 hours and 50 minutes.  It was a 35 year dream in the making. I am in the process of writing a longer story with all of the details from the day but I wanted to post some pictures until I pull it all together. Most of all I would like to thank my crew. You made the impossible possible!

Here is a photo and video montage that I made from my lazy-boy recliner yesterday:

Rob and I about to start lap 2

Yesterday I successfully did a quad crossing of Donner Lake. I am wondering if anyone else has done that. It was a great training swim for me. The gps read 11.04 miles, 5 hr 24 min. I think of that swim as the equivalent to half the length of Tahoe or the equal to the width of Tahoe.
I felt strong the entire swim. I started out with my swim partner, Rob, who did a double crossing. He was on a mission to move along as fast as he could. I stuck with him but was a little concerned about expending to much energy on the first two lengths. On the first lap we took a slightly longer course because we swam over to the south shore and had originally planned to hug the shore. Once we realized that there was only one boat on the lake we cut into the middle of the lake and swam straight down. First lap took us 1 hr 20 min. I had stopped to feed only once on the first lap. I should have stopped twice but Rob was moving quickly and wasn’t stopping to feed at all. We both took a quick feeding at the other end and started back. On the second lap I stopped to feed twice and we finished the lap at 1 hr 16 min. Way to negative split! I dropped Rob off, took in some nutrition and pushed off. For the first two laps the lake was so smooth, now the wind started to pick up. The wind was to my back so it wasn’t bad but I would be turning and swimming back into it for lap 4. A few times in my mind I started to think that 3 laps would be good but the car was at the other end. It was probably faster for me to swim back than to wait for Dan to kayak back and come back with the car. I swam the 3rd lap in 1 hr 22 min. I shoved off for the last lap and figured I would use it as a cool down. Really stretch it out and focus on using the larger muscles in my back. The wind was coming straight at us and Dan had to put on his dry jacket and gloves. I just imagined that I was a a large ship cutting through the water and it worked. The wind started to let up about 3/4 of the way back. I finished out lap 4 at 1 hr 26 min.
I am very happy with my performance yesterday. I do have some soreness in my deltoids but with a little more rest and some stretching today it should subside quickly. Thanks so much to Dan for his patience and support. Thank you and congratulations to Rob for his strong double crossing. He said next time he will go for a three!

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.