High Point Kudos

I worked hard for this in 2019, and now I know my capabilities. Thank you to BlueSeventy for sponsoring this series of open water competitions. You made me work for it!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Swimmiest Year EVER!

Image
This year I've stuck to my work-travel-swim pattern and it's been fantastic. Hard work has afforded some really fun trips (will I make it to MVP on AK Air this year? Looks likely!). Kate and I headed to Dover, Kent (UK) to attend the English Channel CSPF class of 2018 banquet, where we made new swim friends and dipped into the winter waters of the famous Dover Harbor at swimmers' beach. That's just the start! Dover, UK - March - CSPF dinner/hangover swim  Lake Berryessa, CA - June USMS Middle Distance Open Water Nationals with my very spontaneous Seattle friend Melissa, who did well in her swim! Blake Island circumnavigation swim - June 26 - so fun! Mary Robinson, Amy Bogaard, Lise Ellner, Martha Johnson, Sarah Schieron, Rebecca Lanphear and me. Thanks to Chuck, Dana and David for crewing! Coronado, CA - 4th of July Roughwater Regional USMS/PNA competitions: Whidbey Adventure Swim- Langley, Fat Salmon at Lk WA, Swim Defiance across Dalco, Aly Fell...
Read more

The family curse

Image
We have a family curse not unfamiliar to millions of Americans: alcoholism. Especially for the males on both sides of my family, the drink has really challenged the men. My maternal uncles came through it using the 12-step program. My father quit at age 76, cold turkey, after a cascade of serious health problems delivered the final ultimatum: quit or die soon. One aunt by marriage somewhat recently had and survived a liver transplant—which is fantastic. But my brother, Brion, is on a different and heartbreaking journey.  As I write this, I’m at home in the PNW while my mom is at Brion’s bedside in a San Diego hospital based (inpatient) hospice. Things are so fragile. Time is short. I’m still processing what I’ve witnessed in the last few months and the progression to this present-day byproduct of alcoholism: hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) at end-stage liver disease from alcohol-related cirrhosis. Our family members got a crash course in all the processes, medications, terminology, trea...
Read more

Train vs. Pain

Image
For about 12 years  I have dealt with odd pains, spasms, headaches and horrible leg cramps that have their on and off seasons. Sometimes these require visits to neurology. At this moment it's so bad that I'm "beached" and getting all the care with conservative treatments such as nerve pain meds, acupuncture, massage, warm neck wraps, PT/stretching, strict upright posture, and I'm continuing a no-arms version of personal dryland training at Vashon Strong. Last week I did make a quick bikini jaunt into Puget Sound, because the cold actually feels really good on this pain. Doctors encourage warmth, or a combo of hot/ice changeups. I miss long swims like I've been doing each weekend--and my swim buddies most of all. What's happened (the Dr. believes) is that one of my neck disc herniations has imposed upon my nerve root, likely C6--where I have known damage anyway. I am not sleeping through the night (for weeks), the pain is intense from neck to wrist day and ...
Read more