And this 15yr old did it! Congrats Ashleigh Beacham!
http://zwemza.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/girl-15-needs-nap-after-swimming-lake-ontario/
This only inspires me more to complete my goal of Crossing Lake Ontario next year!
:)
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Just for kicks I swam 4.5k pulling my 300lb zodiac unsupported
Well I couldn't find support for my Carthrew bay to Centennial beach again. It seem everyone I know has their own agenda, most of them are either training for Ironman races or marathons, or whatever? lol.....
So I decided to do the next best thing! Just go out with my Zodiac unsupported and swim pulling my 300lb zodiac half way down the center of Kempenfelt bay just over 4.5km, as well as working the video camera which I duct taped on the bow of the boat which only takes video in 20 min segments so every km I had to reset it by jumping in and out the boat.
To my surprise it only took me 1:30hrs to swim the 4.5 km including my jumping in and out of the boat resetting my camera, as well as swimming into the current and light winds!
I could have gone longer! .....Maybe next time!! ...but I think i'll need someone to work my camera! ;) which if I did have someone I wouldn't need to pull the boat swimming and could do my Carthew bay to Barrie swim? lol
Here is the you tube link ....4.5km swim pulling my zodiac
So I decided to do the next best thing! Just go out with my Zodiac unsupported and swim pulling my 300lb zodiac half way down the center of Kempenfelt bay just over 4.5km, as well as working the video camera which I duct taped on the bow of the boat which only takes video in 20 min segments so every km I had to reset it by jumping in and out the boat.
To my surprise it only took me 1:30hrs to swim the 4.5 km including my jumping in and out of the boat resetting my camera, as well as swimming into the current and light winds!
I could have gone longer! .....Maybe next time!! ...but I think i'll need someone to work my camera! ;) which if I did have someone I wouldn't need to pull the boat swimming and could do my Carthew bay to Barrie swim? lol
Here is the you tube link ....4.5km swim pulling my zodiac
Monday, August 5, 2013
No boat support! No 12 hour swim!
I didn't get boat support I needed, so no attempt at a 12hr swim this morning.
So instead I went to Centennial beach this morning with the intent to swim a few hours. I tested the temp of the water and Yikes! 60F 15.5C so I only swam 2k and then I hopped on my bike when I got home and rode off hard to catch the group riding to Wasaga beach this morning which left at 9am. I left my house at 9:20am and I caught them and passed them before Phelpston about a 20km ride from my house and where the second group of riders meet who don't want to ride as long and waited for the first group to arrive. lol .....Ended riding 95k on the day.
Saturday I did the around the bay 2k race coming in 5th in my age group (40-54) where you guessed it? I was the oldest at 54! Next year I age up and should podium! lol Seriously I didn't really race, I just swam my regular swim pace as I was gearing up for my 12 hour swim ( which didn't happen today) It was a fun race to do. It was a little ruff in the middle of the lake as there was a good wind blowing making it wavy
Here is my garmin stats
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/352818563
:)
So instead I went to Centennial beach this morning with the intent to swim a few hours. I tested the temp of the water and Yikes! 60F 15.5C so I only swam 2k and then I hopped on my bike when I got home and rode off hard to catch the group riding to Wasaga beach this morning which left at 9am. I left my house at 9:20am and I caught them and passed them before Phelpston about a 20km ride from my house and where the second group of riders meet who don't want to ride as long and waited for the first group to arrive. lol .....Ended riding 95k on the day.
Saturday I did the around the bay 2k race coming in 5th in my age group (40-54) where you guessed it? I was the oldest at 54! Next year I age up and should podium! lol Seriously I didn't really race, I just swam my regular swim pace as I was gearing up for my 12 hour swim ( which didn't happen today) It was a fun race to do. It was a little ruff in the middle of the lake as there was a good wind blowing making it wavy
Here is my garmin stats
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/352818563
:)
Friday, August 2, 2013
12 hour redo swim Monday Aug 5
I'm planning to redo my 12 hour swim from Carthew bay Orillia to Centennial beach Barrie On Monday Aug 5, (which is a civic holiday) and as the weather is looking promising!
I'm just waiting on some feedback on my call out for some boat supporter as I'm looking for 2 people to spot and drive my Zodiac to support my swim.
I've been swimming every day and might even do the annual across thee Bay race tomorrow (Sat)which the city lifeguards put on in Kempenfelt Bay. It's a 2km diamond loop race and no wetsuits.
My foot that got badly bruised on Sundays attempted swim is still hurting but getting better, the worst part is on top of bruising my Planter fascia I pulled my calf muscle too at the same time which I didn't realize until the next day.
So I've been hobbling the better part of this week but still being able to swim I've put in around 14km this week and got in a good 45km bike ride testing out my foot on the bike for the first time since I hurt my foot.
For the most part I was ok peddling, but when I hit bumps in the road the jarring did hurt my foot. I rode out to ORO Station to pay my parking ticket I got on Sunday for parking my car and trailer by the boat launch at Carthew Bay which I didn't know I had to pay for? I saw the sign and ticket machine after I pulled my parking ticket off my windshield. lol Oh well live and learn!
:)
I'm just waiting on some feedback on my call out for some boat supporter as I'm looking for 2 people to spot and drive my Zodiac to support my swim.
I've been swimming every day and might even do the annual across thee Bay race tomorrow (Sat)which the city lifeguards put on in Kempenfelt Bay. It's a 2km diamond loop race and no wetsuits.
My foot that got badly bruised on Sundays attempted swim is still hurting but getting better, the worst part is on top of bruising my Planter fascia I pulled my calf muscle too at the same time which I didn't realize until the next day.
So I've been hobbling the better part of this week but still being able to swim I've put in around 14km this week and got in a good 45km bike ride testing out my foot on the bike for the first time since I hurt my foot.
For the most part I was ok peddling, but when I hit bumps in the road the jarring did hurt my foot. I rode out to ORO Station to pay my parking ticket I got on Sunday for parking my car and trailer by the boat launch at Carthew Bay which I didn't know I had to pay for? I saw the sign and ticket machine after I pulled my parking ticket off my windshield. lol Oh well live and learn!
:)
Monday, July 29, 2013
Barrie Examiner news artical
Here is today Barrie Examiner news report on my swim yesterday.
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2013/07/28/swim-attempt-will-take-place-again-next-year
I also got a nice message from RVH foundation CEO....
:)
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2013/07/28/swim-attempt-will-take-place-again-next-year
I also got a nice message from RVH foundation CEO....
-
Hey, Josef - sorry to hear you had to end your swim early yesterday. I was in Gravenhurst for their re-dedication of a Terry Fox Auditorium and was thinking of you as I passed by Carthew Bay on the way home late yesterday. Wind was still strong even then. Thanks for making the attempt and encouraging support and awareness for cancer survivors. Eric - CEO, RVH Foundation.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Winds foil my attempt at 12 hour swim.
Well I tried, I failed, only doing 6k in 2.5 hours against the current, wind and 3-4 foot waves, but I will conquer next time! ...Thank you Ted, Nathan and Joanne for your support, it was greatly appreciated!
We know I can do better as I swam my 16km trial swim, so you must know the water had to be pretty ruff! and it was! wind coming from the SW blowing over the lake building up high waves even before we set off from the boat launch making my zodiac crash and bumping into the dock.
But lets back up first with last night, I went to bed at 8pm so I would be fresh getting up at 4am, Well as you know before most events you get some anxiety and most people have a hard time getting to sleep. Well I do to sometimes. lol To make matters worse it was a cool humid night, so under the covers I get to hot, over the covers I'm to cool, so I tossed and turned for a while before finally getting to sleep.
Then a storm blew in with heavy rain lightning and heavier rain, which work me up out of my light sleep. All I could here is shhhhhhhhhhh of the heavy rain which kept coming and coming. I fell back to sleep and before I knew it, it's 4am and my alarm go off.
I jumped out of bed and quickly look outside the window to check the weather. The rain stopped and the skies are clear. next I'm thinking and hoping to myself I hope the winds stay calm. I checked the weather report and it said the winds will be SW at 10-20 mph!! Oh Oh, this is not going to be good?! that means I will be swimming into the wind and current. DAMN!
So now I'm getting all my gear and food coolers together with Joanne helping into the boat and car while waiting on Ted and Nathan to arrive at 5am.
On cue Ted and Nathan arrive as I'm getting the last bit packed up and we are on our way.
We get to Carthew Bay by 5:45 or so and I back the boat up on to the boat launch to drop her in. As I was on the launch I push the zodiac off the trailer and it starts to float away so I jump in the water to retrieve it and as I do I step on a rock hard! I limp around passing off the zodiac to Nathan and go park my car and limp back to the dock. Ted asked did I hurt my foot? I said ya, I think I broke it, lets go!
I show Nathan how to run the motor while Ted gets set up in his kayak all the while I'm saying whats with these waves! as the zodiac keep banging and bumping off the side of the dock. I give Nathan a push off and I jump gingerly jump off the dock with my sore foot.
Here we go! I set off into the wind current and waves, bouncing around like I've never bounced before. I say to myself this is not going to be good! So I set into my pace stroke after stroke weaving and bobbing waves crashing over my head and loosing total site of Ted in the kayak every bob!
I get through the first km in 20min before taking on my first feed and drink, my plan is to drink some and eat some every 20min, I find this is best to keep my energy level up.
Then next 20 min I'm getting used to the heaving and waves crashing over me by this time they are 2-3 feet but I'm feeling the strain of keeping my pace so I relaxed my stroke more and kept going after my drink.
3 km in the waves and wind is getting stronger I feel like I'm on a roller coaster now with the 4ft swells crashing over me and dropping me down, having fun! but not really! lol
Every so often I have to hold my breath an extra few strokes because the waves kept throwing my stroke off and rather then grab a mouth full of water I hold my breath to or three extra stokes to catch the wave right to get my breath! I'm not having fun now!
I kept plugging away and knowing in my head I can't keep this up, this is to intense! 3-4 footers and white caps all the way, as far as I could see I think it's time to call it and wait for a better day.
Joanne asks am I ok, I said yes I'm fine, it's these waves that are not ok! as I look at my garmin and see Im at 5.2k, She say's well try for a bit more and see how you feel. So I set off and keep going until I checked my garmin and told Nathan and Joanne that I'm only going as far as 6k
I hit 6 km and stopped and said Ok, that's it, time! ...2:30 to swim 6km in this the heaviest water I ever swam in, with a 2:30/100m average, so I was moving but what a workout!
I jumped into the zodiac while Ted got tethered to the boat and we went back to Carthew bay pulling Ted in his kayak in toe!
When we go back to the dock I step on my foot and say Oh Oh! and check it out, it's all bruised and swollen from stepping on the rock. I hobble to my car only to find a ticket on my car for not having a permit to park there? Crap, great! We get the Zodiac on the trailer, barely as the boat launch was really uneven and not deep enough for the trailer to submerge properly. I pull it out and off to the curb were we unloaded the supplies motor and tank off so we could lift the zodiac onto the trailer properly and secure it, then putting everything back on including the kayak.
Then We ate, having those great subs Joanne made and drinks. Then we headed home.
When we got home I thanked Ted and Nathan and unloaded with Joanne as I hobbling all the way.
All I can say is you can't fight mother nature! no matter how strong you are! next time hopefully the winds will be in my favor.
BTW on top of all that I brought the camera but forgot it in the car after hurting my foot. Grrrrr! lol
These are the only pictures I got after the swim. But Joanne took some shots with her phone, I just have to figure out how to post them here, but I will.
Ted and Nathan after we pulled the Zodiac out of the lake..........
Joanne was hiding in the other picture so I got a different angle to get her in
bruised goose egg in the middle of the bottom of my foot from stepping on rock
:)
We know I can do better as I swam my 16km trial swim, so you must know the water had to be pretty ruff! and it was! wind coming from the SW blowing over the lake building up high waves even before we set off from the boat launch making my zodiac crash and bumping into the dock.
But lets back up first with last night, I went to bed at 8pm so I would be fresh getting up at 4am, Well as you know before most events you get some anxiety and most people have a hard time getting to sleep. Well I do to sometimes. lol To make matters worse it was a cool humid night, so under the covers I get to hot, over the covers I'm to cool, so I tossed and turned for a while before finally getting to sleep.
Then a storm blew in with heavy rain lightning and heavier rain, which work me up out of my light sleep. All I could here is shhhhhhhhhhh of the heavy rain which kept coming and coming. I fell back to sleep and before I knew it, it's 4am and my alarm go off.
I jumped out of bed and quickly look outside the window to check the weather. The rain stopped and the skies are clear. next I'm thinking and hoping to myself I hope the winds stay calm. I checked the weather report and it said the winds will be SW at 10-20 mph!! Oh Oh, this is not going to be good?! that means I will be swimming into the wind and current. DAMN!
So now I'm getting all my gear and food coolers together with Joanne helping into the boat and car while waiting on Ted and Nathan to arrive at 5am.
On cue Ted and Nathan arrive as I'm getting the last bit packed up and we are on our way.
We get to Carthew Bay by 5:45 or so and I back the boat up on to the boat launch to drop her in. As I was on the launch I push the zodiac off the trailer and it starts to float away so I jump in the water to retrieve it and as I do I step on a rock hard! I limp around passing off the zodiac to Nathan and go park my car and limp back to the dock. Ted asked did I hurt my foot? I said ya, I think I broke it, lets go!
I show Nathan how to run the motor while Ted gets set up in his kayak all the while I'm saying whats with these waves! as the zodiac keep banging and bumping off the side of the dock. I give Nathan a push off and I jump gingerly jump off the dock with my sore foot.
Here we go! I set off into the wind current and waves, bouncing around like I've never bounced before. I say to myself this is not going to be good! So I set into my pace stroke after stroke weaving and bobbing waves crashing over my head and loosing total site of Ted in the kayak every bob!
I get through the first km in 20min before taking on my first feed and drink, my plan is to drink some and eat some every 20min, I find this is best to keep my energy level up.
Then next 20 min I'm getting used to the heaving and waves crashing over me by this time they are 2-3 feet but I'm feeling the strain of keeping my pace so I relaxed my stroke more and kept going after my drink.
3 km in the waves and wind is getting stronger I feel like I'm on a roller coaster now with the 4ft swells crashing over me and dropping me down, having fun! but not really! lol
Every so often I have to hold my breath an extra few strokes because the waves kept throwing my stroke off and rather then grab a mouth full of water I hold my breath to or three extra stokes to catch the wave right to get my breath! I'm not having fun now!
I kept plugging away and knowing in my head I can't keep this up, this is to intense! 3-4 footers and white caps all the way, as far as I could see I think it's time to call it and wait for a better day.
Joanne asks am I ok, I said yes I'm fine, it's these waves that are not ok! as I look at my garmin and see Im at 5.2k, She say's well try for a bit more and see how you feel. So I set off and keep going until I checked my garmin and told Nathan and Joanne that I'm only going as far as 6k
I hit 6 km and stopped and said Ok, that's it, time! ...2:30 to swim 6km in this the heaviest water I ever swam in, with a 2:30/100m average, so I was moving but what a workout!
I jumped into the zodiac while Ted got tethered to the boat and we went back to Carthew bay pulling Ted in his kayak in toe!
When we go back to the dock I step on my foot and say Oh Oh! and check it out, it's all bruised and swollen from stepping on the rock. I hobble to my car only to find a ticket on my car for not having a permit to park there? Crap, great! We get the Zodiac on the trailer, barely as the boat launch was really uneven and not deep enough for the trailer to submerge properly. I pull it out and off to the curb were we unloaded the supplies motor and tank off so we could lift the zodiac onto the trailer properly and secure it, then putting everything back on including the kayak.
Then We ate, having those great subs Joanne made and drinks. Then we headed home.
When we got home I thanked Ted and Nathan and unloaded with Joanne as I hobbling all the way.
All I can say is you can't fight mother nature! no matter how strong you are! next time hopefully the winds will be in my favor.
BTW on top of all that I brought the camera but forgot it in the car after hurting my foot. Grrrrr! lol
These are the only pictures I got after the swim. But Joanne took some shots with her phone, I just have to figure out how to post them here, but I will.
Ted and Nathan after we pulled the Zodiac out of the lake..........
:)
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Preparing for Lake Simcoe 12 hour swim
Well I'm keeping a watch on the first swimmer Kim Lumsdon to achieve her goal of swimming across Lake Ontario as I get ready for my not lake Ontario swim as planned but Lake Simcoe instead! ....Next year!!
Anyhow, Kim 56 years old and has swum the lake twice before once in 1976 and a second time in 2006 this time she is attempting to be the oldest woman to make the crossing and set off last night about 9pm and is 16 hours into her swim and looks strong according to the spot tracker.
Go Kim Go!
Meanwhile I'm getting all the last minute details for my swim ready like, food for me on my swim and food for crew. A nice picnic lunch for them of sub sandwiches drinks and snacks, and energy drink stroopwafels banana's, gummies and other snacks for me. I'm getting my gear prepped and Zodiac ready, plus getting my Crew support in order as I had some of my original crew bale on me for personal reasons. But I have lots of friends and I am lucky so I have my crew set!
My crew will be Nathan Brooks, Ted Read and Joanne in the Zodiac and we will have Teds kayak tethered to the zodiac so they can take turns on it if they like to lead me along the way.
I have been told that some of my friends will kayak out from Centennial beach in Barrie to lead us back the last 4-6k or 2-3 hours to my projected finish that will be cool!
Our plan is to meet at my house for 5am, I'll have all the gear and food ready on board of the Zodiac and we will tie the kayak on top and I'll drive all of us to Carthew Bay to launch the Zodiac and get ready for a 6am start!
It's looking like there may be showers to start out, but the weather calls for clearing mid morning and a nice day later so as long as it's not to windy all looks good!
If all goes to plan I should make it to Centennial beach (approx 28-30kms) hopefully under 12 hours.
Wish me luck!
:)
Anyhow, Kim 56 years old and has swum the lake twice before once in 1976 and a second time in 2006 this time she is attempting to be the oldest woman to make the crossing and set off last night about 9pm and is 16 hours into her swim and looks strong according to the spot tracker.
Go Kim Go!
Meanwhile I'm getting all the last minute details for my swim ready like, food for me on my swim and food for crew. A nice picnic lunch for them of sub sandwiches drinks and snacks, and energy drink stroopwafels banana's, gummies and other snacks for me. I'm getting my gear prepped and Zodiac ready, plus getting my Crew support in order as I had some of my original crew bale on me for personal reasons. But I have lots of friends and I am lucky so I have my crew set!
My crew will be Nathan Brooks, Ted Read and Joanne in the Zodiac and we will have Teds kayak tethered to the zodiac so they can take turns on it if they like to lead me along the way.
I have been told that some of my friends will kayak out from Centennial beach in Barrie to lead us back the last 4-6k or 2-3 hours to my projected finish that will be cool!
Our plan is to meet at my house for 5am, I'll have all the gear and food ready on board of the Zodiac and we will tie the kayak on top and I'll drive all of us to Carthew Bay to launch the Zodiac and get ready for a 6am start!
It's looking like there may be showers to start out, but the weather calls for clearing mid morning and a nice day later so as long as it's not to windy all looks good!
If all goes to plan I should make it to Centennial beach (approx 28-30kms) hopefully under 12 hours.
Wish me luck!
:)
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