#6 is shaping up to be the most interesting swim of all. First, we have some eager new talent waiting to get into the water, which is good. Next we have a few repaired swimmers who are ready to go. And finally, my own shoulder, after several thousand miles, has apparently decided to tear (or something...). It is the old rotator cuff internal impingement, arthritic degeneration diagnoses. I think I'm just a little tired. If it wasn't for the pain, I'd be sure of it... I am in rehab, and seem to swim OK, but haven't put on a lot of mileage in the last 2 months (OK, like nearly zero...).
Besides feeling like a lump, I am also painfully aware of the lack of endorphins that kick in every time I'm in the pool chasing down swimmers on other lanes (or being chased). There is something magical about what happens to you as you bear down and decide to catch someone in the pool. First, you mentally calculate how many laps it would take to catch them, then you calculate if your body will hold out for that many laps. If the math works (although it is questionable because of the oxygen starvation that is already occurring) you crank it up and go. The problem is - what do you do when you've caught them. Do you quit? Hardly - that is unquestionably in poor taste. You need to put on a few extra laps to confirm the pace you were able to sustain. Of course, you didn't calculate that in the beginning and as you continue, various parts of your body seem to begin shutting down. And understand - there is a good chance that the people I'm racing aren't even aware we're actually racing, but whatever... At my age, it's still a race...
So, because I am missing those endorphin rushes, I feel as if I am missing a major portion of my life... I tried to take up running - only to remember why I quit in the first place. My back can't take it... Bicycling may help - did 21 miles last weekend. Any other ideas are welcome...
Oh, and it appears we have someone else taking on Lake St Clair. In early August, someone is planning to swim 22 miles dragging a rowboat filled with 2,000 lbs of bricks. This from a guy who has swum each of the great lakes, and is expecting to take 30 hours to get across Lake St Clair. Curious to see which direction he'll go, and how he expects to bisect the shipping channel. Freighters cut through those waters at 20+ knots - I'd hate to be in the channel when one of them comes through. At any rate, we wish him the best. That is a heck of an accomplishment. And way stupider than what we're doing...
We'll continue updating this site as we approach our date - which is expected to be late July. Anyone want to volunteer, or even join us in the swim? Let us know - we can use a Seadoo or two. I think we'll have 10 swimmers and 2 boats this year. And nobody has to drag any rowboats with bricks - I swear... And if Jenny, our English Channel, record setting swimmer shows up again, we'll all just try to keep as close to her as we can. Which for most of us.will only occur in the boat on the way over to Harsen's Island...
All the best - hope to see you out on the water...
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