Saturday Swim North Side of the Pier

Wow. Two days in a row.  Feels good.  I had a different plan today for a swim.  I wore the back support and wet suit, with my dashing yellow neoprene hood.  I even broke out my fins.  The idea was to work on the low back muscles.  I lay on my back and did a relaxed kick out to just past the end of the pier. Fourteen minutes out.  I did a relaxed freestyle in to the sand.  Twenty-two minute swim.  Short but helpful, I think.

Same conditions as yesterday in the water.  Very low tide.  A bit of a southeasterly wind gave a tiny chop to the water.  58 degree water.  Refreshing.

I am thankful when I can get into this beautiful water.  And I am thankful for buoyancy.  I'm always surprised at how few persons there are enjoying the water off-season, but it's better for me.  I savor the solitary swim.  I am hoping for a good body tomorrow.  Tell your mother you love her.

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

December Swim after 2 1/2 months off

    

It has been so long since I swam that I have to remember how to do a blog entry.  September 26th was my last swim, I think.  I know that writing about chronic pain is repetitive and pathetic, but maybe some readers are also in a chronic pain situation and can relate.

I got 3 more steroid/anesthetic epidural injections in October--one per week.  I cancelled a fourth because I was too miserable. It doesn't make sense, I know; neither do I.  For some reason I felt OK this morning and had energy and minimal back pain.  Crazy. 

I drove down there and felt some anxiety about getting in cold water, since it has been a while.  The beach was beautiful, with a very low tide, at least six feet of visibility, and one to two foot waves.  No wind, no current, a flat surface, and an overall beautiful day.  The water temp was quoted at 59.  I wore a short-sleeved rash guard tee shirt and jammers shorts with compression underwear under them. I spoiled myself with my neoprene cap which was great.  I actually only swam ten minutes.  Not ready for the cold.  I think it might have been colder than 59.  Maybe not.  Oh, I also wore my elastic low back support.  My back held up fine, I only swallowed one mouthful of water because I forgot how to breathe, and I feel good now.  Maybe I have turned a corner.  And that's my report from fabulous Oceanside, California for today.

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

DAMMIT I WANT TO SWIM

     This cooler weather that we are having now is really calling me to the beach.  I gotta' get there.  The pain keeps me yelping but some magic medicine might make a pier swim possible.  Give me strength (mental) oh swimmer up above.


"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Still on Dry Land

      It has been a long time again without salt water.  Swimming season is here with the appearance of a fall chill in the air in the mornings and evenings.  It makes me yearn for cold water for some reason.  My back is still a mess.  More shots.  Epidural steroid injection L3-4 right side last Friday and more the next two Fridays.  I've begun to feel like a former ocean swimmer.  (Well, I was never much of one in the first place).
   

"The first time you quit is the last time you try."

Thursday, Sept 26 Pier Swim Letdown

     I swam at the beach about 2:30 PM today for a total of 18-19 minutes; and it kicked my butt!  The ocean is angry, a little less angry than yesterday, with a chop up to 4 feet.  Today the chop was up to 3 feet but I think instead of steady, constant nonsensical swimming, the swim today was an unpredictable tossing about in the chop.  I did get out farther through the surf, stopping half-way between the bathrooms and the Pier end.  This was for safety today; yesterday it was because I didn't have the fitness to swim around in the rough water.
     Did I say the water was rough?  Yesterday it was difficult to get a breathing system going but today I decided to swim south because I could breathe on the left and make some progress.  I got tired after a little bit and did an arc into the sand.  I hit the sand at the pink vacation hotel and the Tyson Street park.
     I have a swimming fault that I don't look up much before I enter the surf and while I go through the surf.  This afternoon a big, crazy wave just smashed me good and ground me up.  I actually got a scare in me.  Oh well, I am what I am, as Popeye said.  Warm water, about 68 degrees.



"The first time you quit is the last time you try."