The days rush by and I've gotten far behind on posting, some major family health issues combined with the usual work/stress have kept me away from you all so one summary post seems in order to bring "you" up to date!
Many of you know me as the crazy So. Cal open water swimmer (after my surgery and complications in 2004 sidelined my IM goals) so you are not surprised that the following is mostly all about open water swimming events but you will be surprised about the last event.
In the past two months:
my relay ow swim squad had its first traditional relay a coastal voyage from Encinitas CA to La Jolla Cove, 4 intrepid swimmers participated, the water was calm the air was balmy, one supporter was briefly misplaced as he assumed we were going much slower than we were but was soon reunited. We finished too fast and felt the challenge was insufficient but the training worthwhile.

The La Jolla Cove Swim Club CYA 2.5 K race from the beach behind Scripps Pier to La Jolla Cove. I swam this race as a team with our youngest supporter (12) and we had a fast swim except for some bother with "freaking me out kelp", her first ow swim was successful and speedy 1:19 despite waiting to start at the back of the pack and negotiating waves (they are big when you are little) and a 1/4 mile of kelp!

The water had gotten warm, my training swims, up to 9 miles have included increasingly curious dolphins and seals. I had a couple of night swims to support a fellow channel trainee and I sort of learned to paddle a paddle board (in the dark).

Looking forwards:
Due to fires plus personal issues, the relay team tahoe event has been rescheduled but I'm heading out for my solo swim on July 21 as part of the Trans Tahoe relay event (yes its confusing but I?m swimming the relay as a solo and will later be part of a relay down the length). I'm getting ready to head there soon, I lost my support crew (due to family issues) and have found a last minute replacement. We plan to do some mini-relay swims up there too, I will post plans and rr's once things become clear (I'm not sure how much smoke remains up there).

Further business and personal issues arose canceling my "a" race in August (a 5 mile ow event). After some consideration I've replaced it with an ADA fundraiser swim (and I'd better start raising those funds) on Aug 12 in Alaska. I am still wondering why I thought that was a good idea and how well will I withstand temps that low. The trasn tahoe is a no wetsuit swim, the ADA swim has 2 categories and I've entered the no wetsuit category.

I had already signed up for the Death Valley Century ride (a CAF fundraiser) in October. It seems to be the antithesis of my OW events. Hot dry and reliant on a machine. I had been making progress on the bike but had to drop back with the current press of events. I?ll get right back to it..when I return from Alaska. The main issues for me are (1) heat, although I used to be a hot weather racer after a few years training cold and wet, its much harder (2) bicycle, the only one in good shape is my tri bike and I haven?t? had time to consider anything else.

So that?s it in an nutshell! Train hard swim well-runnerbee