Days 47-72

Obviously I haven't posted in a while, but have done a good amount of swimming.  I recently found a new place to swim. I love it.  It's not nearly as busy and the water is so much warmer, which is much better for my CRPS.  My goal is to swim at least 3 times a week in hopes it will help calm my pain.  So far, no dice.

Here we go.  In order to keep this a bit shorter I'm just going to list all my yards and then tally it up.
Day 47: 2,050
Day 48: 1,900
Day 49: 1,650
Day 50: 2,000
Day 51: 2,200
Day 52: 1,650
Day 53: 1,500
Day 54: 1,650
Day 55: 1,850
Day 56: 1,900
Day 57: 1,900
Day 58: 2,250
Day 59: 2,550
Day 60: 1,650
Day 61: 2,050
Day 62: 2,150
Day 63: 1,650
Day 64: 1,700
Day 65: 1,650
Day 66: 2,600
Day 67: 1,175
Day 68: 1,500
Day 69: 1,150
Day 70: 1,700
Day 71: 1,000
Day 72: 2,000
For a total of 47,025 yards!

At the end of the day on Day 46 I had 2,742,450 yards left to swim - 47,025 yards swam between days 47 and 72 =  2,695,425 yards left to swim!

Days 41-46

Big update here!  So obviously I've been swimming, but have not been updating.  It's been a busy couple of weeks.  First of all, I love this new swim watch.  It's so nice to be able to get in the pool ocean and swim and not have to worry about counting.  It's also pretty nice that when I had a moment to update today I go open up a webpage and have access to all of my workouts since I started wearing this watch.

I'm not going to go into nitty gritty detail about each individual swim.  Suffice to say some days were quiet and others were WILD.  Some days I swam alone and some days my friends met me there.  Let's just get down to some numbers here.

On Day 41 I swam 2,100 yards.  On Day 42 I swam 2,300 yards.  On Day 43 I swam 2,400 yards.  On Day 44 I swam 2,600 yards.  On Day 45 I swam 2,000 yards, and on Day 46 I swam 1,750 yards.  Those 6 days all add up to a total of 13,150 yards.

At the end of Day 40 I had 2,755,600 yards left to swim - 13,150 yards swam on Days 41 through 46 = 2,742,450 yards left to swim!

I'm making progress!

I'm going to go swimming again tonight, tomorrow night, and Thursday night.  I'll take Friday off and Saturday I am participating in a 1/2 mile open-water swim at a nearby lake.  The event is to benefit a local chapter of Hospice care.  I'm both excited and terrified at the same time.

Days 39 and 40

On Tuesday of last week my friend couldn't make it, but fortunately for me I could!  I went to the pool ocean by myself.  It was REALLY busy.  I had to share a lane with an octopus.  I just got in and got going.  I kept my head down and kept swimming until I was too tired to go on.  With so many fish in the water it was a bit choppy, so I tired more easily.  I only got in 1,500 yards this night.

On Wednesday my friend and I met up.  It was much calmer and quieter.  Only a few fish and an octopus in the water tonight.  I like quieter days. They let me swim and not have to worry about anything.  I can just let my cares go.  I tried to swim at a more leisurely pace on this night, but before I knew it I had swam 2,100 yards!

I'm going again tonight.  My husband got me a Garmin Swim watch so I don't have to think about counting laps my distance anymore. and I'm excited to try it out and see how accurately it counts for me!  My friend and I have already agreed to meet up tomorrow as well.

On Day 39 I swam 1,500 yards + 2,100 yards swam on Day 40 = 3,600 yards swam on Days 39 and 40.

At the end of Day 38 I had 2,759,200 yards left to swim - 3,600 yards swam on Days 39 and 40 = 2,755,600 yards left to swim!

Days 36, 37, and 38

I lied.  I did not go swimming the Wednesday before last.  I think I made up for it last week though.  On Monday my friend and I met up at the pool ocean.  She brought someone along with her.  She was running a bit late so I got in and went.  There weren't many fish there, but there was an octopus.  He made my friend and I a bit uncomfortable by trying to talk to us every time we stopped.  I swam 2,250 yards before time ran out.

On Tuesday we met up again.  This time there were a few more fish out there, and the somewhat creepy octopus was back.  We tried to ignore him.  We just sort of got in and swam.  The pool ocean was a bit cooler on this day so it was easier to keep going.  2,400 yards later and boom!  Time was up.

We met again on Wednesday.  This time there were more fish... and still that darn octopus.  At least now he's leaving us alone.  I think he may have overheard us talking about how much we disliked being bothered while we tried to swim.  The water was a bit warmer so after 2,000 yards I was ready to call it a night.

I overdid it a bit this weekend so I'm not sure if I'll be able to go tonight but I have decided if my friend contacts me I'll force myself to go.  We'll see what happens, but I make no promises for tonight.  Tomorrow I have an appointment and might not be able to make it, which is why I won't say no tonight.

On Day 36 I swam 2,250 yards + 2,400 yards on Day 37 + 2,000 yards on Day 38 = 6,650 yards on Days 36, 37, and 38.

At the end of Day 35 I had 2,765,850 yards left to swim - 6,650 yards swam on Days 36-38 = 2,759,200 yards left to swim!

Days 33, 34, and 35

I have been swimming a number of times since my last post, but have been too tired to stop in the middle of the ocean to update this journal.  I made some time this week to record my distance, so here I am.

On Monday, Day 33, I met my swimming companion at the pool ocean ready and raring to go.  We were both so excited to be getting back into the water.  It was remarkably quiet.  Very few fish were to be found.  We met and became friendly with an octopus.  I swam 1,650 yards before I was too tired to go on.

On Tuesday, Day 34, we met again to put in some more yards.  This time there were more fish and more octopuses, but we wiggled in and found some room.  The octopus from Monday was there again.  He offered us encouragement to come back for more.  I swam 1,900 yards before I felt like my arms might fall off.

Wednesday, Day 35, we met again.  The octopus from the previous two nights was there again, and again offered us encouragement.  There were a lot more fish in the water this night.  My friend and I decided we'd make it a short and easy night, since we were just getting back into the swing of things.  2,100 yards later I wasn't even sure what had hit me.

Wow, what a week!  I was going to go again yesterday but my car wouldn't start.  Same problem again tonight.  No worries, I'm getting it fixed next week.

On Day 33 I swam 1,650 yards + 1,900 yards on Day 34 + 2,100 yards on Day 35 = 5,650 yards swam this week!

At the end of Day 32 I had 2,771,500 yards left to swim - 5,650 yards swam on Days 33-35 = 2,765,850 yards left to swim!

After such an incredible week my friend and I are hoping to meet up again on Wednesday of next week.  If I can find the energy I might get up for a few morning swims in the meantime.

Days 31 and 32

As promised I went swimming on Thursday.  I didn't, however, have time to update this blog until today.  I also swam yesterday so I'm going to combine two days.

On Thursday, Day 31, I met my swimming buddy at the pool ocean before work.  She was less than pleased to be up before dawn, but I admit I prefer early morning swims.  They wake me up and give me energy for the day ahead.  There were a few octopuses and some fish already there by the time we got in but there was still enough room.  I swam for a total of 950 yards before I had to get out and go to work.

We met again last night for Day 32.  There were a lot of other fish already there by the time we got in.  It made for some choppy waters, which were difficult at times to swim through.  We pushed each other further last night than in the two days prior.  By the end of the night I swam 1,200 yards.

On Day 31 I swam 950 yards + 1,200 yards swam on Day 32 = 2,150 yards swam between Days 31 and 32.

At the end of Day 30 I had 2,773,650 yards left to swim - 2,150 yards swam on Days 31 and 32 = 2,771,500 yards left to swim!

My swimming buddy and I are meeting up tomorrow morning, bright and early (maybe I should say dark and early?).  I'm excited to get such a nice start to my day!

Day 30!

Well, it's been a long time since I updated but I've found a new swimming buddy (my mom!) and plan to get back into swimming regularly!  I'm ashamed to say I have literally not swam a single yard since my last update.

My mom and I agreed to meet at the pool ocean at 6:00 yesterday morning.  She called me Monday night and begged off so last night I dragged her, kicking and screaming.  Okay, fine, she was more into it than I'm admitting.

There was a school of little minnows that had just finished a class or workout of some sort as we arrived.  I worried there might be a lot of fish out, but there weren't.  It was actually pretty calm.  After a while a fish came up and swam along side us, but we didn't last long after that anyway.

Since it was my first time in the water in over a year, and my mom's first time in the water in a few months, we decided to make it a shorter trip last night.  I swam 700 yards.

At the end of Day 29 I had 2,774,350 yards left to swim - 700 yards swam on Day 30 = 2,773,650 yards left to swim!

Day 29

I haven't updated in a long time.  The last 8 months or so have been a hell of a ride.  I have been swimming a few times but haven't had the time to update here about my progress.  As a result I'm discounting all the yards put in during that time period.  I also will forewarn that the next couple of months appear to be jam packed as well so I will do my best to swim and update but I make no promises with regard to either.

But tonight I did go swimming and I WILL record my distance.

My friend and I agreed to meet at the pool ocean to swim today.  However, something came up and she couldn't join me.  So I decided I'd get there, swim 1,000 yards, and call it a day.

Well that's what I did.  There weren't many fish out there today, just a few octopuses.  When the time came I hopped in and geared up to swim my 1,000 yards.  The water wasn't cold but it wasn't warm either.  I forgot to turn my stimulator on but the second I hit the water I remembered.  Unfortunately by then it was too late.

I swam my 1,000 yards and left.  Quick and easy.... well quick at least.

At the end of Day 28 I had 2,775,350 yards left to swim - 1,000 yards swam on Day 29 = 2,774,350 yards left to swim!

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.