Day 28

Last Wednesday was Day 28.  I was out of town at the end of last week so I was unable to update until today.  My friend and I met up at our usual spot and got in to swim.  The water was really cold, which was terrible for my ankle.  It was in a lot of pain.  I found my normal stimulation was just not enough, but by the time I found out it was too late to change it.

I don't think they've dredged cleaned it in a while either since the bottom was littered with dead eels and various coral and bottom feeding animals. It was pretty gross.  When I mentioned it to my friend she said she had noticed but didn't want to believe it.

There were very few other fish in the water, all of them regulars.  A couple welcomed me back after my hiatus, which was nice.  We swam most of the time we were able to, although it was difficult, having been out of the water for so long.  In the end I was able to swim 2,200 yards.

At the end of Day 27 I had 2,777,550 yards left to swim - 2,200 yards swam on Day 28 = 2,775,350 yards left to go!

My friend and I are going to meet up at our usual ocean pool tonight.  After the conditions last week I'm hoping to join the new gym sometime next week.

Day 27

I haven't posted in a long time.  I was pretty sick for a few weeks so I wasn't able to get into the ocean pool until last Thursday.  I went on lunch break with my uncle.  He brought me as a guest to check out his gym because I said I was looking for a new one.  I loved it.

There was an old octopus in the lane next to us.  He was moving faster than me!  I talked to him before I left and he told me he swims 3 miles a day!  I can only hope one day I'll be able to say that.

Since we were on lunch and had spent some time looking around the gym we weren't able to stay in the water very long.  I swam 700 yards before we had to get out and go back to work.

At the end of Day 26 I had 2,778,250 yards left to swim - 700 yards swam on Day 27 = 2,777,550 yards left to swim.

I plan on joining this new gym within the next few weeks but I'm not sure how much access I'll have to the ocean pool until then.

Day 26

Today was another short day for me.  Due to poor organization on the part of the lifeguard at the ocean pool tonight I was unable to stay very long.

I arrive once again shortly before they opened.  There weren't many fish in the water so I got in and went to work.  After just a couple of minutes my friend arrived and we swam together for a few more minutes before the lifeguard asked my friend to please share a lane with me so she could put in a lane line so a newcomer could have her very own lane.

My friend started sharing the lane with me, but there simply was not enough space for both of us so I only swam 400 yards before getting out.  I complained to the lifeguard, who claimed her actions were approved by her manager.

I'm having a bad day (okay, honestly I'm having a bad couple of weeks) and I just couldn't take it.  I got home and wrote a message to the manager.  So depending on how this all works out, I might be forced into finding a new pool really fast.

At the end of Day 25 I had 2,778,650 yards left to swim - 400 yards swam on Day 26 = 2,778,250 yards left to swim!

I'm hoping I'll be able to go swimming again tomorrow but we'll see.

Day 25

I couldn't swim on Monday because everything was closed down for Labor Day.  My friend and I made plans to meet at the ocean pool Tuesday night.

I arrived a little early and there were quite a few fish in the water.  There was a really young one, training for an upcoming triathlon.  I think he'll get there.  It was storming yesterday too.  The waves were really high.

My friend didn't end up showing up, I'm starting to get a cold, and I was having a hard time breathing between the waves so I didn't stay too long.  After 1,800 yards my ankle was starting to bother me enough to want to get out so I pushed myself 100 more yards and called it a night.  My total last night was 1,900 yards.

At the end of Day 24 I had 2,780,550 yards left to swim - 1,900 yards swam on Day 25 = 2,778,650 yards left to swim!

My friend and I are planning to meet up again tonight.  I'm looking forward to getting back into the water in just under an hour!

Days 22, 23, and 24

I swam again this week and again didn't have the time to post so I'm going to combine 3 days.

Day 22: Tuesday night I planned to meet my friend at the ocean pool.  I got there early and was again able to get in a few yards all by myself, which felt great.  There weren't too many fish in the water that night, so I was able to stay in my rhythm.  However my friend and I planned to meet again in the morning so I didn't want to work too hard.  My friend didn't end up showing up and I swam a total of 1,200 yards before calling it  a night.

Day 23:  Day 23 was kind of a bust.  I showed up at the ocean pool early in the morning and started swimming.  There were a lot of fish in the water that day.  I was sharing a lane with someone when the lifeguard asked me to make room for a third.  Unfortunately the third wanted to utilize more then his allotted space and after just a  few minutes I had nearly collided with him twice.  For my own safety I decided it was time to get out.  I only got to swim 750 yards on Day 23.  Thankfully my friend didn't show up so I didn't feel as bad leaving early.

Day 24:  Day 24 made up for Day 23 in spades.  I was having a bad day and decided I really needed to release some energy.  I arrived at the ocean pool a little early Thursday night.  There were a few fish there, but I still felt like I was getting into a good rhythm and moving pretty quickly.  I swam the entire time they were open, only stopping for a breather 3 or 4 times.  By the time I got out I had swam 2,700 yards!  That's a little over 1 and a half miles!  That's the most I've swam in a single day yet!

On Day 22 I swam 1,200 yards + 750 yards swam on Day 23 + 2,700 yards swam on Day 24 = 4,650 yards swam between Days 22 and 24!

At the end of Day 21 I had 2,785,200 yards left to swim - 4,650 yards swam on Days 22, 23, and 24 = 2,780,550 yards left to swim.

I'm excited for next week.  I ordered a new swimsuit this week and it arrived today.  I can't wait to try it out in the ocean pool.  I'm on the look out for a new, less expensive, and more organized place to swim.  I have some ideas I'm going to look in to this weekend.

Day 21

I went swimming again last night.  I was the first one there again.  It's kind of nice being all alone in the ocean pool.  I don't have to fight any waves or battle for space.  I feel more in rhythm too.  Everything feels so much smoother.

Eventually my fiend arrived and a few fish followed her.  Then the battle began.  I swam as hard and fast an far as I could.  By the time I was done I felt like I had done my best.  I swam 2,200 yards last night.

By the end of Day 20 I had 2,787,400 yards left to swim - 2,200 yards swam on Day 21 = 2,785,200 yards until I reach my final destination!

I plan to swim again tonight and tomorrow night I have plans so I'm hoping to get up bright and early tomorrow morning as well.

Day 20

I went swimming last Thursday but didn't have time to update again.  There weren't many fish in the water, all new species.  I hadn't seen these before.  My friend and I swam for a while and soon we were the only two left.

I was having an off night.  I kept repeating my counts and was having some trouble staying focused so I didn't stay too long.  I'm estimating my yards to be 1,650 judging by the mount of time I was in the water.

At the end of Day 19 I had 2,789,050 yards left to swim - 1,650 estimated yards swam on Day 20 = 2,787,400 yards left to swim!

I'm about to walk out the door to go swimming again tonight!

Day 19

I went swimming tonight!  I really needed to go.  I haven't been in a while and was starting to feel lazy.

I think this small stretch may have been heavily polluted because there wasn't a fish in sight.  I arrived before my friend and at first I was the only one in the water.  Shortly before my friend arrived one small fish showed up but he didn't stay very long.  By the time my friend got there he had already left.

Since I hadn't been for a while I decided to swim a bit further than I normally would.  I swam 2,000 yards tonight.  This is the furthest I've swam in a single day so far!

At the end of Day 18 I had 2,791,050 yards left to swim - 2,000 yards swam today = 2,789,050 yards left to swim!

My friend and I agreed we'd go swimming again together tomorrow night.

Day 18

Day 18 was actually last Thursday.  I was too busy to update last week and then over the weekend got sick and haven't been feeling up to it until today.  I also wasn't able to swim Monday or Tuesday of this week.

Thursday morning I got to the ocean pool early.  I had stayed up pretty late the night before so I was dragging when I got there.  It was pretty busy.  There were a lot of fish around and that submersible was back!  I told myself I'd swim 1,200 yards and then get out but I pushed myself until I had completed 1,700 yards.  I decided that was enough and got out to get ready for work.

At the end of Day 17 I had 2,792,750 yards left to swim - 1,700 yards swam on Day 18 = 2,791,050 yards left to swim!

I hope to go tonight, since I'm beginning to feel better but I'm not sure if I'll be able to.

Day 15, Day 16, & Day 17

I've gone swimming 3 days this week and haven't updated my blog.  Things got busy again so you get a special 3 for the price of 1 treat.

Day 15: My buddy and I decided to go swimming Monday night.  We were both tired from a long weekend and didn't want to get up in the morning.  We arrived at the ocean pool and the sharks were back.  I guess they aren't morning creatures because they're never there when we swim in the morning.  Since we were planning on swimming the next morning we decided to make it a shorter night.  I swam 1,100 yards.

Day 16: I got up and got to the ocean pool bright and early.  There were a lot of tortoises and dolphins in the water.  That always makes for a more difficult swim because they create a lot of waves.  The bottom was getting pretty murky again.  My friend didn't end up making it so I swam 1,500 yards and got out.

Day 17: I got up and went swimming again this morning.  My friend was going to meet me at the pool but she didn't make it before I had to get ready for work.  I think Wednesday mornings are the most busy.  There were more dolphins and tortoises, as well as some other fish.  By the time I left the lifeguard was telling people they had to wait because there were too many people in the pool.  I'm glad I get there as early as I do.  The bottom was still pretty murky.  I swam 1,600 yards and then decided I should give someone else the space.

On Day 15 I swam 1,100 yards + 1,500 yards swam on Day 16 + 1,600 yards swam on Day 17 = 4,200 yards swam from Day 15 to Day 17.

At the end of Day 14 I had 2,796,950 yards left to swim - 4,200 yards swam from Days 15 to Day 17 = 2,792,750 yards left to swim!

My friend and I plan to finish the week strong tomorrow morning!

Day 13 & 14

I've been busy the last few days so although I did swim I didn't have time to posts my distances.  Therefore I've decided to combine the two days.  Wednesday I tried to get into the ocean pool before work.  I was just a few feet behind the lifeguard as she walked up to the door and held it open for everyone to walk in.  She turned away before I got to the door and I wasn't able to catch it before it closed.  She had forgotten to leave it unlocked so I wasn't able to get in before work.

I went back that night, knowing I had to swim the next morning because I had prior obligations Thursday night.  There were more fish than there would have been in the morning.  There always are in the evenings.  No one, not even fish, want to be up so early.  The bottom wasn't as murky.  Maybe that submersible I saw the other day was cleaning it.  There was some purple coral on the bottom, left there from the swimmers before us.  I swam 1,300 yards and my friend and I called it a night.

The next morning I got up early and made my way to the ocean pool again.  This time the door was unlocked.  There were a few tortoises and a dolphin or two in the water, and I was tired from the night before but I decided I had to push myself anyway.  I again swam 1,300 yards and got out to get ready for work.

Day 13 I swam 1,300 yards + Day 14 I swam 1,300 yards = 2,600 yards between Days 13 and 14.

At the end of Day 12 I had 2,799,550 yards left to swim - 2,600 yards by the end of Day 14 = 2,796,950 yards left to swim!

Day 12

I went swimming alone again this morning.  My buddy was unable to come with me.  At least it wasn't as busy as it was yesterday.  There were some other fish in the water, though.  A couple of tortoises and some dolphins, and maybe even a stingray, although I can't be sure.

The bottom was looking rather murky.  I passed by a submersible!  It was so cool!  Before too long they were gone though.  Just me and my fishy friends were left.  I didn't want to swim too long, since I didn't have a watch and have a hard time seeing the clock from the ocean pool so I swam 1,300 yards and got out to get ready for work.

At the end of day 11 I had 2,800,850 yards left to swim - 1,300 yards swam today = 2,799,550 yards left until I get to Africa!

I'm going to go swimming again in the morning tomorrow.  I'll have less  to do before work, and my buddy will be with me to help me see the clock, so I hope to stay longer and swim further.

Day 11

We decided to go swimming early this morning.  I won't be able to go Thursday night so we were kind of preparing ourselves for the early swim that morning.  I awoke before the sun and got ready to head to the ocean pool.  We were in the water before the sun had her early morning coffee.

There were a lot of fish around today.  The lifeguard selected lanes for us, and let's just say that didn't work out so well for me.  After 1,200 yards I decided to call it quits and get ready for work.

At the end of Day 10 I had 2,802,050 yards left to swim - 1,200 yards swam today = 2,800,850 yards left to swim

My swim buddy asked if I wanted to swim again tonight so I'm hoping we will be heading to the pool in a couple of hours!  I think since we already went this morning I'll shoot for a lower goal today, but who knows?

Day 10

I swam alone last night.

I'm all alone....
No one here beside me.....

There weren't too many people there.  The sharks were no where to be found.  There were quite a few other fish, though, and a couple of old tortoises.

I decided when I got to the pool I'd swim 1,000 yards and call it a night.  Once I reached my goal I decided I didn't want to stop and kept pushing myself 100 yards at a time further.  Finally I reached 1,500 yards and decided I should call it a day.

At the end of day 9 I had 2,803,550 yards left to swim - 1,500 yards swam today = 2,802,050 yards left to swim!

Day 9

Day 9 was rather uneventful.  There's still some coral on the bottom, which sometimes makes me wonder.  A few sharks were back today, but since it was just us and them they pretty much left us alone and we barely noticed their presence.

We took it a little slower today.  I swam 1,500 yards again.

2,805,050 yards were left at the end of Day 8 - 1,500 yards swam today = 2,803,550 yards left to swim!

Tomorrow is the last day of swimming for the week.  I hope to make it count.

Day 8

Last night was day 8.  I did not take the necessary steps ahead of time so my swim was cut short due to pain.  There weren't too many fish around last night.  It was kind of nice.  We were able to spread out a bit more than normal.  There was fun new coral on the bottom as well!

Last night I swam 1,500 yards.

2,806,550 yards left as of the end of Day 7 - 1,500 yards swam on Day 8= 2,805,050 yards left to swim!

We're going again tonight and I'm going to be sure the pain doesn't cut my time short this time.

Day 7

We arrived at the ocean pool very early tonight.  As they opened we realized there were a lot of fish today.  There was also some coral growing on the ocean pool floor.  It gave me something to focus on, other than counting, every now and again.  Once the storm started up we decided we couldn't stay too long.  Fighting the waves was a tough job so we only stayed half an hour.

I swam 1,150 yards today.  At the end of day 6 I had 2,807,700 yards left - 1,150 yards swam today = 2,806,550 yards left to swim!

We won't be able to swim again until Monday but at the moment I'm okay with that.  I won't be tomorrow but right now I am.

Day 6

I had a nice, long, leisurely swim today.  The water was calm and there weren't many fish in sight.  There were only 2 sharks in the water today and they were the "Fish are friends not food" type- very friendly.

The lifeguards at the ocean pool know me now.  They sign me in before I can even get to the table.  It's nice to see a friendly face before busting my butt in the water.

I swam further today than I have since I took up this challenge.  I put in an even 2,000 yards.

2,809,700 yards at the end of Day 5 - 2,000 yards swam today = 2,807,700 yards left to my final destination!

Day 5

I'm happy to report the storm died down some today.  The sharks were back again, but they were friendly today.  They agreed to give us some more room so we weren't sharing half a lane.

We were both tired today so we wanted nothing more than to float on our backs and allow the current to take us wherever it wanted.  We knew that if we did that though, we could be thrown way off course and would have even more swimming ahead of us.  So we set our minds to it and swam away.  We did take a few extra moments to relax, and I'm glad tonight's swim is behind us.

Tonight I swam 1,400 yards.  At the end of day 4 I had 2,811,100 yards left to swim. 2,811,100 yards at the end of Day 4 - 1,400 yards swam today = 2,809,700 yards left to my final destination!

Despite being tired and in some pain today, I'm excited to get back into the pool tomorrow.  I'm hoping before too long my stamina has increased some and I wont' be so tired at the end of the day.

Day 4

I'm writing this the next day because I was too tired from a long day yesterday to update then.  I'm on the search for a new ocean pool with better hours.  The one I've been using is only open 1 hour a day, for 4 days a week, and that's only through part of August.  Then their schedule will change, and I know the establishment well enough to know the hours won't become more convenient.  So the search has begun.  I've been pleasantly surprised to see I can save money by getting a membership to one of these other locations while still swimming more than 4 hours a week!

Last night I arrived at the ocean pool to find the sharks had returned.  Not only that, but they brought with them a lot of other fish.  The ocean pool was busier than I had seen it previously.  Then a giant octopus arrived and asked me and my buddy if he could share our lane.  To my dismay, as I got out a short time later, I discovered he had chosen the only lane with more than 1 person already in it >:-(  Ocean Pool Etiquette, people!

It was storming like crazy last night so the waves were bigger than normal.  This had a real impact on how far I could swim so I ended up only putting in 1,200 yards.

2,812,200 yards left as of the end of Day 3 - 1,200 yards swam on Day 4 = 2,811,000 yards left to my destination!

I can't wait to swim again tonight!  I hope the storms and the fish have calmed down some though.  The ocean pool will be open earlier and the earlier days tend to have less people.

Day 3

I wasn't sure my swimming buddy would be able to make it today.  I was determined to swim, even if that meant doing so alone.  I got to the ocean pool just as it opened today.  Oh no!  There are sharks in the water!  Just put your head down and keep swimming.  If you don't bother them they won't bother you.  500 yards later my friend arrived!  I told her I wanted to put in another 1,000 yards before I left and she pressed me to stay until the ocean pool closed.  She said 1,500 yards wasn't enough.  I should try for 1,800 so I did.  And at 1,800 yards I called it quits- 5 minutes before closing.


2,814,000 yards left as of yesterday - 1,800 yards swam today = 2,812,200 yards left!

Day 2

My name is Kelli.  I suffer from a chronic pain condition and for too long have used it as an excuse not to work out.  The sedentary lifestyle I lead cannot be good for anyone so this ends now!  I've been swimming laps because it's a good workout that my body can actually handle.  NO MORE EXCUSES!  That's my new motto.

My husband suggested that I set a goal to help keep me on track and motivated.  Great idea!  so what am I going to do?  I'm going to swim across the Atlantic Ocean!  Now of course I'm not actually swimming across the Atlantic Ocean.  That's just silly.

The shortest distance across the Atlantic Ocean is between SW Senegal, W Africa, and NE Brazil, E South America.  It's 1,600 miles.  I count the distance I've swam in yards since the pool I'm swimming in is 25 yards long.  So here's some math for you to make sure we're all on the same page.

There are 1,760 yards in a mile.  1,760 yards *1,600 miles = 2,816,000 yards across the Atlantic Ocean at it's smallest point.
As previously stated, the pool I swim in is 25 yards long.  2,816,000 yards / 25 yards = 112,640 lengths of the pool.
If I swim an average of 1,000 yards (40 lengths) a day it will take me approximately 2,816 days (or 7.715 years) to swim across the Atlantic.  I think I can do it faster.
Day 1 was Monday.  I didn't actually track the number of yards swam so I'll estimate it to be 900 yards.  At the end of Day 1 I had 2,815,100 yards to go.
Day 2 I swam 1,100 yards.  At the end of Day 2 I had swam a total of 2,000 yards, and had 2,814,000 yards left to go.











I'm excited to get into the pool again tonight and get even closer to my final destination!