Energized by the Chill

Same conditions as yesterday.  I wore the fins in case I wanted to go out, but I didn't.  There were six young Marines on the sand daring each other to go in.  When I got in, I think they realized that if that old, fat guy could go in, then they could.  Promptly, the six of them ran in--playing like little kids.  Good for them!
I swam a little and felt good.  Need to work on my wind.  You know how the cold water makes your pulse race and your breathing fast & shallow?  That was me.  I tried to slow it down but that will come later.  It's a process.  Little by little, step by step...

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

Fifteen minutes in Cold Water at the Pier

I took six or so pictures but this pic is the only one I can get.  I got in with trunks and played around a bit.  It was too cold for me to venture out.  The mind was weak.  Flat water with gentle, undulating swells out there.  It looked like the waves were just as high as three feet but once I was out there about 75 yards, the waves were beautiful, strong, and big.  Five feet high for the big ones, but a beautiful shape.  There was not a single person in the water north of the Pier but me for a little while.
I body-surfed a 3-4 foot wave and got an unusually long ride for me.  Very refreshing and satisfying.









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

Oceanside Pier North Side

It's a shock, folks; I know.  I got my fat body into the water again today.  I suppose that I've learned how to do the routine again.  Throw extra dirty towels, hats, sweatshirts, goggles, dollar bills for the meter, sweat pants into the Corolla and just go.

Now, I've done the hardest part of the whole deal.  Stop at Starbuck's for a big coffee--Pike Place, and if they ask, say medium--throw in mucho sugar for energy, and I'm there in ten minutes.  Once I'm committed, it's a fai't acompli. 

There were about one-hundred humans on the sand today.  A young, male teacher had his class there for a field trip--excellent.  One girl got in up to her waist; she was very brave.  A future lifeguard, possibly.  The rest were families on vacation, Marines strolling in two's and three's, and the surfers--but, thankfully, those of the surf were on the south side today.

It was freezing.  I wasn't in the water as long as the time it took me to write this post so far.  High fifties, colder than yesterday.  I could feel my manliness melt away today after three minutes in the water.  By the time I exited the water, I was a three-year-old girl.  I didn't swim; I just bounced around and scooted under some bigger waves.  Max 3 feet.

Nonetheless, I made progress today.  As I got out a young guy with Jersey plates tried to get in.  He had seen me in, so he knew it was possible, but he could tell that my insulating layer of fat gave me a greater edge than his trim body helped him in 57-degree-water.  Although I didn't wait, I'm sure he got his head covered.  He was in up to his thighs and making slow, deliberate progress.  He has that Jersey toughness, I'm sure.

I did a small good deed and gave my parking pass to a family nearby that was parked in the five-minute-zone but had already exceeded thirty minutes.  Christmas spirit and all that.

Signing off.  Back to my real writing.











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

I Got into the Water Today ! Been a long time

August 19, 2015 was the last time that I got into the water.  Way too long.  Today I went in and swam a little bit in trunks at Oceanside Pier.  My body needs replacement parts but after talking to my doctor and my daughter something kicked into action in my brain.

The water--it was quite cold in trunks and a latex swim cap.  I got in quickly and my stroke felt good.  I especially enjoyed the buoyancy of the water.  I had forgotten how my back gets a temporary reprieve from pain when that salt water is pushing me up.  Sweet.  As for conditions, it was totally flat and the tide was low.  Waves from zero to a foot, and two feet every five minutes.  A good day for me to re-enter.

Hands and the face were quick to feel the freeze.  I felt ready to swim farther but I didn't want to press my limits today.  I'm feeling like now that I've broken my streak of inactivity for a year and five months, I'll swim again very soon.  Oh, for excitement I stepped on the wing of a stingray--a small one--a foot, and it fluttered away without accidentally stinging me.  Then within two minutes I saw two more small stingrays close in.  The visibility was good at 3-4 feet.












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

Evening Swim Oceanside Pier

     I got in the water tonight at about 6:45 P.M.   It was rougher than yesterday's beautiful calm.  The waves were small-horizontally-so smaller waves were breaking all over the place.  Even out past the waves the water was sloppy.  I'd say the temp was 70 degrees.  I just saw about two feet of visibility because it was getting a bit dark.  No crowds.  Nice atmosphere. 
     I swam for about twenty minutes parallel to the sand and enjoyed it.

     I just remembered something else from last night's beach visit.  After the swim, with the water being clear for two feet, I looked for shells for 10-15 minutes.  While doing this I felt good and decided to test out my legs.  Very slowly I jogged a bit in the shallow water--for 50 yards or so.  Now this seems silly, but I have not been able to pick up my legs in a jogging mode for a few years.  Maybe this means my low back muscles are getting stronger.

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