Open Water Swim Sat.May 13, 2006

Leigh’s Swim Report:
Saturday morning started out differently than any other Saturday morning that I have experienced. Anne, Ken, Mary and me were going to meet down at Mallard Point Lake to go swimming in 63 degree water. I was not the least bit excited about this and I can honestly say then when I woke up at 8:00 that morning I crossed all my fingers and toes and then peeked out the blinds PRAYING that it was raining. I was not happy to see that the sun was actually shining. I guess there was NO getting out of this. After
Anne and I got to the lake and met up with Mary and Ken, I started to get a bit more excited. Mary did a FABULOUS demonstration of putting on a wetsuit. I had actually watched a video prior to going to the lake about putting on wetsuits and taking them off and not once did they mention plastic bags, gloves and Crisco, but Mary’s way got the job done! Mary is always prepared; she will always have everything you need. After a short coaching session we all hoped in the water and tried to swim. TRIED being the word to pay attention to here. It was VERY cold and just like Susan (a GREAT swimming coach and a ZILLION times World Champion Triathlete) said; the cold water was very much a shock and it did knock the breath out of me. After about 5 minutes I got my wits about me and I plugged along. I went out and back and made it back to the dock with out drowning so I saw it as a very successful day. After we all made it back to the house our gracious host had hot chocolate waiting for us. I was the last to get some hot chocolate because it seemed that it took me forever to get OUT of the wetsuit. To say the least, I am not a HUGE fan of the wetsuit. Afterwards, we were to all go biking but Anne and I had felt under the weather for about three days. We went straight to the Urgent Treatment Center where the doc told us we both had bronchitis. I had very early stages of it but they did chest x-rays on Anne and she was very sick. So Anne and I relaxed for the entire weekend and today we are feeling better. Back to the training!!


Anne's Swim report:
Well on Saturday morning we all met up at Mallard Point Lake for our FIRST open water swim. Of course Ken and Mary have done this before but it was the first time for Leigh and I. It had rained pretty much all week, and on Saturday morning, when I woke up all cozy in my bed and I didn’t hear rain, but saw sunshine coming through my window, I was a little @)#@$&)#*$@^! Just kidding, however I was nervous. Not nervous about drowning, but nervous about the wetsuit and how cold it was going to be. Well arrived around 10:30 and prepared for our swim. The water was 63 degrees, which was WAY TO COLD in my opinion, but we had no option. Actually that is the average temperature for New Hampshire, so it was prime for us to swim that day.
Once we all got down to the dock and ready to get in, I got really nervous. Once in the water, my body wouldn’t adjust to the coldness. I had to do the breast stroke for the entire way out, WITHOUT putting my face in the water!! I was saying all kinds of things, none of which I wish to repeat on our blog!! However once we got to the turn around, I was feeling much better and was able to really swim on the way back. I must say, it was HARD, but I felt I had really accomplished something, and it was a great experience for the Mooseman. I hope to get to get in the water a couple of more times before June 3rd!! I am very lucky to have such supportive people around me!! They are ALL WONDERFUL!!

Mary’s Swim and Bike Report:
The water was cold, but not as cold as I thought it would be! Sallie and Jay were in canoe and kayak to assist us and with Susan on land giving advice – I felt safe. Susan suggested I put Vaseline on my exposed areas so it went on face, feet and hands. I felt ok in the water after the first shock of the cold water on my face. The swim gave me confidence that I can now swim in the 62 to 67 degree Newfound Lake in NH.
The bike ride was not as fun or confident building. Thought I did fine on the numerous hills, it was the cross wind and the dogs that made me pedal REALLY slow. I had been ROLLING down the hills in Woodford County and saw a big difference in my momentum going up the hills, but the ride in Scott Co. saw me BRAKING down the hills cause I was a scaredy cat. I had some great advice from Phillip about riding thru the dogs, but I just was too scared and at one point I unclipped and put my bike between me and the dogs. Yet it was fun anyway being out with a great group of cyclist – even though they were way ahead of me because they were ROLLING down the hills and thru the DOGS!!!

Ken's Bike Report:
A group of us decided to bike after a cool (cold) swim at Mallard Point. The plan was to attempt around 50 miles. The day was a bit chilly and the skies were overcast at the start. The swim and bike were located north of Lexington in an area that is a bit hillier than the rolling hills in the Lexington area. The ride was all about two things: hills and dogs!! The hills were not particularly long climbs, but there were some steep hills and they seemed to never stop. I remember commenting towards the end of the ride that I wish I had counted all of the dogs that "greeted" us. I was with the lead group so I didn't get chased too often. We pretty much much woke the dogs up for the guys and girls coming along behind us! There were some pretty rough stretches of asphalt - Kentucky's own version of the Paris-Roubaix. The scenery was very beautiful - lots of woods and rolling meadows. Mary and I rode this same course last spring with our hostess, Sallie. What a difference a year makes! We were both very green at that point. I can see quite a difference in our cycling abilities (or lack thereof). This year we rode at a decent clip with an Age-Group World Champion Triathlete and a couple other Ironman veterans. We held our ground!! We had to eventually cut the ride short due to the rain. It was a great day (a bit cool). I think that we are ready for New Hampshire!! Bring on the MOOSE!!!